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In approximately one decade, global temperatures will likely exceed a warming level that a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report considers a "red alert for humanity". We propose exploring tidal flat diatoms to address climate change challenges. Tidal flats are extensive coastal ecosystems crucial to the provisioning and regulation of aquatic environments. Diatoms contribute to tidal flat biomass production and account for 20% of global primary productivity and 40% of annual marine biomass production, making them crucial for nutrient cycling and sediment stabilization. Potential CO2 removal from Korean tidal flats by diatoms is estimated to be 598,457–683,171 t CO2 equivalents (CO2e) annually, with the economic value of blue carbon (BC) resulting from diatom activity being approximately US$ 17.95–20.50 million. Dissemination of this potential could incentivize coastal wetland protection and climate change mitigation measures. The global estimated CO2e removal potential of tidal flat diatoms is 40,957,346–46,754,961 t CO2e, representing 0.11–0.13% of the annual global greenhouse gas emissions, even though tidal flats cover 0.0025% of the Earth's surface and diatoms represent less than 0.5% (by weight) of all photosynthetic plants. Researchers should combine ecology and economics to develop standardized approaches for carbon input monitoring and quantification. Further, spatiotemporal analyses of environmental threats to tidal flat diatoms are necessary for conserving their biodiversity and function as a critical BC source. Land-based cultivation for large-scale biomass production and biorefinery processes can contribute to a greener, more prosperous future for humanity and the marine ecosystems upon which we rely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is a significant contributor to anthropogenic global warming. In recent years, agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China, which is the largest emitter, has been decreasing. In order to identify whether or not Chinese agricultural development has affected GHG emission, we used the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) factor decomposition model to study the effect of productivity factors on GHG emission and their characteristics in four phases of Chinese agricultural development. The results indicate that land productivity is the most significantly promotion factor which contributes 1.12 Gt CO2e GHG emission growth. On the contrary, technological input intensity exerts an obvious mitigating effect with 1.57 Gt CO2e GHG emission reduction. The effects of productivity factors on GHG emission differ between household-based farming systems and large-scale management systems. A more nuanced perspective on the significant role of agricultural large-scale management in GHG emission could aid climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dry Afromontane forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change by sequestering and storing carbon, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite previous research highlighting the importance of carbon stocks in these ecosystems, the influence of canopy cover and environmental factors on carbon storage in dry Afromontane forests has been barely assessed. This study addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the effects of environmental factors and vegetation cover on carbon stocks in Desa'a forest, a unique and threatened Afromontane dry forest ecosystem in northern Ethiopia. Data on woody vegetation, dead litter, grass biomass, and soil samples were collected from 57 plots. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed at a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05) to examine the influence of canopy cover and environmental factors on the carbon stocks of various pools. Results: Among the 35 woody species identified, Juniperus procera was the most dominant, while Carissa edulis Vahl and Eucalyptus globulus were the least dominant. The average total carbon stock was 92.89 Mg ha−1, with contributions from aboveground carbon, below-ground carbon, litter carbon, grass carbon, and soil organic carbon. Among the carbon pools, soil organic carbon had the highest carbon stock, accounting for 76.8% of the total, followed by above-ground biomass carbon at 17.7%. Significant variations in carbon stocks were found across altitude class and canopy level but not slope and aspect factors. Conclusions: In summary, altitude and canopy level were found to significantly influence carbon stocks in Desa'a forest, providing valuable insights for conservation and climate change mitigation efforts in dry Afromontane forests. Forest intervention planning and management strategies should consider the influence of different environmental variables and tree canopy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a collection of datasets holding information on the energy and climate action plans of 6,850 municipalities, taking part in the transnational initiative of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM). This collection includes commitments for reducing net GHG emissions by at least 20% by 2020, 55% by 2030 and becoming climate neutral by 2050. The signatories commit to addressing any of the three pillars of the initiative, namely climate change mitigation, adaptation and energy access. Following two previous releases, the third release of the GCoM collection is introduced, with closing date September 2022. The datasets include information on the action plans and monitoring reports as they are self-reported by signatories, undergoing a quality-harnessing procedure before publication. Additionally, an external comparison is developed with the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR v7), controlling for comparable sources and activity sectors, ensuring the usability of the GCoM datasets for relevant research on local policies and their effects on reducing the impact of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4), particularly those from organic soils, need to be reduced in the context of climate change mitigation (CCM). Here, we estimated the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from nutrient-poor organic soils in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) plantations established on former peat extraction fields compared to active peat extraction fields and pristine raised bogs in Latvia. A two-year study (2016–2018) was conducted using the manual closed chamber method. In berry plantations and active peat extraction fields, annual net CO2 fluxes contributed the most to total GHG emissions, accounting for over 67%, and temperature had the most significant impact on CO2 fluxes. Conversely, annual CH4 fluxes were the primary contributor to total net GHG emissions in the pristine raised bog, which simultaneously acted as a slight CO2 sink. N2O fluxes were relatively low among all studied land use types. This study provided quantitative insights into the variation in GHG fluxes and the environmental variables influencing them, and the obtained data are valuable to estimate the impact of the establishment of berry plantations on former peat extraction fields on CCM in the hemiboreal region of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the concept of a "just transition" in the United States, specifically in relation to labor and climate action. It discusses the demands made by unions for workers in green jobs to have the same protections and benefits as workers in traditional industries. The article highlights the progress made at the federal, state, and local levels in implementing just transition policies, including legislation and initiatives in various states. It also emphasizes the importance of incorporating labor standards and community benefits in climate initiatives. While there have been successes in promoting climate protection and social justice, more work is needed to ensure a just transition for workers and communities as the country moves towards a climate-safe future. [Extracted from the article]

Peatland restoration is seen as a key nature‐based solution to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. In Europe, nearly 50% of peatlands have been drained during the last decades, which have shifted their soils to carbon dioxide (CO2) sources. Soils of forestry‐drained peatlands are known to vary from CO2 sources to small sinks depending on their fertility and wetness. When peatlands are restored, it can be expected that rates of CO2 and methane exchange will vary depending on site fertility and wetness. We generated seven restoration pathways with different starting and end points and assessed the climate impacts of them. The GHG emission coefficients were compiled from literature, and radiative forcing was calculated for a 500‐year time period since restoration. All seven restoration pathways improved carbon sink capacity; however, the climate impact differed from cooling to warming. The highest cooling impact occurred in a pathway leading from nutrient‐rich drained peatlands toward tree‐covered spruce or pine mires. Warming impacts occurred in a pathway leading from nutrient‐poor drained peatlands toward open peatlands. The results of this study can be used to help identify peatland sites and restoration targets to maximize climate change mitigation from restoration. In practice, however, restoration has to fulfill other targets, such as biodiversity safeguarding, improvement of hydrological conditions, and socio‐economic aspects. Fulfilling all targets simultaneously requires compromises on all targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local actors have growing prominence in climate governance but key capacities and powers remain with national policymakers. Coordination between national and local climate action is therefore of increasing importance. Underappreciated in existing academic and policy literature, coordination between actors at different scales can be affected not only by politics and institutional arrangements, but also by methods of data analysis. Exploring two datasets of GHG emissions by local area in England—one of consumption-based emissions and the other of territorial emissions—this paper shows the potential for a data scaling problem known as the modifiable areal unit problem and its possible consequences for the efficacy and equity implications of climate action. While this analysis is conceptual and does not identify specific instances of the modifiable areal unit problem or its consequences, it calls attention to methods of data analysis as possible contributors to climate governance challenges. Among other areas, future analysis is needed to explore how data scaling and other aspects of data processing and analysis may affect our understanding of non-state actors' contribution to climate action. Research highlights: Data scaling could affect the efficacy and equity of climate action in the UK. Enabling local actors can help to overcome the effects of data scaling. Relationships between methods of data analysis and governance need more attention. Research is needed on data scaling and the climate