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We argue in this study that higher electricity expenditures increase voter support for the radical right because these parties oppose costly climate mitigation policies. We use data from Sweden, which experiences extremely high demand for heating energy during winter months. The demand for electricity differs greatly between geographical regions due to large temperature differences, from 0 in the southern regions to −50 Celsius in the north. We create our independent variable of electric grievances based on this variation, which increases faster with the spot price of electricity in neighborhoods with a low disposable income relative to the average electricity bill in that area. Using this setup, we find that electric grievances are associated with increased support for the radical right. We argue that soaring electricity prices tend to hurt parties with a mainstream profile since voters associate them them with more ambitious decarbonization policies, while the radical right gain support, since they tend to oppose costly solutions. Our results suggests that the transition to renewable energy can grind to a halt when electricity prices rise higher because voters may abandon the parties who push for the green transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economists agree that carbon taxes are the most effective solution for climate change mitigation. But where do fossil fuel companies stand on carbon taxes? I analyse how the 100 largest oil and gas companies communicate on carbon taxes. Surprisingly, I find that 54% of companies that have a policy on carbon taxes support them (78% for the 50 largest). This is puzzling as an effective carbon tax should reduce the revenues and reserve value of fossil fuel companies. To understand this paradox, I offer non-mutually exclusive reasons why fossil fuel companies might support carbon taxes. Oil and gas companies could use a carbon tax to get rid of the competition from coal, create a level playing field and remove regulatory uncertainty. Or they think that these taxes will not affect them because demand for oil and gas is inelastic or that international coordination will fail and lead to leakages. Finally, it could be that this is simply a communication exercise. A carbon tax helps them shift the responsibility from fossil fuel companies to customers, voters and elected officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency measures are a key element in the fight against climate change. However, their effectiveness is threatened by so-called rebound effects—behavioral changes that lead to increased use and thus to lower-than-expected absolute savings. The moral licensing bias might cause rebound effects on the individual level: When people implement energy efficiency measures, they may feel that they have done something good for the climate and thus license themselves to less climate-friendly behavior later on. We test this prediction with three pre-registered experiments (total n = 2315). While our manipulated efficiency does increase the feeling of having done something good for the climate, no negative effects emerge on subsequent climate-friendly behavior—contrary to the predictions derived from the moral licensing literature. Climate-friendly behavior is thus not hampered by prior energy efficiency behavior; rather, demographics (women and older people act in a more climate-friendly manner) and environmental attitude determine it. Our results imply that the literature suggesting moral licensing is probably not transferable to the field of energy efficiency, and thus moral licensing may not lead to rebound effects in this context. We discuss possible explanations, implications for climate policy making, and needs for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We partitioned ET from natural and managed tropical ecosystems using two models. • Managed sites had lower ET and T compared to natural ecosystems in all biomes. • ET and T significantly decrease during the dry season, except in Amazon forests. • T/ET was strongly correlated with LAI and EVI. Land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) can dramatically affect the magnitude, seasonality and main drivers of evaporation (E) and transpiration (T), together as evapotranspiration (ET), with effects on overall ecosystem function, as well as both the hydrological cycle and climate system at multiple scales. Our understanding of tropical ecosystem responses to LULCC and global change processes is still limited, mainly due to a lack of ground-based observations that cover a variety of ecosystems, land-uses and land-covers. In this study, we used a network of nine eddy covariance flux towers installed in natural (forest, savanna, wetland) and managed systems (rainfed and irrigated cropland, pastureland) to explore how LULCC affects ET and its components in the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal biomes. At each site, tower-based ET measurements were partitioned into T and E to investigate how these fluxes varied between different land-uses and seasons. We found that ET, T and E decreased significantly during the dry season, except in Amazon forest ecosystems where T rates were maintained throughout the year. In contrast to Amazon forests, Cerrado and Pantanal ecosystems showed stronger stomatal control during the dry season. Cropland and pasture sites had lower ET and T compared to native vegetation in all biomes, but E was greater in Pantanal pasture when compared to Pantanal forest. The T fraction of ET was correlated with LAI and EVI, but relationships were weaker in Amazon forests. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the effects of LULCC on water fluxes in tropical ecosystems, and the implications for climate change mitigation policies and land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy consumption is a crucial aspect of global sustainability efforts, particularly in light of climate change mitigation and the pursuit of energy security. Technological innovation can play a pivotal role in driving the advancement and adoption of renewable energy. However, geopolitical risks can exert profound influences on the landscape of renewable energy deployment, posing challenges to energy security and the transition to a sustainable energy future. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing new empirical evidence on how geopolitical risk, along with technological innovation, environmental taxes, and environmental degradation affect renewable energy consumption in G7 countries. The findings indicate that geopolitical risks exert a negative influence on renewable energy consumption in G7 countries, whereas environmental degradation, technological advancements, and environmental taxes have positive effects. The results further indicate that at different quantile levels, the impact of each variable on renewable energy consumption has heterogeneous characteristics. Panel Grager causality results revealed a one-way causal relationship between environmental taxes and renewable energy consumption, while other variables have a two-way causal relationship with renewable energy consumption. Based on the results, the study suggests design policies to address geopolitical tension, increased funding for research and development to drive technological innovation, and supportive regulatory frameworks that incentivize renewable energy investment and innovation to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). • Explored the determinants of renewable energy consumption in G7 countries. • Advanced panel data estimation methods are employed. • Geopolitical risk negatively affects renewable energy consumption. • Technological innovation and taxes promote renewable energy consumption. • Designed a policy framework to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical research investigates energy industry restructuring to accelerate the renewable energy transition. Moving away from fossil fuel reliance is critical for mitigating the climate emergency, reducing harmful pollution, and realizing many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This research combines economic and sustainability arguments to clarify government policy direction for restructuring toward a green transition. Findings show that more renewable energy innovation, reflected in patent counts, supports higher GDP. Moreover, pollution taxes facilitate renewable energy innovation, working together to effectively contribute to GDP. Also, government and industry support for fossil fuel industries negatively affects a country's renewable energy innovation. Thus, the theory and analysis of this work suggest that a robust economy is related to industry restructuring so that renewable energy innovation can thrive. Fostering novel scientific discoveries in clean energy innovation should be prioritized while reducing uncompetitive industry formations and organizations such as fossil fuel oligopolies and industry associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NiAl 2 O 3 and Ni5A synthesis by impregnation to compete with Ni/SiAl. • Experimental catalytic test where Ni5A is discard for the remaining experiments. • Kinetic model determination for NiAl 2 O 3 for the SERP process design. • Ni/SiAl and NiAl 2 O 3 comparison in a new biogas methanation SERP process. • Optimization analysis and final design of the cyclic biogas upgrade process using NiAl 2 O 3. Using CO 2 from biogenic sources to produce fuels is one of the most attractive applications in climate change mitigation, as it leads to the replacement of fossil fuels and contributes to the circular economy. By this means, the primary purpose of this paper is to design a biogas methanation process to produce synthetic natural gas (SNG) suitable to be fed into the gas grid. In this way, a SERP process was proposed in which the equilibrium is overcome by eliminating the co-produced water using a selective adsorbent, such as zeolite 3A. For this purpose, two different catalysts were (NiAl 2 O 3 and Ni5A) and compared with a commercial catalyst. First, the catalytic performance of the three catalysts was studied in an experimental setup, discarding the Ni5A catalyst due to its lower reaction yields. Subsequently, a sorption-enhanced reaction process (SERP) was designed by simulation using the experimental kinetic data obtained and a theoretical model of reaction/adsorption cycles design. The PSASIM software, previously registered by the research group, was used for the simulation. The proposed process consisted of three main stages: a first reaction/adsorption stage where the biogas was upgraded to SNG with the corresponding water adsorption by the catalyst/adsorbent, and a second and third stages (purge and rinse) where the retained water in the adsorbent is desorbed and eliminated from the process. The process variables studied were temperature and biogas composition fed to the process. Finally, at 488 K and a residual waste biogas composition (55–60 % CH 4), CO 2 conversions of 99.55 % and selectivities towards methane of 99.99 % were achieved using NiAl 2 O 3 -zeolite3A mixture. In addition, the purity of the methane produced was 98.6 % molar in the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary carbon storage and substitution benefits of harvested wood products (HWPs) aid in mitigating global warming. However, the extent of this effect remains unclear. Current studies typically rely on a simple summation of the annual carbon sink. This method overlooks the fact that, due to radiative forcing delay, each ton of carbon sequestered has an impact on global warming, which dynamically changes year by year. Such an oversight could lead to an underestimation of HWPs' contribution to global warming mitigation. This study focused on a forestry resource-based city in Northeast China and utilized the Carbon Budget Model for the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3) and dynamic life cycle assessment (DLCA) to quantify the dynamic global warming impact (DGWI) of forestry biogenic carbon. The results indicate that: 1) From 2020 to 2120, the maximum DGWI could reach −42.70 Mt CO 2 e. Enhancing the collection and utilization of harvesting residues and promoting products with longer lifespans and higher substitution potential can further increase these benefits. 2) The DLCA method, integrating substitution effects, offers a more precise evaluation of forestry's climate mitigation benefits. Across all scenarios and periods in this study, HWPs' contribution to mitigating global warming, as calculated by the DLCA method, exceeds that estimated by the simple carbon sink summation method by 7.70 %–560.72 %. These findings help to delve deeper into the role of forests in emission reduction and carbon sequestration, providing important references for achieving sustainable forestry management. • Developing and strategically using HWPs positively impacts global warming mitigation. • Method of simply summing up carbon sinks undervalues HWPs' cumulative climate impact. • DLCA method helps assess dynamic global warming impact of forestry biogenic carbon. • Forest management should balance wood production and climate mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a trade-off evaluation system, the Σommit index, which considers four components: crop yield, soil carbon stock changes, direct and indirect nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate-nitrogen leaching across alternative agronomic case scenarios, i.e., combinations of management practices within specific pedo-climatic conditions. The four trade-off components have been estimated by combining standard equations and emission factors from the Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, complemented with Grey Water Footprint accounting Guidelines and other meta-analyses. The Σommit index has been developed using a harmonised dataset of ∼1.8 million agronomic case scenarios, leveraging fuzzy logic to aggregate the trade-off components into a value ranging from 0 (bad) to 1 (good). It has been tested under three narratives reflecting stakeholders' sustainability priorities (young farmers, agrochemical companies, EU Common Agricultural Policy paying agency), using alternative weighting schemes derived from expert opinion. Adding organic matter input, intermediate N fertilisation (50–150 kg ha−1), no-tillage, winter cereal cultivation, and irrigation for summer cereals have consistently achieved higher performance across all narratives. When assigning a higher weight to soil carbon stock changes, a broader range of Σommit index values emerged, while assigning higher importance to crop yield has led to a narrower evaluation. We openly release the dataset of agronomic case scenarios, along with the scripts to replicate the methodology and an interactive dashboard to inspect the results. These resources are meant to be used by different stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, Common Agricultural Policy payment agencies, farms, agrochemical industry) as a complement to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change methodology to improve current understanding and awareness of environmental trade-offs and synergies in agricultural management. • The fuzzy-based Σommit index for evaluating trade-offs and synergies in agriculture is presented. • Four components have been considered: soil C changes, N 2 O emissions, NO 3 –N leaching, crop yield. • Methodologies for their estimation derive from IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories. • Fuzzy-logic synthesised the effect of alternative management practices into a 0–1 value. • Agronomic case scenarios have been assessed according to different stakeholders' priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of deep-rooted vegetation greatly alters the tradeoffs between water and carbon dynamics, yet their impact on microbial carbon sequestration (MCS) remains inadequately documented, particularly in thick vadose zones. This information is crucial for global climate mitigation and ecosystem service enhancement. As such, we collected triplicate samples for each land use type, exploring the abundance and structure of cbbL -harboring microbial communities within 10-m deep profiles under cultivated farmland and two apple orchards of varying ages (n = 72). Our findings indicated a shift from water-dominated (improved water retention at the expense of reduced carbon sequestration) to carbon-dominated benefits (enhanced carbon sequestration at the expense of decreased water retention) in deep soil layers (2–10 m) after the transformation from farmland to apple orchards. Despite the lack of significant differences among the three land use types, the gene abundances and microbial diversity indices reduced with soil depths because of variations in substrates, resources, and microenvironments. The cbbL -harboring microorganisms consisted of 5 phyla, 7 classes, 19 orders, 30 families, and 55 genera, with Proteobacteria as the predominant bacterial phylum. The relative contributions of different genera varied with soil depths, reflecting their distinct survival strategies. The microbial network was positively connected in various soil layers under farmland and apple orchards. Furthermore, the results of correlation, redundancy analysis, and structural equation modeling jointly indicated that plant roots and soil properties, including total nitrogen and organic carbon, governed MCS processes in deep unsaturated zones. Specifically, the low microbial variation between farmland and apple orchards can be attributed to the predominant effects of climatic and pedogenic factors on soil properties, the restricted contribution of plant roots to soil nutrient levels per unit depth, and the adverse effects of plant-induced ecohydrological consequences on root systems and microbial populations. This study offers new insights within thick vadose zones containing deep-rooted plants, thereby contributing to a better understanding of global terrestrial carbon cycle processes. [Display omitted] • Microbial carbon sequestration processes were explored in 10-m deep profiles. • The farmland-to-apple orchards conversion led to water-carbon tradeoffs. • Microbial carbon sequestration differed with depths rather than land use types. • Depth-dependent plant roots and soil nutrients affects carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Asia (SEA) is a key producer and exporter of rice, accounting for around 28% of rice produced globally. To effectively mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in SEA rice systems, field methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions have been intensively studied. However, an integrated assessment of system-level GHG emissions which includes other carbon (C) balance components, such as soil organic carbon (SOC) or energy use, that can positively or negatively influence the net capacity for climate change mitigation is lacking. We conducted a systematic review of published research in SEA rice systems to synthesize findings across four main components of net system emissions: (1) field GHG emissions, (2) energy inputs, (3) residue utilization beyond the field, and (4) SOC change. The objectives were to highlight effective mitigation opportunities and explore cross-component effects to identify tradeoffs and key knowledge gaps. Field GHG emissions were the largest contributor to net system emissions in agreement with existing scientific consensus, with results showing that practices such as floodwater drainage and residue removal are sound options for CH 4 mitigation. On the other hand, increasing SOC potentially provides a large GHG mitigation opportunity, with long-term continuous rice cropping and practices such as residue incorporation and biochar application promoting SOC increase. A reduction in energy inputs was mainly achieved by optimizing agrochemical use, especially N fertilizers. For residue utilization beyond the field, GHG emission mitigation mainly came from preventing open field burning through residue removal. Removed residue can subsequently be used for producing energy that offsets GHG emissions associated with conventional fuel sources (e.g. fossil fuel-based electricity generation) or substituting material used in other production systems. Integrating all four components of net system emissions into one analysis underscores the following two main takeaways. First, the components of field GHG emissions and SOC change are the biggest opportunities for reducing net system emissions and need to be considered for effective climate change mitigation. Second, the reduction of C inputs through residue removal and increased soil aeration through multiple drainage will lower CH 4 emissions but may also potentially decrease SOC stocks over time. Hence, we argue that future research needs to consider cross-component effects to optimize net system emissions, specifically the "stacking" of best management practices for mitigation related to field GHG emissions or SOC change in long-term experiments. • Net system emissions include field CH 4 /N 2 O emissions, energy inputs, residue utilization, and SOC change. • Integrated review highlights cross-component effects of management including tradeoffs. • Field GHG emissions and SOC change are the largest opportunities for mitigation. • Reduced C inputs and drainage decrease CH 4 emissions, but may negatively affect SOC. • "Stacking" of best management practices is a key knowledge gap that warrants research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonizing the passenger transportation sector is critical for climate change mitigation. Existing studies on net-zero scenarios using Energy System Optimization Models (ESOM) often overlook non-monetary aspects of consumers' mobility choices but primarily focus on cost aspects. This study incorporates consumers' travel time duration and valuation, and an endogenous modal shift option into the Swiss TIMES Energy system Model (STEM). STEM is applied in a multi-objective