The shifting to green and low-carbon economy is at the heart of carbon neutrality actions worldwide. Green and Low-Carbon Economy (GLCE) publishes significant original research that seeks to understand and address the economic challenges in transitioning to a carbon-neutral world. The journal aims to advance the understanding of how to achieve a green and low-carbon economy, its human and policy dimensions, and potential solutions. Our mission is to provide a single and leading platform to facilitate cross-disciplinary dialogue around the green and low-carbon economy research from the economy, social, environmental, management, and applied sciences that seek to answer questions like: The measurement, drivers, and mechanisms of green and low-carbon economy Barriers and strategies to green and low-carbon economy transition The social, political, and technological pathways for green and low-carbon economy The journal is a Gold Open Access journal, online readers don't have to pay any fee. The journal is currently free to the authors, and all Article Processing Charges (APCs) are waived until 28 February 2026.
Do Climate Policies Incentivize Firms to Commit to Setting a GHG Emissions Target?
Since the 2016 Paris Agreement, firms have faced growing pressure to act on climate change, yet the influence of national climate policy frameworks on corporate target-setting remains underexplored. This paper examines whether advances in national climate policy are associated with firms' decisions to commit to setting greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. To do so, we build a firm-level panel by matching public firms in the Science-Based Targets initiative to the national climate policy index, part of the Climate Change Performance Index, and green bond issuance from the Climate Bonds Initiative, covering 32 economies over 2017–2022. Moreover, the inclusion of firms from emerging economies contributes to the literature by recognizing the structural and institutional constraints that may hinder corporate commitments to set emissions targets. Using a correlated random effects probit model that accounts for unobserved firm heterogeneity, we find that stronger national climate policies are associated with a higher probability of commitment: a one-point increase in the policy index is associated with a rise of 8.3 and 8.9 percentage points for companies operating in advanced economies and emerging economies, respectively. Such results are concentrated in nonfinancial firms and low-emitting sectors. Green bond issuance is positively, though modestly, related to commitment. Taken together, the findings suggest that national climate policy advances are strongly associated with committing to set GHG emissions targets, but companies in high-emitting sectors may require additional, sector-specific incentives. Received: 20 May 2025 | Revised: 15 October 2025 | Accepted: 7 December 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Firm-level information on corporate commitments and target validation is publicly available from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) at https://sciencebasedtargets.org/target-dashboard. Aggregate green-bond issuance is obtained from the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) at https://www.climatebonds.net/data-insights/market-data/certified-climate-bonds-database. Due to confidentiality agreements, the raw CCPI data are not publicly available. Author Contribution Statement Marco Hernandez-Vega: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration. Eduardo Martinez: Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Visualization.
Copyright (c) 2026 Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Digital Technologies for Real-Time Carbon Accounting in Circular Economy Frameworks
Carbon accounting has emerged as a key tool to drive the transition to circular economy models and achieve global climate goals. This review examines various digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, digital twins, and cloud platforms that play a critical role in accurately and in real-time monitoring of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and facilitate transparency in life-cycle carbon accounting. These technologies can provide a major contribution to data accuracy, but they also represent barriers to the application of low-carbon innovations and floor-filling in chains with improved reliability. However, the growth of these technologies is challenged by problems such as non-independent standards, different methodologies, and limited access to digital infrastructure. It also puts an emphasis on the revolutionary potential of carbon accounting, which is helped by digital tools, to handle carbon emissions in a way that can be seen and verified at a large scale. The technologies that are introduced here enable the quick flow of information from on-the-spot monitoring to evaluation-driven decision-making, thus making the shift to a sustainable, low-carbon economy considerably quicker. The research points out various aspects regarding the technology opportunities and limitations that need to be addressed to ensure the maximum impact of technology in promoting sustainable practices across different industries. This research underscores the importance of developing standardized approaches and cross-sector collaborations to fully leverage digital tools in the carbon accounting space. Received: 7 August 2025 | Revised: 26 September 2025 | Accepted: 14 October 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. Author Contribution Statement Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi Borazjani: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Shahzada Adeel: Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Copyright (c) 2025 Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sustainable Construction Logistics, Part 1: A Theoretical Research Approach
This study aims to explore the sustainable development of construction logistics based on a conceptual framework. This study investigates how the criteria of sustainability, benchmarking, and orientation management of construction projects can support the sustainable development of construction logistic practices. General indicators and criteria of sustainability are first developed to be in integrated with the construction logistic plan and used as a basis for benchmarking and orientation management of urban stakeholders of construction projects. This can help in tracking changes in environmental, social, and economic conditions affecting the logistic operations of construction projects and can make construction companies more adaptable to hidden factors and unexpected problems related to sustainability. Benchmarking can open construction companies to new sustainability methods, ideas, and tools to continuously improve their effectiveness. Orientation management of stakeholders will lead to increased awareness among stakeholders and project actors, thereby improving logistic operations throughout the supply chain to create an efficient organization focused on sustainable development. Other aspects related to the sustainability of construction logistics are also discussed in this paper. Received: 30 May 2025 | Revised: 20 October 2025 | Accepted: 30 October 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. Author Contribution Statement Osama A. B. Hassan: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing– original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration.
Copyright (c) 2025 Author https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Evolution of Carbon Market: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Study
The carbon market has emerged as a pivotal instrument in global climate policy, yet comprehensive analyses of its scholarly evolution remain limited. This study conducts a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 491 Scopus-indexed publications (2000–2024) to map the intellectual structure and thematic trajectories of carbon market research. Using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, we employ performance analysis and science mapping techniques to identify key trends, influential contributors, and research clusters. Results reveal exponential growth in publications post–Paris Agreement, with China, the USA, and Australia dominating output. Thematic evolution demonstrates a shift from early focus on Kyoto Protocol mechanisms to contemporary emphasis on carbon neutrality, pricing efficiency, and low-carbon technologies. Co-citation analysis identifies five research clusters: (1) carbon pricing policy design, (2) market efficiency and financialization, (3) international climate agreements, (4) corporate carbon strategies, and (5) technological innovation. Notably, critical perspectives on equity and governance remain marginalized, representing just 9% of high-impact studies. The geographic concentration of research (76% from OECD nations) highlights disparities in scholarly attention relative to Global South market implementations. Our findings yield three key policy insights: first, market designs must integrate dynamic cap-setting and price stabilization tools; second, governance frameworks require explicit equity safeguards; third, global harmonization of accounting standards is urgent. By synthesizing over 20 years of research, this paper highlights the importance of carbon markets in achieving global climate goals and identifies areas that require further exploration, including market design, equity, and environmental integrity. Received: 9 May 2025 | Revised: 25 June 2025 | Accepted: 20 October 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Ghanashyam Khanal: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Project administration. Niranjan Devkota: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration. Ramkrishna Chapagain: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Project administration. Chandra Kanta Khanal: Data curation, Writing – review & editing, Visualization.
bibliometric analysis and systematic review
Driving the Green and Low-Carbon Economy Through Digital Innovation: Insights from China's Inclusive Carbon Benefit Mechanism
Climate change mitigation requires not only industrial transformation but also behavioral shifts at the consumer level. This systematic analysis examines China's pioneering inclusive carbon benefit policies, which integrate digital technologies to incentivize low-carbon behaviors among individuals and small- to medium-sized enterprises. Since the concept's inception in 2009, carbon inclusion has evolved into a national strategy, formally recognized in China's 2022 climate policy framework. This analysis synthesizes policy developments, standardization efforts, and practical implementations across 39 case studies, categorizing them into government-led, firm-led, and hybrid models. Findings highlight that diversified, government-guided mechanisms with active private sector participation are the most effective in promoting sustained green behavior, enhancing public engagement, and contributing to China's dual carbon goals of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 (hereafter referred to as "dual carbon goals"). The integration of digital platforms, standardized emission accounting, and incentive structures has transformed voluntary actions into measurable carbon assets. The study also explores emerging practices in advanced carbon accounting, including the concept of Scope 4 emissions, and evaluates China's role in setting global precedents for digitalized carbon neutrality frameworks. Challenges such as inconsistent standards, limited market incentives, and integration barriers are discussed, alongside recommendations for policy enhancement and broader application. In conclusion, China's carbon inclusive approach demonstrates a scalable model for fostering green lifestyles through multi-stakeholder collaboration and digital innovation. This mechanism offers valuable insights for global efforts in consumer-end emission reduction and highlights the critical role of behavioral change in achieving climate targets. It will contribute to advancing digitalized climate governance and offer practical insights for policymakers worldwide. Received: 26 April 2025 | Revised: 6 August 2025 | Accepted: 19 September 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. Author Contribution Statement Li Zhang: Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition. Dongjie Sun: Methodology, Software, Resources, Data curation, Funding acquisition. Lan Tao: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition. Jingzhe Ren: Methodology, Investigation, Project administration. Xue Yu: Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Visualization. Yizheng Zhang: Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Visualization. Fangyi Yang: Validation, Investigation, Writing – original draft. Hongying Zeng: Conceptualization.
Reverse Logistics Network Design for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Emerging Market Economies: A Historical Case Study of Greater Shanghai, China
The sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – also referred to as e-waste or e-scrap – is a major policy issue in emerging market economies like China. This study explores the initial phase of practical eco-innovation policy implementation, elucidating the foundational challenge of techno-organizational infrastructure development for environmentally sound WEEE recovery and disposal in China. A discrete mixed-integer linear programming model for WEEE reverse logistics network design is introduced and applied to the historical real-world case of Greater Shanghai. The computational results offer scenario-based insights into the cost-optimal determination of facility locations for regional WEEE treatment from a multi-staged network system perspective, illuminating underlying cost structures and the intricate contextual factors shaping location solutions. This facilitates the derivation of strategic locational recommendations for integrated network system design. The study concludes by pointing to societal challenges involved in practical eco-innovation policy enforcement toward achieving (more) holistically sustainable WEEE recovery and disposal in China. Received: 15 April 2025 | Revised: 23 June 2025 | Accepted: 19 September 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Steffen Wolfer: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition.
waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Climate Transition Risk and Debt Capital Costs: Empirical Evidence from the Energy and Utilities Sectors
Although transition risks from climate change, such as regulatory shifts, market disruption, consumer preferences, and evolving technologies, are increasingly acknowledged by financial institutions, most empirical research has focused on equity markets, leaving the impact on corporate debt markets underexplored. In particular, few studies have examined how different dimensions of transition risk affect the cost of debt (COD), especially across firms operating in high-emission sectors. This paper addresses this gap by investigating whether and how climate-related transition risks are priced into the COD for international utilities and energy companies. Using a balanced panel dataset of 219 firms from 2012 to 2017, we propose a two-step approach. First, we apply principal component analysis to construct a multidimensional transition risk index. We identify two distinct components: a contemporaneous risk factor (called present risk) capturing firms' existing energy portfolio composition and emission intensity, and a forward risk factor (called future risk) capturing future-oriented exposures such as fossil fuel reserves and investment patterns. Second, we use panel regression analysis, which shows that the current risk dimension significantly increases borrowing costs throughout the period whereas the future risk dimension exhibits statistical significance exclusively from 2015 onward, coinciding with rising investor awareness following the Paris Agreement. These findings contribute to the growing literature on climate finance by offering a nuanced understanding of how transition risks are internalized in corporate debt pricing. Received: 21 February 2025 | Revised: 24 June 2025 | Accepted: 27 August 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The data that support the findings of this study are a property of Trucost ESG Analysis S&P Global, Orbis Moody's, and Vigeo Eiris VE Moody's, subject to data user license agreements, and are not openly available. Author Contribution Statement Vincent Bouchet: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Project administration. Patricia Crifo: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition.
Does China's Environmental Protection Tax Improve Corporate ESG Performance? Causal Inference Based on Double Machine Learning
The environmental protection tax (EPT), a market-based environmental control mechanism, is essential for enhancing the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of corporations. Using a Double Machine Learning (DML) model, this study empirically investigates the impact of EPT on corporate ESG performance using panel data of the Chinese A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2023. The results illustrate that the EPT improves corporate ESG performance. Furthermore, supplementary robustness tests provide confirmation of the incentive impact. Corporate ESG performance can be enhanced by the EPT through two distinct mechanisms: motivating green technological innovation and increasing green total factor productivity. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the effect of the EPT in promoting corporate ESG performance is more evident in non-state-owned firms, eastern and central regions, and firms with a high proportion of institutional investors. The results of this study have some policy implications for environmental protection that might be educational for many developing nations throughout the world. Received: 17 February 2025 | Revised: 30 July 2025 | Accepted: 30 October 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Yuqiang Gao: Conceptualization, Validation, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Shengchang Jiao: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Investigation, Writing – original draft. Kaihua Wang: Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing. Di Yuan: Validation, Writing – review & editing, Project administration. Malin Song: Supervision. Mengzi Wang: Writing – review & editing.
Amazon Bioeconomy: Extractive Cycle or Structural Transformation?
Bioeconomy strategies have emerged as prominent tools for aligning economic development with environmental sustainability. In the Amazon, these strategies are often promoted as greener alternatives to deforestation-based growth. However, this paper argues that current Amazonian bioeconomy models risk reproducing historical patterns of extractivism under a sustainability discourse. We conceptualize this contradiction as green extractivism, meaning a mode of resource use where nominally sustainable practices preserve external control, reinforce value drain, and marginalize local innovation and governance. Drawing on structuralist development theory and political ecology, we position the Amazon bioeconomy within a landscape of competing paradigms: pro-growth technological innovation, market-based circularity, and critical ecological models. We introduce the concept of a developmental bioeconomy, grounded in structural transformation, strong sustainability, and territorial governance. Through an analysis of institutional patterns, value chains, and emerging financial mechanisms such as carbon markets, we identify three critical constraints in the current model: structural stagnation, green extractivism, and speculative financialization. These dynamics prevent the Amazon bioeconomy from generating inclusive prosperity or enabling regional autonomy. As an alternative, we propose a developmental strategy focused on local value capture, participatory institutions, and public-cooperative financing structures. This reorientation would transform biodiversity and ecological wealth into foundations for local-driven innovation and equity-driven development. Our findings highlight the need to rethink sustainability frameworks in peripheral regions and to realign conservation and climate finance with territorial justice. Received: 11 February 2025 | Revised: 19 November 2025 | Accepted: 17 December 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. Author Contribution Statement Daniel Silva: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing original draft, review & editing.
Copyright (c) 2026 Author https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
What Is Carbon Labeling of Food and Does It Work? A Preliminary Review of the Potential Impact of Carbon Labeling on Consumer Choice
Carbon labeling involves placing written or pictorial information on packaging, menus, or price tags to inform consumers about the carbon (CO2) emissions associated with the entire life cycle of a product or service, thereby empowering them to make environmentally conscious purchasing choices. Various carbon labeling practices are in use, but there is limited understanding about their effectiveness in impacting consumer choice. Method: A preliminary review examining the effectiveness of carbon labeling was conducted by searching major scientific literature databases. Quantitative studies on data on the reduction in CO2 emissions achieved through the provision of carbon labeling of meals were searched and examined. Results: Twelve studies were identified, six utilized computer-based virtual consumer choice simulation and six were conducted in real-world retail environments. Studies utilizing virtual simulations demonstrated potential double-digit reductions in CO2 output, but real-life studies identified far much modest reductions of only 2-5%. Labeling using rating-based systems, such as with traffic lights, was identified as more effective in directing consumer choice. Discussion: This preliminary literature review demonstrates that carbon labeling has the potential to direct consumers toward purchasing lower-carbon emission products. However the relatively small number of studies on this topic indicates the need for further research. Clearly, greater business engagement, and possible government intervention, is needed to advocate for carbon labeling and ensure its wider use. Received: 19 January 2025 | Revised: 21 April 2025 | Accepted: 23 July 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Håkan Lane: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review and editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration. Oksana Pokutnia: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Writing - original draft, Visualization. Mark David Walker: Writing - original draft, Writing - review and editing. Jayanna Killingsworth: Conceptualization, Writing - original draft. Michal Valko: Writing - original draft, Writing - review and editing. Ana Rita Farias: Conceptualization, Writing - original draft.
Dynamics of Energy Consumption, Economic Growth and Carbon Emission in a Sub-national Economy Context of India: An Evidence from Kerala
On examining the relationship of energy consumption with economic growth and carbon emission, we provide the evidence that the petroleum consumption growth significantly contributes to GSDP growth of Kerala (as indicated from regression coefficient of 0.70%), whereas electricity consumption growth affects GSDP growth with a time lag (as evidenced from Granger causality and regression coefficient of .13%). In contrast, GSDP growth of the state drives up both electricity and petroleum consumption demand, along with an observed strong elasticity of substitution relationship between consumption of two energy components (coefficients varying from 30% to 66%). We further find that the growth of transportation sector activities measured from transportation output which significantly contributes to gross emissions (as reflected from regression coefficient of .32%) rather than the overall GSDP growth of the state, suggesting that the demand for petroleum product increases with increased income growth without regard for its environmental concerns over the long-run. This is occurring more especially when amounts of CO2 emission are very much lesser in the state as compared to the national average of all the states in India. Received: 19 November 2024 | Revised: 30 April 2025 | Accepted: 23 July 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. Author Contribution Statement Hrushikesh Mallick: Conceptualization, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, project administration. Pulikottile Louis Beena: Conceptualization, Supervision, Project administration. Ritika Jain: Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Visualization, Supervision. Sanjib Pohit: Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision. Chetana Chaudhuri: Methodology, Software, Supervision.
CCEM: A System Dynamics Model for Global Warming Impact from Energy Transition to Ecological Redirection
The Coupling Coarse Earth Model (CCEM) is a system dynamics simulation model that looks at the integration of energy, economy, climate, and associated feedback loops. CCEM combines five simpler models that address energy availability, economic adjustment to energy scarcity, energy transition, global economy and CO2 emissions, and the impact of CO2 emissions on warming and society. Modeling such a complex system requires several hypotheses, for which there is still no consensus. These "known unknowns" are the future availability and cost of energy, energy needs and affordability for the economy, the speed of energy substitution, expected Gross Domestic Product growth, and the economic and societal consequences of global warming. In CCEM, these are explicit parameters that enables simulation of opposite viewpoints with the same underlying logic. CCEM has been influenced both by previous systems dynamics models and other integrated assessment models (IAM); its main contribution as a simulation model is to reproduce the feedback loop from global warming to the energy/economy system by representing the impacts of global warming and the associated retroactions. The model introduces a "pain factor", accounting for pain from warming, economic results, and energy shortages, that may trigger redirections: how society reacts when pain gets too high (a nonlinear reaction). While the complex system nature of energy/economy/climate/society is better represented and produces more realistic scenarios, taking these redirections into account makes forecasting more difficult. Received: 23 December 2024 | Revised: 30 May 2025 | Accepted: 27 June 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The data and the code that support the findings of this study are openly available at http://github.com/ycaseau/GWDG/. Author Contribution Statement Yves Caseau: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – Original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration.
Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Development: A Case Study from Tehran
The integration of green infrastructure (GI) in urban areas is vital for achieving sustainable development, and this article researches this interaction in Tehran, which accommodates more than 9 million inhabitants. In facing the critical challenge of balancing rapid urbanization with environmental sustainability, GI can play a key role, requiring a holistic approach encompassing diverse elements and location-specific strategies. The research adopts a case study approach to map and analyze the location of GI in District 2 of Tehran, which spans an area just west of the city center, stretching up to the northern border of the Tehran municipality. A novel Geographic Information Systems-based methodology is deployed to identify and assess eight distinct GI types, including parks, green roofs, and river corridors. The article concludes that this categorization of GI types can provide a methodology for the comprehensive analysis of GI distribution, which underscores the importance of location-specific GI strategies for mitigating air pollution and fostering urban sustainability. The study provides a valuable case example that can be used in cities with similar urban environments. By identifying spatial disparities in GI performance, context-specific solutions can be developed that can be integrated into the urban planning and development processes to create a network of green spaces that improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island effect, and promote biodiversity. GI can provide a framework for integrating green spaces, urban forests, green roofs, and other nature-based solutions into the urban fabric, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability and resilience of the urban environment. Received: 17 December 2024 | Revised: 17 March 2025 | Accepted: 25 May 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The GIS data analysis that supports some of the findings of this study are held in a university environment. Further enquiries can be made via the corresponding author. Author Contribution Statement Seyedeh Zahra Hosseini: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Supervision, Project administration. Rojin Raofi: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization. Shayesteh Hamidkhaniha: Conceptualization, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing. Farhad Daneshgar: Conceptualization, Software, Investigation, Resources, Writing - original draft, Visualization. Martin Wynn: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Supervision.
India's Journey to Net Zero: A Case Study on Transitional Opportunities for Renewables Under C50 and C100 Scenarios
Global energy demand is increasing annually due to rising economic activities and population growth, making energy production a major greenhouse gas source. Current trends had alarmingly exceeded the 1.5ºC target as emissions surpass 53.8 Gt CO2 eq. India, as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aims for net zero by 2070 and 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewables by 2030, requiring urgent action to phase out fossil fuels and transition to clean energy. The present study aims to analyze the relative pathways to phase out fossil fuel-based electricity generation and assess the collective investment required for renewable electricity generation. Renewable electricity generation is growing steadily and currently constitutes about 43% of the total electricity being produced in the country (426.72 GW, excluding nuclear power). This study examines phased energy transition pathways through a case study, focusing on the C50 and C100 scenarios, which correspond to a 50% and 100% reduction in fossil fuel-based electricity generation, respectively. Using simulation-based modeling, the present study identified that in the C50 scenario, the total renewable electricity will have a 66% surge in 5 years. An advanced simulation of C100's complete phaseout of fossil fuel-based electricity generation can be attained with a surge of ~133% in renewable electricity generation. Both simulations widen the capital investment opportunities, ranging from 99.13 to 198.26 thousand crore INR annually with a proposed contributing share from the central, state, and private sectors reaching 47.38, 49.17, and 101.71 thousand crore INR, respectively, in the C100 scenario. Besides the government, huge private sector investment in the transition to renewables would be essential. Additionally, comprehensive policy reforms and increased public awareness of the role of renewable energy in climate change mitigation are important. The study urges a multi-stakeholder approach, including financial, technological, and policy reforms, for successfully achieving the energy transition targets of the country. Received: 8 November 2024 | Revised: 24 February 2025 | Accepted: 13 March 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are presented within the manuscript and in the Appendices. Author Contribution Statement Panna Chandra Nath: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization. Aditya Kumar Joshi: Validation, Writing - review & editing, Supervision. Arun Jyoti Nath: Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Supervision.
The Economic-Energy-Environmental Benefits of Hydrogen Production Technologies in China
Energy from hydrogen is a significant means of energy conversion in China. This paper assesses and compares the economic, energy, and environmental benefits of different hydrogen production technologies in China to promote the growth of the hydrogen production sector. The findings of economic benefits reveal that (1) fossil energy hydrogen production technologies have an absolute advantage in China, and the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of coal-to-hydrogen (CTH) technology is 6.86 RMB/kg, which is more competitive. (2) The cost of electricity and the categories of electrolyzer affect the economic benefit of water electrolysis hydrogen production (WEHP). The cost of hydrogen produced from using nuclear power (NP) is the lowest (28.45 RMB/kg), while that from photovoltaic (PV) is the highest (69.1 RMB/kg). When the power sources are NP, coal power, hydropower, wind power, and PV, respectively, compared with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolytic hydrogen technology, the LCOH of alkaline (ALK) has decreased by 11%, 8%, 21%, 15%, and 18%, respectively, so ALK electrolytic method is more competitive than PEM. (3) Raw material cost accounts for the largest percentage, ranging from 32.3% to 79%. The findings of energy benefits show that CTH technology has the highest energy consumption among gray hydrogen technologies, which is 7.61 × 105̂ tce. The total energy consumption of WEHP varies with different types of electrolytic cells. The findings of the environmental benefits suggest that WEHP has the largest total carbon emissions of 4.2789 × 106̂ tCO2 when the power source is coal power. Hydrogen from coal and natural gas follows. The carbon emissions of new hydrogen production technologies are generally low. Under the same power supply, the carbon emission of PEM is larger. Received: 28 October 2024 | Revised: 7 February 2025 | Accepted: 29 April 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Jiamei Pei: Methodology, Software, Validation, Writing – original draft. Qianqian Ding: Formal analysis. Lijuan Zhang: Visualization. Yan Xu: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition.
Nation Branding as National Change Management: Facilitating Climate Protection by Green Nudging and Habit Stacking
Nation branding is much more than promoting holiday destinations with logos and colorful advertising campaigns. Brands have long been an instrument of political dialogue to develop and shape values and make them tangible. The prerequisite for this is that they function as economic alliances between politics and business. The example of “Green Destinations” is a certification initiative that shows how sustainable place, destination, or nation brand management can work at a local (e.g., Sagay City, Philippines), regional (e.g., Bhutan), or even international level (e.g., DACH region, i.e., Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and others). Against this backdrop, the aim of this article is to highlight the compatibility and usability of brands within (democratic) nations and their potential in the fight against climate change. In the face of dramatic global climate change, governments, businesses, and consumers are generally not acting sustainably enough. Therefore, the management of nation brands is presented as (1) values management (synchronizing values within economic societies), (2) glocal (i.e., “global” and at the same time “local”) alliance management (brands as joint ventures of governments, corporations, customers, and other relevant stakeholders), (3) change management (sustainable national transformation), (4) agile competencies (ongoing value negotiation and education), (5) green nudging and habit stacking (influencing social developments), and (6) viral communication management (social media interaction as brand communication). In conclusion, brands integrate glocal leadership, change, and sustainability to contribute to national transformation. Received: 26 November 2024 | Revised: 24 April 2025 | Accepted: 29 April 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest in this work. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. Author Contribution Statement Jan Lies: Conceptualization, Methodology, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision.
Conceptualizing the Circular Economy: R-frame Question
Despite its rich history, the circular economy (CE) must be more firmly conceptualized. Various definitions of CE are often connected with specific R-frameworks, which differ significantly. This divergence could be caused by the fact that CE is related to other predecessors' concepts, for example, industrial ecology, waste management, cleaner production, and reverse logistics, some of which also used R-frameworks. This article aims to find the most frequently used R-principles in the context of CE, including identifying possible factors influencing the author's choice of the selected R-framework. For this purpose, 128 articles (related to R-frameworks and CE) were analyzed. The potential relationship between selected factors (e.g., authors' nationality, the publication's year, or journal) and the selected R-framework was tested using chi-square tests. The results show that only the nationality of the authors can influence the choice of the R-framework and that the 3R principles (reduce, reuse, recycle) are most often discussed in the context of the CE. Results show that the 3R framework is dominant in Asian publications (which is logical due to the longer recognition of this framework) and also in European publications. However, lately, there is a visible growing trend in using the 10R framework in European publications; thus, it may be a matter of time before other frameworks become dominant. As a result, it can be stated that the 3R and 10R frameworks are well-used frameworks that can serve as the basis for defining and conceptualizing the CE. One official definition of CE that would use a selected R-framework should be stated to clearly define what CE is. Received: 19 November 2024 | Revised: 27 March 2025 | Accepted: 29 April 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that she has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Marta Nosková: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision.
Empowering the Solar Shift: The Strategic Role of Retailers and Installers in Advancing Energy Storage Solution
The residential solar landscape in Australia has been significantly influenced by the decarbonization and sustainable development goals complemented by government-regulated incentives and subsidies. The penetration of small-scale solar in Western Australia (WA) is more than 35% as per the data obtained from the Australian government’s Clean Energy Regulator website, listing a postcode-wise installation of small-scale solar. As the solar penetration increased, the phasing-out of incentives from the government and regulations by utilities against high levels of solar penetration into the grid is encouraging the adoption of solar energy storage (SES) devices among residential solar users. Stakeholders such as policy-makers, SES manufacturers, installers, and retailers, and end-users play a major role in enabling this transition. The study recognizes the SES installers and retailers as prominent stakeholder categories in the field of SES since they bridge the gap between a prospective consumer who becomes a prosumer on the adoption of the technology. The study analyzes the role of SES installers and retailers in the adoption of SES devices based on stakeholder theory. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to make a qualitative analysis of the role played by SES installers and retailers and their perspectives on SES adoption. The engagement of SES installers with the technology and direct involvement with the consumers makes them important. The analysis of stakeholder dynamics indicates a lack of integration between SES manufacturers, installers, and retailers, affecting the availability of the product and expertise of SES installers in the SES technology. The policy-makers, who are a high-power stakeholder category, should formulate standard regulations, unifying the installation and maintenance practices. The study underlines SES installers can promote the adoption of SES through integration with other stakeholder categories, gaining expertise, and transferring the knowledge to the consumer for proper maintenance of the product, encouraging re-adoption. Received: 20 September 2024 | Revised: 21 November 2024 | Accepted: 26 December 2024 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Nikhil Jayaraj: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Project administration.
Exploring the Impact of the Environmental Protection Tax on Chinese Enterprise Performance: The Mediating Role of Agency Costs
The aim of this study is to test the effect of the environmental protection tax on the financial performance of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2016 to 2021. To achieve this, a differences-in-differences model was established to explore the impact of the environmental protection tax, agency costs, and enterprise performance. The analysis specifically examines how the implementation of the environmental protection tax influences enterprise financial outcomes and the function of agency costs between them. The results indicate that the introduction of an environmental protection tax notably lowers agency costs and increases the financial performance of Chinese listed companies. Furthermore, agency costs serve as a mediator in this relationship, amplifying the positive impact of the tax on enterprise performance. To ensure effective environmental protection practices in institutional contexts, the government should reinforce environmental protection tax laws and regulations while strengthening collaborative management mechanisms. Ultimately, the study provides valuable insights into the potential for policy-driven mechanisms to foster a more sustainable and economically viable corporate landscape in China. Received: 7 November 2024 | Revised: 13 January 2025 | Accepted: 13 March 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Jiaxin Huang: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - review & editing. Jing Cheng: Conceptualization, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Visualization. Xiao Zheng: Formal analysis, Investigation. Meifen Wu: Data curation, Visualization.
Impact of Off-Grid Solar Home Systems on Energy Spending in Oyo State, Nigeria
Energy insecurity in the developing nation of Nigeria has driven communities and households in both rural and urban areas to adopt solar home systems (SHS) as a source of household energy. A report published by Fraym® is used by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) to develop its Energy Transition Plan for 100% electrification. It focuses on 10 Nigerian states, and points to customer profiles for top off-grid communities from these states. This report reveals the top twenty communities with the highest propensity to adopt SHS. The concentration of the top fifty solar home system communities is particularly significant among these communities, covering approximately 570,000 households in Oyo State. This unique positioning makes Oyo State an ideal focal point for conducting an empirical analysis. Conducting a cross-sectional empirical analysis in Omiyale, Madeko, Saki, and Ibadan, the study employs a stratified random sampling approach, selecting 40 SHS and 40 non-SHS households. The findings underscore the overall efficacy of off-grid SHS in addressing energy poverty. SHS owners exhibit a substantial improvement in lighting usage, marked by a notable shift towards cleaner and sustainable energy sources. Notably, SHS ownership correlates with a positive economic impact, as monthly expenditures for energy among SHS households decrease by an average of 1287.308 Naira per month. This economic saving stems from reduced reliance on conventional energy sources like candles, kerosene, and batteries. Received: 3 September 2024 | Revised: 22 November 2024 | Accepted: 20 January 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Obinna John Anagbakwu: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization.
Unmasking Greenwashing: Strengthening Nigeria's Legal Framework for a Sustainable Green Economy
A green economy enhances human well-being and social equity while substantially reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In such an economy, growth in income and employment stems from public and private investments aimed at reducing carbon emissions and pollution, improving energy and resource efficiency, and preventing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Nigeria's pursuit of a sustainable future through a green economy holds significant promise. However, this potential is undermined by greenwashing—the deceptive practice of marketing products or activities as environmentally friendly when they are not. This study critically evaluates Nigeria's legal framework to assess its efficacy in fostering transparency, accountability, and genuine environmental progress in the green economy. The study identifies a critical deficiency through an analysis grounded in corporate responsibility, consumer protection, and sustainable development theories: the lack of robust legal mechanisms exposes investors and consumers to misleading green claims, thereby hindering true sustainability. The findings underscore the urgent need for specific greenwashing legislation aligned with global best practices, as current regulations lack the clarity and enforcement needed to combat such deceptive claims effectively. The study concludes that Nigeria's green economy's credibility and growth remain in jeopardy without solid legal safeguards. It recommends establishing clear standards to build a trustworthy green economy that supports sustainable development. Received: 13 September 2024 | Revised: 21 January 2025 | Accepted: 27 February 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement No additional data were created or analyzed in this study. All supporting data are contained within the footnotes and references. Author Contribution Statement Opeyemi Adewale Gbadegesin: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization. Oyinkansola Simisola Komolafe: Conceptualization, Validation, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization. Deborah Ayodele-Olajire: Methodology, Writing - original draft. Oluwatumininu Omotoye: Methodology, Validation, Data curation, Writing - original draft. Adeniyi Gbadegesin: Writing - original draft, Supervision.
How Do Energy Resources Affect Agricultural Market? Insights from Quantile-on-Quantile Approach
Based on the important role that energy and agricultural commodities play in sustainable development, this article investigates their price movements to understand their impact on each other. By utilizing an innovative quantile-on-quantile (QQ) approach with causality tests in conditional quantiles, the results show that (i) energy prices heterogeneously affect agricultural commodities prices, which can be attributed to the dynamic nature of the agricultural commodity market, different energy price shocks, and distinct market conditions; (ii) energy has a mixed positive and negative impact on agricultural commodities; and (iii) at higher or lower quantiles, that is, under extreme bear or bull market conditions, energy markets are more likely to have a significant impact on agricultural markets. The asymmetry of these impacts on the prices of agricultural commodities necessitates the implementation of distinct policy measures for effective governance. The findings can inform such measures by accounting for changes in food quantiles and different price shocks from the three primary energy sources. Received: 12 October 2024 | Revised: 6 December 2024 | Accepted: 27 February 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The datasets generated or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Wei Jiang: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - review & editing, Funding acquisition. Shuqi Yuan: Software, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Visualization. Sonia Chien-I Chen: Supervision.
Quantile Time-Frequency Connectedness Between Carbon Emissions, Traditional and New Energy: Evidence from COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
This study investigates the spillover effects associated with diverse market conditions in energy and carbon markets, encompassing both new and traditional energy sectors. Using a quantile vector autoregression approach, this research explores the dynamic interactions among carbon emissions, traditional energy, and new energy from January 1, 2019, to July 28, 2023. Firstly, the research findings presented in this article reveal a significant spillover effect under extreme conditions, whether the change is highly positive or negative, with increases observed from 26.67% to 76.15% and 74.19%, respectively. Secondly, during the Russia-Ukraine conflict and COVID-19 pandemic, the interaction among carbon emissions, traditional energy, and new energy intensified, transforming their roles in the context of spillover effects. The negative spillover effects in the new energy and carbon markets position them as effective hedging tools. Finally, the pandemic and conflicts have underscored the increasing importance of new energy, particularly in the long run, as evidenced by the significant expansion of spillover effects in the new energy market. These findings inform policymakers and ecological investors in developing effective policies and tailored investment strategies across various frequency ranges. Received: 27 August 2024 | Revised: 15 October 2024 | Accepted: 22 November 2024 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Wei Jiang: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Writing - review & editing, Funding acquisition. XiaoLiang Guo: Conceptualization, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Project administration. Sifeng Bi: Data curation, Writing - review & editing, Supervision.
quantile vector autoregression (QVAR) method
Copyright (c) 2024 Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Note on Controlling Chaotic Dynamics in the Presence of Climate Change Externalities in the New Keynesian Monetary Economics Model
The role of central banks to mitigate the negative impact of climate change risks on economic development has become crucial in the monetary policy agenda. As recently experienced after the COVID-19 pandemic, unexpected shocks in the energy supply sector can destabilize the productive sector, and thus the solvency of the entire financial system. This paper shows the possibility of the emergence of a shock on the equilibrium pattern due to the emergence of chaotic dynamics and suggests the tools devoted to correcting such behavior. The occurrence of chaos in economics is particularly relevant when the policymaker has to choose the appropriate decisions to achieve the desired growth rate of the economy, without suffering the possible unwanted oscillations on national income. The idea is that if the economy is stabilized at its highest growth rate, then any possible low-growth poverty trap is avoided. Our idea is to consider a monetary economics model with an externality factor due to climate impacts on labor force and show the parametric condition for the emergence of chaotic dynamics. We then apply a correction algorithm that allows us to determine the restrictions on the parameter set necessary to eliminate or control the chaotic dynamics and restore the stability of equilibrium. Our findings are finally sustained by real data that show a possible link between adverse climatic scenarios and the intervention of the monetary authority, but also confirm that if the interest rates are raised above a sustainable target, then the economy will start to oscillate around the desired long-run equilibrium, thus experiencing periods of unwanted fall in real output, that are in fact a poverty trap. Received: 6 September 2024 | Revised: 7 May 2025| Accepted: 25 May 2025 Conflicts of Interest The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FEDFUNDS. The National Centers for Environmental Information of USA data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/cei/graph. Author Contribution Statement Giovanni Bella: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration.
The Impact of Extreme Temperature on Enterprise ESG: An Empirical Analysis of China
Global climate warming leads to frequent extreme temperature events. Extreme temperatures bring uncontrollable uncertainty factors to the operation and management of enterprises. The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance of enterprises is closely related to their business management. However, empirical evidence on to what extent extreme temperatures affect the ESG performance of enterprises is still lacking. The paper analyzes the influence of extreme temperatures on the ESG performance of enterprises to bridge this gap by constructing temperature intervals. There are several important results: (1) For each additional day within the temperature range of 30°C and above, the ESG score decreased by 0.09 points; (2) Extreme temperatures adversely affect ESG through operating costs, shareholders’ equity, and information disclosure levels of enterprises; (3) Extreme temperatures are more likely to negatively impact the ESG performance of enterprises in the realty, manufacturing, electricity, and transportation industries. Therefore, at the macrolevel, the government should formulate relevant policies to address global warming. At the microlevel, enterprises should gradually incorporate climate change risks into their daily management systems to reduce the negative impact of extreme temperatures on their ESG performance. Received: 08 October 2024 | Revised: 23 December 2024 | Accepted: 26 December 2024 Conflicts of Interest Due to a potential conflict of interest between the Editor-in-Chief and one of the authors, the Editor-in-Chief had no involvement in the peer review or editorial decision-making for this manuscript. Data Availability Statement Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Yanni Yu: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Xin Meng: Methodology, Software, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization. Chengqing Ren: Data curation, Visualization.
Time-Frequency and Quantile Connectedness Among Geopolitical Risks, Conventional and Clean Energy, Electricity, and Carbon Markets
Climate change, energy crisis, and geopolitical conflicts have become the triple dilemma of the world, which seriously hinders global sustainable development. Against this context, achieving net-zero emissions and promoting energy transition have been put on the urgent agenda. Therefore, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of the linkage among geopolitical risks, conventional/clean energy, electricity, and carbon markets, so as to stabilize energy and carbon markets and ensure the orderly progress of energy transition and carbon emission reduction. This study explores the dynamic and directional connectedness among these variables under multiple time frequencies and conditions by using two volatility spillover approaches and the quantile vector autoregression model. We find that the interconnectedness between variables is greatly strengthened during extreme conditions and dominated by the spillover effects in the short run. Electricity market is always the critical risk spillover contributor in situations of various scales of shocks. Fossil and clean energy are both net recipients of spillover effects from electricity and carbon markets. And notably, the geopolitical risks act as the net short-term spillover receiver and medium- and long-term spillover transmitter in the connectedness network. Additionally, we show that carbon market becomes a significant risk transmitter under extreme circumstances. Our findings have implications for preventing adverse effects of cross-risk spillovers and promoting global sustainability. Received: 25 July 2024 | Revised: 9 October 2024 | Accepted: 20 January 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Wei Jiang: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - review & editing, Supervision. Jingang Jiang: Software, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Visualization. Jinyan Hu: Funding acquisition.
The Role of Environmental Costs on the Relationship Between Good Corporate Governance and Firm Value During Covid-19 Conditions
The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of corporate governance on the valuation during covid 19 conditions and role of environmental expenditures on the relationship. This study employed purposive sampling to select publicly traded companies from the LQ45 index list spanning the years 2018 to 2022. The data was examined by panel data modelling with the Weighted Least Square technique. The evaluation of good corporate governance is conducted through the utilisation of a score derived from the corporate governance perception index, whereas the assessment of business value is accomplished by employing the Tobin's Q ratio. The moderating variable of environmental costs is assessed by considering the costs associated with Corporate Social Responsibility programs. The results indicated that good corporate governance exerts a negative influence on the value of firms during covid-19 conditions. The present study did not achieve success in establishing the moderating effect of environmental costs on the association between good corporate governance and firm value. The present study provides several implications for corporate governance practitioners in managing companies during crisis and also investors in formulating future investment decisions. Received: 7 August 2024 | Revised: 19 September 2024 | Accepted: 20 October 2024 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. Author Contribution Statement Yulius Jogi Christiawan: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing, Supervision. Jennifer Budiman: Investigation, Resources, Writing - review & editing. Natasya Angie Alfonso: Data curation, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing. Hendri Kwistianus: Writing - review & editing, Visualization, Project administration.
Mitigation of Seafood-Related Environmental Pollution: A Green Chemistry Perspective
The seafood industry discharges voluminous amounts of discards, consisting of fishery by-catch, process discards, and effluents. Traditional disposals of these side stream materials by landfill, ocean dumping, and incineration are responsible for serious environmental pollution. Emission of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide from the discards significantly contributes to global warming, while hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide, and other gases have detrimental effects on the health of living systems. These environmental hazards can be abated by eco-friendly remedial solutions. Green chemistry-based valorization of seafood side streams has potentials to lower environmental hazards simultaneously minimizing volume of the discards. These operations transform the discards to interesting products. Integration of the green methods within the framework of a biorefinery within a circular economy protocol allows a zero-waste strategy for the mitigation of environmental pollution by seafood discards. Possible industrial applications of the recovered ingredients such as proteins, peptides, polyunsaturated fatty acids rich lipids, chitin, chitosan, and others make the fishery discards a valuable resource. The green chemistry approach allows optimal mitigation of seafood-related environmental hazards paving the way for responsible and economically viable conservation of resources for a resilient, sustainable, low-carbon seafood industry. Received: 21 May 2024 | Revised: 22 November 2024 | Accepted: 20 January 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0461en. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations data that support the findings of this study are openly available at www.fao.org/flw-in-fish-value-chains/overview/objective/en/. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://doi.org/10.59327/IPCC/AR6-9789291691647.001. The United Nations data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld/publication. The United Nations Environment Programme data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://www.unep.org/resources/toolkits-manuals-and-guides/green-and-sustainable-chemistry-framework-manual. The World Economic Forum data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/12/green-chemistry-manufacturing-climate-change/. Author Contribution Statement Vazhiyil Venugopal: Conceptualization, Methodology, Resources, Writing - original draft, Visualization. Se-Kwon Kim: Writing - review & editing, Project administration.
Determinants of Cocoa Productivity and Vulnerability to Climate Change in Central Cameroon: An In-Depth Analysis of Farmers' Perspectives
This study aimed at analyzing the determinants of cocoa productivity and vulnerability to climate change in Central Cameroon. The methodological approach consisted of questionnaire administration to 152 cocoa farmers in the Ngoro municipality. Multiple generalized regression analyses were run to identify socio-demographic and management practices that significantly influenced cocoa productivity and vulnerability to climate change. Results showed that cocoa farming is done predominantly by men (97%) with cocoa farms covering an average of 5 ha (57%) and cocoa bean productivity varying between 0.08 and 15 tons per farm. It provides money in cash varying from 151 to 28,275 USD. Age of farm and household size were the socio-demographic determinants that significantly (positively) influenced cocoa productivity. Cocoa farm size, number of years spent, and clearing/bush fire management were management practices that significantly influenced cocoa productivity. Climate change was perceived by all farmers (100%) as the main factor that negatively influenced cocoa productivity. Given the monetary value associated with cocoa farming, which contributes to the local farmers' well-being and then food security, it is becoming more important than ever to ensure that the management practices in cocoa farming systems consider ecological aspects, to enable Cameroon meets its commitments in terms of food security, biodiversity conservation, and the fight against climate change. Received: 22 August 2024 | Revised: 28 October 2024 | Accepted: 20 January 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The data used for this study is available and will be provided upon reasonable request by FOKABS Canada and Cameroon. Author Contribution Statement Chimi Djomo Cédric: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Visualization. Tanougong Armand Delanot: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Joël Martin Atangana Owona: Methodology, Resources, Funding acquisition. Serges Okala Ndzie: Conceptualization, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Barnabas Neba Nfornkah: Conceptualization, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Kevin Enongene: Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - review & editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition. Eugene Chia Loh: Methodology. Elsie Fobissie: Investigation, Data curation. Dieudonne Alemagi: Methodology, Investigation, Writing - review & editing. Nyong Princely Awazi: Conceptualization, Writing - review & editing. Karol Lavoine Mezafack: Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Parfait Kamta Nkontcheu: Investigation, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Stelle Vartant Djeukam Pougom: Investigation, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Kevin Tchemmoe Fokou: Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Katty Claudia Chiteh: Project administration. Kabelong Banoho Louis Paul Roger: Writing - review & editing. Kalame Fobissie: Resources, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition.
Industry Stakeholder Perceptions of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage: The Case Study of the Tees Valley Industrial Cluster
Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is an essential mitigation technology to contribute to the Net Zero transition. It captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industry processes and either purifies and inserts the gas again in the circular economy (utilization) or transports it to a suitable underground storage, stopping emissions. The United Kingdom (UK) has unique geology, skills, and infrastructure and consequently a strategic advantage for CCUS when compared to other countries, especially the coastal North Sea regions (e.g., Tees Valley). This study focused on the Tees Valley Industrial Cluster to understand the constraining and enabling factors of the CCUS technology deployment, from the perspective of local experts and practitioners, whose role is to implement actions to reduce GHG emissions. Two workshops were held to explore practitioners' attitudes towards the technology, perceived benefits of the technology, barriers and enablers for implementation and factors that would need to be in place to support technology implementation. Qualitative data collected in the workshops were analyzed to identify common themes. Participants agreed that business and industry sectors must play their part in mitigating climate change. They also agreed that it is fundamental to support the green transition and the implementation of net zero-related technologies. The perceived benefits of CCUS are the contribution to fulfill Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) standards and an increased ability to attract young workers, interested in sustainability. Barriers for implementation include lack of knowledge about the technology, costs of the technology, volatility of the carbon markets, political uncertainty, risks, and negative public perceptions. Regional factors such as local political support were identified as crucial to the success of technology deployment. A reliable UK Industry Strategy, investment in the technology and supply chain, local investment in skills, knowledge, education, and research were considered essential to ensure further technology adoption. Received: 7 August 2024 | Revised: 10 December 2024 | Accepted: 20 January 2025 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement The notes collected in the workshops and final report sent to participants are accessible upon request to the corresponding author. Author Contribution Statement Diana Feliciano: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing — original draft, Writing — review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Dawid Hanak: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Project administration, Funding acquisition.