We evaluate the impact of a variety of energy efficiency policies on residential energy demand in six major EU economies (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Sweden) from 1990 to 2015. We find that both financing policies, such as loan facilities and subsidies, and building codes, as approximated by U-Values, have been effective at reducing energy demand for space heating. We additionally find the short term price and income effects to be inelastic, with elasticity coefficients of-0.2 and 0.2 respectively.
AbstractThis article reviews the history of the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative, its activities in capacity building and policy-oriented research, and case studies at its centres in Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. EfD promotes research-based policies to manage natural resources as engines of development. Since 1991, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has provided funding for students from developing countries to earn a PhD at the Environmental Economics Unit (EEU) of the University of Gothenburg. Returning home, these economists face institutional and academic gaps that limit the adoption of research-based policies. In response, the first EfD centre was founded in 2004, and six more followed. Research focuses on agriculture, climate, fisheries, parks, wildlife, forestry, energy and policy design. This has yielded 200 peer-reviewed articles. Successful policy outcomes depend on relationships with policy makers, community involvement in livelihood strategies, strengthened institutional support, interdisciplinary approaches, and dissemination of research results.
Non-technical summary We summarize some of the past year's most important findings within climate change-related research. New research has improved our understanding about the remaining options to achieve the Paris Agreement goals, through overcoming political barriers to carbon pricing, taking into account non-CO2 factors, a well-designed implementation of demand-side and nature-based solutions, resilience building of ecosystems and the recognition that climate change mitigation costs can be justified by benefits to the health of humans and nature alone. We consider new insights about what to expect if we fail to include a new dimension of fire extremes and the prospect of cascading climate tipping elements.
In: Martin , M A , Sendra , O A , Bastos , A , Bauer , N , Bertram , C , Blenckner , T , Bowen , K , Brando , P M , Rudolph , T B , Büchs , M , Bustamante , M , Chen , D , Cleugh , H , Dasgupta , P , Denton , F , Donges , J F , Donkor , F K , Duan , H , Duarte , C M , Ebi , K L , Edwards , C M , Engel , A , Fisher , E , Fuss , S , Gaertner , J , Gettelman , A , Girardin , C A J , Golledge , N R , Green , J F , Grose , M R , Hashizume , M , Hebden , S , Hepach , H , Hirota , M , Hsu , H H , Kojima , S , Lele , S , Lorek , S , Lotze , H K , Matthews , H D , McCauley , D , Mebratu , D , Mengis , N , Nolan , R H , Pihl , E , Rahmstorf , S , Redman , A , Reid , C E , Rockström , J , Rogelj , J , Saunois , M , Sayer , L , Schlosser , P , Sioen , G B , Spangenberg , J H , Stammer , D , Sterner , T N S , Stevens , N , Thonicke , K , Tian , H , Winkelmann , R & Woodcock , J 2021 , ' Ten new insights in climate science 2021 : A horizon scan ' , Global Sustainability , vol. 4 , E25 . https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2021.25
Non-technical summary We summarize some of the past year's most important findings within climate change-related research. New research has improved our understanding about the remaining options to achieve the Paris Agreement goals, through overcoming political barriers to carbon pricing, taking into account non-CO2 factors, a well-designed implementation of demand-side and nature-based solutions, resilience building of ecosystems and the recognition that climate change mitigation costs can be justified by benefits to the health of humans and nature alone. We consider new insights about what to expect if we fail to include a new dimension of fire extremes and the prospect of cascading climate tipping elements. Technical summary A synthesis is made of 10 topics within climate research, where there have been significant advances since January 2020. The insights are based on input from an international open call with broad disciplinary scope. Findings include: (1) the options to still keep global warming below 1.5 °C; (2) the impact of non-CO2 factors in global warming; (3) a new dimension of fire extremes forced by climate change; (4) the increasing pressure on interconnected climate tipping elements; (5) the dimensions of climate justice; (6) political challenges impeding the effectiveness of carbon pricing; (7) demand-side solutions as vehicles of climate mitigation; (8) the potentials and caveats of nature-based solutions; (9) how building resilience of marine ecosystems is possible; and (10) that the costs of climate change mitigation policies can be more than justified by the benefits to the health of humans and nature. Social media summary How do we limit global warming to 1.5 °C and why is it crucial? See highlights of latest climate science.