Author Correction: Public support for carbon pricing policies and revenue recycling options: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the survey literature
Related Articles
The evolution of lithium-ion battery recycling
Demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is increasing owing to the expanding use of electrical vehicles and stationary energy storage. Efficient and closed-loop battery recycling strategies are therefore needed, which will require recovering materials from spent LIBs and reintegrating them into new batteries. In this Review, we outline the current state of LIB recycling, evaluating industrial and developing technologies. Among industrial technologies, pyrometallurgy can be broadly applied to diverse electrode materials but requires operating temperatures of over 1,000 °C and therefore has high energy consumption. Hydrometallurgy can be performed at temperatures below 200 °C and has material recovery rates of up to 93% for lithium, nickel and cobalt, but it produces large amounts of wastewater. Developing technologies such as direct recycling and upcycling aim to increase the efficiency of LIB recycling and rely on improved pretreatment processes with automated disassembly and cleaner mechanical separation. Additionally, the range of materials recovered from spent LIBs is expanding from the cathode materials recycled with established methods to include anode materials, electrolytes, binders, separators and current collectors. Achieving an efficient recycling ecosystem will require collaboration between recyclers, battery manufacturers and electric vehicle manufacturers to aid the design and automation of battery disassembly lines.
What, how and where: an assessment of multi-level European climate mitigation policies
The European Green Deal’s goal of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 requires an adequate mix of policies. This paper analyses three decades of climate policy from a historical perspective to provide insights into the multi-level policy framework within the EU and its Member States. Based on the Climate Policy Dataset, the paper develops an assessment guided by three key perspectives: policy density, sectoral focus, and policy instruments. Two new indexes are proposed for policy evaluation: the emissions coverage indicator, which assesses the sectoral application of policies, and the Policy Mix Thickness Index, which measures the complexity of the policy packages in terms of instruments employed. The results indicate that different strategies have been adopted at the EU and national levels in terms of policy instruments and targeted sectors. EU-level policies tend to complement Member States actions by providing long-term strategies and addressing sectors with limited national-level initiatives.
Filling the climate finance gap: holistic approaches to mobilise private finance in developing economies
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires over $8.4 trillion annually for the rest of this decade, but current efforts are insufficient, especially in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). Using a theoretical model of the climate finance gap, we identify key factors needed to close this gap and examine how adjustments in carbon pricing could effectively mobilise the required investment. Our findings highlight the importance of strengthening two core elements: (1) Reframing ‘international carbon markets’ to focus on supporting comprehensive, equitable transitions in EMDEs and fostering large-scale systemic cooperation, and delivering real mitigation impacts. (2) Implementing holistic transition plans and cohesive packages of public, private, and market support to create economic, social, and political environments that enable credible and effective policy implementation, while providing the critical technology and skilled labour needed to make private financial flows more responsive to carbon price signals.
Machine learning map of climate policy literature reveals disparities between scientific attention, policy density, and emissions
Current climate mitigation policies are not sufficient to meet the Paris temperature target, and ramping up efforts will require rapid learning from the scientific literature on climate policies. This literature is vast and widely dispersed, as well as hard to define and categorise, hampering systematic efforts to learn from it. We use a machine learning pipeline using transformer-based language models to systematically map the relevant scientific literature on climate policies at scale and in real-time. Our “living systematic map” of climate policy research features a set of 84,990 papers, and classifies each of them by policy instrument type, sector, and geography. We explore how the distribution of these papers varies across countries, and compare this to the distribution of emissions and enacted climate policies. Results suggests a potential stark under-representation of industry sector policies, as well as diverging attention between science and policy with respect to economic and regulatory instruments.
Lithium-ion battery recycling—a review of the material supply and policy infrastructure
The current change in battery technology followed by the almost immediate adoption of lithium as a key resource powering our energy needs in various applications is undeniable. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are at the forefront of the industry and offer excellent performance. The application of LIBs is expected to continue to increase. The adoption of renewable energies has spurred this LIB proliferation and resulted in a dramatic increase in LIB waste. In this review, we address waste LIB collection and segregation approaches, waste LIB treatment approaches, and related economics. We have coined a “green score” concept based on a review of several quantitative analyses from the literature to compare the three mainstream recycling processes: pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and direct recycling. In addition, we analyze the current trends in policymaking and in government incentive development directed toward promoting LIB waste recycling. Future LIB recycling perspectives are analyzed, and opportunities and threats to LIB recycling are presented.
Responses