Rapid Transition Away from Carbon Economy: Strategies and Challenges

This thesis investigates strategies for a rapid transition away from a carbon economy. It begins by defining the carbon economy and its impact on the environment, highlighting the necessity for decarbonization. The study examines the role of hydrogen as an alternative resource and explores various strategies nations can adopt to reduce carbon emissions, including policy changes, technological innovation, and industrial adaptations. Challenges and opportunities associated with these strategies are discussed, with a focus on balancing economic development and environmental sustainability. The research methodology involves a comprehensive literature review and data analysis to provide a holistic understanding of the transition process, ultimately offering recommendations for nations aiming to achieve a carbon-free economy. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and thesis papers for students.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
TOPIC: RAPID TRANSITION AWAY FROM CARBON ECONOMY......................................4
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................4
Background:.................................................................................................................................4
Aim:.............................................................................................................................................5
Objectives:...................................................................................................................................5
Rationale and scope:....................................................................................................................5
Problem statement:.......................................................................................................................5
Structure of the report:.................................................................................................................6
CHATER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................................6
Theme 1: Investigate the concept of carbon economy:...............................................................7
Theme 2: Examining role of Hydrogen as alternative resource:.................................................9
Theme3: To identify the best strategies which allow nation to transit away from carbon
economy.....................................................................................................................................11
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................13
Research type.............................................................................................................................13
Research approach.....................................................................................................................14
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................15
Research design.........................................................................................................................15
Data collection...........................................................................................................................16
Data analysis..............................................................................................................................17
Ethical consideration..................................................................................................................18
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS........................................................................................18
Theme 1: The importance of carbon economy in upcoming years:...........................................19
Theme 2: The importance of considering hydrogen as alternative source of energy:...............20
Theme 3 : Challenges of considering alternative resource for carbon economy.......................22
Theme 4: Strategies which allow nation to move away from carbon economy:.......................23

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION..............................................24
Reflection:..................................................................................................................................24
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

TOPIC: RAPID TRANSITION AWAY FROM CARBON ECONOMY
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Carbon economy is one of the most common but important term for almost every
country, this simply means less pollution due to economic activity (Lugo-Morin, 2021). It is very
clear that every sector in developing economic have been indulged with those activities that
impact environment and create dangerous problem for human as well as businesses. Carbon free
economy is dream for every nation, this is one of the biggest aim that will have great impact on
environment as well as every sector of the economy. Carbon free economy have major
connection with future sustainability allowing human life to become healthy and business to
grow with accurate speed. The dream of carbon free economy will be completed, nations are
moving towards sustainable economy where only valuable resource will be used which provide
less emission to the environment. Many nations have focused on Hydrogen as key valuable
resource which allow them to cover important area of carbon free economy, nation who started
building their economy on alternative resource like hydrogen, wind power, solar energy, biomass
energy, hydro power and certain other type of resource which allow nation to become free from
emission.
Background:
Rapid transition can be seen in carbon economy, major steps have been taken by every
nation to manage environment and its sustainability. Decarbonizing economy simply means
reducing those activities or taking those major steps to bring down impact on environment, it is
very clear that carbon free economy is dream for almost every country. Major steps have been
taken by global leaders to manage pollution, and impact on environment, controlling economic
activities will help in reducing carbon in the economy for example; banning plastic for industrial
and consumer goods (Bonsu, 2020). Decarbonizing can be beneficial for world economy to
reduce their carbon footprint. UK is one of those country who is focusing on carbon free
economy, this nation has taken major steps to reduce carbon from economy including use of
solar power, hydrogen, wind power and certain other measurement to manage carbon in the
economy. Nations who have understood the concept of carbon free economy have developed
certain type of strategies including heavy usage of hydrogen energy.

Aim:
The aim of this study is “To investigate the strategies through which a nation can
transition away from carbon economy”
Objectives:
 To investigate the concept of carbon economy.
 To examine role of Hydrogen as alternative resource.
 To identify the best strategies which allow nation to transit away from carbon economy.
 To recommend the best practice which allow nation to move towards carbon free
economy.
Rationale and scope:
Reason behind conducting this research is to understand how carbon is dangerous for
economy and environment, this research will focus on future impact that will have on global
economy due to measure taken now. Understanding major and important role of carbon in the
economy is major reason whereas there is personal reason to gain max. knowledge how global
economies taken steps to manage carbon economy (Grim and et.al., 2020). Apart from this, one
of the major reason is to understand role of greenhouse gasses to increase carbon in the
environment and increasing carbon barrier in economic development as well. Another reason to
conduct this study is personal interest of the researcher to examine broadness of the study, this
topic is based on current major issue faced by almost every nation. Researcher has carefully
examined role of those nations who are active in achieving goal of carbon free economy, these
nations have their own strategies and steps to reduce carbon from the economy.
Problem statement:
Carbon economy is major issue in the world, this simply means countries have to take
steps to reduce carbon in the economy with major control on industrial activities. Carbon is
problem, economic activities was never an issue. However, carbon arrive from economic
activities, industries play vital role why carbon is becoming dangerous for the nation and global
economy (Ionescu, 2021). There will be shut down to those manufacturing unit that create huge
problem for the nation and human life. Carbon inclusion in the economy will be dangerous so it
is important to take major steps to manage this issue in the world.

Structure of the report:
Chapter one: Introduction: This is first and the most important chapter in which researcher
need to highlight project title, aim and objectives on which study is based on. Introduction may
include problem statement, rationale of the study and background details with relevant terms,
this chapter is base for further study as reader can examine what exactly researcher is focusing
on.
Chapter two: Literature review: This chapter play significant role in the study, researcher
focus on collecting viewpoint of different author which can be included in the study. Literature
review is completed by crafting certain types of themes covering every critical area of the topic,
these themes satisfy requirement of objectives crafted in introduction chapter.
Chapter three: Research methodology: This chapter allows researcher to collect data from
different source, researcher have to consider the best methods to collect data. This chapter is
critical because researcher need to carefully collect data as per the requirement of chosen topic,
research methodology consist of different methods and techniques.
Chapter four: Data analysis: This is most important chapter which allow researcher to analyse
the data collected in previous study, this is critical process in which researcher carefully select
tools and methods to analyse the data. However, data analysis depend on type of data collected,
if researcher has focused on primary or secondary data.
Chapter Five: Findings and Discussion: This chapter allows researcher to provide final
viewpoint after analysing the collected data, this may include resulting the final outcome in
which researcher provide complete details of the study. This chapter depends on data which is
analysed in previous chapter.
Chapter six: Conclusion and recommendations: This is final chapter in which researcher try
to provide final conclusion to the report and help reader to examine how study was complete.
Researcher provides certain type of recommendations including recommendation to further
research and recommendation to company or nation chosen in the study.
CHATER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review play significant role in the study which allow researcher to consider
viewpoint of different author, researcher consider their viewpoint in the form of published
literature. This chapter includes certain themes which cover important area of the chosen topic,
researcher consider viewpoint of author which allow them to examine concept of the chosen

