Special Issue "Towards Sustainability: Energy and Carbon Efficiency"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jinsoo Kim
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Interests: structural decomposition analysis; embodied carbon emission; feasibility study; externalities and environmental costs; economics of energy efficiency; rebound effects; multi-criteria decision-making

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy and carbon efficiency has played a vital role in cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and saving social costs. We are standing in the middle of the climate crisis, and it is evident that there is no sustainable future if we do not resolve it. The energy sector is responsible for more than 70% of global GHG emissions. Energy and carbon efficiency improvements are thus not a matter of choice: their realization is our duty.

Also, energy and carbon efficiency could be a hidden fuel, or perhaps the first fuel, in itself, as the International Energy Agency (IEA) remarked. Improvements of energy and carbon efficiency would positively impact many areas: energy savings, GHG emissions, energy and carbon prices, macro-economics, productivity, air pollution, poverty alleviation, and so on. Therefore, it is not surprising that a good amount of scholarly literature on energy and carbon efficiency is available.

This Special Issue of Sustainability aims to highlight new opportunities and challenges for a sustainable future related to the enhancement of energy and carbon efficiency and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. A systematic assessment of the broader impacts of energy and carbon efficiency on economics, policies, and management will be presented. We welcome papers on:

  • Energy efficiency/carbon efficiency for sustainable economic growth;
  • Assessing national energy efficiency/carbon efficiency;
  • The role of energy and carbon efficiency for the Sustainable Development Goals;
  • Energy and carbon efficiency in the transport sector;
  • Policies for energy and carbon efficiency improvements;
  • Embodied carbon emissions, life-cycle carbon emissions;
  • Energy and carbon efficiency in energy transitions;
  • Decision-making issues in energy and carbon efficiency investments;
  • Costs and benefits of energy and carbon efficiency improvements;
  • Behavioral economics of carbon and energy efficiency, including rebound effects.

Prof. Dr. Jinsoo Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Energy efficiency
  • Carbon efficiency
  • Sustainable development
  • Energy saving
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Energy policy
  • Economic growth

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Article
Carbon Emission Regulation, Green Boards, and Corporate Environmental Responsibility
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4463; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084463 - 16 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 605
Abstract
In this study, we examine various effects of carbon emission regulation enacted in South Korea. We provide empirical evidence of regulated firms strategically hedging against potential risks by increasing the number of directors with environment-related backgrounds. We also find that this relationship is [...] Read more.
In this study, we examine various effects of carbon emission regulation enacted in South Korea. We provide empirical evidence of regulated firms strategically hedging against potential risks by increasing the number of directors with environment-related backgrounds. We also find that this relationship is clearly evidenced when the firm is owned by a lower proportion of foreign investors. Further analysis shows that these directors successfully change their firms to become environmentally friendly. Overall, we conclude that the role of governments in promoting green finance is crucial. The findings of this study may be used as a guideline for decision makers and environmental policymakers to create systems and policies to increase the firm’s awareness about the environment in relation to corporate environmental responsibility (CER) ratings of firms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainability: Energy and Carbon Efficiency)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Article
Induced Effects of Environmentally Friendly Generations in Korea
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4404; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084404 - 15 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 389
Abstract
This study estimated the induced effects of LNG, mega PV (photovoltaic), small PV, onshore wind and offshore wind power, which will be used as major power sources under the Korea’s energy transition policy. The 2015 Input–Output Statistics of Bank of Korea were used [...] Read more.
This study estimated the induced effects of LNG, mega PV (photovoltaic), small PV, onshore wind and offshore wind power, which will be used as major power sources under the Korea’s energy transition policy. The 2015 Input–Output Statistics of Bank of Korea were used to reflect Korea’s economic structure. The MCI (manufacture, construction and installation) and O&M (operation and maintenance) of each power source would have different effects, so in the analysis the MCI and O&M of each power source were distinguished. According to estimation results, the induced-effect coefficients of the MCI are greater than those of the O&M in every power source. The induced production effect coefficient of the MCI is decreased in the order of mega PV > small PV > LNG power > offshore wind > onshore wind. The induced production effect coefficient of the O&M is decreased in the order of mega PV > small PV > onshore wind > offshore wind > LNG thermal. The induced employment coefficient of the MCI is decreased in the order of LNG thermal > mega PV > small PV > onshore wind > offshore wind. PV power and wind power have bigger induced effects and bring economic effects in Korean economy. The carbon neutrality and energy transition policies implemented by Korea have a certain level of induced effects and offset the burden of transition costs even if existing power sources are replaced with environmentally friendly power sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainability: Energy and Carbon Efficiency)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Article
Do Household Time, Risk, and Social Preferences Affect Home Energy Retrofit Decisions in Korea?
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4152; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084152 - 08 Apr 2021
Viewed by 399
Abstract
Paying attention to impacts of behavioral factor on energy efficiency (EE) investments, this study attempts to identify preference characteristics affecting EE investments. We model households’ EE investments with time, risk, and social preferences, conduct a survey, and empirically examine the effects of the [...] Read more.
Paying attention to impacts of behavioral factor on energy efficiency (EE) investments, this study attempts to identify preference characteristics affecting EE investments. We model households’ EE investments with time, risk, and social preferences, conduct a survey, and empirically examine the effects of the preference characteristics on home energy retrofit decisions in Korea. We find that the research hypotheses for risk and social preferences that we are derived from the model are supported while those for time preference are partially supported. The results are summarized as follows. First, respondents who discount the future more heavily are less likely to plan a home energy retrofit. Second, very risk-averse respondents are less likely to have experienced a home energy retrofit and very risk-seeking ones are more likely to plan a home energy retrofit. Third, those seriously concerned about environmental issues or who strongly respond to moral norms are likely to have experienced or plan a home energy retrofit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainability: Energy and Carbon Efficiency)
Article
Impact of Structural Oil Price Shock Factors on the Gasoline Market and Macroeconomy in South Korea
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2209; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042209 - 18 Feb 2021
Viewed by 1218
Abstract
This study decomposed shocks of the global crude oil (GCO) market and Korean gasoline (KG) market into six types using the structural vector auto-regressive model. Breaking down the shocks into six, we analyzed how each shock affects the macroeconomy and gasoline market in [...] Read more.
This study decomposed shocks of the global crude oil (GCO) market and Korean gasoline (KG) market into six types using the structural vector auto-regressive model. Breaking down the shocks into six, we analyzed how each shock affects the macroeconomy and gasoline market in Korea. Results of the analysis revealed that the oil supply shock did not cause a large fluctuation in gasoline prices, but it harmed the macroeconomy. By contrast, the two shocks on the demand side of the GCO market caused a large increase in domestic gasoline prices, but they did not negatively affect the macroeconomy. Meanwhile, in the KG market, gasoline-refining shock and gasoline demand shock caused a significant increase in gasoline prices. Both shocks had some negative effects on the Korean macroeconomy at a certain point, but the effects are not as strong as the oil supply shock. However, the gasoline distribution shock in Korea rarely caused negative consequences for major macroeconomic variables. Moreover, analyzing the KG prices through historical decomposition, we found that the two demand-side factors of the GCO market and the demand shock of the KG market have had the most important influence on the gasoline price since the 2000s. From the analysis, the increase in gasoline prices in Korea since the 2000s can be inferred to have no significant negative impact on the macroeconomy. Therefore, the essential factors of price fluctuations must be focused on in analyzing domestic gasoline price and their impact on the macroeconomy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainability: Energy and Carbon Efficiency)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Article
Sectoral Decomposition of Korea’s Energy Consumption by Global Value Chain Dimensions
Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8483; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208483 - 14 Oct 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 650
Abstract
This paper analyzed the annual trends in energy consumption of 14 industries in Korea from 2000 to 2014 using an extended log mean Divisia index (LMDI) method that embedded global value chain (GVC) divisions in the standard LMDI decomposition. Using a world input–output [...] Read more.
This paper analyzed the annual trends in energy consumption of 14 industries in Korea from 2000 to 2014 using an extended log mean Divisia index (LMDI) method that embedded global value chain (GVC) divisions in the standard LMDI decomposition. Using a world input–output table, we calculated foreign value-added share in the GVC activities for each industry. Based on a Cobb–Douglas production technology, we embedded GVC divisions in the ordinary LMDI factor decomposition. The key findings indicate that the production effect mainly drives energy consumption, while energy consumption has decreased by both the foreign-structure effects and the foreign-intensity effects. Together with a decline in the domestic energy intensity effects, both of the GVC effects have improved energy efficiency. Energy-intensive industries have consumed more energy than other industries, while they have more incentive to save energy costs because these costs are a large proportion of total import costs. The opposite pattern occurred in other industry groups. Industries that do not naturally depend on energy tend to consume more energy and became more energy-intensive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainability: Energy and Carbon Efficiency)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop