Energy Efficiency and GHG Emissions Mapping of Buildings for Decision-Making Processes against Climate Change at the Local Level

Buildings have become a key source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the consumption of primary energy, especially when used to achieve thermal comfort conditions. In addition, buildings play a key role for adapting societies to climate change by achieving more energy efficiency. Therefore, buildings have become a key sector to tackle climate change at the local level. However, public decision-makers do not have tools with enough spatial resolution to prioritise and focus the available resources and efforts in an efficient manner. The objective of the research is to develop an innovative methodology based on a geographic information system (GIS) for mapping primary energy consumption and GHG emissions in buildings in cities according to energy efficiency certificates. The developed methodology has been tested in a representative medium-sized city in Spain, obtaining an accurate analysis that shows 32,000 t of CO2 emissions due to primary energy consumption of 140 GWh in residential buildings with high spatial resolution at single building level. The obtained results demonstrate that the majority of residential buildings have low levels of energy efficiency and emit an average of 45 kg CO2/m2. Compared to the national average in Spain, this obtained value is on the average, while it is slightly better at the regional level. Furthermore, the results obtained demonstrate that the developed methodology is able to directly identify city districts with highest potential for improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions. Additionally, a data model adapted to the INSPIRE regulation has been developed in order to ensure interoperability and European-wide application. All these results have allowed the local authorities to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition. In conclusion, public decision-makers will be supported with an innovative and user-friendly GIS-based methodology to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition in a more efficient and transparent way based on metrics of high spatial resolution and accuracy.

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Energy Retrofitting Opportunities Using Renewable Materials—Comparative Analysis of the Current Frameworks in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13020603 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 603

Author(s):

Darija Gajić ◽

Slobodan Peulić ◽

Tim Mavrič ◽

Anna Sandak ◽

Črtomir Tavzes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Residential Buildings ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Primary Energy ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Resource Exploitation ◽

Renewable Materials ◽

Building Stock ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

Eu Member States

Sustainable approaches for retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency are becoming necessary in a time when the building sector is the largest energy consumer. Retrofitting building stock is effective for reducing global energy consumption and decreasing resource exploitation. Less developed EU member states and neighboring developing countries show reluctance towards healthy and renewable materials. Implementation of sustainable materials for energy retrofitting is slowed down due to gaps in legislation and effective strategic programs, availability of bio-based materials, lack of knowledge regarding use and maintenance of renewable products, and marketing lobbies. Use of bio-based materials in refurbishment is important due to their negative or low global warming potential (GWP), low primary energy (PEI) need for production, cost-effective benefits, and recycling/reuse potential. Role of environmentally friendly solutions and low-carbon economy growth is particularly relevant in developing countries, such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, that cannot afford innovative energy recovery systems, yet possess a significant amount of poorly managed building stock. This research aims to analyze frameworks regarding retrofitting of residential buildings in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia. The analysis tackles indirect causes, studies the legal background, and examines strategic frameworks; thus, it indicates potential barriers for implementation of recommended retrofitting solutions based on renewable materials.

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Brazilian Climate Change Law

10.1093/law/9780199684601.003.0032 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Karen Alvarenga Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Policy ◽

National Policy ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Governance Structure ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Adaptation To Climate Change ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Change Policy

This chapter examines the climate change policy of Brazil. In 2010 at the Sixteenth Conference of Parties in Cancún, Brazil announced its voluntary national target of significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 36.1 per cent and 38.9 per cent of projected emissions by 2020. These targets were defined in the Brazilian National Policy on Climate Change (PNMC). The PNMC establishes principles, guidelines, and economic instruments for reaching the national voluntary targets. It relies on sectoral plans for mitigation and adaptation to climate change in order to facilitate the move towards a low-carbon economy. The PNMC defined various aspects related to the measurement of goals, formulation of sectoral plans and of action plans for the prevention and control of deforestation in all Brazilian biomes, and governance structure.

