Energy and Climate Change Policy and Governance in Small Island States

Dear Colleagues,

Regardless of the size of an economy or the location of a country, all countries are affected by climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that, “Some vulnerable regions, including Small Islands and least developed countries, are projected to experience high multiple interrelated climate risks even at global warming of 1.5°C” [1]. Although they are rich in renewable energy sources and can meet most, if not all, of their domestic energy needs through a combination of renewable energy technologies, small islands continue to struggle with energy security [2]. An island’s insularity, remoteness and susceptibility to economic shocks make them the first to experience climatic impacts on their economies and livelihood, and the heavy dependency on imported fuels accumulates massive national debt that handicaps ‘green’ economic transition. We are also faced with stark realities like ‘making opportunities from tragedy’, as we experience increasingly intense climate induced natural disasters, which, in the aftermath, present the opportunity to ‘build back better’ and install more resilient energy infrastructure [3].

Despite this, small islands have made steady progress by developing new policy frameworks and governance systems to meet the challenges of climate change adaptation, clean energy security and sustainable development. For this Special Issue we invite papers dedicated to advancing knowledge about decarbonizing the island energy sector to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change in the island context. Topics should revolve around policy design, analysis, assessment, implementation or evaluation including policy level instruments, tools and mechanisms, either proposed or deployed. Similarly, topics can focus on proposed or deployed governance systems, institutional arrangements, administration, tools, supports, and mechanisms of climate adaptation and energy security efforts.

We are particularly interested in papers linked to data and evidence-based research, narrowing the science–policy gap and strengthening the understanding of public–private partnerships, shared governance and other such current areas that are weak in the academic literature and community practice.

The first 10 papers written by SIDS authors, if accepted for publication will receive a 50% discount of APC fee, given the dedication of the Guest Editors and MDPI to highlight the work of researchers from these developing and low income countries.

References:

[1] IPCC, 2018: Summary for Policymakers. In: Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

[2] International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)(2016). A Path to Prosperity: Renewable Energy for islands. 3^rd Edition.

[3] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.  https://www.unisdr.org/files/43291_sendaiframeworkfordrren.pdf

Prof. Kalim Shah
Dr. Roger Pulwarty
Prof. Leonard Nurse
Guest Editors

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 submissions that pass pre-check are 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 2400 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.

• climate policy
• energy policy
• small islands
• governance
• sustainability