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Papers by Dorcas Wambui Kariuki

Research paper thumbnail of Potential for Transition to Low-Carbon Urban Road Transport in Developing Countries: Insights from Literature

International Journal of Advanced Research

It is projected that if no actions are taken to cut down the current rate of global warming, glob... more It is projected that if no actions are taken to cut down the current rate of global warming, global temperatures will rise to irreversible levels between the years 2030 and 2050. Consequently, climate-induced risks to health, livelihoods, food and water supply/security, economic development, and human security will increase. However, although many efforts have been put in the developed nations to enhance sustainability in cities through the development of a Low-carbon transportation system, the situation is different in the developing nations. These countries are, for some reason, reluctant to adopt the concept of Low-carbon cities. For example, in Kenya, despite the evident climate threat associated with rising urban carbon emissions in the country, very little action to curb the emissions is observed both at individual and government levels. This is especially so in the transport sector. Therefore, it is critical that suitable low-carbon transition pathways are identified and adop...

Research paper thumbnail of ICT for Sustainability or Sustainability in ICT? A Review of the Role of ICT in Enhancing Sustainability versus the Need to Enhance Sustainability in ICT

Is ICT a solution to sustainability problems or is it just a greater environmental problem? Throu... more Is ICT a solution to sustainability problems or is it just a greater environmental problem? Throughout their lifecycle, ICT products and services are associated with significant levels of energy consumption and carbon emissions. On the contrary, despite being one of the main contributors to global carbon emissions, the ICT sector has a crucial role to play in boosting productivity and sustainability in many sectors—education, transport, agriculture, business, buildings, health, power, and manufacturing. To improve their efficiency and mitigate carbon emissions from ICT products, producers and end-users of such ICT products should therefore, employ measures that enhance their sustainability. Such measures identified in this article include the use of sustainable manufacturing processes, sustainable procurement/purchasing of ICT products, proper ICT product use, reuse, recycle, and proper disposal of ICT devices that are out of use. In data centres, such measures include virtualisatio...

Research paper thumbnail of Coal-Key Energy Resource for the Future in Kenya? A Review

International Journal of Approximate Reasoning, 2021

Coal has been a major contributor to energy security in many developed countries and is projected... more Coal has been a major contributor to energy security in many developed countries and is projected to continue contributing a significant fraction of global energy demand in the foreseeable future. Although coal power generation has been associated with numerous environmental implications, technological advances in the mining sector have enabled the mining of coal with minimal environmental impacts, especially in major coal-producing countries. In Kenya where inadequate energy supply is a major deterrent to economic growth, the discovery of coal reserves in the country presents a suitable opportunity for the country to address its energy security challenges. The challenge is how the exploitation of this resource can be done sustainably. This article explores the potential for sustainable coal mining in Kenya to address energy security challenges in the country. However, as it will be discussed in the paper, sustainable coal mining is often met with many challenges which include lack ...

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-Economic Determinants of Household Continued Use of Solid Biofuels (Fuelwood and Charcoal) for Cooking Purposes in Sub-Saharan Africa- Kenya’s Situation

East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources, 2021

Solid biofuels (fuelwood and charcoal) remain the primary source of household cooking energy in K... more Solid biofuels (fuelwood and charcoal) remain the primary source of household cooking energy in Kenya. This has negatively impacted forest resources, people’s health, local climate patterns, and the country’s economy. Understanding the determinants of household use of these traditional energy resources is useful in the designing of policies and strategies aimed at facilitating energy transitions towards clean options. The current study evaluated the role of socio-economic factors in the determination of household use of fuelwood and charcoal for cooking purposes in Kenya. A desk study was conducted using the 2015/2016 Kenya Integrated household budget survey data published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). Stepwise multiple regression using SPSS was run to determine how household size, female household headship, lack of education among household heads, ownership of housing unit, modern housing, access to credit, access to cash transfers, shock to household welfare, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Potential for Transition to Low-Carbon Urban Road Transport in Developing Countries: Insights from Literature

International Journal of Advanced Research

It is projected that if no actions are taken to cut down the current rate of global warming, glob... more It is projected that if no actions are taken to cut down the current rate of global warming, global temperatures will rise to irreversible levels between the years 2030 and 2050. Consequently, climate-induced risks to health, livelihoods, food and water supply/security, economic development, and human security will increase. However, although many efforts have been put in the developed nations to enhance sustainability in cities through the development of a Low-carbon transportation system, the situation is different in the developing nations. These countries are, for some reason, reluctant to adopt the concept of Low-carbon cities. For example, in Kenya, despite the evident climate threat associated with rising urban carbon emissions in the country, very little action to curb the emissions is observed both at individual and government levels. This is especially so in the transport sector. Therefore, it is critical that suitable low-carbon transition pathways are identified and adop...

Research paper thumbnail of ICT for Sustainability or Sustainability in ICT? A Review of the Role of ICT in Enhancing Sustainability versus the Need to Enhance Sustainability in ICT

Is ICT a solution to sustainability problems or is it just a greater environmental problem? Throu... more Is ICT a solution to sustainability problems or is it just a greater environmental problem? Throughout their lifecycle, ICT products and services are associated with significant levels of energy consumption and carbon emissions. On the contrary, despite being one of the main contributors to global carbon emissions, the ICT sector has a crucial role to play in boosting productivity and sustainability in many sectors—education, transport, agriculture, business, buildings, health, power, and manufacturing. To improve their efficiency and mitigate carbon emissions from ICT products, producers and end-users of such ICT products should therefore, employ measures that enhance their sustainability. Such measures identified in this article include the use of sustainable manufacturing processes, sustainable procurement/purchasing of ICT products, proper ICT product use, reuse, recycle, and proper disposal of ICT devices that are out of use. In data centres, such measures include virtualisatio...

Research paper thumbnail of Coal-Key Energy Resource for the Future in Kenya? A Review

International Journal of Approximate Reasoning, 2021

Coal has been a major contributor to energy security in many developed countries and is projected... more Coal has been a major contributor to energy security in many developed countries and is projected to continue contributing a significant fraction of global energy demand in the foreseeable future. Although coal power generation has been associated with numerous environmental implications, technological advances in the mining sector have enabled the mining of coal with minimal environmental impacts, especially in major coal-producing countries. In Kenya where inadequate energy supply is a major deterrent to economic growth, the discovery of coal reserves in the country presents a suitable opportunity for the country to address its energy security challenges. The challenge is how the exploitation of this resource can be done sustainably. This article explores the potential for sustainable coal mining in Kenya to address energy security challenges in the country. However, as it will be discussed in the paper, sustainable coal mining is often met with many challenges which include lack ...

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-Economic Determinants of Household Continued Use of Solid Biofuels (Fuelwood and Charcoal) for Cooking Purposes in Sub-Saharan Africa- Kenya’s Situation

East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources, 2021

Solid biofuels (fuelwood and charcoal) remain the primary source of household cooking energy in K... more Solid biofuels (fuelwood and charcoal) remain the primary source of household cooking energy in Kenya. This has negatively impacted forest resources, people’s health, local climate patterns, and the country’s economy. Understanding the determinants of household use of these traditional energy resources is useful in the designing of policies and strategies aimed at facilitating energy transitions towards clean options. The current study evaluated the role of socio-economic factors in the determination of household use of fuelwood and charcoal for cooking purposes in Kenya. A desk study was conducted using the 2015/2016 Kenya Integrated household budget survey data published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). Stepwise multiple regression using SPSS was run to determine how household size, female household headship, lack of education among household heads, ownership of housing unit, modern housing, access to credit, access to cash transfers, shock to household welfare, ...