Carbon Lock-in and the Limits of Green Growth

Carbon Lock-in and the Limits of Green Growth The notion of “green growth”—economic growth that is environmentally sustainable—has become a cornerstone of global climate policy. Institutions like the World Bank, OECD, and UNDP promote climate-compatible development strategies that aim to reduce carbon emissions while sustaining economic expansion. However, this article argues that green growth often fails to address structural dependencies on fossil fuel infrastructures, financial systems geared toward short-term returns, and socio-political regimes invested in extractive development. These entrenched systems produce what scholars call “carbon lock-in,” making transformative change exceedingly…

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Plastic Pollution: A Major Challenge to Environmental Sustainability

Plastic Pollution: A Major Challenge to Environmental Sustainability In today’s society, environmental sustainability faces numerous severe challenges, among which plastic pollution is particularly prominent. Thanks to its characteristics of being lightweight, durable, and low-cost, plastic is widely used in modern life, from food packaging to industrial materials, and it can be found everywhere. However, this has also led to the proliferation of plastic waste on a global scale. The large amount of plastic garbage is randomly discarded on land and in the ocean. In the ocean, plastic waste not only…

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Enhancing the Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells Through Interface Engineering

Enhancing the Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells Through Interface Engineering The quest for sustainable energy solutions has brought perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to the forefront of photovoltaic research due to their remarkable power conversion efficiencies and cost-effective fabrication processes. A critical point that significantly influences the performance of PSCs is interface engineering—the optimization of the layers between the perovskite absorber and the charge transport materials. Focusing on this aspect can lead to substantial improvements in efficiency, stability, and overall device performance. Perovskite materials have exceptional optoelectronic properties, such as high…

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Solid-State Batteries: Revolutionizing Energy Storage with Enhanced Safety and Performance

Solid-State Batteries: Revolutionizing Energy Storage with Enhanced Safety and Performance The shift towards sustainable energy solutions is propelling advancements in energy storage technologies. A key focus in this domain is solid-state batteries (SSBs), which are poised to outperform traditional lithium-ion batteries in terms of safety, energy density, and longevity. By replacing the liquid electrolyte with a solid one, SSBs address several limitations of current battery technology, making them a critical component in the future of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy systems. Solid-state batteries utilize solid electrolytes to facilitate ion…

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Reframing Sustainability through Systemic Resilience and Equity

Reframing Sustainability through Systemic Resilience and Equity Sustainability has become one of the defining policy and ethical challenges of the 21st century. While traditionally framed in terms of environmental preservation and the reduction of ecological harm, contemporary interpretations increasingly recognize the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and economic systems. Despite this expanded understanding, many sustainability strategies remain narrowly focused, driven by carbon accounting, technological substitution, and growth-centered economics. This article contends that such reductionist approaches are insufficient for addressing the complexities of global ecological and social change. Instead, sustainability should be…

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