[Prof. dr. K.S. (Klaus) Hubacek
University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society | IREES
Other positions
Adjunct Professor in Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
COVID-19 and Climate Change
Government policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have drastically altered patterns of energy demand around the world. Many international borders were closed and populations were confined to their homes, which reduced transport and changed consumption patterns. Also, government actions and economic incentives postcrisis will likely influence the global CO2 emissions path for decades. Those stimuli could either be a threat to global climate change or a jumpstart to achieve a net-zero energy economy. The large amount of liquidity introduced into the market can either reinforce the carbon lock-in effect by investing in the carbon-intensive sectors or go to clean energy sectors to escape the path dependences of fossil fuel-based production and consumption. The most carbon-intensive scenario would increase 5-yr global emissions (2020 to 2024) by 16.4% (23.2 Gt). In contrast, the ‘greenest’ scenario could reduce emissions by 4.7% (6.6 Gt), if the fiscal stimuli are allocated to high-tech industries with low-carbon technologies. Thus, governments need to be cautious when reopening the economy and designing fiscal stimulus plans.
Our project provides a timely analysis on the impacts of COVID-19 and ongoing recovery plans on global climate change mitigation.
Contact person: Yuli Shan (y.shan@rug.nl) & Klaus Hubacek (k.hubacek@rug.nl)
Urban carbon footprints
With the accelerating climate emergency, decision-makers need specific sub-national information on sources of carbon emissions, reduction potentials and mitigation measures. Cities, which account for 80% of global GDP, 60-80% of energy consumption, and 75% of carbon emissions, are central to global climate change mitigation and the implementation of low-carbon development strategies.
As centers of wealth and innovation, cities have resources and tools that are needed to address climate change challenges. In fact, they are increasingly at the forefront of efforts to address climate change mitigation with many signing up to frameworks for reducing GHG emissions. The urban climate actions place urgent demands on the scientific community to provide timely and useful information and knowledge of urban development, energy use, environments, human health, and ecosystem.
This project provides the most up-to-date carbon footprint accounts for cities, especially those from the developing countries.
Contact person: Yuli Shan (y.shan@rug.nl) & Klaus Hubacek (k.hubacek@rug.nl)
Emission accounts in the developing world
Developing countries are responsible for more than 60% of global carbon emissions. They are fast-growing and playing a more and more important role in the global supply chains. Understanding their emission trends and patterns are crucial to global climate change mitigation and low-carbon transition.
Our project focuses on the fast-growing developing countries and transition economies (e.g., China, African countries and India) and discusses how they contribute to the global emissions and global climate change mitigation.
Contact person: Yuli Shan (y.shan@rug.nl) & Klaus Hubacek (k.hubacek@rug.nl)