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Economics of a low-carbon future

Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh ◽

10.1017/s1755691013000042 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 103 (2) ◽

pp. 149-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nick Hanley ◽

Dervla Brennan

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Local Level ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Economic Factors ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Carbon Taxes ◽

Adaptation To Climate Change ◽

Market Mechanisms ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

The Cost

ABSTRACTThis paper sets out some of the economic factors underpinning Scotland's move to a low-carbon economy. Economics matters, since it addresses the costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the costs of climate change impacts, and the economic factors that motivate individuals' behaviour and the behaviour of businesses. All of these are important in understanding the barriers to meeting targets and to successful adaptation, and in thinking about how these barriers can be lifted. We discuss the relative merits of market mechanisms such as carbon taxes and cap-and-trade, the cost of including additional targets, and the issue of counting carbon embedded in imported goods. An efficient way of achieving carbon reductions is to widen the scope of carbon trading to include forestry, transport and agriculture. Energy efficiency in businesses and households and adaptation to climate change are a priority, because the benefits will be felt in the short term and at the local level.

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Energy efficiency in buildings: Middle-class status as a trigger for the European fight against climate change

European View ◽

10.1177/1781685819883964 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 163-170

Author(s):

Iva Svobodová

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Middle Class ◽

Driving Forces ◽

Energy Transition ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Great Opportunity ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

Class Status

After signing the COP 21 Paris Agreement, the EU pledged to become the leading force in the transition to a low-carbon economy. To this end, a new legislative package called ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ was passed at the end of 2018. By setting targets for the energy transition, the legislation represents both a great challenge and a great opportunity for European society. The package puts energy efficiency and the active participation of consumers at its core, and so does this article. Focusing on the specific role of buildings, the article argues that the package has significantly increased the potential for the middle class to become one of the driving forces behind the energy transition. Because of specific historical and social developments, the middle class has become capable of being and willing to be involved in environmental protection, and the package has given them more tools to be so.

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Challenges and Opportunities of Mongolia’s response to mitigate climate change

Journal of International Studies ◽

10.5564/jis.v44i112.1588 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (112) ◽

pp. 140-156

Author(s):

Selenge Khishgee

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Primary Energy ◽

Energy Sector ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Mitigate Climate Change

As part of the nationally determined contribution to the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Mongolia aimsto reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 2.7% by 2030. The country’s per capita of greenhouse gas emissions are 2.7 times higher than the world average and relatively high in the region, and this is becoming a major issue. This is due to the fact that coal alone accounts for more than 90% of primary energy production, whereas renewable energy accounts for a smallproportion of total energy sources. Therefore, the role of the energy sector that emits the most greenhouse gas is important in reducing its fossil fuel consumption.This study addresses the key issues facing Mongolia’s energy sector in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and identifies opportunities for further actions. Furthermore, this will contribute to other studies on sustainable development, transition to a low-carbon economy, and implementation of energy policy recommendations. Монгол орны уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлтийг сааруулах боломж, тулгарч буй сорилт (Эрчим хүчний салбарын жишээн дээр) Хураангуй: Уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлтийн тухай Парисын хэлэлцээрийг хэрэгжүүлэх үндэсний хэмжээнд тодорхойлсон хувь нэмрийн (ҮХТХН/ NDC) хүрээнд манай улс хүлэмжийн хийн ялгарлыг (ХХЯ) 2030 он гэхэд 22,7% бууруулахаар зорилт тавин ажиллаж байна. Монгол Улсын нэг хүнд ногдох ХХЯ нь дэлхийн дунджаас даруй 2,7 дахин их, бүс нутгийн хэмжээнд харьцангуй өндөр байгаа нь тулгамдаж буй асуудал болж байна. Үүний гол шалтгаан нь анхагдагч эрчим хүчний бүтээгдэхүүний үйлдвэрлэлийн 90 гаруй хувийг нүүрс дангаараа бүрдүүлж, сэргээгдэх эрчим хүчний эх үүсвэр нь нийт эрчим хүчний эх үүсвэрт багахан хувийг эзэлж байгаатай холбоотой юм. Тиймээс ХХЯ-ыг хамгийн ихээр ялгаруулж буй эрчим хүчний салбарын хатуу түлшний хэрэглээг багасгахад гүйцэтгэх үүрэг чухал байна. Энэхүү өгүүлэлд хүлэмжийн хийг бууруулахад манай улсын эрчимхүчний салбарт тулгамдаж буй гол гол асуудлыг хөндөж цаашид авч хэрэгжүүлэх боломж, гаргалгааг тодорхойлохыг зорьлоо. Ингэснээр тогтвортой хөгжил, бага нүүрстөрөгчийн эдийн засагт шилжих, эрчим хүчний бодлогын зөвлөмжийг хэрэгжүүлэх бусад судалгаанд хувь нэмэр оруулахад оршино. Түлхүүр үгс: Монгол Улс, Уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлт, Эрчим хүчний салбар, боломж, сорилт

