Volume 1 Issue 1 (2025)

Rapid urbanization has emerged as a double-edged driver of global carbon emissions, exacerbating carbon lock-in through energy-intensive infrastructure and consumption patterns while offering opportunities for green economy transitions. This paper examines the interplay between urbanization, carbon lock-in mechanisms, and policy levers for inclusive low-carbon development across developing and developed contexts. It argues that breaking carbon lock-in requires integrated policies spanning renewable energy deployment, circular urban planning, and just transition frameworks. Drawing on case studies from Brazil, China, and Kenya, the analysis identifies synergies between climate policy, sustainable infrastructure investment, and social equity. The findings highlight the need for context-specific policy mixes that align urban growth with carbon neutrality goals while safeguarding vulnerable communities.

Urbanization-driven green economy transitions increasingly require simultaneous progress on climate mitigation/adaptation and biodiversity conservation, yet these policy domains often operate in silos. This paper explores policy synergies and trade-offs between climate action and biodiversity conservation in urban contexts, using case studies from Melbourne (Australia), Delhi (India), and Lagos (Nigeria). It identifies three key pathways for integration: nature-based solutions that deliver dual climate and biodiversity benefits, circular economy practices that reduce resource extraction pressures, and spatial planning frameworks that protect ecological corridors while enabling low-carbon development. The analysis highlights the need for adaptive governance mechanisms to balance competing priorities, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. Findings contribute to global debates on policy integration across climate, biodiversity, and sustainable urbanization agendas.

Carbon pricing has emerged as a key policy tool for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, but its effectiveness in driving green technology innovation and coordinating regional climate governance remains contested. This paper examines the interplay between carbon pricing mechanisms, technological innovation, and cross-border climate cooperation, using case studies from the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), Japan’s carbon tax, and the Western African Carbon Market Initiative (WACMI). It identifies three critical factors shaping synergies: price signal stability, revenue recycling strategies, and institutional alignment across jurisdictions. The analysis reveals that carbon pricing can catalyze innovation when combined with targeted R&D investments and supportive regulatory frameworks, while regional coordination enhances cost-effectiveness and reduces carbon leakage. Findings highlight the need for differentiated pricing designs that account for economic development gaps and institutional capacities in global climate action.

Developing economies face escalating climate risks—including extreme weather events and sea-level rise—while grappling with the need to expand infrastructure to support economic growth. Green infrastructure, which combines climate adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development goals, offers a pathway to address these dual challenges. This paper examines the synergies between climate risk reduction, resilience building, and green infrastructure investment in three developing economies: India, Ghana, and Brazil. It identifies key barriers to scaling green infrastructure, including financing gaps, institutional fragmentation, and limited technical capacity, and analyzes policy mechanisms to overcome these obstacles. Case studies of urban greening projects, renewable energy integration, and nature-based flood management reveal that successful initiatives leverage multi-stakeholder partnerships, innovative financing, and adaptive governance. The findings highlight the need for context-specific policy frameworks that align green infrastructure with local development priorities while accessing international climate finance.

Digital transformation—encompassing technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics—has emerged as a potential catalyst for advancing green economy policies globally. This paper examines how digital tools enhance the implementation effectiveness of green policies in three countries at different stages of digital and economic development: South Korea (advanced digital economy), India (rapidly digitizing), and South Africa (digitally emerging). It focuses on three policy domains: energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainable transportation. The analysis reveals that digital technologies improve monitoring accuracy, optimize resource allocation, and increase stakeholder engagement, but their impact is constrained by digital divides, data governance gaps, and limited technical capacity. Case studies of smart grids in South Korea, waste tracking systems in India, and ride-sharing platforms in South Africa highlight the need for context-specific digital strategies that address equity concerns while leveraging innovation. The findings contribute to understanding how digital transformation can be harnessed to accelerate green transitions, particularly in developing economies.