optimization framework to quantify the impacts of faster Public Transport (PT) and slower car speeds on modal shifts in the transport sector's transformation. Similarly, we assess scenarios where consumers weigh travel time less, reflecting improved travel productivity. The results show that speed variations on medium- and long-distance trips, which can be interpreted as policies for highway speed limits and more efficient PT, can induce modal shifts towards 5–10% higher PT demand. Its implied secondary effects across the energy system include a reduced need for electrification of heavy-duty trucks by 11% and a decrease in hydrogen demand in road transportation by 34% by 2050. If travelers weigh costs over travel time, PT becomes less competitive against cars. Thus, electric vehicles (EVs) need to play a more dominant role in decarbonization, with a demand increase of 13% in 2040 (+9.2 billion passenger kilometer (bpkm)) and 6% in 2050 (+5.0 bpkm), along with the need for additional 45,000 public chargers of 22 kW size. Policy implications include the emphasis on improved PT speeds, speed limits on highways, needs to achieve more widespread EV adoption, and the need for balancing travelers' decision factors when aiming for reduced transport CO 2 emissions. • Non-monetary aspects relevant for modal shift incorporated in the Swiss TIMES model. • Multi-objective optimization to quantify net-zero impacts of non-monetary aspects. • Travel speed measures induce a 5–10% demand uptake of public transport. • Weighing travel time less makes electric cars more critical for decarbonization. • Secondary energy system effects are quantified & policy implications are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating the penetration of photovoltaics (PV) oriented renewables is a vital mainstay in climate mitigation. Along with continuous growth of PV generation in the power system, PV costs have been rapidly declining. Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is commonly applied to cost accounting of energy, while neglecting the specific cost compositions of PV leads to an overly optimistic scenario. By integrating grid costs and balancing costs into conventional LCOE framework, a System LCOE (S-LCOE) model was constructed to evaluate the economic feasibility of PV generation, more accurately. The results revealed that all provincial S-LCOE of China's PV is currently higher than local desulfurized coal electricity price (DCEP). Based on the comparative analysis of provincial S-LCOE and DCEP, four regions with diverse economic competitiveness were identified. PV projects in Region I and Region II are considered to be potentially competitive comparing to thermal generation, in terms of environmental benefits and S-LCOE, especially in Guangdong, Jilin, and Hainan. Furthermore, by simulating the descent trajectory of S-LCOE, we estimate that China will achieve S-LCOE equal to DCEP in Region I as early as 2023, while it will be postponed to 2042 in Region Ⅳ at the latest, depending on different S-LCOE descent rates. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CO 2 fluxes were measured in three subtropical mangroves for 16 site years. • VPD stress inhibits mangrove productivity during both exposed and inundated periods. • Meteorological factors and VPD have interactive effects on mangrove productivity. • Tides have independent effects on mangrove productivity through salinity changes. • The threshold effect range of VPD stress on mangrove productivity is 2.50–2.95 kPa. Subtropical mangroves have great potential to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2) and thus significantly contribute to climate change mitigation. Meanwhile, the carbon cycling processes in subtropical mangroves are vulnerable to the changing climatic conditions, such as the warming-induced vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increases. However, the impacts of VPD on net ecosystem production (NEP) in subtropical mangroves remain poorly understood due to a lack of detailed assessment of NEP responses to VPD among different mangrove forests over a long-term observational period. In this study, we deployed eddy-covariance systems to measure net ecosystem CO 2 exchange at three subtropical mangrove forests for 16 site-years, comprising two natural and one artificial forests. We employed a state-of-the-art data-driven modeling approach (i.e., Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) framework based on extreme gradient boosting model), which enabled us to explore the interactive effects of meteorological and tidal factors (e.g. salinity) with VPD on the mangrove NEP. We revealed that air temperature, global solar radiation (GR) and wind speed have significant interactions on the response of NEP to VPD stress in subtropical mangroves. For instance, when GR was high, the SHAP interaction values of VPD and GR on NEP decreased with increasing VPD, but when GR was low, the trends were the opposite. However, instead of identifying interactive effects between tidal salinity and VPD on mangrove NEP, we came across potential independent influence of salinity on the same. SHAP analysis was also able to disentangle the impact of VPD from other abiotic drivers. Thus, we evaluated the threshold effect of VPD stress on NEP loss in subtropical mangroves and observed a range of 2.50–2.95 kPa. Above this range, VPD stress leveled off. The subtropical mangrove responses to VPD should be therefore considered in the dynamic global vegetation models to increase the accuracy in carbon cycle simulations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating the penetration of photovoltaics (PV) oriented renewables is a vital mainstay in climate mitigation. Along with continuous growth of PV generation in the power system, PV costs have been rapidly declining. Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is commonly applied to cost accounting of energy, while neglecting the specific cost compositions of PV leads to an overly optimistic scenario. By integrating grid costs and balancing costs into conventional LCOE framework, a System LCOE (S-LCOE) model was constructed to evaluate the economic feasibility of PV generation, more accurately. The results revealed that all provincial S-LCOE of China's PV is currently higher than local desulfurized coal electricity price (DCEP). Based on the comparative analysis of provincial S-LCOE and DCEP, four regions with diverse economic competitiveness were identified. PV projects in Region I and Region II are considered to be potentially competitive comparing to thermal generation, in terms of environmental benefits and S-LCOE, especially in Guangdong, Jilin, and Hainan. Furthermore, by simulating the descent trajectory of S-LCOE, we estimate that China will achieve S-LCOE equal to DCEP in Region I as early as 2023, while it will be postponed to 2042 in Region Ⅳ at the latest, depending on different S-LCOE descent rates. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland area and condition are declining globally despite their importance to climate change mitigation and biodiversity. Introduced ungulate species are contributing to the global decline. Their impacts on wetlands are widespread and varied, however poorly understood. We summarise global impacts of introduced unmanaged and domesticated ungulates on wetlands highlighting potential outcomes of their removal. We place an emphasis on Australia due to the disproportionate impacts of ungulates on wetlands and potential for emerging carbon and biodiversity markets to incentivise private investment in wetland conservation and restoration. Our Systematic Literature Review assessed impacts of cattle, pigs, horses, deer, buffalo, sheep, camels, and other ungulates on wetlands. There were 372 relevant resources from 35 countries, with highest representation from Australia and the United States. The majority related to cattle (29 %) and pigs (19 %). More impacts were reported in freshwater wetlands (51 %) than marine (19 %). A quarter of studies related to riparian habitats. Ungulate impacts varied geographically and among climates. More studies reported soil damage, weed dispersal, decreased vegetation cover, and woody vegetation suppression than neutral or positive changes in these metrics. Decreases in richness and abundance of native flora and fauna were more frequently reported than increases. Of 33 studies reporting wetland carbon impacts, 24 reported increased CO 2 emissions due to loss of soil carbon or vegetation biomass. Ungulate exclusion from wetlands could enhance carbon stocks and biodiversity, however further studies comparing wetland typologies and carbon dynamics are needed to quantify levels of enhancement given differences in ungulate species and environments. • Wetlands are declining despite their importance for climate change and biodiversity. • Impacts of feral and domesticated ungulates on wetlands vary by ecology, region, climate, and wetland type. • Ungulates damage soils and reduce ground cover, which may increase carbon emissions. • Reported ungulate impacts on flora and fauna are most often negative, but effects depend on taxa and region. • Control of ungulates in wetlands may support wetland conservation and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of Increase in Block Pricing (IBP) policy is premised on the assumption that consumers adjust their behavior to save energy in response to electricity price increases. However, consumers often lack a comprehensive understanding of the pricing schedules, leading to inaccurate consumption predictions. This study utilizes monthly electricity billing data from the administrative records of urban residential consumers of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited to estimate the causal effect of IBP policy schedules on electricity consumption. To achieve this, we employed the Regression Kink (RK) design identification strategy to explore the kink structure of the policy function. This paper finds an inelastic causal relationship between IBP policy and electricity consumption. The results show a treatment effect of 0.41 KWh with an associated p-value of 0.473 at a robust 95 % confidence interval. Thus, IBP policy has no causal effect on electricity consumption at the 50 KWh lower block threshold. Notably, electricity consumers do not respond significantly to price increments, rendering IBP policy ineffective in achieving energy saving at the lower block threshold. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of IBP policy in promoting energy savings and informs researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders in the energy sector. Results can be used to develop evidence-based policies that contribute to energy conservation and climate change mitigation. • Increase in block pricing (IBP) is used to encourage energy conservation. • We estimate the causal effect of the IBP policy on electricity consumption. • We use monthly electricity billing data from the Electricity Company of Ghana. • Despite expectations, we find that IBP policy is ineffective in achieving energy conservation objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GEP (Generation Expansion Planning) is one of the most complex tasks in which planning is done to find the best possible distinct solutions to install new generating units to meet future load demands. This paper uses the Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP) software environment to analyse the GEP for the AP Power sector from 2021 to 2050. In recent years, the AP power sector has faced several issues, such as frequent service cuts due to power shortages. In this paper, five scenarios such as Business As Usual (BAU), Low Demand Growth (LDG), High Demand Growth (HDG), Least Cost Optimization (LCO) and Climate Mitigation Scenarios, have been analysed with environmental, technical, and economic parameters. This study has estimated the total environmental emissions and total cost of all scenarios. At present, Andhra Pradesh has a total installed capacity of 25.4 GW. The best scenarios can be selected based on environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and reliability. The results show that the LDG scenario will be an optimal choice for AP due to the state's economic crisis, and the government should also focus on energy conservation and limit demand growth to 4.5%. While presenting a general GEP, the study presents comprehensive system performance scenarios from which planners can choose. • Making a generation expansion planning • Making a sustainable environment • Presented a good solution for power generation • Analysed the total environmental emissions • Analysed the energy demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, increasing the area of legume crops has been identified as a key measure to achieve the objectives set by the European Green Deal and transition toward more sustainable food systems. Although the role of grain legumes in climate change mitigation has been closely examined, little research has focused on how climate change will challenge the development of these crops. This article systematically reviews recent simulation studies to assess the impact of climate change on grain legume performances in Europe and the effect of adaptation strategies. Forty papers using process-based, ecological niche, or statistical models were selected to simulate the response of eight grain legume species to future climate (2020–2100) in Europe. The lack of data on adaptation strategies in Europe was compensated for by enlarging the study area to climatically similar regions. The review highlights a notable imbalance between research about soybean versus other grain legumes, with soybean representing approximately 80% of selected studies. Studies focused on soybean found good agreement, with yield or suitability gains found in northern Europe and a higher probability of yield losses in southern and south-eastern Europe. While a similar spatial pattern may be expected for other grain legumes, the scarcity of data makes this result more uncertain. The review also shows that several adaptation strategies have the potential to mitigate the negative impact of climate change on grain legume performances or enhance its positive impact. The most promising strategies tested include irrigation, change in sowing date, and cultivar choice. In addition, we identify several knowledge gaps that, if addressed, would support legume development in Europe. In particular, key species such as field pea, faba bean, lentil, and chickpea remain blind spots, despite their prominent role in European environmental, agricultural, and nutritional policies. Other knowledge gaps include a lack of accounting for crop response