Ecological Land Protection or Carbon Emission Reduction? Comparing the Value Neutrality of Mainstream Policy Responses to Climate Change

Improving the quality of forest, water, farmland, and other types of land use with outstanding ecosystem optimization, restoration functions (ecological lands) and reducing anthropogenic carbon emissions are recognized as the two main approaches of current mainstream climate change policies. The paper aims to evaluate and compare the value neutrality within these two main types of policy responses to climate change. To do that, a case study was conducted at the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China. We first summarized the implementation status of all climate change policies in the study area and collected data related to climate and economy at the policy pilot sites. Next, the coupling relationship between climate and socio-economic conditions at policy pilot sites was calculated by the Tapio model. Finally, we constructed dummy variables that reflected the status of policy implementation, to estimate the value neutrality of mainstream climate change policies and their impact on the coupling relationship by DID models. The results showed that the proportion of policies related to ecological lands that significantly improved the coupling degree between climate and socio-economic conditions of the pilot sites is more than that of carbon emission-related ones. Moreover, the average coupling degree between climate and socio-economic conditions of the pilot sites of ecological land policies was significantly increased by 3.99 units after policy implementation, which is 27.8% higher than that of carbon emission reduction policies. Generally, the two main findings directly evidenced that the climate change policies aimed at improving the area and quality of ecological lands were more conducive to the coupling development of the climate–economy nexus than the policies focusing on restricting carbon emissions, which provides important enlightenment for the establishment of relevant environmental policies around the world.

Strategy-Driven Implications for the Management Control Systems of Electricity Generators due to Government Climate Change Policies

<p>The New Zealand Government has developed and revised different climate change policies (GCCPs) over the last nine years in order to meet its Kyoto obligations and address the challenges of climate change. The key GCCPs are the carbon tax proposed in 2002 but cancelled in 2005; the Projects to Reduce Emissions (PRE) scheme during 2003-2004; and an emissions trading scheme (ETS) announced in 2007, legislated in 2008 and then modified in 2009. These GCCP changes are likely to impose significant costs and additional volatilities and pressures on electricity generators because their production activities are emissions-intensive. Consequently generators have been the direct targets of various GCCPs. This study addresses the following research question: “What are the management control system (MCS) implications arising from strategy choices New Zealand electricity generators make in managing economic volatility and societal pressures resulting from a prolonged period of GCCP change?”. In answering this question, the study adopts a multiple-theory research framework that builds on insights from prior literature and the theoretical perspectives of transactional cost economics, institutional theory and resource-based theory. This study uses a multiple-case study that analyses interviews and 10-years of documentary data related to five major generators within the New Zealand electricity industry over five periods from 2000 to 2009. The results suggest that GCCP changes impose external economic volatilities and societal pressures on the generators and affect their costs, market competitiveness, and social legitimacy. The diversity of internal characteristics and capabilities of the generators are found to moderate their relative degree of exposure to these external volatilities and pressures. Ten GCCP-related environmental strategies were formulated and implemented by the generators, with different levels of proactiveness (i.e. scope and timing), varying top management emphasis, as well as distinct underlying objectives. These strategy choices had significant implications for organisational MCS. In response, a wide range of controls and control systems were adopted. These can be classified into eight MCS component types and three MCS component groups, each of which supported one or more environmental strategies. Managers varied the degree of use of these MCS component types and groups to match the level of strategy proactiveness and top management emphasis pursued within each period. Additionally, the organisational MCS was underlined by three main objectives (cost control, competitiveness, and legitimacy) which in turn were driven by each generator’s primary strategy objectives and GCCP-related external exposure. This study addresses a number of gaps in the academic literature and demonstrates the merits of a multiple-theoretical framework in examining GCCP-related strategy and MCS changes. The results also have significant implications for managers and practitioners when planning organisational adaptation to a carbon-constrained economy. Further, the study provides a useful basis for regulators and policy-makers in making the appropriate assessment and providing advice to improve the GCCPs’ environmental and economic outcomes.</p>

The Climate for Change: the Conditions for Effective Climate Change Policies: a Case Study on Residential Home Insulation Policies in New Zealand and Germany

<p>Changes in the global climate and the insecure future of the world's energy supply place unprecedented risks and uncertainties before mankind. Massive changes need to occur, driven by effective policies. But what is the ideal climate for change? With a case study on insulation policies for the residential building sector this thesis aims to identify the conditions for a climate for change. This thesis explores the factors that help or hinder change and the structures that enable change and enhance implementation. Within a particular policy area, i.e. residential home insulation, this thesis examines the impacts on policy development and implementation of environmental and resources pressures, the strength of centre-left and green parties and the levels of corporatism in New Zealand and Germany. The case study of insulation policies in New Zealand and Germany has been chosen because of similar policy aspirations and rhetoric in the two countries but differing policy achievements and outcomes. The thesis compares three decades of policy making and implementation in Germany and New Zealand and finds that, if environmental and resource pressures are high, corporatist structures may impact positively on climate change policy development and implementation. It also finds that in pluralist countries centre-left and green party strength may be more important for the success of climate change policies than in corporatist countries.</p>

The Climate for Change: the Conditions for Effective Climate Change Policies: a Case Study on Residential Home Insulation Policies in New Zealand and Germany

