Asia

This study analyzes how healthcare, health, and social factors contribute to high out-of-pocket health expenditures (OOPE) among informally employed Cambodian households without prepayment schemes, finding that healthcare-related factors are the largest drivers of financial hardship. The authors recommend expanding prepayment schemes focused on comprehensive outpatient care, essential medications, and higher-level services, while also addressing noncommunicable diseases and injuries to improve financial protection.

The article highlights the potential of AI to support SDGs related to responsible consumption and production (Goal 12), and climate action (Goal 13).

Agriculture is key to global food security and is a pivotal component of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. However, the increasing utilization of fossil fuels to power farm machinery is a source of concern due to the established negative consequences of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on climate variability, with dire consequences for plants, animals, human settlement, and social and economic activities. Therefore, a revolutionary campaign is needed for innovative, intelligent, and clean technological advancement in the agricultural sector, such that carbon emissions can be mitigated with increased penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs). The solar photovoltaic (PV) system offers tremendous advantages in reducing carbon emissions among land-based RESs. The usage of RES to power agricultural equipment has significantly reduced carbon emissions in the agricultural sector. Farmers are now adopting biogas - produced from wastes of organic materials like plants and animals, for cooking and powering farmhouses and equipment. Solar-powered water pump irrigation systems can reduce carbon emissions by 97%–98% compared to conventional fossil fuel-powered systems. A solar powered tractor was found to produce a carbon footprint of 5.75 kg CO2 eq kg−1 vehicle annually, showing a potential 90% reduction in emissions. Also, a RES-based water pump system, RES-based maize sheller, and RES-based incubator revealed a potential reduction in GHG emissions up to 98%, 89.61%, and 97%, respectively. This chapter, therefore, discusses the pursuit of net zero emission from the viewpoint of land-based renewable energy deployment and carbon-neutral agriculture drivers and tools. The chapter also addresses the issues associated with fossil-based energy sources in agriculture, modern and current trends in agriculture energy supply, carbon neural agriculture drivers, and future agricultural energy supply perspectives, including research and development considerations.

Renewable energy changeover is essential for achieving a low-carbon and sustainable future. This chapter explores the vast potential of sources of renewable energy, such as geothermal, biomass, wind, hydropower, and solar, in addressing global energy needs while mitigating the environmental impacts of fossil fuels. It highlights the key innovations driving efficiency and cost reductions in clean energy technologies, such as advanced solar cells, offshore wind turbines, energy storage solutions, and smart grid systems. The chapter also examines the barriers to widespread adoption, including financial, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges, and discusses policy frameworks and investment strategies necessary to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy on a global scale. By unlocking the potential of clean energy, we can foster economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create a sustainable energy future for generations to come.