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Energy Transition Indicators in African Countries: Managing the Possible Decline of Fossil Fuels and Tackling Energy Access Challenges

Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (The) ◽

10.4314/jsdlp.v12i1.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 1-48

Author(s):

Victoria Nalule ◽

Theophilus Acheampong

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Energy Transition ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Energy Access ◽

African Countries ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

Tackle Climate Change ◽

Definition Of

The global move to tackle climate change as envisaged in the 2015 Paris Agreement has necessitated debates and action geared towards transitioning to a low carbon economy. Although there is no agreed international definition of energy transition, the focus has been put to a shift from fossil fuels to renewables. This paper is intended to contribute to the global debate on energy transition with a focus on the initiatives taking place in a few selected countries. The argument in this paper is to the effect that many developing countries still need fossil fuels to tackle energy access challenges and ensure economic growth. Nevertheless, this does not in any way mean that these countries are climate change deniers. In this respect, the question to be addressed in this article is how can we measure energy transition efforts in developing countries? In responding to this question, the article attempts to develop and analyse some key energy transition indicators.

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Equator Principles 4-Revised Climate Change Risk: What Does This Mean For Project Financing in Africa Amidst The Ongoing Energy Transition?

Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (The) ◽

10.4314/jsdlp.v12i1.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 72-91

Author(s):

Ailly P.G. Sheehama

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Risk Management ◽

Energy Transition ◽

Social Risk ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Project Financing ◽

Climate Change Risk ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

Wide Range ◽

Equator Principles

Since its inception, the Equator Principles Association introduced a risk management framework in response to the ever-changing environmental and social risk in projects. The Equator Principles (EPs) result from minimum standards for risk management to stop the race to the bottom. In June 2013, EP3 was introduced, and climate change requirements were added to address the 'transition towards an ethical and low-carbon economy.' This eventually led to the newly revised Equator Principles 4 (EP4s), 'Climate Change Risk Assessment' (transition risk), in July 2020. This article analyses the effect of the transition risk of EP4 to determine whether this new addition will support or inhibit oil and gas project financing in Africa amidst the ongoing energy transition by questioning the underlying assumptions upon which the policy design was developed. The article concluded that consideration for project financing in Africa could be expected to address the energy needs in Africa while at the same time essentially pushing governments to take into consideration climate change by putting in place processes, policies, and systems to manage these risks.' Furthermore, the transition risks definition and implementing standards of EP4 are broadly worded, allowing adapting the principles to a wide range of regimes that positively contribute to these domains. This essentially enables consideration of ethical transition and provides for coordination and coherence across different policy domains.

