Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capital
Long-lived capital-stocks (LLCS) such as infrastructure and buildings have significant and long-lasting implications for greenhouse gas emissions. They contribute to carbon lock-in and may hinder a rapid decarbonization of energy systems. Here we provide a systematic map of the literature on carbon...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aba660 |
| _version_ | 1797747816887484416 |
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| author | Vivien Fisch-Romito Céline Guivarch Felix Creutzig Jan C Minx Max W Callaghan |
| author_facet | Vivien Fisch-Romito Céline Guivarch Felix Creutzig Jan C Minx Max W Callaghan |
| author_sort | Vivien Fisch-Romito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long-lived capital-stocks (LLCS) such as infrastructure and buildings have significant and long-lasting implications for greenhouse gas emissions. They contribute to carbon lock-in and may hinder a rapid decarbonization of energy systems. Here we provide a systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by LLCS. Based on a structured search of the Web of Science and Scopus, we identified 226 publications from 38 095 search results using a supervised machine learning approach. We show biases toward power generation and toward developed countries. We also identify 11 indicators used to quantify carbon lock-in. Quantifications of committed emissions (cumulative emissions that would occur over the remaining operational lifetime of an asset) or stranded assets (premature retirement/retrofitting or under-utilization of assets along a given pathway) are the most commonly used metrics, whereas institutional indicators are scarcely represented. The synthesis of quantifications shows that (i) global committed emissions have slightly increased over time, (ii) coal power plants are a major source of committed emissions and are exposed to risk of becoming stranded, (iii) delayed mitigation action increases stranded assets and (iv) sectoral distribution and amount of stranded assets differ between countries. A thematic analysis of policy implications highlights the need to assure stability and legitimacy of climate policies and to enable coordination between stakeholders. Carbon pricing is one of the most cited policy instrument, but the literature emphasizes that it should not be the only instrument used and should instead be complemented with other policy instruments, such as technical regulations and financial support for low carbon capital deployment. Further research is warranted on urban-scale, in developing countries and outside the electricity generation sector, notably on buildings, where stranded assets could be high. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:57:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c252b11b3664437bb1735fc2676337d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:57:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-c252b11b3664437bb1735fc2676337d62023-08-09T14:53:35ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262021-01-0116505300410.1088/1748-9326/aba660Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capitalVivien Fisch-Romito0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2419-196XCéline Guivarch1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9405-256XFelix Creutzig2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5710-3348Jan C Minx3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2862-0178Max W Callaghan4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8292-8758Centre International de Recherche sur l’Environnement et le Developpement , 45 bis avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex 94736, France; SMASH, 22 rue de Cherbourg , 75015 Paris, FranceCentre International de Recherche sur l’Environnement et le Developpement , 45 bis avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex 94736, France; École des Ponts—ParisTech , 6-8 Avenue Blaise Pascal, Cité Descartes, Champs sur Marne, 77455 Marne la Vallée Cedex 2, FranceMercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change , Torgauer Straße 12-15, EUREF 19, 10829 Berlin, Germany; Sustainability Economics of Human Settlements, Technical University Berlin , Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, GermanyMercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change , Torgauer Straße 12-15, EUREF 19, 10829 Berlin, Germany; Priestley International Centre for Climate, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United KingdomMercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change , Torgauer Straße 12-15, EUREF 19, 10829 Berlin, Germany; Priestley International Centre for Climate, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United KingdomLong-lived capital-stocks (LLCS) such as infrastructure and buildings have significant and long-lasting implications for greenhouse gas emissions. They contribute to carbon lock-in and may hinder a rapid decarbonization of energy systems. Here we provide a systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by LLCS. Based on a structured search of the Web of Science and Scopus, we identified 226 publications from 38 095 search results using a supervised machine learning approach. We show biases toward power generation and toward developed countries. We also identify 11 indicators used to quantify carbon lock-in. Quantifications of committed emissions (cumulative emissions that would occur over the remaining operational lifetime of an asset) or stranded assets (premature retirement/retrofitting or under-utilization of assets along a given pathway) are the most commonly used metrics, whereas institutional indicators are scarcely represented. The synthesis of quantifications shows that (i) global committed emissions have slightly increased over time, (ii) coal power plants are a major source of committed emissions and are exposed to risk of becoming stranded, (iii) delayed mitigation action increases stranded assets and (iv) sectoral distribution and amount of stranded assets differ between countries. A thematic analysis of policy implications highlights the need to assure stability and legitimacy of climate policies and to enable coordination between stakeholders. Carbon pricing is one of the most cited policy instrument, but the literature emphasizes that it should not be the only instrument used and should instead be complemented with other policy instruments, such as technical regulations and financial support for low carbon capital deployment. Further research is warranted on urban-scale, in developing countries and outside the electricity generation sector, notably on buildings, where stranded assets could be high.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aba660carbon lock-incommitted emissionsstranded assetslong-lived capital stocksystematic mapevidence synthesis |
| spellingShingle | Vivien Fisch-Romito Céline Guivarch Felix Creutzig Jan C Minx Max W Callaghan Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capital Environmental Research Letters carbon lock-in committed emissions stranded assets long-lived capital stock systematic map evidence synthesis |
| title | Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capital |
| title_full | Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capital |
| title_fullStr | Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capital |
| title_short | Systematic map of the literature on carbon lock-in induced by long-lived capital |
| title_sort | systematic map of the literature on carbon lock in induced by long lived capital |
| topic | carbon lock-in committed emissions stranded assets long-lived capital stock systematic map evidence synthesis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aba660 |
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