Analysis of signal processing techniques for optical 112 Gb/s DP-QPSK receivers with experimental data

This paper evaluates several signal processing techniques for optical dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keying (DP-QPSK) coherent receivers, using offline post-processing of experimental data. In addition to electronically separating the two polarization multiplexed signals, the investigated signal processing algorithms also compensate for chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). In particular, we investigate two distinct architectures: 1)Constant modulus algorithm (CMA) equalization followed by feedforward phase recovery. 2)Decision-directed least mean square (DD-LMS) equalization combined with decision-directed phase recovery. The interplay of both architectures with bulk dispersion compensators and carrier recovery algorithms is also analyzed

Can Asia's climate leader please step forward?

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Integral operators with the generalized sine-kernel on the real axis

The asymptotic properties of integral operators with the generalized sine kernel acting on the real axis are studied. The formulas for the resolvent and the Fredholm determinant are obtained in the large x limit. Some applications of the results obtained to the theory of integrable models are considered.Comment: 17 pages, 2 Postscript figures, submitted to Theor. Math. Phy

Green industrial policy can strengthen carbon pricing but not replace it

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The failure to decarbonize the global energy education system: Carbon lock-in and stranded skill sets

The energy transition involves the transformation of professions and labour markets, which in turn depend on the availability of a workforce with the right education and competence. This study assesses how quickly global higher education is transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy in terms of educational content. The article is based on a review of 18,400 universities and the creation of a dataset of 6,142 universities that provide energy-specific education in 196 countries. The study compares the prevalence of educational programmes oriented towards fossil fuels and renewable energy. The findings show that the rapid adoption of renewable energy worldwide is not matched by changes in higher education, since universities continue to prioritise coal and petroleum studies. In 2019, 546 universities had faculties and/or degrees dedicated to fossil fuels whereas only 247 universities had faculties and/or degrees in renewable energy. As many as 68% of the world’s energy-focused educational degrees were oriented towards fossil fuels, and only 32% focused on renewable energy. This means that universities are failing to meet the growing demand for a clean energy workforce. At the current rate of change, energy-focused university degrees would be 100% dedicated to renewable energy only by the year 2107. Since a career may last 30-40 years, this creates a risk of long-term carbon lock-in and stranded skill sets through (mis)education. The results also indicate that developing countries lag behind developed ones in this area, even though the need for professionals trained in renewable energy is greater in developing countries. Along with lack of capital, underdeveloped regulatory frameworks for renewable energy, and entrenched fossil-fuel business interests, the mismatch between energy education and the needs of the renewable energy industry may hold back the energy transition in many developing countries.The failure to decarbonize the global energy education system: Carbon lock-in and stranded skill setspublishedVersio

Small and large friends of the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism: Which non-EU countries are likely to support it?

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Decarbonisation and Critical Materials in the Context of Fraught Geopolitics: Europe’s Distinctive Approach to a Net Zero Future

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Introduction to Climate Change in Central Asia

The Central Asian region has been and will continue to be significantly impacted by climate change and all the region’s countries have pledged nation- ally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris agreement. This chapter aims to assess how likely Central Asian countries are to fulfil these pledges. To answer this question, we compare the NDCs to their respective national development programmes and historical trends. The results show that the countries of Central Asia vary in their ability to fulfil their pledges and that doing so will require structural changes to their energy systems, substantial investments in infrastructure and, most importantly, the alignment of their development plans with their declared climate goals. None of the countries have thus far engaged in structural reforms aimed at large-scale climate change adaptation and mitigation.Introduction to Climate Change in Central AsiapublishedVersio

Local content policies: Knowledge stock and future directions for research and policy making in view of the sustainability agenda

Local content policies (LCPs) aim to create opportunities for employment and economic development, and to shield from the “resource curse” and enclave extractivism. LCPs are of ongoing policy interest in resource-rich countries and, more recently, have attracted attention in countries attempting to develop their renewable energy sources. The sustainable development agenda set by the global and regional initiatives, such as the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, call for a fresh look at the targets and priorities set by LCPs, e.g., extend to environmental and/or climate change action targets. This article aims to connect in a meaningful way the scientific knowledge on LCPs and evidence-based policy making with the sustainability agenda imperatives. The target is met with the: i) completion of a systematic state-of-the-art literature review and bibliometric analysis to assess and synthesize the accumulated stock of knowledge on LCPs and ii) SDGs mapping onto the LCPs. Τhe review identifies the core approaches and LCPs' assessment outcomes, indicating the plethora of findings. Results show that the relationship between LCPs and the sustainability agenda has not yet been properly analyzed in the literature, identifying thus a gap between research and contemporary policy making. The research community should be proactive: rather than just assessing LCPs' implementation, it should propose alternatives and updates to LCPs in line with the sustainability agenda. The article contributes to this direction by mapping the SDGs onto the LCPs, suggesting ways to advance research in this field and to support evidence-based policy making.publishedVersio

Energy Transition in Central Asia: A Systematic Literature Review

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