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Regionalisation of needs to reduce GHG emission from agriculture in Poland

Geographia Polonica ◽

10.7163/gpol.0178 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 93 (3) ◽

pp. 361-376

Author(s):

Mariusz Kistowski ◽

Paweł Wiśniewski

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Local Level ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Agricultural Activity ◽

Agricultural Activities ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Ghg Emission ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

The One ◽

Carbon Economy

An important element in the local shaping of a low-carbon economy, as well as one of the key areas of activity in communal plans for its development should be rural areas and their related agricultural activities. This is due on the one hand to the significant share of agriculture in total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Poland (on average about 8%, locally as much as 20-50%), and on the other hand to the high potential of rural areas to use their resources to increase carbon sequestration in biomass and soil, reduce GHG emissions, as well as use agricultural activity for the development of renewable energy. The paper, based on the results of mathematical modelling of GHG emission from agricultural sources in all Polish communes, attempts to regionalize the needs of integrating agriculture and rural areas into the development of low-carbon economy at the local level. For this purpose, the guiding factors for regionalisation of the needs for mitigation actions were determined, and a regionalisation of these needs as well as a typology of the distinguished regions were, consequently, developed. The regions with the most urgent needs for mitigation actions were indicated, as well as the directions of mitigation actions for particular types of regions.

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Evolution of Transparency Reporting towards Effective Transition to Low Carbon Economy in Vietnam

Sustainability in Environment ◽

10.22158/se.v5n3p50 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. p50

Author(s):

Nguyen Van Thang ◽

Luong Quang Huy ◽

Mai Kim Lien ◽

Tran Do Bao Trung ◽

Do Hong Hanh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Paris Agreement ◽

Emissions Reduction ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Low Carbon Economy ◽

Change Commitment ◽

Relevant Stakeholder ◽

Carbon Economy ◽

The Way

The paper analyzed the evolution of policies to reduce GHG emissions reduction in Vietnam, primarily to fulfill its transparency commitment under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. The uncertainty in the transparency rules of the Paris Agreement will be considered to sketch-out the most likely options for developing national policies to meet the future transparency requirements. The key actors and factors in Vietnam impacted by the policies are illustrated. To analyze the extent of penetration of transparency actions and future potentials provided these options, the progress of building congruence toward domesticating international norms of climate change in Vietnam by empirical assessment of the readiness to implement the ETF is conducted. In their turns, the way each relevant stakeholder responded to newly introduced requirements has a profound impact on policy making and enforcement in Vietnam and can represent a typical example of how the community react to a shift in transparency frameworks. Besides, the paper explores how the transparency policies will imply on the monitoring the transition to a low carbon economy in Vietnam under those reactions and the recommend the way forwards that the country may adopt to make its climate change commitment achieved and benefit significantly from the process.

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The Implementation Approach of LCCF Checklist in Development Control: Challenges for policymakers

Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal ◽

10.21834/e-bpj.v4i12.1910 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (12) ◽

Author(s):

T B A

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Carbon Emissions ◽

Local Authority ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Local Level ◽

Control Process ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Local Authorities ◽

Development Control

Global warming, climate change is now affecting the world. The effort of the leaders to achieving the sustainable development is from New Urban Agenda (NUA), Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and local level is local authorities. SDG’s goal number 13 takes urgent action to combat climate change and its impact also SDG’s number 11 to sustainable cities and communities. The gap of this paper Different cities face different challenges and issues. Local authorities will play a significant role in undertaking policy initiatives to combat carbon emissions of the city. Low Carbon Cities (LCC) is to reduce carbon emissions in all human activities in cities. The objective of this paper is by applying the LCCF Checklist in planning permission for sustainable development. The methodology of this research is a mixed-method, namely quantitative and qualitative approach. The survey methods are by interview, questionnaire, and observation. Town planners are the subject matter expert in managing the planning permission submission for the development control of their areas. Descriptive statistical analysis will be used to show the willingness of the stakeholders, namely the developers and planning consultants in implementing of the LCCF. The contribution of this research will gauge readiness at the local authorities level. The findings of the LCCF checklist are identified as important in planning permission into the development control process. Surprisingly, that challenges and issues exist in multifaceted policy implementation the LCCF Checklist in a local authority. Finally based on Subang Jaya Municipal Councils, the existing approach in the application of the LCCF Checklist in the development control process will be useful for development control in a local authority towards sustainable development.

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