actions of non-state actors is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current agri-food systems are unable to fulfill global demand and account for 33% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Conventional agriculture cannot produce more food because of the scarcity of arable land, the depletion of freshwater resources, and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, it is important to investigate alternate farming methods. Algae farming is a feasible alternative that produces food, feed, and feedstock using wastelands and unconventional agricultural settings such as coastal regions, salt-affected soils, and urban/peri-urban environments. This review focuses on three emerging scenarios. First is seawater, which makes up 97.5% of the water on Earth. However, it is nevertheless used less often than freshwater. Second is a growing trend of people moving from rural to urban regions for improved employment prospects, living standards, and business chances. However, most rural migrants are essentially skilled in agriculture, which limits their applicability in metropolitan environments. The third scenario focuses on excellent crop yields and soil fertility; it is essential to maintain appropriate levels of organic matter and soil structure. In this case, algae have remarkable potential for osmoregulation-based salt tolerance and may provide valuable metabolites when cultivated in brackish or saltwater. Using brackish water, treated wastewater, and saltwater, algal culture systems may be established in arid/semi-arid, urban/peri-urban, and coastal areas to fulfill the increasing need for food, feed, and industrial feedstocks. It may also provide migrants from rural areas with work possibilities, which would allay environmental footprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP28) brought together nearly 2000 health professionals to address the climate crisis as a public health threat. While the conference yielded significant outcomes such as advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels and establishing funds for vulnerable communities, urgent action to phase out fossil fuels and address the impact of militarization was lacking. The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) highlighted the carbon footprint of the military-industrial complex and called for demilitarization, peace, and climate justice. The COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace emphasized solutions and mobilization in regions affected by war and conflict. Urgent actions are needed to address military emissions, reduce military spending, phase out nuclear power, and join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The themes of health and relief, recovery, and peace provide a platform for medical professionals to advocate for demilitarization, climate justice, and health. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Rice production in Northeastern Vietnam is livelihood-oriented with a small farm size in the northern mountainous and midlands region. This study aims to determine the contribution of agronomic and input factors to the total carbon (C) footprint of rice production to identify solutions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture in this region. Methods: We used a life cycle assessment method for the C footprint of rice production from planting to harvesting. Agronomic parameters and input data in both spring and summer crops were collected through interviews conducted with 50 rice-farming households in the Quang Minh commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province, using questionnaires. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted to gather information on energy used for land preparation and harvesting. Results and discussion: The C footprint per hectare and per tonne of grain of the summer rice crop (15.6 ± 3.3 t CO2-eq/ha, 2.34 ± 0.54 t CO2-eq/t) was significantly higher than that of the spring crop (9.5 ± 1.8 t CO2-eq/ha, 1.3 ± 0.26 t CO2-eq/t). GHG emissions were due mainly to direct methane emissions during rice growth, accounting for 89.5% of the total C footprint of the summer crop and 80.5% of that of the spring crop. Fertilizer emissions also contributed significantly, accounting for 5.4% and 10.4%, respectively, nearly 75% from N-fertilizer emissions. A higher C footprint (per grain basis) was generally associated with straw incorporation, continuous flooded irrigation, longer rice growth duration, and lower rice yield, indicating the importance of agronomic management of crop residues, water and nutrients, choice of varieties, and growing seasons. Small farm size did not lead to higher carbon intensity. Conclusions: The solutions to avoid direct incorporation of rice straw, to conduct intermittent irrigation, to reduce the amount of N-fertilizer, and to use short-duration rice varieties (especially for summer crop) with high yield potential along with optimal agronomic management practices should be highlighted. Greater adoption of these measures will contribute significantly to reducing the C footprint of rice production in Northeastern Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BRICS countries comprise 41.87% of the world's population and generate over 42% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. As the largest political cluster in global climate governance, their positions and alignment in the post-Paris Agreement era would determine the future trajectory of climate governance for the international communities. This article aims to ascertain the respective positions of BRICS nations by examining their nationally determined contributions and targets for carbon peak and neutrality. Through this analysis, the article endeavors to consolidate a comprehensive BRICS decarbonization roadmap, providing stakeholders and policymakers with greater clarity. In addition, in-depth case studies from China and India, the two biggest emitters, offer valuable insights into their climate mitigation paths. This would inspire unity among the BRICS countries and encourage them to uphold the stability of their partnership in climate governance collectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The National Health Service (NHS) has pledged to reach carbon net-zero by 2040. In alignment with this goal, a London hospital's anaesthesia department is actively reducing desflurane use and transitioning towards total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) as a sustainable alternative, contributing to environmentally responsible practices within the healthcare sector. Methods: We conducted a rapid qualitative appraisal through online interviews with 17 anaesthetic practitioners to explore their perspectives regarding this climate change mitigation strategy. Data analysis was undertaken through the use of rapid appraisal sheets and a framework analysis method. Results: Participants highlighted the disadvantages of TIVA, including the increased effort, heightened monitoring requirements, operational challenges, and a lack of clinical confidence associated with its use. Despite these reservations, participants acknowledged TIVA's potential to reduce postoperative nausea. There were perceptions that senior staff members might resist this change due to habits and scepticism over its impact on climate change. To facilitate greater TIVA adoption, participants recommended enhanced training, the implementation of a dashboard to raise awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the presence of strong climate change leadership within the department. Participants believed that a shift to TIVA should be followed by specific measures such as addressing waste management which is crucial for GHG reduction, emphasising the perceived link between waste and emissions. Conclusions: The evaluation examines stakeholder attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours, focusing on transitioning from desflurane to TIVA. The study highlights the importance of staff engagement, organisational support, and underscores the crucial role that healthcare practitioners and leadership play in fostering sustainability within the healthcare sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grasslands are essential for providing vital resources in the livestock sector and delivering invaluable ecosystem services such as biodiversity and soil carbon (C) sequestration. Despite their critical importance, these ecosystems face escalating threats from human disturbances, human degradation, and climate change, compromising their ability to effectively stock C. Restoring degraded grasslands emerges as a pragmatic and cost-effective approach to tackling climate change. However, the successful implementation of grassland management toward this goal, faces significant challenges. A systematic mapping approach will help to compile a comprehensive global inventory of studies investigating the impact of differing grassland management practices on soil carbon. In addition, the potential for trade-offs with other greenhouse gas emissions further underlines the value of a systematic assessment. This approach aims to identify knowledge clusters (i.e., well-represented subtopics that are amenable to full synthesis) for potential systematic reviews and pinpoint knowledge gaps requiring further primary research efforts, all contributing to a better understanding of the evidence surrounding this topic. Methods: Following systematic evidence synthesis standards, we developed the question to address in the systematic map protocol using the PICO framework. We established a preliminary search string by combining search terms for the Population (Grasslands), Intervention (management) and Outcome (soil carbon) categories, as well as with one additional group (Study types—to focus on farm and field experiments). We will conduct a comprehensive literature search of relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature using Web of Science, Scopus, CABI platforms, Google Scholar, and specialised websites (e.g., Agrotrop). Searches will be conducted in the English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Mongolian languages, as per the linguistic capabilities of the research team. The comprehensiveness of the search will be assessed by comparing the literature collected to a test-list of forty relevant articles. The repeatability of the literature screening process will be ensured by a list of inclusion/exclusion criteria and inter-reviewer consistency statistical tests. Data extraction will be organised into four complementary sections (article information, PICO categories, study characteristics, measurable parameters), on which we will perform queries to produce the tables, figures and evidence maps that will compose the systematic map. The results will identify and describe knowledge gaps and clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household consumption accounts for 65–72% of total greenhouse gas emissions globally, and therefore, a change in current consumption patterns has the potential to mitigate climate change and provide emission reductions. There is knowledge on the consumption options with a high mitigation potential, but this information has not been combined with a consumer behavior information. This study examines the emission-reduction potential of suburban residents in Finland through a survey that assesses their willingness to adopt climate actions, and by calculating the potential impact of various actions. Finnish suburban households have already implemented low-impact climate actions (recycling, reducing food waste), but the implementation of high-impact actions in households could also be increased. Transitioning to a vegetarian diet, reducing air travel and limiting consumption are identified as the most effective mitigation actions when the potential increase in the implementation rate and impact on greenhouse gas emissions are considered. However, the results suggest that voluntary individual efforts alone are not sufficient to achieve the 1.5 °C carbon budget. Thus, alongside behavioural changes, strong policy measures and technological advancements are necessary. These findings emphasise the specific individual actions that should be prioritised when formulating climate policies at the national or city levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Livestock production contributes significantly to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Probiotic-fed broiler production has been shown to reduce greenhouse emissions in other nations significantly, however, outcomes in Malaysia are unknown. Aims: This study assesses the total greenhouse emissions of probiotic-fed broiler production from cradle to farm-gate using an accredited Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool, Greenhouse Accounting Framework (GAF). It determines the hotspot of greenhouse emissions and emission intensity of the farm in kg CO2-eq/kg liveweight. Three types of mitigation methods, i.e. selling untreated manure, composting, and conversion into biochar, were compared to identify their effectiveness. Methods: The research involves three broiler houses with one production cycle. Fifty-four gas samples and 90 poultry litter samples were collected throughout the production cycle and analysed for the targeted gases – i.e. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen and volatile solid composition. Analysis results were used to estimate total greenhouse emissions from the farm using the LCA-GAF model. The mitigation efficiency achieved by selling untreated manure, composting, and biochar production is assessed by estimating the carbon stock mass. Key results: A new LCA model based on probiotic-fed broiler production was generated, specifically using data obtained from the experiment. The experimental results indicated that energy consumption, i.e. electricity and fuel, have the highest greenhouse emissions (44%), followed by feed production with 40% of the total 53.51 t CO2-eq/house/cycle in the probiotic-fed broiler farm. The emissions intensity of the farm is 1.57 kg CO2-eq/kg liveweight. Estimates of the mitigation efficiency were compared among untreated manure, biochar, and compost. Conclusions: Energy consumption, particularly electricity and fuel, contributed the highest greenhouse emissions in the probiotic-fed broiler production. The strategy of selling untreated poultry litter was the most effective carbon mitigation method. However, due to its adverse environmental and human health impacts, converting poultry litter into biochar is the preferable mitigation option. Implications: This study is profound for the poultry industry and environmental sustainability. It highlights the crucial role of energy consumption in greenhouse emissions from the probiotic-fed broiler farm, and the necessity of addressing the environmental impacts. Implementing sustainable agricultural practices could lead to more ecological poultry production, contributing to global efforts in climate change mitigation. Livestock production plays a major role in global greenhouse gas emissions, and the impacts of using probiotics in broiler production is a new area of study in Malaysia. This research conducted on three broiler farms, reveals that energy consumption, particularly electricity and fuel, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The findings highlight the potential of probiotics in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in broiler production and developing sustainable practices in the poultry industry to address environmental concerns. This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing concerns about global warming, it is crucial to adopt agronomic practices that enhance rice yields from paddy fields while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for sustainable agriculture. An optimal nitrogen (N) fertilization rate and planting density are vital to ensure high rice yields, minimize GHG emissions, and understand emission behavior for better field management. We hypothesized that optimizing N application rates and planting density to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in rice cultivation would reduce resource losses and GHG emissions. To test this hypothesis, we implemented five treatments with a rice straw return cultural system: two planting densities (16 hills m−2 (traditional density, D1) and 20 hills m−2 (25% higher density, D2)) and three N application rates (no N fertilizer (N0), 180 kg N ha−1 (N1), and 144 kg N ha−1 (N2)). The control treatment (CK) was traditional planting density with no N fertilizer. The four new cropping modes were N1D1, N1D2, N2D1, and N2D2. We investigated the effects of N application rates and planting density on rice grain yield, NUE, and GHG emissions in multiple rice-growing seasons. The N1D2 treatment exhibited the highest grain yield over the three years, with a value of 10,452 kg ha−1, representing an increase of 12.2% compared to CK. Moreover, N uptake in N1D2 was the highest, averaging 39.2% (p < 0.05) higher than CK, and 8.5%, 3.5%, and 2.8% (p < 0.05) higher than N1D1, N2D1 and N2D2, respectively. N2D2 exhibited the highest NUE, with a value of 58.99 kg kg−1, surpassing all other treatments over the three years. GHG emissions, global warming potential (GWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) in N2D2 were lower than in N1D1, N1D2, and N2D1. Additionally, reducing N application (comparing N1D1 to N2D1) and increasing plant density (comparing N1D1 to N1D2) improved N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N partial productivity (PFPN). The negative correlation between the NAE and PFPN with GWP and GHG emissions further supports the potential for optimized N management and denser planting density to reduce environmental impact. These findings have important implications for sustainable rice cultivation practices in Southwest China and similar agroecosystems, emphasizing the need for integrated nutrient management strategies to achieve food security and climate change mitigation goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Increased nitrogen (N) deposition may exacerbate soil phosphorus (P) deficiency, which alters soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by changing soil properties and understory vegetation in subtropical forests. However, the effects of N addition, P addition, and understory vegetation interactions on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in forest ecosystems and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: We conducted a continuous N and P addition experiment in a subtropical Chinese fir plantation. The effects of N and P addition on soil CO2 and N2O emissions with different understory vegetation were examined using a structural equation model. Results: The addition of N and P did not directly affect soil CO2 emission of the understory, which was affected by understory species (F = 2.86; p = 0.05). N indirectly and positively affects soil CO2 emission through plant elements, and directly affect N2O emission of understory soil. Compared with CK, the addition of N2 promoted the N2O cumulative emission by 74.3%. N has a direct positive effect on soil N2O emissions, while P addition indirectly exerts a negative influence on N2O emissions through its impact on soil properties. Plant elements and soil properties were explained in 26.3% of soil CO2 emissions, of which 17.6% and 16.0% variations were explained by plant elements and soil properties, respectively. Leaf total N was the most important factor for predicting CO2 emissions. Conclusions: Our results suggested that soil CO2 emission was more dependent on plant elements, and soil N2O emission was directly dependent on N addition rather than plant elements. Thus, different patterns of soil GHG emissions and associated controls following N and P addition provided novel insights into predicting the effects of understory vegetation on climate change mitigation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a highly topical issue, and companies are increasingly required to report on their climate actions. This study assesses the influence of several factors affecting the companies' commitment towards climate change mitigation, adaptation, and transparency (i.e. CDP Integrtaed Performance Score). Therefore, by analysing the determinants of climate change commitment, the research aims to provide evidence and further insights on companies' responsiveness to climate challenges. Data are collected from Bloomberg's ESG database, and multiple linear regression analysis is performed on a sample of 3000 European‐listed companies responding to the carbon disclosure project (CDP) questionnaire. The results show that CDP Integrated Performance Score is associated with greenhouse gas emissions disclosure, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliance, the presence of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee and women on board, the number of employees, board and firm size. By contrast, assurance and ROE are non‐significant determinants for our sample. This study contributes to the existing research on climate change disclosure providing further insights on companies' climate change action. The findings are valuable for managers and regulators in promoting sustainability strategies and improving environmental performance and climate transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Agreement is an important milestone in international climate policy and the associated negotiations of the United Nations Climate Summit under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is a supplementary mechanism—regarding carbon markets—to reduce greenhouse gases and achieve the UNFCCC's main objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations. The 2021 United Nations Climate Summit in Glasgow (COP26) played a key role in the pursuit of this goal. Via an overview of Article 6 negotiations in past COP summits and a systematic review and qualitative meta‐synthesis of the literature leading up to COP26, I identify three arguments involving Articles 6.2, 6.4, and 6.8 behind the selected literature. I substantiate these arguments based on the meta‐evaluation of the existing literature and propose a three‐stage meta‐evaluation of the arguments on Article 6 (carbon markets) of the Paris Agreement in the context of COP26 to ascertain if the negotiations were successful in leading to requisite agreements on Article 6. I conclude that future qualitative research should focus on Articles 6.4 and 6.8 of the Paris Agreement and examine the outcomes of future climate debates to see how ideas will flow through the negotiations regarding these two articles to pursue the goal of the UNFCCC under the Paris Agreement. Related Articles: Jihyung Joo, Jihyung, Jouni Paavola, and James Van Alstine. 2023. "The Divergence of South Korea's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from the EU ETS: An Institutional Complementarity View." Politics & Policy 51(6): 1155–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12566. Nunes Silva, Carlos. 2012. "Policy and Evidence in a Partisan Age: The Great Disconnect—By Paul Gary Wyckoff." Politics & Policy 40(3): 541–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00363.x. Robles, Pedro, and Daniel J. Mallinson. 2023. "Catching up with AI: Pushing toward a Cohesive Governance Framework." Politics & Policy 51(3): 355–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12529. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many recent studies have examined the impact of predicted changes in temperature and precipitation patterns on infectious diseases under different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. But these emissions scenarios symbolize more than altered temperature and precipitation regimes; they also represent differing levels of change in energy, transportation, and food production at a global scale to reduce the effects of climate change. The ways humans respond to climate change, either through adaptation or mitigation, have underappreciated, yet hugely impactful effects on infectious disease transmission, often in complex and sometimes nonintuitive ways. Thus, in addition to investigating the direct effects of climate changes on infectious diseases, it is critical to consider how human preventative measures and adaptations to climate change will alter the environments and hosts that support pathogens. Here, we consider the ways that human responses to climate change will likely impact disease risk in both positive and negative ways. We evaluate the evidence for these impacts based on the available data, and identify research directions needed to address climate change while minimizing externalities associated with infectious disease, especially for vulnerable communities. We identify several different human adaptations to climate change that are likely to affect infectious disease risk independently of the effects of climate change itself. We categorize these changes into adaptation strategies to secure access to water, food, and shelter, and mitigation strategies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. We recognize that adaptation strategies are more likely to have infectious disease consequences for under‐resourced communities, and call attention to the need for socio‐ecological studies to connect human behavioral responses to climate change and their impacts on infectious disease. Understanding these effects is crucial as climate change intensifies and the global community builds momentum to slow these changes and reduce their impacts on human health, economic productivity, and political stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion (AD) emerges as a pivotal technique in climate change mitigation, transforming organic materials into biogas, a renewable energy form. This process significantly impacts energy production and waste management, influencing greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional research has largely focused on anaerobic bacteria and methanogens for methane production. However, the potential of anaerobic lignocellulolytic fungi for degrading lignocellulosic biomass remains less explored. In this study, buffalo rumen inocula were enriched and acclimatized to improve lignocellulolytic hydrolysis activity. Two consortia were established: the anaerobic fungi consortium (AFC), selectively enriched for fungi, and the anaerobic lignocellulolytic microbial consortium (ALMC). The consortia were utilized to create five distinct microbial cocktails–AF0, AF20, AF50, AF80, and AF100. These cocktails were formulated based on varying of AFC and ALMC by weights (w/w). Methane production from each cocktail of lignocellulosic biomasses (cassava pulp and oil palm residues) was evaluated. The highest methane yields of CP, EFB, and MFB were obtained at 337, 215, and 54 mL/g VS, respectively. Cocktails containing a mix of anaerobic fungi, hydrolytic bacteria (Sphingobacterium sp.), syntrophic bacteria (Sphaerochaeta sp.), and hydrogenotrophic methanogens produced 2.1–2.6 times higher methane in cassava pulp and 1.1–1.2 times in oil palm empty fruit bunch compared to AF0. All cocktails effectively produced methane from oil palm empty fruit bunch due to its lipid content. However, methane production ceased after 3 days when oil palm mesocarp fiber was used, due to long-chain fatty acid accumulation. Anaerobic fungi consortia showed effective lignocellulosic and starchy biomass degradation without inhibition due to organic acid accumulation. These findings underscore the potential of tailored microbial cocktails for enhancing methane production from diverse lignocellulosic substrates. Key Points: Enhanced methane production from diverse lignocellulosic biomasses using enriched microbial cocktails. Efficient degradation of lignocellulosic biomass and starch by consortia of anaerobic fungi constituent. The number of anaerobic fungi affects the amount of methane production. Importance of tailored microbial cocktails for maximizing methane production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a framework for strategic dam planning under uncertainty, which includes GHG emissions mitigation as a novel objective. We focus on the Mekong River Basin, a fast‐developing region heavily relying on river‐derived ecosystem services. We employ a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm to identify strategic dam portfolios for different hydropower expansion targets, using process‐related and statistical models to derive indicators of sediment supply disruption and GHG emissions. We introduce a robust optimization approach that explores variations in optimal portfolio compositions for more than 5,000 state‐of‐the‐world configurations, regarding sediment origins and trapping and GHG emissions. Thus, we can rank dam projects' attractiveness based on their frequency of inclusion in optimal portfolios and explore how uncertainty affects these rankings. Our results suggest that developing dams in the upper Mekong would be a more robust option for near‐term development than, for example, the lower Mekong and its tributaries, for both environmental and energy objectives. Our work presents a novel approach to better understand the basin‐scale cumulative impacts of dam development in high‐uncertainty, data‐scarce contexts like the Mekong Basin. Plain Language Summary: Hydropower is considered an important energy source to meet many climate mitigation targets. Its negative impacts are however often underestimated, including the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) from reservoirs. This study introduces a framework for planning dams strategically in the Mekong River Basin, a region heavily dependent on river‐related services. The framework considers uncertainties and incorporates greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and sediment transport disruption as new objectives. Using a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm, the research identifies optimal dam portfolios for different hydropower expansion goals. To consider uncertainties in the results, the analysis employs a robust optimization approach to assess over 5,000 state‐of‐the‐world configurations. Results indicate that developing dams in the upper Mekong is a more robust option for both environmental and energy goals in the near term. These conclusions showcase the approach's usefulness in understanding dams' cumulative impacts in data‐scarce and uncertain contexts like the Mekong Basin. Key Points: We identify optimal dam portfolios which balance hydropower expansion, sediment supply disruption, and GHG emissions in the MekongWe extracted optimal portfolios under multiple state‐of‐the‐world configurations, to extract robust indicators of project attractivenessResults suggest that near‐term dam development should focus more on the upper Mekong, compared to the lower Mekong and its tributaries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turfgrass systems hold significant climate change mitigation value, but their management often negates the beneficial effects due to the intense adoption of external inputs. The research objective in this paper was to assess the nitrogen fertilization rate able to maintain the ideal esthetic characteristics of Zoysia turfgrass, reducing the environmental impacts associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A two-year open field experiment was conducted. Nitrogen was added to the soil at six rates (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha−1). The GHG emissions were monitored using a portable gas analyzer and the static chamber methodology. Cumulative environmental impacts were calculated from the inclusion of CO2, CH4, and, N2O using the Global Warming Potential (GWP). The quality assessment of the turf was assessed through a visual and instrumental approach. Higher CO2 and N2O fluxes were linked to high nitrogen rates, ranging from 83.55 to 87.50 and from 0.046 to 0.047 g N-N2O ha−1 day−1 for 200 and 250 kg N ha−1, respectively. CH4 emissions were not correlated to nitrogen rates. Higher GWP impacts were linked to high N rate treatments. A rate of 100 kg N ha−1 is recommended as the best strategy to reduce GHG emissions while maintaining high turf quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing interest in achieving global climate change mitigation targets that target environmental protection. Therefore, electric vehicles (as linear metros) were developed to avoid greenhouse gas emissions, which negatively impact the climate. Hence, this paper proposes a finite set-model predictive-based current control (FS-MPCC) strategy of linear induction motor (LIM) for linear metro drives fed by solar cells with a beta maximum power extraction (B-MPE) control approach to achieve lower thrust ripples and eliminate a selection of weighting factors, the main limitation of conventional model predictive-based thrust control (which can be time consuming and challenging). The B-MPE control approach ensures that the solar cells operate at their maximum power output, maximizing the energy harvested from the sun. Considering a single cost function of primary current errors between the predicted values and their references in αβ-axes, the proposed method eliminates the need for weighting factor selection, thus simplifying the control process. A comparison between the conventional and the presented control method is conducted using MATLAB/Simulink under different scenarios. Comprehensive simulation results of the presented system on a 3 kW LIM prototype revealed that the introduced system based on FS-MPCC surpasses the conventional technique, resulting in a maximum power extraction from solar cells and a suppression of the thrust ripples as well as an avoidance of weighting factor tuning, leading to fewer computational steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the impact of climate change on South Asian countries and their efforts to address climate issues. It highlights the vulnerability of countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan to climate change. The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP-28) held in Dubai made important decisions on climate finance, resilience, and practical solutions. Each South Asian country faces specific policy challenges and objectives, such as Bangladesh's focus on loss and damage funding, India's efforts to reduce coal reliance, Pakistan's emphasis on climate finance and resilience, Nepal's call for support, and Afghanistan's limited participation due to political circumstances. The article recommends inclusive and gender-responsive climate adaptation policies, empowering local governments, addressing financial vulnerabilities, strengthening existing programs, and promoting climate awareness and education. COP-28 emphasized the need to move away from fossil fuels and introduced a dedicated fund for addressing loss and damage. [Extracted from the article]

Global impervious surface area (ISA) has more than doubled over the last three decades, but the associated carbon emissions resulting from the depletion of pre-existing land carbon stores remain unknown. Here, we report that the carbon losses from biomass and top soil (0–30 cm) due to global ISA expansion reached 46–75 Tg C per year over 1993–2018, accounting for 3.7–6.0% of the concurrent human land-use change emissions. For the Annex I countries of UNFCCC, our estimated emissions are comparable to the carbon emissions arising from settlement expansion as reported by the national greenhouse gas inventories, providing independent validation of this kind. The contrast between growing emissions in non-Annex I countries and declining ones in Annex I countries over the study period can be explained by an observed emerging pattern of emissions evolution dependent on the economic development stage. Our study has implications for international carbon accounting and climate mitigation as it reveals previously ignored but substantial contributions of ISA expansion to anthropogenic carbon emissions through land-use effects. Terrestrial carbon emissions from global expansion of impervious surface area have been long overlooked in global carbon budget assessments. Qiu et al. report that these emissions account for up to 6.0–12.9% of those from human land use change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface gas storage is crucial for achieving a sustainable energy future, as it helps to reduce CO2 emissions and facilitates the provision of renewable energy sources. The confinement effect of the nanopores in caprock induces distinctive thermophysical properties and fluid dynamics. In this paper, we present a multi‐scale study to characterize the subsurface transport of CO2, CH4, and H2. A nanoscale‐extended volume‐translated Cubic‐Plus‐Association equation of state was developed and incorporated in a field‐scale numerical simulation, based on a full reservoir‐caprock suite model. Results suggest that in the transition from nanoscale to bulk‐scale, gas solubility in water decreases while phase density and interfacial tension increase. For the first time, a power law relationship was identified between the capillary pressure within nanopores and the pore size. Controlled by buoyancy, viscous force and capillary pressure, gases transport vertically and horizontally in reservoir and caprock. H2 has the maximum potential to move upward and the lowest areal sweep efficiency; in short term, CH4 is more prone to upward migration compared to CO2, while in long term, CH4 and CO2 perform comparably. Thicker caprock and larger caprock pore size generally bring greater upward inclination. Gases penetrate the caprock when CH4 is stored with a caprock thickness smaller than 28 m or H2 is stored with a caprock pore size of 2–10 nm or larger than 100 nm. This study sheds light on the fluid properties and dynamics in nanoconfined environment and is expected to contribute to the safe implementation of gigatonne scale subsurface gas storage. Plain Language Summary: Aiming at the ambitious targets of net‐zero emission and global energy transition, effective technologies need to be developed and deployed with huge efforts. Subsurface gas storage is expected to play a critical role in reducing CO2 emission and providing large‐scale renewable energy. However, unforeseen gas leakage can cause potential environmental risks and energy efficiency concerns. Despite its importance, the mechanisms governing gas transport and distribution within caprocks, particularly under nanoconfinement conditions, are poorly understood. From nano‐scale and bulk‐scale thermodynamic properties predictions to field‐scale numerical simulations, this work carried out a comprehensive multi‐scale analysis to evaluate the storage security of CO2, CH4, and H2. Relationships between VLE, phase density, interfacial tension, capillary pressure and pore size, temperature, pressure and wettability were discussed, offering novel perspectives on the mechanisms governing gas leakage. Furthermore, loss potentials of different gases were compared and evaluated and the impacts of caprock thickness and pore size were examined, providing valuable insights for screening eligible storage sites. Overall, this work contributes to the development of secure and reliable gas storage techniques, supporting the goals of climate change mitigation and facilitating the transition to a net‐zero energy future. Key Points: A multi‐scale analysis is carried out to assess the loss potential of CO2, CH4, and H2 during subsurface storageMigration and distribution characteristics of gases in the caprock are investigatedShort‐term and long‐term gas storage security are analyzed and compared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane, both enteric and from manure management, is the most important greenhouse gas from ruminant livestock, and its mitigation can deliver substantial decreases in the carbon footprint of animal products and potentially contribute to climate change mitigation. Although choices may be limited, certain feeding-related practices can substantially decrease livestock enteric CH 4 emission. These practices can be generally classified into 2 categories: diet manipulation and feed additives. Within the first category, selection of forages and increasing forage digestibility are likely to decrease enteric CH 4 emission, but the size of the effect, relative to current forage practices in the United States dairy industry, is likely to be minimal to moderate. An opportunity also exists to decrease enteric CH 4 emissions by increasing dietary starch concentration, but interventions have to be weighed against potential decreases in milk fat yield and farm profitability. A similar conclusion can be made about dietary lipids and oilseeds, which are proven to decrease CH 4 emission but can also have a negative effect on rumen fermentation, feed intake, and milk production and composition. Sufficient and robust scientific evidence indicates that some feed additives, specifically the CH 4 inhibitor 3-nitrooxypropanol, can substantially reduce CH 4 emissions from dairy and beef cattle. However, the long-term effects and external factors affecting the efficacy of the inhibitor need to be further studied. The practicality of mass-application of other mitigation practices with proven short-term efficacy (i.e., macroalgae) is currently unknown. One area that needs more research is how nutritional mitigation practices (both diet manipulation and feed additives) interact with each other and whether there is synergism among feed additives with different mode of action. Further, effects of diet on manure composition and greenhouse gas emissions during storage (e.g., emission trade-offs) have not been adequately studied. Overall, if currently available mitigation practices prove to deliver consistent results and novel, potent, and safe strategies are discovered and are practical, nutrition alone can deliver up to 60% reduction in enteric CH 4 emissions from dairy farms in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global wheat production has remained stable in the last 20 years, benefiting from increased grain yields despite decline in harvested wheat area. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review of ca. 300 peer-reviewed studies worldwide to outline benefits of adding wheat to simple crop rotations (i.e., one to three rotational crops). We highlight the wheat's versatility for tactical in-season crop management (e.g., flexible sowing dates, crop type [winter vs spring], and nitrogen fertility) and strategic cropping system management (e.g., grazing and double-cropping) and provide evidence supporting the positive impact of wheat on the grain yield and yield stability of other rotational crops. The inclusion of wheat in simple cropping systems enhances agroecosystem diversity and improves resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) residue of wheat offers benefits and drawbacks on soil quality attributes, weed control, and climate change mitigation potential. The introduction of wheat to simple crop rotations can (i) interrupt pest population cycles by serving as a break crop; (ii) decrease N application requirements, thus reducing N losses, greenhouse gas emissions, soil acidification, and production costs; (iii) improve soil health and carbon sequestration; (iv) increase resource use-efficiency of the cropping system; (v) foment fauna population; and (vi) decrease variability in economic returns. This review highlights that wheat offers unique opportunities to increase diversification and foster more sustainable and resilient agroecosystems that will feed a growing global population while acting as a net carbon sink, helping to mitigate drivers of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH 4) is a significant greenhouse gas in exacerbating climate change. Approximately 25 % of CH 4 is emitted from storage tanks. It is crucial to spatially explore the CH 4 emission patterns from storage tanks for efficient strategy proposals to mitigate climate change. However, due to the lack of publicly accessible storage tank locations and distributions, it is difficult to ascertain the CH 4 emission spatial pattern over a large-scale area. To address this problem, we generated a storage tank dataset (STD) by implementing a deep learning model with manual refinement based on 4403 high-spatial-resolution images (1–2 m) from the Gaofen-1, Gaofen-2, Gaofen-6, and Ziyuan-3 satellites over city regions in China with officially reported numerous storage tanks in 2021. STD is the first storage tank dataset for over 92 typical city regions in China. The dataset can be accessed at 10.5281/zenodo.10514151 (Chen et al., 2024). It provides a detailed georeferenced inventory of 14 461 storage tanks wherein each storage tank is validated and assigned the construction year (2000–2021) by visual interpretation of the collected high-spatial-resolution images, historical high-spatial-resolution images of Google Earth, and field survey. The inventory comprises storage tanks with various distribution patterns in different city regions. Spatial consistency analysis with the CH 4 emission product shows good agreement with storage tank distributions. The intensive construction of storage tanks significantly induces CH 4 emissions from 2005 to 2020, underscoring the need for more robust measures to curb CH 4 release and aid in climate change mitigation efforts. Our proposed dataset, STD, will foster the accurate estimation of CH 4 released from storage tanks for CH 4 control and reduction and ensure more efficient treatment strategies are proposed to better understand the impact of storage tanks on the environment, ecology, and human settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine international environmental agreements (IEAs) in which heterogeneous countries work together to not only participate in the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions but also develop breakthrough technologies. In this paper, the country with the most advanced technology (i.e. the technological leader) develops a new abatement technology and distributes it to other countries (i.e. technological laggards) through licensing. We design a new mechanism to achieve cooperation among heterogeneous countries through an initial payment and refunding (IPR) scheme and licensing involving third-party organizations (TPOs). Under our new IPR scheme with licensing, the cost incurred by a technology leader in developing new technology is covered by licensing fees using a portion of the initial payments collected from technological laggards by a TPO. As a result, TPOs sustain IEAs by flexibly adjusting technological laggards' share of costs for licensing, comprising initial payments and refunds, and the amount of the licensing payment made to the technological leader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For nearly half a century, negotiations in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have sought to reduce pressures on nature without curtailing the North's wealth or thwarting the South's economic development. Since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, science has become more granular, the global economy has grown phenomenally, greenhouse gas emissions and temperature rises have accelerated rather than slowed, the climate crisis and inequality have become more extreme, and the status quo interests have become more entrenched. After three lost (wasted, rather) decades, climate mitigation is terribly urgent, yet hugely contested. Choices are stark: financing mitigation and adaptation, or stomaching immense suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of understanding the urban emission characteristics of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollutants, few studies have conducted integrated assessments across diverse urban environments. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the emission characteristics of GHGs and air pollutants in seven cities in the Northern Hemisphere using ground‐based Fourier transform spectrometers. Our analysis primarily focused on emission ratios of excess column‐averaged dry‐air mole fractions of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO2) (∆XCO:∆XCO2) and those of methane (CH4) to CO2 (∆XCH4:∆XCO2). We found that the emission ratios varied significantly across cities. Xianghe (China) and Pasadena (USA), known for severe air pollution, showed the highest emission ratios. Notably, Seoul (South Korea) showed lower ∆XCO:∆XCO2 (3.32 ± 0.10 ppb/ppm) but relatively higher ∆XCH4:∆XCO2 (4.85 ± 0.04 ppb/ppm), which was comparable to the ∆XCH4:∆XCO2 value of Xianghe (5.15 ± 0.10 ppb/ppm), suggesting that targeted CH4 reduction strategies may be required for climate change mitigation in Seoul. Plain Language Summary: Many cities experience significant greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. We comprehensively analyzed the characteristics of these emissions using ground‐based solar‐viewing Fourier transform spectrometers (FTSs) in Northern Hemisphere cities including Seoul (South Korea), Thessaloniki (Greece), Tsukuba (Japan), Karlsruhe (Germany), Xianghe (China), Pasadena (USA), and Paris (France). First, we focused on variations in carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and carbon monoxide (CO). Based on these variations, their emission ratios were estimated in terms of excess column‐averaged dry‐air mole fractions of CO to CO2 (∆XCO:∆XCO2) and CH4 to CO2 (∆XCH4:∆XCO2) in urban sites. We found that the emission ratios differed across cities. For example, Xianghe and Pasadena, which generally exhibit high levels of air pollution, had the highest emission ratios. However, Seoul had lower emission ratios of ∆XCO:∆XCO2, but higher levels of ∆XCH4:∆XCO2. This study suggests that ground‐based Fourier transform spectrometer measurements can be used as a tool for comprehensively evaluating the emission characteristics of greenhouse gases and air pollutants in urban environments. Furthermore, extending our study to longer periods and more sites could further aid in formulating effective mitigation strategies for climate change. Key Points: We comprehensively assessed the emission characteristics of greenhouse gases and air pollutants in seven cities in the Northern HemisphereGround‐based Fourier transform spectrometers offers a comprehensive analysis of the urban emission characteristics of greenhouse gases and air pollutantsOur results can further support effective strategies for mitigating climate change [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change mitigation technologies have been a focus in reducing atmospheric carbon levels for the past few years. One such mitigation technology is pyrolysis, where biomass feedstocks are combusted at elevated temperatures for varying durations to produce three main products: biochar, bio-oil, and biogas. While bio-oil and biogas are typically used to produce energy via further combustion, biochar can be used in several different applications. Furthermore, using forest harvest residues as a feedstock for biochar production helps use excess biomass from the forestry industry that was previously assumed unmarketable. In our study, we combined forest carbon analysis modelling with cradle-to-gate life cycle emissions to determine the greenhouse gas emissions of biochar produced from forest harvest residues. We examined three collection scenarios, spanning two harvesting methods in one forest management unit in northern Ontario, Canada. From our analysis, we observed immediate reductions (− 0.85 tCO2eq·tbiochar−1 in year 1) in CO2-equivalent emissions (CO2eq) when producing biochar from forest harvest residues that would have undergone controlled burning, without considering the end use of the biochar. For the forest harvest residues that would remain in-forest to decay over time, producing biochar would increase overall emissions by about 6 tCO2eq·tbiochar−1. Throughout the 100-year timeframe examined–in ascending order of cumulative emissions–scenario ranking was: full tree harvesting with slash pile burn < full tree harvesting with slash pile decay < cut-to-length/tree-length harvesting. Highlights: Cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis for biochar production was evaluated. Forest harvest collection methods influence overall life cycle emissions for biochar. Harvest residues that typically undergo controlled burning are an ideal feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of their formation, northern peatlands were accumulating vast amounts of carbon (C). When drained for agricultural use, a large proportion of that C is oxidized and emitted as carbon dioxide (CO2), turning those peatlands to strong CO2 emitters. As a mitigation option, setting-aside farmland on drained peat is being incentivized by policies, but recent evidence casts doubt on these policies' efficiency for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation. To investigate the effects of setting-aside farmland on GHG fluxes from a Swedish peatland, we measured CO2, nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) fluxes on two adjacent sites under contrasting management. The cultivated (CL) site was used for cereal production (wheat or barley) and the set-aside (SA) site was under permanent grassland. Carbon dioxide fluxes were measured from 2013 to 2019 using the eddy covariance (EC) method. Additionally, CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes were measured during the growing seasons of 2018-2020, using transparent and opaque chambers on vegetated plots and on bare peat. The cumulative CO2 fluxes measured by EC over the measurement period were 0.97 (±0.05) and 2.09 (±0.17) kgm-2 with annual average losses of 0.16 and 0.41 kg CO2m-2 yr-1 for the CL and SA site, respectively. Thus, the SA site acted as a stronger CO2 source than the CL site. Both sites' contribution to global warming, calculated on basis of the chamber measurements, was dominated by CO2. The contribution of the SA site was higher than that of the CL site. Nitrous oxide emissions were low at both sites with higher emissions from the CL site for transparent measurements and measurements on bare peat. Whereas, CH4 uptake was highest on the SA grassland. Thus, on the basis of our study, we found no evidence that settingaside farmland on shallow drained peat soils will reduce GHG emissions or even turn the peatland into a C sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green carbon-based materials (GCM), i.e., carbon materials produced using renewable biomass or recycled waste, ought to be used to make processes sustainable and carbon-neutral. Carbon nanomaterials, like carbon dots and the nanobichar families, and carbon materials, like activated carbon and biochar substances, are sustainable materials with great potential to be used in different technological applications. In this review, the following four applications were selected, and the works published in the last two years (since 2022) were critically reviewed: agriculture, water treatment, energy management, and carbon dioxide reduction and sequestration. GCM improved the performance of the technological applications under revision and played an important role in the sustainability of the processes, contributing to the mitigation of climate change, by reducing emissions and increasing the sequestration of CO2eq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Accounting methods of agricultural methane are summarized. • Influencing factors of emission sources from agricultural sources were analyzed. • Mitigation strategies based on accounting and actual situation are proposed. Methane is one of the major greenhouse gases (GHGs) and agriculture is recognized as its primary emitter. Methane accounting is a prerequisite for developing effective agriculture