<p>Changes in the global climate and the insecure future of the world's energy supply place unprecedented risks and uncertainties before mankind. Massive changes need to occur, driven by effective policies. But what is the ideal climate for change? With a case study on insulation policies for the residential building sector this thesis aims to identify the conditions for a climate for change. This thesis explores the factors that help or hinder change and the structures that enable change and enhance implementation. Within a particular policy area, i.e. residential home insulation, this thesis examines the impacts on policy development and implementation of environmental and resources pressures, the strength of centre-left and green parties and the levels of corporatism in New Zealand and Germany. The case study of insulation policies in New Zealand and Germany has been chosen because of similar policy aspirations and rhetoric in the two countries but differing policy achievements and outcomes. The thesis compares three decades of policy making and implementation in Germany and New Zealand and finds that, if environmental and resource pressures are high, corporatist structures may impact positively on climate change policy development and implementation. It also finds that in pluralist countries centre-left and green party strength may be more important for the success of climate change policies than in corporatist countries.</p>

Strategy-Driven Implications for the Management Control Systems of Electricity Generators due to Government Climate Change Policies

<p>The New Zealand Government has developed and revised different climate change policies (GCCPs) over the last nine years in order to meet its Kyoto obligations and address the challenges of climate change. The key GCCPs are the carbon tax proposed in 2002 but cancelled in 2005; the Projects to Reduce Emissions (PRE) scheme during 2003-2004; and an emissions trading scheme (ETS) announced in 2007, legislated in 2008 and then modified in 2009. These GCCP changes are likely to impose significant costs and additional volatilities and pressures on electricity generators because their production activities are emissions-intensive. Consequently generators have been the direct targets of various GCCPs. This study addresses the following research question: “What are the management control system (MCS) implications arising from strategy choices New Zealand electricity generators make in managing economic volatility and societal pressures resulting from a prolonged period of GCCP change?”. In answering this question, the study adopts a multiple-theory research framework that builds on insights from prior literature and the theoretical perspectives of transactional cost economics, institutional theory and resource-based theory. This study uses a multiple-case study that analyses interviews and 10-years of documentary data related to five major generators within the New Zealand electricity industry over five periods from 2000 to 2009. The results suggest that GCCP changes impose external economic volatilities and societal pressures on the generators and affect their costs, market competitiveness, and social legitimacy. The diversity of internal characteristics and capabilities of the generators are found to moderate their relative degree of exposure to these external volatilities and pressures. Ten GCCP-related environmental strategies were formulated and implemented by the generators, with different levels of proactiveness (i.e. scope and timing), varying top management emphasis, as well as distinct underlying objectives. These strategy choices had significant implications for organisational MCS. In response, a wide range of controls and control systems were adopted. These can be classified into eight MCS component types and three MCS component groups, each of which supported one or more environmental strategies. Managers varied the degree of use of these MCS component types and groups to match the level of strategy proactiveness and top management emphasis pursued within each period. Additionally, the organisational MCS was underlined by three main objectives (cost control, competitiveness, and legitimacy) which in turn were driven by each generator’s primary strategy objectives and GCCP-related external exposure. This study addresses a number of gaps in the academic literature and demonstrates the merits of a multiple-theoretical framework in examining GCCP-related strategy and MCS changes. The results also have significant implications for managers and practitioners when planning organisational adaptation to a carbon-constrained economy. Further, the study provides a useful basis for regulators and policy-makers in making the appropriate assessment and providing advice to improve the GCCPs’ environmental and economic outcomes.</p>

Climate change adaptation through spatial planning: the case study of the region of Western Macedonia

In this paper the compatibility and complementarity between the Regional Adaptation Action Plans (RAAPs) and other regional-scaled plans, such as the Regional Spatial Planning Frameworks (RSPFs), are examined, using as a case study the Region of Western Macedonia. The compatibility and complementarity of objectives, measures and tools between the RAAP and the RSPF of Western Macedonia are assessed. The analysis of the RAAP and the RSPF of Western Macedonia revealed the interconnection between spatial planning policies and adaptation to climate change policies. However, severe doubts are raised about the usability of the revised RSPF of Western Macedonia since it does not assess the crucial new conditions and priorities related to the region’s future development, including the de-lignification and the Just Transition initiatives.

“Don’t confuse me with facts”—how right wing populism affects trust in agencies advocating anthropogenic climate change as a reality

Everyday public denial of anthropogenically caused climate change (ACC) has complex antecedents and exists on both individual and institutional levels. Earlier research has linked ACC denial to opposition to formal science and elites, perceived threats to the industrialist capitalist order and existing system properties. Research also suggest that trust in public organizations is a key factor in determining support or opposition to climate change policies. In this paper, we explore the possibility that right wing populism and anti-elitist attitudes fuel both ACC denial and low trust in environmental institutions. We surveyed a representative sample of Norwegians (N = 3032) to measure ACC denial, how denial is linked to socio-demographic characteristics, trust in environmental institutions, attitudes toward elites and immigration, as well as environmental attitude orientations. Results show that lack of trust in environmental institutions is strongly associated with ACC denial, and furthermore that the degree of trust—or lack thereof—is partly a function of anti-elitist attitudes, opposition to migration and views of nature.

Enlightening the coastal communities of Bengkalis Island on climate change policies

Coastal communities are some of the most vulnerable groups to the effects of climate change. The Non-Governmental Organization of the Environmental Malay Youth Institute (LSM IPMPL), a partner of the three villages on Bengkalis Island, has traced the communities’ ignorance of climate change policies to the poor digital literacy of community members. This has had an impact on the involvement of community components and local village governments in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. This community service provides assistance, socialization, and training to improve the literacy of the coastal communities of Bengkalis Island, especially as it concerns their access to climate change policies. The results of this activity show an increase in the communities’ knowledge, abilities, skills, and digital awareness of the government's efforts towards forming a climate-resilient society. Furthermore, the activity produced social impact as it increased peace, improved the community's economy and improved the quality of the community's living environment.