scholarly journals Will COVID-19 fiscal recovery packages accelerate or retard progress on climate change?

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S359-S381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Hepburn ◽  
Brian O’Callaghan ◽  
Nicholas Stern ◽  
Joseph Stiglitz ◽  
Dimitri Zenghelis
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Physical Infrastructure ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Economic Multiplier

Abstract The COVID-19 crisis is likely to have dramatic consequences for progress on climate change. Imminent fiscal recovery packages could entrench or partly displace the current fossil-fuel-intensive economic system. Here, we survey 231 central bank officials, finance ministry officials, and other economic experts from G20 countries on the relative performance of 25 major fiscal recovery archetypes across four dimensions: speed of implementation, economic multiplier, climate impact potential, and overall desirability. We identify five policies with high potential on both economic multiplier and climate impact metrics: clean physical infrastructure, building efficiency retrofits, investment in education and training, natural capital investment, and clean R&D. In lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) rural support spending is of particular value while clean R&D is less important. These recommendations are contextualized through analysis of the short-run impacts of COVID-19 on greenhouse gas curtailment and plausible medium-run shifts in the habits and behaviours of humans and institutions.

scholarly journals The how tough is WASH framework for assessing the climate resilience of water and sanitation

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Howard ◽  
Anisha Nijhawan ◽  
Adrian Flint ◽  
Manish Baidya ◽  
Maria Pregnolato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Measurement Framework ◽  
Low And Middle Income

AbstractClimate change presents a major threat to water and sanitation services. There is an urgent need to understand and improve resilience, particularly in rural communities and small towns in low- and middle-income countries that already struggle to provide universal access to services and face increasing threats from climate change. To date, there is a lack of a simple framework to assess the resilience of water and sanitation services which hinders the development of strategies to improve services. An interdisciplinary team of engineers and environmental and social scientists were brought together to investigate the development of a resilience measurement framework for use in low- and middle-income countries. Six domains of interest were identified based on a literature review, expert opinion, and limited field assessments in two countries. A scoring system using a Likert scale is proposed to assess the resilience of services and allow analysis at local and national levels to support improvements in individual supplies, identifying systematic faults, and support prioritisation for action. This is a simple, multi-dimensional framework for assessing the resilience of rural and small-town water and sanitation services in LMICs. The framework is being further tested in Nepal and Ethiopia and future results will be reported on its application.

Interplays Between Methane Emission and Agricultural Output

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 56-69
Author(s):  
Ramesh Chandra Das ◽  
Arundhati Mukherjee
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Agricultural Output ◽  
Methane Generation ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run

There have been debates among the so-called developed economies and less developed and emerging economies on the issue of ‘who is responsible for' the emission of excessive greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the ambient environment. While methane emissions from agriculture and livestock is one of the important elements of GHGs, it is also required for growth of the agriculture and allied activities for all economic categories. The present study, under this backdrop, examines long run and short run linkages between methane emissions and agriculture outputs for high and low to upper middle-income countries for the period 1981-2012. The results show that the series of methane emissions and agriculture output are cointegrated in the 15 member Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) group, low income and middle income countries signifying the responsibilities of these income groups in methane emissions. The responsible countries in the OECD are USA, UK, Japan, Germany, and Italy. Further, in short run dynamics, the Granger Causality results show that methane emissions make a cause to agriculture output for 15OECD and low-income countries, and agricultural output is a cause to methane generation for middle and all low to upper middle income countries. China, India, and Brazil cannot be blamed for making excessive methane generation as both the series are not cointegrated for them.

scholarly journals Health impact of climate change in cities of middle-income countries: the case of China

2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Y Y Chan ◽  
Janice Y Ho ◽  
Heidi H Y Hung ◽  
Sida Liu ◽  
Holly C Y Lam
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
Middle Income Countries

scholarly journals The human imperative of stabilizing global climate change at 1.5°C

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 365 (6459) ◽  
pp. eaaw6974 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Hoegh-Guldberg ◽  
D. Jacob ◽  
M. Taylor ◽  
T. Guillén Bolaños ◽  
M. Bindi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Special Report ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Global Mean Surface Temperature ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Global Mean

Increased concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases have led to a global mean surface temperature 1.0°C higher than during the pre-industrial period. We expand on the recent IPCC Special Report on global warming of 1.5°C and review the additional risks associated with higher levels of warming, each having major implications for multiple geographies, climates, and ecosystems. Limiting warming to 1.5°C rather than 2.0°C would be required to maintain substantial proportions of ecosystems and would have clear benefits for human health and economies. These conclusions are relevant for people everywhere, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the escalation of climate-related risks may prevent the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

scholarly journals Challenges and considerations of applying nature-based solutions in low- and middle-income countries in Southeast and East Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 331-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex M. Lechner ◽  
Rachel L. Gomes ◽  
Lucelia Rodrigues ◽  
Matthew J. Ashfold ◽  
Sivathass Bannir Selvam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Rapid Pace ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Low- and middle-income countries in Southeast and East Asia face a range of challenges related to the rapid pace of urbanisation in the region, the scale of pollution, climate change, loss of ecosystem services and associated difficulties for ecological restoration. Possible pathways towards a more sustainable future lie in the applications of nature-based solutions (NBS). However, there is relatively little literature on the application of NBS in the region, particularly Southeast Asia. In this paper we address this gap by assessing the socio-ecological challenges to the application of NBS in the region – one of the most globally biodiverse. We first provide an overview and background on NBS and its underpinnings in biodiversity and ecosystem services. We then present a typology describing five unique challenges for the application of NBS in the region: (1) Characteristics of urbanisation; (2) Biophysical environmental and climatic context; (3) Environmental risks and challenges for restoration; (4) Human nature relationships and conflicts; and (5) Policy and governance context. Exploiting the opportunities through South-South and North-South collaboration to address the challenges of NBS in Southeast and East Asia needs to be a priority for government, planners and academics.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Rural Female Farmers in Ghana: A Study of the Wenchi Municipality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Yarney ◽  
Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi ◽  
Jonathan Chuks Mba ◽  
Peter K. Achamwie
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
Female Farmers ◽  
Basic Infrastructure

Climate change poses a major threat to development in most low and middle-income countries, especially the sub – Saharan Africa. Wurompo is a small farming community in the Wenchi Municipality of the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana that depends on rain-fed agriculture activities for livelihood. In recent years, droughts, unpredictable rainfall pattern and crop failure have become common in the area. The study assessed knowledge and awareness, effects of climate change on female farmers, and their adaptation strategies. A case study in design, qualitative methods were used to collect data from 50 purposefully selected participants. Data were analyzed using themes and sub-themes generated from the research questions. Findings showed lack of adequate information and knowledge on climate change and its effects. Climate change has impacted negatively on these farmers stemming from decline in crop production and unavailability of adequate water supply in due season. Challenges to climate change adaptation are poverty, poor basic infrastructure, and modern farming practices. Farmers must be educated on climate change and its effects, with training on the necessary adaptation strategies to build their resilience. Policies that target rural farmers to adapt to climate change, and device modern agricultural techniques and practices are also necessary.

scholarly journals No fire without smoke (particles)

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M Holm ◽  
John Balmes
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Smoke Particles ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Pollution from landscape fires, which are increasing with climate change, leads to babies being born with lower birthweights in low- and middle-income countries.

SOME DETERMINANTS AND MECHANICS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: THE ROLE OF ICT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, TAXATION AND OTHER MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
RUDRA P. PRADHAN ◽  
MAK B. ARVIN ◽  
MAHENDHIRAN NAIR ◽  
SARA E. BENNETT ◽  
SAHAR BAHMANI
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Macroeconomic Variables ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

This study examines key factors in the economic growth of middle-income countries over the period 1970–2017. The variables considered are ICT infrastructure development, taxation revenue, government expenditure, gross capital formation, foreign direct investment, and inflation. This study considers interlinkages between the macroeconomic variables noted above. The purpose of this study is to determine: (1) if there is causality between the variables and (2) the direction of any causality. Using a panel vector error-correction model, we find both short-run and long-run relationships between the variables. In each specification, we find that ICT infrastructure development, taxation revenue and the four macroeconomic variables all stimulate economic growth in the long run. This suggests that policymakers should curate an integrated and holistic policy framework pertaining to taxation, ICT infrastructure development and other macroeconomic policies to create a vibrant national economic ecosystem that would ensure the sustained economic growth of middle-income countries.

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