mitigation strategies. In this review, methane accounting methods and research status for various agricultural emission source including rice fields, animal enteric fermentation and livestock and poultry manure management were overview, and the influencing factors of each emission source were analyzed and discussed. At the same time, it analyzes the different research efforts involving agricultural methane accounting and makes recommendations based on the actual situation. Finally, mitigation strategies based on accounting results and actual situation are proposed. This review aims to provide basic data and reference for agriculture-oriented countries and regions to actively participate in climate action and carry out effective methane emission mitigation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Agreement requires that countries submit and update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to mitigate global climate change. This study projected greenhouse gas emissions to evaluate the progress of 25 countries towards their original and updated NDCs. It found that almost one-quarter of the countries submitted more ambitious, updated NDCs without adopting sufficient policies to meet their original targets. Additionally, in most countries, updated NDCs lead to emissions above current policies. The findings also suggest that these patterns are influenced by national constraints, especially reliance on fossil fuels. Appropriate sequencing of ambition raising and policy adoption is urgently needed to translate the Paris Agreement into action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions, it is of utmost importance to understand where emissions occur. In the real world, atmospheric pollutants are produced by various human activities from point sources (e.g. power plants and industrial facilities) but also from diffuse sources (e.g. residential activities and agriculture). However, as tracking all these single sources of emissions is practically impossible, emission inventories are typically compiled using national-level statistics by sector, which are then downscaled at the grid-cell level using spatial information. In this work, we develop high-spatial-resolution proxies for use in downscaling the national emission totals for all world countries provided by the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR). In particular, in this paper, we present the latest EDGAR v8.0 GHG, which provides readily available emission data at different levels of spatial granularity, obtained from a consistently developed GHG emission database. This has been achieved through the improvement and development of high-resolution spatial proxies that allow for a more precise allocation of emissions over the globe. A key novelty of this work is the potential to analyse subnational GHG emissions over the European territory and also over the United States, China, India, and other high-emitting countries. These data not only meet the needs of atmospheric modellers but can also inform policymakers working in the field of climate change mitigation. For example, the EDGAR GHG emissions at the NUTS 2 level (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics level 2) over Europe contribute to the development of EU cohesion policies, identifying the progress of each region towards achieving the carbon neutrality target and providing insights into the highest-emitting sectors. The data can be accessed at 10.2905/b54d8149-2864-4fb9-96b9-5fd3a020c224 specifically for EDGAR v8.0 (Crippa et al., 2023a) and 10.2905/D67EEDA8-C03E-4421-95D0-0ADC460B9658 for the subnational dataset (Crippa et al., 2023b). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mangrove ecosystems exhibit significant carbon storage and sequestration. Its capacity to store and sequester significant amounts of carbon makes this ecosystem very important for climate change mitigation. Indonesia, owing to the largest mangrove cover in the world, has approximately 3.14 PgC stored in the mangroves, or about 33% of all carbon stored in coastal ecosystems globally. Unfortunately, our comprehensive understanding of carbon flux is hampered by the incomplete repertoire of field measurement data, especially from mangrove ecosystem-rich regions such as Indonesia and Asia Pacific. This study fills the gap in greenhouse gases (GHGs) flux studies in mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia by quantifying the soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes for different land use types in mangrove ecosystems, i.e., secondary mangrove (SM), restored mangrove (RM), pond embankment (PE) and active aquaculture pond (AP). Environmental parameters such as soil pore salinity, soil pore water pH, soil temperature, air temperature, air humidity and rainfall are also measured. Results: GHG fluxes characteristics varied between land use types and ecological conditions. Secondary mangrove and exposed pond embankment are potential GHG flux sources (68.9 ± 7.0 and 58.5 ± 6.2 MgCO2e ha− 1 yr− 1, respectively). Aquaculture pond exhibits the lowest GHG fluxes among other land use types due to constant inundation that serve as a barrier for the release of GHG fluxes to the atmosphere. We found weak relationships between soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes and environmental parameters. Conclusions: The data and information on GHG fluxes from different land use types in the mangrove ecosystem will be of importance to accurately assess the potential of the mangrove ecosystem to sequester and emit GHGs. This will support the GHG emission reduction target and strategy that had been set up by the Indonesian Government in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Indonesia's 2030 Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture practices is an integral part of the US plan to achieve net‐zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. National incentives have particularly increased for the adoption of cover crops (CCs), which have presumably large carbon (C) sequestration potential. However, assessments of national CC climate benefits have not fully considered regional variability, changing C sequestration rates over time, and potential N2O trade‐offs. Using the DayCent soil biogeochemical model and current national survey data, we estimate CC climate change mitigation potential to be 39.0 ± 24.1 Mt CO2e year−1, which is 45%–65% lower than previous estimates, with large uncertainty attributed to N2O impacts. Three‐fourths of this climate change mitigation potential is concentrated in the North Central, Southern Great Plains and Lower Mississippi regions. Public investment should be focused in these regions to maximize CC climate benefits, but the national contribution of CC to emissions targets may be lower than previously anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands must be substantially reduced to meet climate mitigation targets. In Germany, annual peatland emissions of 53 Mt CO2e account for more than 7% of total national GHG emissions. Peatland drainage and reclamation is traditionally considered as a symbol of progress and technical achievement, where agriculture has been the major driver. In Germany, an area of 1.3 million ha of drained peatlands used for agriculture ought to be rewetted by 2050 to meet the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. Paludiculture allows a productive use of wet peatlands instead of abandonment following rewetting. This approach might therefore pave the way for voluntary large-scale peatland rewetting. However, implementation remains scarce. The long history and large extent of peatland drainage has shaped the political and legal framework as well as perceptions and attitudes, thus impeding rewetting and climate-friendly peatland use. This policy and practice review investigates the political, legal, economic and social aspects that hinder the implementation in Germany and derives approaches to overcome multifold restrictions. Finally, three major fields of action are identified: (1) To increase and accelerate rewetting, a consistent peatland mainstreaming approach is needed that overcomes structural barriers and adapts the policy and legal framework, e.g., the Common Agricultural Policy, planning law, water law and nature conservation law. (2) To motivate for a rapid transition, a system of immediate, comprehensive and attractive positive incentives is needed. This should be accompanied by early announcement and gradual introduction of negative incentives to set a clear course and provide planning certainty for farmers and landowners. (3) A just transition depends on empowering local communities to develop and pursue perspectives tailored to their peatland region. Future research of peatlands as social-ecological systems can help to identify region-specific drivers for sustainable peatland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people around the world are creating their own spaces, strategies, and politics for climate action. In this article we explore the everyday informal politics of climate activism by youth from Aotearoa New Zealand's largest city (Auckland). We examine how young people, frustrated by the lack of global and domestic political inertia, are operationalizing their concerns about climate change into actions in their daily lives directed at mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions. Through a relational qualitative approach, we document the contradictory standing of youth, specifically as agentic actors and environmental citizens, who are aware of and seeking climate action through multiple modes of action including protesting, eco-consuming, influencing others, and eco-caring work. Our youth participants reported how their participation in various forms of climate activism helped to reduce their eco-anxiety and made them more hopeful about their collective abilities to address climate change. Our participants highlighted a hopeful view that their small-scale individual actions will collectively add up to large-scale changes at a systemic level. However, they were highly aware of and critical of state and corporate actors attempts to shift responsibility for taking actions to mitigate climate change onto individuals. Rather than situating themselves solely as eco-consumers engaging in eco-friendly purchasing practices, our youth participants narrated their sometimes contradictory climate actions (protesting, buy-cotting or boycotting, changing how they used goods, and services) as acts of resistance against the socio-economic status quo (high-carbon, neoliberal, and capitalist) that could act as trigger points for wider change. In this article we identify the various methods by which young people are participating in daily climate politics and demonstrating their agency, which are evident in their diverse pro-environmental-oriented and climate mitigation actions; all of which is evidence of how youth are seeking to be good climate citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta), widespread drainage of historical wetlands has led to extensive subsidence and peat carbon losses, as well as high ongoing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Large-scale wetland restoration and conversion to rice fields has the potential to mitigate these effects while conferring flood protection and creating habitat for wetland species. To explore the scale of these potential benefits, this study evaluated the effects of seven Delta-wide land-use scenarios on carbon stocks, land-surface elevation, GHG emissions, and habitat. Peat mapping and data from peat cores indicate that soil carbon stocks have decreased between the early 1800s and 2010s from 288 ± 15 to 145 ± 14 million metric tons (megatonnes; Mt) of carbon (C). If existing land uses continue, the Delta could lose an additional 8.3 Mt C during the coming 40 years, equal to average GHG emissions of 1.2 Mt CO2 equivalents (CO2e) yr-1. Future restoration and rice-farming scenarios indicate that wetland restoration could theoretically halt GHG emissions, converting the Delta from a large GHG source to a weak net source or sink. Across three future scenarios based on existing restoration targets, wetland creation and conversion to rice fields reduced GHG emissions by 0.39 to 0.67 Mt CO2e yr-1, with per-area benefits of 16 to 28 metric tons (tonnes; t) CO2e per hectare (ha) yr-1. Differences among scenarios in extents of wetland types influenced their relative benefits for different management goals. Tidal restoration and conversion to rice fields enhanced habitat benefits and offered a source of agricultural income, but with reduced GHG mitigation compared with conversion to peat-building wetlands. This highlights the importance of clear objectives when developing land-use plans. A strategic land-management portfolio that includes rice fields and both impounded and tidal wetlands could be designed to provide GHG and subsidence mitigation while offering a diverse suite of benefits for ecosystems and people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review proposes that mineral-based greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation could be developed into a substantial climate change abatement tool. This proposal was evaluated via three objectives: (1) synthesise literature studies documenting the effectiveness of geological minerals at mitigating GHG emissions; (2) quantify, via meta-analysis, GHG magnitudes that could be abated by minerals factoring-in the carbon footprint of the approach; and (3) estimate the global availability of relevant minerals. Several minerals have been effectively harnessed across multiple sectors—including agriculture, waste management and coal mining—to mitigate carbon dioxide/CO2 (e.g., olivine), methane/CH4 (e.g., allophane, gypsum) and nitrous oxide/N2O (e.g., vermiculite) emissions. High surface area minerals offer substantial promise to protect soil carbon, albeit their potential impact here is difficult to quantify. Although mineral-based N2O reduction strategies can achieve gross emission reduction, their application generates a net carbon emission due to prohibitively large mineral quantities needed. By contrast, mineral-based technologies could abate ~9% and 11% of global CO2 and CH4 anthropogenic emissions, respectively. These estimates conservatively only consider options which offer additional benefits to climate change mitigation (e.g., nutrient supply to agricultural landscapes, and safety controls in landfill operations). This multi-benefit aspect is important due to the reluctance to invest in stand-alone GHG mitigation technologies. Minerals that exhibit high GHG mitigation potential are globally abundant. However, their application towards a dedicated global GHG mitigation initiative would entail significant escalation of their current production rates. A detailed cost-benefit analysis and environmental and social footprint assessment is needed to ascertain the strategy's scale-up potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through their consumption behavior, households are responsible for more than 70% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the GHG emission reduction potential due to the household behavior is very high. Energy consumption is the main source of the GHG emission in households. There are two main ways to reduce GHG emissions in households: use of renewable energy, energy efficiency improvement, and energy conservation due to changes in the energy use patterns. The highest energy saving potential in households is linked with building renovation, followed by the use of energy efficient appliances (including lighting). Renewable energy microgeneration technologies in households also provide opportunities for GHG emission reduction. Although there have been many policies developed to reduce GHG emissions from energy consumption in households, they still need to be more effective. This paper aims to assess willingness of Lithuanian households to reduce GHG emissions from energy consumption in households by embarking on energy renovation of buildings, use of energy efficient appliances and use of renewable energy technologies. The willingness to pay for these GHG emission reduction measures allows to compare household preferences with respect to available support measures and assess the adequacy of such measures. The paper also discusses household attitudes toward the main policies and measures for GHG emission reduction. The results show the highest willingness to pay for energy efficient appliances, followed by renewable energy technologies. The willingness to pay for energy renovation is the lowest one and such s measure requires significant state support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-smart agriculture can be used to build soil carbon stocks, decrease agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and increase agronomic resilience to climate pressures. The US recently declared its commitment to include the agricultural sector as part of an overall climate-mitigation strategy, and with this comes the need for robust, scientifically valid tools for agricultural GHG flux measurements and modeling. If agriculture is to contribute significantly to climate mitigation, practice adoption should be incentivized on as much land area as possible and mitigation benefits should be accurately quantified. Process-based models are parameterized on data from a limited number of long-term agricultural experiments, which may not fully reflect outcomes on working farms. Space-for-time substitution, paired studies, and long-term monitoring of SOC stocks and GHG emissions on commercial farms using a variety of climate-smart management systems can validate findings from long-term agricultural experiments and provide data for process-based model improvements. Here, we describe a project that worked collaboratively with commercial producers in the Midwest to directly measure and model the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of their farms at the field scale. We describe this study, and several unexpected challenges encountered, to facilitate further on-farm data collection and the creation of a secure database of on-farm SOC stock measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal agriculture contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions--an estimated 12%-20% of total anthropogenic emissions. This has led both governmental and private actors to propose various ways to mitigate those climate impacts. This paper applies a One Health lens to the issue, arguing that the choice of solutions should not only consider the potential to reduce GHG emissions--which is not always a given--but also the implications for public health and animal welfare. With this perspective, we examine the potential public health and animal welfare impacts of three types of strategies that are often proposed: (1) "sustainable intensification" methods, aimed at maintaining or increasing production while limiting emissions and avoiding further land conversion; (2) "species shift" approaches, which focus on changing diets to consume meat from animals produced with lower GHG emissions instead of that of animals associated with higher emissions; and (3) "systemic dietary change" approaches that promote shifts towards whole plant-based foods or novel alternatives to conventional animal products. We discuss how some approaches--particularly those associated with sustainable intensification and species shift--could introduce new and significant risks to public health and animal welfare. Promoting systemic dietary change helps to overcome some of these challenges, but requires careful attention to equity to ensure that vulnerable populations still have access to the nutrients they need. We end with recommendations for a more holistic approach to reducing emissions from farmed animals that can help avoid trade-offs and increase synergies with other societal goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research objective is to create a mechanism that generates a valid 'sustainability' metric to enable prospective buyers to confidently identify low carbon footprint computers. The necessity is based upon the hypothesis that current product carbon footprint reports for computers are incomparable between brands. While the inconsistency of use-phase emissions has been addressed in prior associated research, supply chain emissions remain an issue. This is due to multiple scope 3 life cycle assessment methodologies being used by manufacturers that produce differing results even when applied to the same device. To test the theory and generate an alternative approach, the research analyses 244 notebook carbon footprint reports to show inconsistencies caused by five different methodologies. Based on the findings, an alternative approach to comparing supply chain impact is proposed that enables comparison between results. The new metric first generates an average scope 3 carbon footprint baseline value by device type (e.g. notebook). This is then reduced by specific values depending upon actions undertaken by manufacturers when calculating their original carbon footprint report. This includes deductions to the baseline value achieved by including high percentages of production and transport primary data, plus the availability and affordability of offerings that will extend device useful life spans to drive demand displacement. This includes warranty duration and cost plus ease of repair. The research finds that current methodologies create a range of inconsistency of +106% when used to calculate the carbon footprint of the same device and +142% when calculating similar device types. Therefore, the hypothesis of scope 3 emissions being incomparable is validated. Comparatively, the newly proposed mechanism shows a reduced range of inconsistency of 18% when demonstrated. As such, it is recommended that the new approach be applied to the latest version of the world's leading computer eco-label certification, TCO Certified version 10, in 2024. Doing so will enable organisations to confidently select low carbon footprint devices on a global scale and therefore meaningfully support the United Nations sustainable development goals of responsible consumption and production and ultimately climate action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]