The role of lifestyle changes in low-emissions development strategies – The Case of Brazil

This thesis provides insights on how to adequately embark income, consumption and lifestyles trends in energy-economy long-term projections for developing countries. It focuses on income convergence and consumption patterns, often overlooked or misrepresented in scenario exercises. Methodological issues address the reconciliation of data from household surveys, energy balances and national accounts. The appropriate representation of household preferences in a hybrid computable general equilibrium framework is also discussed, followed by an application to the Brazilian case. The research seeks to identify to what extent increased environmental awareness on household consumption can contribute to reducing greenhouse gases emissions up to 2050. Behaviour shifts regarding energy, transport, food and durable goods consumption, as well as waste generation, are simulated. They are contrasted with a reference scenario in which household consumption is defined by current trends and standards. The thesis presents and discusses the impacts of lifestyle changes on economic growth, competitiveness, employment, income distribution, households` purchasing power and consumption levels, among others. The structural shifts that stem from the transition are also worthy of note. This work provides policy recommendations for low-emissions development strategies aiming at articulating climate objectives with other social and economic priorities in Brazil.Esta tese discute como representar tendências relacionadas a renda, consumo e estilos de vida em projeções de longo prazo em países em desenvolvimento. Explora-se a interação entre convergência de renda e padrões de consumo, aspectos frequentemente negligenciados ou mal representados em exercícios de cenários. Questões metodológicas tratam da conciliação entre dados provenientes de pesquisas domiciliares, balanços energéticos e Contas Nacionais. A representação das preferências de consumo das famílias em um modelo de equilíbrio geral computável híbrido é discutida, seguida de uma aplicação para o Brasil. Esta pesquisa busca identificar em que medida uma maior consciência ambiental no consumo das famílias pode contribuir para a redução de emissões de gases de efeito estufa em 2050. Mudanças de comportamento relativas ao uso de energia, mobilidade, alimentação, demanda por bens duráveis e geração de resíduos são simuladas. Elas são contrastadas com um cenário de referência no qual o consumo das famílias é definido a partir de padrões e tendências vigentes. Esta tese apresenta e discute o impacto de mudanças de estilo de vida sobre o crescimento econômico, competitividade, geração de emprego, distribuição de renda, poder de compra e nível de consumo das famílias, entre outros. Mudanças estruturais decorrentes da transição são igualmente dignas de atenção. Este trabalho fornece recomendações para a implementação de estratégias de desenvolvimento de baixo carbono com objetivo de articular a agenda climática e outras prioridades socioeconômicas no Brasil

Exploratory Key Nodes in the Inventor-author Knowledge Diffusion Network

This paper aims to mine the key nodes in the process of knowledge flow from literatures of science and technology journals to technology patents on the community level. Based on the citation of technological patents to literatures of scientific journals and the cooperation among the researchers, this paper builds the knowledge flow network from the angle of spatial dimension. Then employing the extensity centrality-Newman and the commonly used degree indexes, this paper excavates and analyses the nodes which occupy important positions among communities in the knowledge flow network. After that, this paper puts forward suggestions on how to make full use of the key nodes’ role of bridge to promote knowledge flow from literatures of science and technology journals to technology patents

Social, environmental and economic impacts of alternative energy and fuel supply chains

Energy supply nowadays, being a vital element of a country’s development, has to independently meet diverse, sustainability criteria, be it economic, environmental and social. The main goal of the present research work is to present a methodological framework for the evaluation of alternative energy and fuel Supply Chains (SCs), consisting of a broad topology (representation) suggested, encompassing all the well-known energy and fuel SCs, under a unified scheme, a set of performance measures and indices as well as mathematical model development, formulated as Multi-objective Linear Programming with the extension of incorporating binary decisions as well (Multi-objective Mixed Integer-Linear programming). Basic characteristics of the current modelling approach include the adaptability of the model to be applied at different levels of energy SCs decisions, under different time frames and for multiple stakeholders. Model evaluation is carried for a set of Greek islands, located in the Aegean Archipelagos, examining both the existing energy supply options as well future, more sustainable Energy Supply Chains (ESCs) configurations. Results of the specific research work reveal the social and environmental costs which are underestimated under the traditional energy supply options' evaluation, as well as the benefits that may be produced from renewable energy based applications in terms of social security and employment

Scientific Assessment in Support of the Materials Roadmap Enabling Low Carbon Energy Technologies: Bioenergy

This scientific assessment serves as the basis for a materials research roadmap for bioenergy technology, itself an integral element of an overall "Materials Roadmap Enabling Low Carbon Technologies", a Commission Staff Working Document published in December 2011. The Materials Roadmap aims at contributing to strategic decisions on materials research funding at European and Member State levels and is aligned with the priorities of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan). It is intended to serve as a guide for developing specific research and development activities in the field of materials for energy applications over the next 10 years. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the state-of-the-art and future challenges for energy technology-related materials and the needs for research activities to support the development of bioenergy technology both for the 2020 and the 2050 market horizons. It has been produced by independent and renowned European materials scientists and energy technology experts, drawn from academia, research institutes and industry, under the coordination the SET-Plan Information System (SETIS), which is managed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. The contents were presented and discussed at a dedicated hearing in which a wide pool of stakeholders participated, including representatives of the relevant technology platforms, industry associations and the Joint Programmes of the European Energy Research Associations.JRC.F.2-Cleaner energ

The Effects of Increased Demand for Biofuels Feedstocks on the World Agricultural Markets and Areas - Outcomes of a Workshop 10-11 February 2010, Ispra (Italy)

This study is performed under request of DG CLIMA, in support to the preparation of the policy proposal on the assessment of the effects of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC). Agro-economic models are used to provide estimates of how much cropland area increases in response to an increase in crop demand, but they often differ in their structure (i.e. partial or full equilibrium, agro-economic, bioenergy and biophysical models etc), in the input parameters, baseline and scenarios studied. The European Commission (EC) is debating internally how to address ILUC emissions in biofuels legislation. Legislators need to understand how ILUC differs between biofuels from different feedstocks and regions. In fact, if ILUC emissions are to be added to direct emissions in legislation, they need to be quantitatively assessed for all biofuels/feedstocks. Anyway, to compare model results it is necessary at least to compare the results vs. baseline per unit quantity of biofuel. For these reasons the JRC proposed to carry out a survey of marginal calculations from various models/methods developed by the relevant consortia in EU and US, to compare results from marginal shocks along the lines of recommended common scenarios discussed with the involved experts: A marginal extra ethanol demand in EU B marginal extra biodiesel demand in EU C marginal extra ethanol demand in US D marginal extra palm oil demand in EU (for biodiesel or pure plant oil use) For modelling the GHG efficiency of different feedstock, the experts agreed that the extra biofuels scenarios should optimally be marginal increases in demand for different biofuels-feedstock in different regions. These results would be relatively easy to compare between scenarios. Results of this survey were discussed during a workshop organized by the JRC in Ispra on 10th and 11th of February 2010, and this report presents the outcomes of the workshop, highlighting the main results of the studies and key points raised in the concluding discussion.JRC.DDG.F.8-Renewable Energy (Ispra

Review of interventions and technologies for sustainable intensification of smallholder crop production in sub-humid sub-Saharan Africa

Besides low soil fertility, climate variability has often been identified as the major constraint to agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with rainfall variability (both within and across seasons) being the most critical. Traditionally, reasonable yields could be achieved in spite of constant or smaller resource inputs by expanding the cropped area, but this is no longer a viable option. Crop production intensification is required to produce more food per unit of input and land, while maintaining or rebuilding soil fertility. However, most smallholder farmers lack access to resources such cash, fertiliser and technological expertise to address constraints caused by the biophysical environments in which they operate. The objective of this review was to collate and appraise the range of crop production intensification options that have been developed for smallholder farmers in SSA. A case study from central Mozambique was included to illustrate the impact and relevance of locally feasible options to farmers who own different resources. The study has revealed that sustainable intensification of crop production requires that multiple constraints are addressed simultaneously, in this case primarily soil fertility/plant nutrient supply and weed management. Success of crop intensification options will also depend on proper targeting to different farm types as well as field soil fertility gradients. Although smallholder farmers in SSA have limited assets, the case study revealed the occurrence of local opportunities to increase current crop productivity which in some cases do not need substantial capital inputs by the farmers, but more efficient use and targeting

Nature-Based Solutions for Restoration of Ecosystems and Sustainable Urban Development

This volume examines the applicability of nature-based solutions in ecological restoration practice and in contemporary landscape architecture by bringing together ecology and architecture in the built environment. Green infrastructure is used to address urban challenges such as climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and stormwater management. In addition, thermal comfort nature-based solutions reintroduce critical connections between natural and urban systems. In light of ongoing developments in sustainable urban development, the goal is a paradigm shift towards a landscape that restores and rehabilitates urban ecosystems. The ten contributions to this book examine a wide range of successful cases of designing healthier, greener and more resilient landscapes in different geographical contexts, from the United States of America and Brazil, through various European regions, to Singapore and China. While some chapters attempt to conceptualize the interconnections between cities and nature, others clearly have an empirical focus. Therefore, this volume provides a rich body of work and acts as a starting point for further studies on restoration of ecosystems and integrative policies such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals