Effects of International Climate Policy on Renewable Energy Consumption: The Context of the Kyoto Protocol

Mohammad Aynal Haque — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Purpose: The key objective of this study is to explore the effect of the Kyoto Protocol on Renewable Energy Consumption at the national level.

Methodology: The study employed the matching and difference-in-differences (DiD) estimation approaches. The study analysis is based on secondary resources assessed through openly access documents, journals, and libraries. Data used in the analysis were collected from publicly available data sources.

Findings: The study finds that the Kyoto Protocol has a significant and positive impact on renewable energy consumption at the national level in the Annex I countries compared to non-Annex I countries. It indicates that there has been a specific effect of the Kyoto Protocol on renewable energy in Annex I countries since these countries were legally bound with emissions reduction commitments of the Protocol. Findings indicate that Annex I countries overlooked environmental pollution at the early stages of their economic and industrial development, but with their higher economic development, they are taking measures to prevent environmental pollution, such as increasing REC. Findings here reckon with the argument of the effectiveness of global climate governance in mitigating climate change effects.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Findings support the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) proposition. Results stresses on the effectiveness of global climate governance for mitigating climate change effects. In this context, rich countries should deliver more financial and technological supports to poor countries.

Conceptualizing Climate Justice

Mohammad Aynal Haque — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Purpose: The key objective of this study is to conceptualize climate justice.

Methodology: The study employs a qualitative systematic analysis of published articles focused on climate justice, and analyzes the various attributes within existing definitions of climate justice. The study analysis is based on secondary resources assessed through openly accessible documents, journals, and libraries.

Findings: The study finds that climate justice is used in various contexts — academia and social movement world — by scholars and organizations to achieve mainly three outcomes: outcome of procedural justice, physical or material outcome, and policy outcome. The lack of consensus on what exactly this concept means, leads to inconsistencies in its application and further confusion. Findings here point to the weakness of global climate governance in defining such an important concept while pursuing climate change actions.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: While climate justice is often discussed at a global level, it is equally important to conceptualize it at the local level. In this regard, this study proposes a minimal definition of climate justice, which could be used to avoid a high extension of the concept, in general, both in academia and the social movement world.

Journal of Climate Policy

Effects of International Climate Policy on Renewable Energy Consumption: The Context of the Kyoto Protocol

Conceptualizing Climate Justice