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Transition to a Safe Anthropocene in the Asia-Pacific

Sustainability, Climate Action, and Green Technology

Editors: Antonina Ivanova Boncheva, José Ernesto Rangel Delgado

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland

Book Series : The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Table of Contents

About this book

The Anthropocene concept highlights that we are now living in a new epoch of earth history where both the rapid accumulation of greenhouse gases and excessive consumption of natural resources endanger human and planetary wellbeing. Climate change is one of the main drivers of the Anthropocene and is intricately linked to many great challenges we face: lack of fresh water, food security, biodiversity loss, and human rights of present and future generations. The radical influence of humanity on nature must change from destructive to reconstructive, by the path of sustainable development, circular economy, climate action, green technology, and environmental awareness.

This book explores the pathways of transition towards a safe and sustainable Anthropocene in the Asia-Pacific and reviews the progress and the challenges in climate action, the recovery from COVID-19, and the re-articulation of world order. The chapters address both regional and country levels, the majority analysing China and Mexico. The experiences presented can be replicated in other regions of the world.

The book offers useful insights for all interested in the Anthropocene, in climate action, sustainability, and the relationship between human beings and nature, thus motivating the decision-makers to implement a just and inclusive transition to a safe Anthropocene.

• A novel study that explores links between the Anthropocene, climate change, and sustainability, framing the transition towards a safe and sustainable Anthropocene in the Asia-Pacific.

• Strategies and policies on climate action, renewable energies, green technology, and environmental education include the participation of governments, NGOs, and civil society.

• Case studies based on experiences at the regional and country level provide valuable insights for both industrialised and developing countries.

Frontmatter

Towards a Safe Anthropocene in the Asia-Pacific

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Anthropocene, Climate Change, and Sustainability

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to present the intrinsic connection between Anthropocene and climate change, and the pathway we should follow as humanity towards a safe and sustainable Anthropocene. We explore climate change as one of the main indicators of the Anthropocene, presenting the main impacts, and climate action that we can apply to tackle it. Within the Anthropocene, global change is intricately linked to many of the other grand challenges that we face: land use and land cover, urbanization, globalization, coastal ecosystems, atmospheric composition, etc. Climate change is also an important justice issue, since the poor and future generations are mostly, the ones who will be worst affected. That´s why, we highlight the pathway to a safe and sustainable Anthropocene, and analyze the implication of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to affront climate change, and thus advance towards a safe Anthropocene. At the end, we express some final thoughts and steps for a just and sustainable transition.

Antonina Ivanova Boncheva, José Ernesto Rangel Delgado

Chapter 2. Is the Tonga Eruption (2022) a New Climate Change Threat for the Pacific Basin?

Abstract

The eruption of the submarine volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in the Pacific Ocean on January 15th 2022 generated one of the most important volcanic events in the modern era. As a consequence of the eruption, a tsunami was produced, affecting the coasts of several countries of the Pacific Basin. It is estimated that the amount of water vapor ejected into the atmosphere as a result of the eruption could alter the Earth’s climate to the point of heating it in the coming years, or cause the reverse effect—as occurred during the eruption of the Tambora volcano in 1815. We believe that, along with the study of the anthropogenic effects of climate change, we must raise awareness about the need to develop initiatives to analyze natural origin dangers representing a serious threat to the societies and economies of the countries of the Pacific Basin in the coming decades.

Mauricio Bretón González, Jesús M. Ibáñez Godoy

Chapter 3. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Low Carbon Future: Policies for Sustainable, Inclusive and Just Transition

Abstract

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is engaged with new strategies to ensure a sustainable, inclusive and low-carbon growth. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the goals related to sustainability that could be advanced by the use of market instruments, but also by a regulatory framework and public, private and social cooperation that promotes innovation in business, as well as sociocultural changes. Firstly, we explore the need for a just transition towards a low-carbon economy in the post-COVID-19 era that leads to more sustainable productive and lifestyle practices in a context of just transition and inclusion. Secondly, we present the main objectives of the Putrajaya Vision of APEC and the Aoteroa Plan for its implementation. The third section explores the APEC strategy to foster the development of sustainable and innovative micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Some reflections are offered regarding the relevance that public-private partnership and an effective and inclusive regulatory framework will have in promoting the economic recovery of the Asia Pacific.

Antonina Ivanova Boncheva

Chapter 4. University 3.0: Entrepreneurship Education and Socio-Digital Skills (SDS) as Pillars of Sustainability in the Future Education for the Asia-Pacific and the World

Abstract

Universities are experiencing key adjustments derived from the COVID-19, environmental and economic reset crises. This has led us to explore virtual environments and to rethink consumption mechanisms in a waste economy. The current scenario has generated economic, social and environmental problems that must be addressed from new educational paradigms using entrepreneurship and technology as allies in what we call “University 3.0”. The objective of this research is to describe the necessary conditions to develop entrepreneurial skills in university students in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment, stressing the importance of entrepreneurship in environmental challenges, as well as the exploration of socio-digital skills in virtual and hybrid scenarios; and to debate the possible consequences in the designs of educational programs by 2030. The results detect key areas in promoting an educational space where the strengthening of entrepreneurship, the development of emotional skills, and a greater connection with the environment will allow us to face the challenges of sustainability.

Francisco Javier Álvarez Torres, José Ernesto Rangel Delgado, Ana Lilia Sánchez Regla

Chapter 5. Exploring the Influence of Human Capital on Environmental Degradation in Asian-Pacific Countries. The Role of Renewable Energy

Abstract

Environmental damage, to which the Asia-Pacific region contributes significantly, is a major concern for humanity. In 2019, the region emitted more than 50% of the world’s CO₂. We examine the influence of human capital on carbon emissions in 14 Asia-Pacific countries between 1970 and 2019, in the categories of renewable energy, primary energy, and economic growth. The methodology is based on cointegration tests, FMOLS estimations, and panel Granger causality tests. The results reveal that human capital and renewable energy stimulate environmental quality in the long run, whereas primary energy and economic growth worsen it. However, the time series analysis shows that in some countries human capital exacerbates air pollution. The heterogenous causality tests indicate that human capital causes renewable energy and economic growth. Moreover, the results support a two-way causality between renewable energy, primary energy, CO₂ emissions, and economic growth. Overall, the findings suggest that countries should increase investments in both human capital and renewable energy to enhance air quality in the Asia-Pacific region.

Miguel Á. Tinoco, Francisco Venegas Martínez

Chapter 6. Determinants of Technology Adoption for Renewable Energy in Southeast Asia. The Case of Solar Power in Australia and Japan

Abstract

Renewable energy is at the center of the transition to a less carbon-intensive and more sustainable production system. Eco-friendly energies, such as solar, wind, and hydropower have increased in recent years, driven by policy support and sharp cost reductions. However, the widespread adoption of solar photovoltaic technology is restricted by the relatively low efficiency in converting sunlight into usable energy forms. In this chapter, we examine the adoption rate of solar technology in Japan and Australia. We aim to evaluate the potential for solar photovoltaics (PV) in these Southeast Asian nations, given that solar PV combines two advantages: module manufacturing can be done in large plants, which allows for economies of scale, and it is also a very modular technology. It can be deployed in minimal quantities at a time. Advanced solar power would allow Southeast Asia to meet the Sustainable Development Goal no. 7, “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, by substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in their energy mix”.

Humberto Merritt Tapia

Chapter 7. Conservation and Development of Forests Within the Countries Affiliated with the Transpacific Partnership Agreement in Southeast Asia and the Countries of the American Coast

Abstract

Trade agreements at the international level are of paramount importance for achieving a global economic balance. As the population industrializes, the emission of greenhouse gases increases and this helps the development of climate change. All the global trade agreements speak of the importance of creating mechanisms that help capture gases. A great imbalance is the industrial emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which can be diminished by the forests that capture this gas and convert it into oxygen. This chapter analyzes the forest situations of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries in Asia and Oceania (Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand), and the Pacific of the American continent (Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and the United States). In all cases, it is demonstrated that there are efforts at different levels to reduce deforestation, increase commercial plantations with ecological balance and develop new extensions of native forests.

Hugo Martín Moreno-Zacarías

Policies and Actions of Transition to Safe Anthropocene: The Case of China

Frontmatter

Chapter 8. Green Technology Innovation System as a Chinese Solution to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the Chinese government’s plan to establish a green technology innovation system. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the ultimate goal of this strategy is to help China achieve its net-zero greenhouse gas emission targets. This environmental action plan seeks high-tech solutions to remedy complex environmental challenges. The program aims to tackle air, soil, and groundwater pollution, reduce waste, and protect ecosystems. To finance the plan, China is expected to encourage enterprises and financial institutions to provide more support for innovative green technologies. The system will also be backed by tax incentives and new “green technology banks”. Based on the theoretical approach of regional innovation systems and considering the historical trajectory of science and technology projects in China, this chapter provides a first approach to the scope and limits of the program. In conclusion, we refer to the conditions necessary to make this program successful, considering the national and international scenario.

Daniel Lemus-Delgado

Chapter 9. China and the Climate Change Challenge of the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

China is one of the major contributors to global environmental degradation. In the twenty-first century, China has become the main emitter of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). This contribution is mainly due to its high economic growth rate of over 8% per year between 1979 and 2022, which has generated positive effects, such as the elimination of extreme poverty by 2020 and, to a lesser extent, containing the advance of income inequality. However, it has affected the natural resources, and contributed to climate change (CC), displacing the United States as the planet’s main polluter in 2005. This chapter analyzes the Chinese response to the international community and its actions related to climate change. The main conclusion is that what this nation achieves in the next 75 years of this century, will be determinant in the global fight against climate change.

Juan González García, Ángel Licona Michel, Maricela Reyes López

Chapter 10. Challenges for the Advancement of Clean Energy in China

Abstract

In this chapter we discuss the work done by the Chinese government to encourage the use of clean energy by establishing an institutional framework, with laws that limit the use of coal. China’s economic growth process since the 1980s has led to the use of coal and oil in large quantities. In 1993, the country became a net importer of oil. At the turn of the twenty-first century, while Chinese leaders were aware of the need to commit to limiting their use of fossil energy, they also knew that they could not stop their economic growth. The pollution problems generated gave rise to the development of renewable energies, such as solar, wind and hydraulic. Provincial leaders are an important element in the process of transition to the use of less polluting energy. However, on occasion, economic imperatives have led them to favor the use of coal. They raise the intermittency of renewable energies and therefore the need to advance in decarbonization gradually.

Marisela Connelly

Chapter 11. An Approach to Chinese Global Governance: The Case of Non-governmental Organizations

Abstract

This chapter seeks to emphasize the need to review concepts with ‘universal’ application postulated by the West but used in regions such as Asia. In this sense, the objective is to briefly review the evolution of the Public Administration paradigms in their attempts to solve the problems that afflict society until reaching the notion of governance, and contrast this with the conceptualization of “governance with Chinese characteristics”. Likewise, since the governance paradigm conceives common problems (such as fighting poverty, mitigating climate change, and promoting gender equality, among others) that require the participation of other actors beyond the State, this chapter also seeks to make visible the existence and particularities of the participation of social organizations in China given their growing international activism.

Edith Jasmin Montes Incin

Chapter 12. Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Sports Diplomacy or Climate Leadership?

Abstract

At the beginning of 2022, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) received international media attention for hosting the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The organizers emphasized the importance of hosting a ‘green’ Olympics; however, environmental relevance was overshadowed by the United States’ diplomatic boycott of the sporting event and the presence of Vladimir Putin, at a time when threat of war with Ukraine was at its peak. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the foreign policy motivations behind the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, 2022. The conclusion suggests that, by delivering a green Olympic Games, China sought to strengthen its international climate leadership. However, the hostile stance of the US towards the Olympics and Vladimir Putin’s support of the Chinese government undermined China’s aspirations to be observed by the international community as a committed champion in the fight against climate change.

Ana Bertha Cuevas Tello, José Jesús Bravo Vergara

Policies and Actions of Transition to Safe Anthropocene: México

Frontmatter

Chapter 13. Complex Transition to Sustainable Development Goals in Mexico: COVID-19, Poverty, Climate Change, and Energy Transition with the 4th Transformation

Abstract

Mexico is highly exposed to climate change due to two warming oceans. In the face of catastrophic impacts, direct support to those affected predominates, with only 4% budgeted in 2022 for adaptation, while the damages that occurred were partially remediated. But the governance arena is more complex due to the socioeconomic lags of COVID-19 that have altered the quantity and quality of jobs. The war between Russia and Ukraine has driven up the prices of goods and food, and extreme events have diverted investments from the development of infrastructure and poverty alleviation. Because of these complex processes with negative feedback, it is urgent to develop policy agendas that mitigate the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions, reorient activities towards the adaptation of vulnerable groups to disasters, and support governmental and private actors in unforeseen and complex political management. Training in sustainable development would help to prevent adverse impacts by orienting Mexican policy towards paths of equity and well-being.

Ursula Oswald-Spring

Chapter 14. The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Development of the Mexican E-Government Model

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was a global phenomenon with far-reaching repercussions. Its urgency led to the implementation of technological measures for the continuity of labor, educational and social activities. Governments improved their e-government capabilities to provide essential services safely and efficiently. In the case of Mexico, the COVID pandemic encouraged the implementation of information and communication technologies, with the aim of providing citizens with information and services during the pandemic. The analysis focuses on the applications and strategies implemented during the pandemic by various levels of government, through the evaluation of their characteristics of design and development, as well as their accessibility. It was determined that the Coronavirus pandemic fostered the development of clear lines of attention through the implementation of technologies, although we highlight the main points of improvement for the current Mexican model of e-government.

Manuel de la Mora, Daniel Astilla

Chapter 15. Democracy and Environmental Education: A Necessary Symbiosis in Mexico: Some Lessons from Ecuador

Abstract

The present chapter addresses the aim to develop an egalitarian relationship between the environment and individuals. In this sense, there is a need for environmental education as an instrument that consolidates the democratic context from an equitable vision of coexistence, recognizing the rights of all living beings. In Mexico, the proposal in the six-year term of López Obrador for the New Mexican School intends to offer a comprehensive education in all areas of knowledge, based on eight principles, two of which are explored in this study: citizens’ responsibility and respect for nature, and care for the environment. Could it be that this paradigm proposal reaches what was proposed in Ecuador, where nature is constitutionally placed as a subject of rights? Contrasting the proposals of these countries will lead us to show the degree to which environmental education is acting as a democratizing process.

Alejandra Chávez, Angélica Prado

Chapter 16. The Green Customs Initiative (GCI) and the Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs): An Analysis of the Perception about its Implementation and Compliance in Customs Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

Abstract

International trade has prioritized the safeguarding and cross-border protection of the environment, encouraging international organizations to promote initiatives such as Green Customs and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to prevent and control the negative environmental effects of international trade through customs intervention. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the perceptions regarding the implementation of and compliance with the Green Customs Initiative and the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in Manzanillo Customs, by customs agents that intervene in the clearance of goods. This research was carried out through documentary mixed methods with an exploratory, logical, analytical, and field approach (survey application). The main findings show ignorance and omission in the implementation of the initiative and agreements, even though the Mexican federal government has planned specific actions for their attention and compliance.

Oscar Reyes, Omar Pérez

Backmatter

Title: Transition to a Safe Anthropocene in the Asia-Pacific
Editors: Antonina Ivanova Boncheva
José Ernesto Rangel Delgado
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-66521-9
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-66520-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66521-9