topic. For the completion of this study, researcher has considered some of the most important
themes covering objectives and important element of the study, these are:
Theme 1: Investigate the concept of carbon economy:
According to Lugo-Morin (2021), Carbon economy is one of the most common but important
term in the nation, this simply means moving forward with aim to reduce carbon in the economy.
Nations who take major steps to reduce carbon from economy contribute to the betterment of
environment and world economy. It is very clear that due to climate change and sudden rise in
global warming indicated nations to take steps to manage carbon emission in the nation.
However, nations have to reduce these emissions or industrial development will be impacted,
the concept of carbon economy is very clear, this simply means low level of emission released in
the environment. Nations with aim of zero carbon economy is actively working to achieve this
goal, government took major steps to reduce carbon from the economy including ban on certain
type of industrial gasses including greenhouse gases. Major role of individual and society can be
seen in boosting carbon, daily usage of material including vehicle, fossil fuel burning and
household impact on the environment. The concept of low carbon economy is new to the world,
nations are slowly moving towards betterment of environment including certain steps and major
strategies, reduction in carbon is only possible when nation decide to move with an aim.
The concept of carbon economy may include certain type of contribution to the
betterment of the nation and their economy. Low carbon economy is challenging task, nations
have to reduce industrial development to achieve this goal because industry is one of the most
important aspect involved in the carbon emission. Government need to align policy with carbon
economy goal, industrial development will be sustained if major changes have bee introduced by
the government. Industrial sector including production, manufacturing, transportation, fossil fuel
consumption and certain other type of sector in industrial area which contribute carbon in the
economy and impact environment. Government is demanding industries to take major steps,
alternative resource can be the best strategies which replace one type of resource with alternative
one. For example; replacing fossil fuel with hydrogen, this may allow industry to use clean fuel
to manage their operation. Industries need to adopt hydrogen and certain other type of resource
which help them to slowly replace dangerous fuel with sustainable fuel bringing major reduction
in carbon in the economy and environment. Many nation take major steps to bring reduction in
carbon, firm who contribute to the goal have to face major challenges including challenges of

trade restriction, ban on chemical and material, involvement of government in industrial
development and certain other challenges which impact reliability of firm to measure
achievement of this goal in process.
Climate change is one of the significant challenge faced by international community
including different nations who are ready to provide their contribution in reducing carbon from
environment. It is very clear that Carbon Dioxide is one of the most dangerous chemical in the
air, environment including human, animals, plants and other living being gets impacted.
However, it is very important for nations to take a step and manage this issue. Industries need
continuous development in such a way that it impact society and human living quality, carbon
free economy is goal which may take time but need to be completed. Although, nature play
significant role in promoting climate change but role of human based activities are quite often.
Nations have to conserve their environment to contribute in carbon free economic goal. Many
nations have taken major and compulsory steps to manage carbon, the goal of carbon free
economy can not be achieved if government stay in active. There are many nations who took
major steps to manage carbon economy including policy designing, crafting, implementing laws
and regulation and certain other type of action which reduce carbon in the economy. Innovation
scale up can be seen when it comes to carbon free economy, nations have taken steps to bring
technological advancement.
As per the view of (Dzator, J. and Acheampong, A.O., 2020), stated that carbon plays an
important and crucial role in energy generation and for the functioning of the entire world.
Low carbon economy is a problem on energy efficiency and clean energy structure from where
the entire nature in affecting in wider manner. The low carbon economy, is used to simply and
represent the gases that are emitted din the atmosphere and are responsible for greenhouse effect
on the planet. Green house gases comprise variety of gases, including the gases from the
decomposition of organic matter, carbon dioxide, fluorinated and such more are commonly
known as carbonic gases. The government of each country has to understand the importance of
the nature and environment and should make the universe carbon free from which the effective
outcome can be received in definite order. Low carbon economy creates an opportunity to take
the advantage of available incentives and subsidizes where generating financial return for the
business. Author agreed and said that an individual is required to follow and practise the
activities which helps the environment and surroundings to not get harm in wider manner and

