TY - JOUR A1 - Ward, Hauke A1 - Wenz, Leonie A1 - Steckel, Jan Christoph A1 - Minx, Jan Christoph T1 - Truncation error estimates in process life cycle assessment using input-output analysis JF - Journal of Industrial Ecology N2 - Process life cycle assessment (PLCA) is widely used to quantify environmental flows associated with the manufacturing of products and other processes. As PLCA always depends on defining a system boundary, its application involves truncation errors. Different methods of estimating truncation errors are proposed in the literature; most of these are based on artificially constructed system complete counterfactuals. In this article, we review the literature on truncation errors and their estimates and systematically explore factors that influence truncation error estimates. We classify estimation approaches, together with underlying factors influencing estimation results according to where in the estimation procedure they occur. By contrasting different PLCA truncation/error modeling frameworks using the same underlying input-output (I-O) data set and varying cut-off criteria, we show that modeling choices can significantly influence estimates for PLCA truncation errors. In addition, we find that differences in I-O and process inventory databases, such as missing service sector activities, can significantly affect estimates of PLCA truncation errors. Our results expose the challenges related to explicit statements on the magnitude of PLCA truncation errors. They also indicate that increasing the strictness of cut-off criteria in PLCA has only limited influence on the resulting truncation errors. We conclude that applying an additional I-O life cycle assessment or a path exchange hybrid life cycle assessment to identify where significant contributions are located in upstream layers could significantly reduce PLCA truncation errors. KW - industrial ecology KW - input-output (I-O) analysis KW - process life cycle assessment KW - service sectors KW - system boundary KW - truncation error estimate Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12655 SN - 1088-1980 SN - 1530-9290 VL - 22 IS - 5 SP - 1080 EP - 1091 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Diluiso, Francesca A1 - Walk, Paula A1 - Manych, Niccolo A1 - Cerutti, Nicola A1 - Chipiga, Vladislav A1 - Workman, Annabelle A1 - Ayas, Ceren A1 - Cui, Ryna Yiyun A1 - Cui, Diyang A1 - Song, Kaihui A1 - Banisch, Lucy A. A1 - Moretti, Nikolaj A1 - Callaghan, Max W. A1 - Clarke, Leon A1 - Creutzig, Felix A1 - Hilaire, Jerome A1 - Jotzo, Frank A1 - Kalkuhl, Matthias A1 - Lamb, William F. A1 - Löschel, Andreas A1 - Müller-Hansen, Finn A1 - Nemet, Gregory F. A1 - Oei, Pao-Yu A1 - Sovacool, Benjamin K. A1 - Steckel, Jan Christoph A1 - Thomas, Sebastian A1 - Wiseman, John A1 - Minx, Jan C. T1 - Coal transitions - part 1 BT - a systematic map and review of case study learnings from regional, national, and local coal phase-out experiences JF - Environmental research letters N2 - A rapid coal phase-out is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, but is hindered by serious challenges ranging from vested interests to the risks of social disruption. To understand how to organize a global coal phase-out, it is crucial to go beyond cost-effective climate mitigation scenarios and learn from the experience of previous coal transitions. Despite the relevance of the topic, evidence remains fragmented throughout different research fields, and not easily accessible. To address this gap, this paper provides a systematic map and comprehensive review of the literature on historical coal transitions. We use computer-assisted systematic mapping and review methods to chart and evaluate the available evidence on historical declines in coal production and consumption. We extracted a dataset of 278 case studies from 194 publications, covering coal transitions in 44 countries and ranging from the end of the 19th century until 2021. We find a relatively recent and rapidly expanding body of literature reflecting the growing importance of an early coal phase-out in scientific and political debates. Previous evidence has primarily focused on the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany, while other countries that experienced large coal declines, like those in Eastern Europe, are strongly underrepresented. An increasing number of studies, mostly published in the last 5 years, has been focusing on China. Most of the countries successfully reducing coal dependency have undergone both demand-side and supply-side transitions. This supports the use of policy approaches targeting both demand and supply to achieve a complete coal phase-out. From a political economy perspective, our dataset highlights that most transitions are driven by rising production costs for coal, falling prices for alternative energies, or local environmental concerns, especially regarding air pollution. The main challenges for coal-dependent regions are structural change transformations, in particular for industry and labor. Rising unemployment is the most largely documented outcome in the sample. Policymakers at multiple levels are instrumental in facilitating coal transitions. They rely mainly on regulatory instruments to foster the transitions and compensation schemes or investment plans to deal with their transformative processes. Even though many models suggest that coal phase-outs are among the low-hanging fruits on the way to climate neutrality and meeting the international climate goals, our case studies analysis highlights the intricate political economy at work that needs to be addressed through well-designed and just policies. KW - climate change mitigation KW - coal transitions KW - evidence synthesis KW - political economy KW - systematic map Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac1b58 SN - 1748-9326 VL - 16 IS - 11 PB - Institute of Physics Publishing (IOP) CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Döbbeling-Hildebrandt, Niklas A1 - Miersch, Klaas A1 - Khanna, Tarun M. A1 - Bachelet, Marion A1 - Bruns, Stephan B. A1 - Callaghan, Max A1 - Edenhofer, Ottmar A1 - Flachsland, Christian A1 - Forster, Piers M. A1 - Kalkuhl, Matthias A1 - Koch, Nicolas A1 - Lamb, William F. A1 - Ohlendorf, Nils A1 - Steckel, Jan Christoph A1 - Minx, Jan C. T1 - Systematic review and meta-analysis of ex-post evaluations on the effectiveness of carbon pricing JF - Nature communications N2 - Today, more than 70 carbon pricing schemes have been implemented around the globe, but their contributions to emissions reductions remains a subject of heated debate in science and policy. Here we assess the effectiveness of carbon pricing in reducing emissions using a rigorous, machine-learning assisted systematic review and meta-analysis. Based on 483 effect sizes extracted from 80 causal ex-post evaluations across 21 carbon pricing schemes, we find that introducing a carbon price has yielded immediate and substantial emission reductions for at least 17 of these policies, despite the low level of prices in most instances. Statistically significant emissions reductions range between –5% to –21% across the schemes (–4% to –15% after correcting for publication bias). Our study highlights critical evidence gaps with regard to dozens of unevaluated carbon pricing schemes and the price elasticity of emissions reductions. More rigorous synthesis of carbon pricing and other climate policies is required across a range of outcomes to advance our understanding of “what works” and accelerate learning on climate solutions in science and policy. KW - carbon and energy KW - climate-change mitigation KW - climate-change policy KW - economics Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48512-w SN - 2041-1723 VL - 15 IS - 1 PB - Springer Nature CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Diluiso, Francesca A1 - Annicchiarico, Barbara A1 - Kalkuhl, Matthias A1 - Minx, Jan Christoph T1 - Climate actions and macro-financial stability BT - the role of central banks JF - Journal of environmental economics and management N2 - Limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees C may pose threats to macroeconomic and financial stability. In an estimated Euro Area New Keynesian model with financial frictions and climate policy, we study the possible perils of a low-carbon transition and evaluate the role of monetary policy and financial regulation. We show that, even for very ambitious climate targets, transition costs are moderate along a timely and gradual mitigation pathway. Inflation volatility strongly increases for disorderly climate policy, demanding a strong monetary response by central banks. In reaction to an adverse financial shock originating in the fossil sector, a green quantitative easing policy can provide an effective stimulus to the economy, but its stabilizing properties do not significantly differ from those of market neutral asset purchase programs. A financial regulation, encouraging the decarbonization of the banks' balance sheets via ad hoc capital requirements, can significantly reduce the severity of a financial crisis, but prolongs the recovery phase. Our results suggest that the involvement of central banks in climate actions must be carefully designed to be in compliance with their mandate and to avoid unintended trade-offs. KW - Climate policy KW - Green transition KW - Monetary policy KW - Capital requirements KW - Green quantitative easing KW - Euro area Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2021.102548 SN - 0095-0696 SN - 1096-0449 VL - 110 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER -