Sustainable Energy Development and Energy Economics in the Context of Climate Change

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change represents the most significant challenge currently facing humanity. In its most extreme manifestation (RCP 8.5 scenario), global warming could result in a temperature increase of between 4 and 5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. This will challenge the sustainability of human livelihoods and alter the physical geography of the planet. The Paris Agreement commits countries to a more ambitious perspective, encouraging them to keep global warming below 2°C and, where possible, below 1.5°C by the end of this century. This ambitious target serves to emphasise the significance of a unified global initiative to transition towards a sustainable, low-carbon future, and it also highlights the collective responsibility to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The development of sustainable energy sources and the study of energy economics are of paramount importance in the global effort to combat climate change. In light of the pressing necessity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to sustainable energy sources has become imperative. This necessitates harnessing renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power; optimizing energy efficiency; and promoting responsible consumption patterns. Energy economics plays a pivotal role in this transition, examining the costs and benefits of different energy sources and policies. It provides guidance for decision-making that is both environmentally sound and economically viable. By prioritising sustainability in energy development and economics, it is possible to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to build a more resilient and equitable future for generations to come.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect theoretical and practical analyses of sustainable energy development and energy economics in the context of climate change for different actors (individuals, workers, firms, regions, countries, etc.). It aims to understand the importance of clean energy solutions to fight against climate change. This Special Issue also welcomes contributions at the methodological level that present the different aspects of sustainable energy development and energy economics in the context of climate change. It is also open to case studies (policies at the country level, management at the firm level, local policies, etc.).

Potential topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Energy economics;
• Sustainable energy and climate change;
• Climate change and sustainability;
• Energy and environment sustainability;
• Mitigation of climate and energy;
• Economic analysis of renewable energy deployment strategies;
• Policy instruments for promoting sustainable energy transition;
• Techno-economic assessment of energy storage technologies;
• Market mechanisms for carbon pricing and emissions trading;
• Socio-economic impacts of renewable energy adoption;
• Energy access and poverty alleviation in the context of climate change;
• Investment trends in clean energy infrastructure development;
• Role of innovation and technology transfer in advancing sustainable energy solutions;
• Cost–benefit analysis of energy efficiency measures;
• Green financing mechanisms for sustainable energy projects;
• Transitioning from fossil fuel subsidies to renewable energy incentives;
• Energy justice and equitable distribution of clean energy benefits;
• Public–private partnerships for scaling up sustainable energy initiatives;
• Economic implications of climate adaptation and resilience measures in the energy sector;
• Behavioural economics and consumer preferences in sustainable energy adoption.

Prof. Dr. Adel Ben Youssef
Guest Editor

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.

• sustainable energy
• climate change
• mitigation
• energy economics