can adopt the sustainability in their working procedure which do not harm the atmosphere and
lower down or reduces the carbon emissions.
However, Cai, Lai, Liu and et.al., (2019) said that due to climatic conditions of today's
world has increases the carbon emission in wider manner and impacts the atmosphere
accordingly. In general terms, low carbon economy encourages the practices and procedures that
allows and enable for sustainability development and making the efforts to possible to reduce
GHG gases. With the help and support of the government or political parties they can put their
best efforts in encouraging the sustainability at higher or wider level and can promote the
activities and practices which overall save the atmosphere respectively.
Theme 2: Examining role of Hydrogen as alternative resource:
According to Fan and et.al., (2021), Hydrogen is one of the most valuable resource which have
three main purpose including to produce heat, energy and electricity. Hydrogen is component in
which safer consumption can be seen, it is very clear that hydrogen is one of clean fuel which
can be used to manage daily operation. Nations who consider hydrogen as important element
enjoy continuous growth and stability because they deal in hydrogen and other clean gases. Role
of hydrogen is critical in the nation development process, country who focus on hydrogen energy
have better growth in the international market station. However, hydrogen is source of income
from some nation including Saudi Arabia, this nation is one of the major supplier of hydrogen in
the world. Saudi government run major project on heavy production of hydrogen, they are
planning to invest more than $5 Billion in the production of hydrogen in the country and to
supply this hydrogen around the world. By the year 2026, Saudi Arabia will be world's biggest
supplier hydrogen promoting renewable energy source to run an nation. Saudi Arabia is
producing more than 2.9 million tones of hydrogen to fulfil the demand of hydrogen around the
world, it is very clear that nation who are depending on hydrogen for their operation.
Role of hydrogen can be seen in certain other purposes, JCB is one of those organizations
who is developing hydrogen supported engine for their automation in which they are planning to
keep their engine dependable on the hydrogen. However, engine need support of fossil fuel
because these industrial equipment is supported by fossil fuel energy. JCB is ready to introduce
even heavy industrial machinery runs on hydrogen as key source, this company have introduced
the concept of hydro powered engine depending on hydrogen. This clean fuel will promote goal
of carbon free economy in industrial area, JCB is on their mission to actively contribute in the

betterment of the environment. Apart from this, many other organization is developed concept of
hydro powered engine in the vehicle allowing them to ensure goal is achieved. Nations are
promoting hydrogen as key element in the economy. There are certain other roles of hydrogen in
the economy, these may include:
Reduction of pollution: One of the biggest benefit of using hydrogen as clean fuel is
protection of environment from harmful gases and emission, hydrogen is one of the safest fuel
which have ability to power engine, equipment and daily operations. Reduction is pollution will
be visible if industries continue to use hydrogen as key element, nations have to promote heavy
use of industry in economic development process. Reduction is pollution has been seen when
hydrogen is available at every source, industry adopting hydro powered energy have ability to
reduce pollution allowing environment to become better. It is very clear that firm who develop
strategies according to the requirement of government face less impact over the market.
Renewable source of energy: Hydrogen is one of the clean fuel which is ready to use for
certain purposes including generation of heat, electricity and power. Hydrogen is powerful and
renewable source of energy, nations who depend on hydrogen have ability to manage their
operation according to the demand. It is very clear that this type of energy require cost, many
nations including Saudi Arabia is planning to increase production capacity of hydrogen because
they believe this is one of the best renewable energy source that allow nations to run certain type
of operations. Hydrogen is basic source of energy but generating power is challenging process,
nations who develop strategies to manage source of energy to power their operation.
According to Huang, Zhao and et.al., (2022), hydrogen is considered as an alternative
fuel under the law Energy Policy Act of 1992 where the hydrogen as an alternative transportation
fuels stems from the power fuel cells in zero-emission vehicles as it's a potential domestic
production. Using the hydrogen as an alternative can provide the different kinds of results may
be in positive or in negative terms whereas per the author views using the hydrogen will provide
the benefits as hydrogen is most abundant element and produced from the primary energy
sources which helps in transportation fuel respectively. Hydrogen's energy content by volume is
quite low which makes the storing of hydrogen a challenge because it requires high pressure, low
temperature or chemical processes to be stored. Hydrogen fuel cells also produce electricity by
the combination of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. There are many and different kinds of fuels
cells which are available for a wide range of applications, small fuel cell can power laptop and

even cell phones and military applications whereas large fuel cells can supply electricity to
electricity power grids, supply backup or emergency power in buildings.
Theme3: To identify the best strategies which allow nation to transit away from carbon economy
According to Lewis, Wheeler and et.al., (2019) said that climate is one the biggest
challenges the entire nation and world is facing where it becomes important for an individual
country and a nation to keep their focus and concentration of the carbo economy concept. In
general, the carbon footprint or carbon economy is a subject which needs to be considered at the
international level and should adopt some relevant and effective decision to reduce the carbon
energy in the entire nation. However, each individual person should understand and importance
of the natural surroundings and should keep their focus and efforts on reducing the carbon
economy in the nation from where the green environment can be kept safe for the upcoming
future lives. According to the author, the government should ban the usage of plastics and
packaging from which the carbon emission can be reduced in definite manner and can lead the
entire world to stay in carbon free environment.
Similarly, Mensah, Long and et.al., (2018) said that it becomes important for an
individual person and a country to understand the areas of the improvement for the reduction of
the carbon emissions and economy and can successfully save the natural surroundings and
environment. The plastics are majorly used in packaging where it should be banned in each
country where Forest Stewardship Council certified 100% recyclable cardboard and paperboard
products where customers can use them accordingly. Also, for reducing the carbon emission, the
planting is most important factor to be considered by an individual person and country and
should plan more and more trees for the better results in regard with saving the nature more
efficiently. In general, the carbon emission refers to release of carbon dioxide, or a type of
greenhouse gases that filters into the atmosphere and majorly harms the nature and human
activities as well.
However, Mignamissi and Djeufack, (2022) said that there are different strategies the
individual can adopt by their own efforts which includes reduction of air travel. In today time,
the human or people have to travel from one place to another on the basis of different purposes
and reasons which makes them to use the fastest mode of transport which is air travelling. From
the highly usage of the air travel has leaded the atmosphere to get the excessive amount of
greenhouse gases which harms the surroundings in wider manner and increases the carbon

emissions. However, it becomes significant for the people to reduce the air travels from where
the carbon economy can be reduced in definite manner. Thus, eliminating the one round trip
transatlantic flight will save the 1.6metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. Also, the
people should adopt or switch to clean up energy to reduce the carbon emissions such as solar
panels, wind turbines, geothermal energy are all energy sources with a higher level of
sustainability.
As per the view of Aragão, Anderson and et.al., (2018), said that people also can reduce
the carbon footprint by decreasing the fast fashion which helps them in wider and effective
manner. Today, the way where the clothing is designed and manufactured provides the results in
waste and pollution. Thus, the fast fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the global
greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the wastes and pollutions in highly manner. By
reducing the usage of the clothes from the companies who do not follow and practices the
sustainability at their business will help and encourage them to use the sustainability. People can
use the second-hand and eco-friendly companies to reduce the impact on the environment due to
high usage of the carbon emissions during producing the clothes. By encouraging and purchasing
the clothes from eco-friendly companies will help the natural surroundings to reduce the carbon
economy and saves the atmosphere in definite and wider manner.
From the view point of Semieniuk, Campiglio and et.al., (2021), said that reducing the
carbon footprint at home simply means as consuming less amount of energy. At home, there are
many appliances which consisted of high efficiency of energy level like heating and cooling
where the energy has been consumed in wider manner. Unplugging of electronics and bulbs at
home are the major energy consuming materials which should be reduced and overcome in
effective manner and can efficiently save the energy level. At home, people also can put the solar
panels which are the effective equipments for saving the energy level at the home where they can
accordingly use heating and cooling. From the transportation also, the drivers has a lot of choices
to reduce emissions where they can less drive, can use public transportation and keeping the
vehicles maintained which do not contain and requires the higher amount of energy level which
overall helps the nature.
However, Acheampong, Adams and Boateng, (2019) said that recycling is also a one of
the best strategy which can be adopted by the people and also can encouraged by the government
to be used in essential manner which delivers the effective results to the atmosphere and