to elevated CO 2 , ozone, and future biotic pressure, and a limited range of adaptation strategies tested and indicators assessed. Implementing multi-criteria analyses that involve stakeholders would help identify relevant inputs and outputs for future simulations. • We review 40 papers assessing grain legume response to climate change in Europe. • Grain legumes other than soybean are blind spots despite their role in policies. • For soybean, yield gains are expected in the north and yield losses in the south. • Adaptation strategies can mitigate the impact of climate change on grain legumes. • We identify several knowledge gaps, including a lack of data on key legume species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil security concept has been put forward to maintain and improve soil resources inter alia to provide food, clean water, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and to protect ecosystems. A provisional framework suggested indicators for the soil security dimensions, and a methodology to achieve a quantification. In this study, we illustrate the framework for the function soil carbon storage and the two dimensions of soil capacity and soil condition. The methodology consists of (i) the selection and quantification of a small set of soil indicators for capacity and condition, (ii) the transformation of indicator values to unitless utility values via expert-generated utility graphs, and (iii) a two-level aggregation of the utility values by soil profile and by dimension. For capacity, we used a set of three indicators: total organic and inorganic carbon content and mineral associated organic carbon in the fine fraction (MAOC) estimated via their reference value using existing maps of pedogenons and current landuse to identify areas of remnant genosoils (total organic and inorganic carbon) and the 90th percentile for MAOC. For condition we used the same set of indicators, but this time using the estimated current value and comparing with their reference-state values (calculated for capacity). The methodology was applied to the whole of Australia at a spatial resolution of 90 m × 90 m. The results show that the unitless indicator values supporting the function varied greatly in Australia. Aggregation of the indicators into the two dimensions of capacity and condition revealed that most of Australia has a relatively low capacity to support the function, but that most soils are in a generally good condition relative to that capacity, with some exceptions in agricultural areas, although more sampling of the remnant genosoils is required for corroboration and improvement. The maps of capacity and condition may serve as a basis to estimate a spatially-explicit local index of Australia's soil resilience to the threat of decarbonization. • Methodology based on the soil security assessment framework. • Quantification of the capacity and condition of the soil to store carbon. • Spatial estimation of the utility to support carbon storage for three indicators. • Australia has low capacity, but overall good condition to store carbon. • Intensive up-to-date sampling is required to corroborate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Structural plant inputs contribute to POC, soluble plant inputs contribute to MAOC. • Disturbed soil with high aggregation capacity can form and stabilize POC and MAOC. • Surface area availability and microbial necromass drive MAOC formation. • Soils with high aggregation potential regenerate post disturbance and protect SOC. • Plant inputs can mitigate initial losses of SOC following disturbance. Efforts to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) are pursued as a viable climate change mitigation strategy. Boosting SOC stocks requires increasing plant carbon (C) inputs and promoting their persistence in SOC. In well aerated mineral soils, water soluble inputs are expected to stabilize through chemical binding to minerals, forming mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) before or after microbial transformation, while structural inputs are expected to stabilize as particulate organic carbon (POC) via protection in soil aggregates. Although ample research is centered on the effects of soil aggregation, its disturbance (e.g., tillage), and microbial processing on SOC cycling, we still lack mechanistic understanding of how plant C input type (i.e., soluble versus structural) and disturbance (i.e., aggregate disruption) independently and in interaction affect POC and MAOC formation and stabilization in soils with inherently different degrees of aggregation. To this end, using 13C enriched structural and soluble plant inputs, we traced SOC formation and stabilization in a lab incubation experiment in soils with differing levels of aggregation, and capacity to form aggregates after disturbance. Our results showed that soluble plant inputs contributed substantially to MAOC and that higher formation and persistence of MAOC occurred in the highly aggregated soil. Moreover, the highly aggregated soil retained more soluble inputs stabilized as MAOC when disturbed. Disturbance in this fine textured, organic carbon rich soil stimulated regeneration of aggregates around structural plant inputs leading to greater persistence of aggregate-occluded POC. Soluble plant inputs, specifically, as well as structural plant inputs in the highly aggregated disturbed soil, compensated for SOC lost due to disturbance alone. Overall, this study provides mechanistic evidence suggesting that management strategies for SOC accrual should consider soil type, aggregation potential, and plant attributes to inform decisions surrounding tillage frequency and cropping regimes. Our mechanistic findings require testing. If confirmed in the field, they would suggest that no disturbance in tandem with high structural plant C inputs would benefit most SOC accrual in systems with soils that have little capacity to form organo-mineral complexes, including large aggregates. On the contrary, with sustained plant inputs, occasional disturbance in systems with soils that have a high capacity to form organo-mineral complexes can promote both POC and MAOC formation and stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most of the NbS of Tropical drylands of India are not follow the IUCN standard criteria. • The Identified NbS are baised towards environmental services than addressing social needs of the people. • Improved NbS interventions requires intensive enagement of stakeholders for addressing social causes. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is a flexible, adaptable, and multi-functional strategies employed to address climate change. However, all the claimed NbS are actually do not adhere the criteria of being NbS. Therefore, present study analysed 87 articles to appraise adherence of potential NbS as per the IUCN Global Standard, along with evaluation of flow of associated ecosystem services (ES). The review identified 39 interventions, out of which only twelve interventions adhered the criteria of NbS. Among the classified NbS, two interventions, namely, sustainable forest management (SFM) (80.83%) and haveli rejuvenation (75.61%) strongly adhered to the IUCN Standard. Lack of adherence in the non-classified NbS interventions was mainly attributed to absence of information on inclusive governance, monitoring and associated trade-offs. The identified 39 interventions were also observed to be enhancing a total of 37 ES, evaluated through 37 distinct indicators i.e. different and enhanced flow of ES were observed by the different NbS. However, the majority of classified NbS were biased towards flow of environmental services than social services. Present study results that all claimed NbS cannot fulfilled the intended objectives of NbS and thus cannot be classified under the NbS as per global standard. Moreover, assessing the flow of associated ES may be an additional support to broaden the scope of NbS implementation. Therefore, present study also highlights to integrate the flow of ES along with the adherence criteria of NbS. Moreover, the review also facilitate to understand constraints associated with the implementation of potential NbS interventions and thus, suggests considering wider aspects in the future researches for assessing the implementation of NbS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Forests show higher temperature than croplands by 0.15 ± 0.06 ℃. • Forests show higher temperature than grasslands by 0.32 ± 0.04 ℃. • Non-growing season warming effects dominate annual positive temperature response. • The biophysical effects of forest transitions vary among forest types. • Radiative processes dominate the annual net warming effect on surface temperature. Forest cover change directly affects the surface energy balance by altering the radiative and non-radiative properties of the surface. These competing processes may yield considerable biophysical impacts on local and regional climate that depend on background climate and specific forest type. Here we compared the differences in land surface temperature (LST) between temperate forests and adjacent croplands/grasslands to quantify the potential biophysical effects of transitions from croplands/grasslands to forests in Northeast China, based on multiple satellite observation products from 2001 to 2016. Forests were found to show a slight lower daytime LST and strong higher nighttime LST than adjacent croplands or grasslands. As a result, the daily LST of forests was 0.15 ± 0.06 ℃ and 0.32 ± 0.04 ℃ higher than that of croplands and grasslands, respectively. On the seasonal scale, the warming effect of cropland/grassland-to-forest transition during non-growing season outweighed the cooling effect during growing season, and dominated the annual positive LST response. Moreover, the cooling effect of cropland-to-forest transition during growing season was stronger in the early growth stage than late growth stage (−1.65 ± 0.9 ℃ in May to June, −0.39 ± 0.5 ℃ in July to September). The net cooling effect of warm temperate broadleaved forests was found to shift toward net warming effect of cold temperate coniferous forests with increasing latitude. The daytime cooling effect of forests was mainly driven by increased non-radiative evapotranspiration. Overall, the radiative process related to the solar energy dominated the net warming effect of forest transitions over Northeast China. Estimating the climate feedback potential of forests could be useful to provide theoretical references for the adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biochemical content increased at the expense of biomass production. • CO 2 at 5% produced 4% more carbohydrates but at a 50% reduction of Chlorella biomass. • Carotenoids contents increased at the cost of 32% reduced Nostoc biomass production. • CO 2 at 10% significantly promoted protein, carbohydrate and lipids in Chlamydomonas. Microalgae's exceptional photosynthetic prowess, CO 2 adaptation, and high-value bioproduct accumulation make them prime candidates for microorganism-based biorefineries. However, most microalgae research emphasizes downstream processes and applications rather than fundamental biomass and biochemical balances and kinetic under the influence of greenhouse gases such as CO 2. Therefore, three distinctly different microalgae species were cultivated under 0% to 20% CO 2 treatments to examine their biochemical responses, biomass production and metabolite accumulations. Using a machine learning approach, it was found that Chlorella sorokiniana showed a positive relationship between biomass and chl a, chl b, carotenoids, and carbohydrates under increasing CO 2 treatments, while Chlamydomonas angulosa too displayed positive relationships between biomass and all studied biochemical contents, with minimal trade-offs. Meanwhile, Nostoc sp. exhibited a negative correlation between biomass and lipid contents under increasing CO 2 treatment. The study showed the potential of Chlorella , Chlamydomonas and Nostoc for commercialization in biorefineries and carbon capture systems where their trade-offs were identified for different CO 2 treatments and could be prioritized based on commercial objectives. This study highlighted the importance of understanding trade-offs between biomass production and biochemical yields for informed decision-making in microalgae cultivation, in the direction of mass carbon capture for climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct air capture (DAC) technology plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of global warming by capturing carbon dioxide (CO 2) directly from the atmosphere. A significant technical challenge for DAC is its high thermal energy consumption, which results in an unacceptable overall cost (600 $ t CO 2 – 1). The combination of a high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) and DAC system offers a substantial reduction in thermal energy consumption, decreased reliance on renewable energy sources, and enhanced DAC system flexibility. This study presents three distinct thermal integration strategies that combine an HTHP with solid adsorbent-based DAC and verifies their effectiveness in reducing energy consumption and CO 2 emissions compared to a traditional DAC system. Among them, the deeply integrated DAC-HTHP system (I-DAC) exploits low-grade adsorption heat and waste heat, providing direct heating and cooling energy to the DAC system via refrigerant condensation and evaporation processes. Simulation results indicate that the I-DAC system achieves an extremely low operating energy consumption of 2.77 GJ t CO 2 – 1 , representing a 69.5% reduction than traditional DAC under the same conditions. Consequently, the I-DAC offers a cost-effective (32.0–46.2 $ t CO 2 – 1) negative emission solution. We also demonstrate that the I-DAC is promising for wide application in cities to recycle waste heat and remove CO 2 from the air. The comprehensive implementation of the I-DAC in 105 cities could yield a net annual productivity of 980 MtCO 2. • Proposed a deeply thermal integrated DAC system (I-DAC) with waste heat recovery heat pump. • I-DAC achieved a 69.5% reduction in specific energy consumption compared to base-DAC. • I-DAC offers a cost-effective and scalable negative emission solution for climate change mitigation. • Successful implementation of I-DAC in 105 cities could yield a net annual capture capacity of 980 MtCO 2 by 2050. • Highlights the potential of I-DAC to recycle waste heat and remove CO 2 from the air, with policy implications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-tillage (NT) can enhance the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC), thereby aiding in climate change mitigation and improving soil fertility. However, the relations of soil microbial abundance, composition, and necromass to SOC increase under NT are still unclear, limiting the knowledge of SOC stabilization. We performed a 5-year paddy field experiment in southern China including NT, reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT). Soil microbial necromass C (MC, including fungal and bacterial necromass C, FC, and BC) were analyzed, as well as soil bacterial and fungal community composition. At a depth of 0–10 cm, NT increased FC (by 48.6 %–50.2 %, P < 0.05), BC (28.6 %–41.7 %), and MC (38.5 %–45.1 %, P < 0.05) but did not significantly alter the FC/BC and MC/SOC ratios. The increase rate of MC (NT vs. CT and RT) was 12.8–16.2 % higher than that of total SOC. Compared with 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, the MC/SOC ratio was 12.5 %–14.1 % lower at 20–30 cm. Linear regression indicated significant positive correlations of SOC with MC, BC, and FC, whereas no significant correlation was found between bacterial (or fungal) α-diversity (expressed by Shannon index) and BC (or FC). The Random Forest Model showed that several important fungal and bacterial Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) explained 14 %–73 % of the FC and BC variations. Therefore, the composition of the microbial community may play a pivotal role in driving the accumulation of MC. Short-term NT in rice paddies resulted in increased levels of both MC and SOC. Notably, the rate of increase in MC exceeded that of SOC, suggesting the potential for SOC stabilization. • 5-Year no-tillage increased microbial-derived C in paddy soil. • Microbial composition explained 14–73 % of microbial-derived C variation. • The SOC is positively related with fungal and bacterial necromass C. • 5-Year no-tillage did not change microbial-derived C/SOC ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is argued that the political feasibility of climate mitigation policies depends heavily on their distributional effects. This paper therefore studies the distributional effects of the European Commission's Fit-for-55 package at the household level in seven EU countries, analyzing a carbon tax on transport and heating fuels as well as variations of a lump-sum refund. Based on the resulting income distributions, different inequality measures are computed. The paper aims to extend previous methodological approaches by including inequality measures such as the Theil index and Atkinson index and comparing the results of carbon taxes on transport and heating fuels for seven EU countries in a consistent manner. I find that a household-size specific lump-sum refund not only mitigates the negative distributional effects of a carbon tax but also reduces overall inequality compared to the baseline scenario without a tax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We calculated the intensity of urban air pollution islands of 2273 china's cities. • Urban air pollution island intensities reduced significantly after 2013. • The influence of economic development on it shows an environmental Kuznets curve. • Urban sprawl, polycentric development, and urban green reduce urban air pollution. • Climate mitigation-oriented pollution control policies are essential in the future. Air pollution levels tend to be higher in urban areas than in surrounding rural areas, and this air pollution has a negative effect on human health. However, the spatiotemporal patterns of urban–rural air pollution differences and the determinants of these differences remain unclear. Here, we calculate the Urban Air Pollution Island (UAPI) intensity for PM 2.5 and PM 10 on a monthly, seasonal, and annual scale for 2273 cities in China from 2000 to 2020. Subsequently, we analyze the influence of urban characteristics using a combined approach of a two-way fixed effects model and a spatial Durbin model. Results show a strong downward trend in the UAPI intensity since 2013, with reductions ranging from 42 % to 61 % until 2020, for both pollutants and in summer as well as winter. Consistently, the proportion of the cities experiencing the UAPI phenomenon decreased from 94.5 % to 77.3 % for both PM 2.5 and PM 10. We find a significant influence of urban morphology on UAPI. Specifically, urban sprawl, polycentric development, and an increase in urban green spaces are associated with a reduction in UAPI, while dense urban areas intensify it. Our study also reveals a robust inverted U-shaped relationship between stages of economic development and UAPI. Moreover, economic development and air pollution itself show spillover effects that oppose their direct impacts. These results suggest that urban and regional planning and more ambitious climate change mitigation policies could be more effective strategies for mitigating air pollution in cities than end-of-pipe control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Agroclimatic requirements of 23 Prunus cultivars derived from long-term bloom data. • First contribution to assess agroclimatic requirements of studied apricot cultivars. • The chilling and forcing phases showed a discontinuous pattern. • Cultivars showed overlaps or transition periods between chilling and forcing phases. • Warm temperatures in the chilling phase present a delaying effect on flowering. Given the influence of climate change, sustain productivity of stone fruit trees is considered a major concern for growers, especially in warm areas where temperature is a crucial determinant of phenology. Sustainable fruit tree orchards depended on satisfying the chilling requirements of cultivars to trigger dormancy release and heat requirements to blossom correctly. Yet determining agroclimatic requirements are essential for predicting cultivar performance and selecting suitable production areas. To support this challenge, our study was conducted to expand the knowledge of agroclimatic requirements of cultivars of Prunus species growing in warm areas. Thus, Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was employed to compute chilling requirements (CR) using the Dynamic Model (in Chill Portions (CP)) and heat requirements (HR) using the Growing Degree Hours Model (in (GDH)). PLS regression was employed to establish a correlation between long-term phenological observations and temperature records of 7 peach, 5 apricot, and 11 plum cultivars grown in Tunisia. The findings from the PLS regression revealed that the chilling and forcing periods appeared discontinuous. Overlaps or transition periods between the two phases were determined. For peach cultivars, the CR varied from 20 in early flowering cultivars to 63.4 CP in late flowering cultivars and the HR from 4381 to 6556 GDH. For apricot cultivars, the CR ranges from 45.3 to 47.9 CP and the HR from 5567 to 8647 GDH. For plum cultivars, the CR spans from 36.2 to 62.6 CP and the HR from 4999 to 7907 GDH. The main determinant of the flowering of the studied cultivars is the warm mean temperatures occurring during the chilling period. Our findings represent an advance regarding the global knowledge of Prunus temperature requirements which can aid in the adaptation of the stone fruit sector to climate change and mitigation of its impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article sets out to examine the connection between energy transition and factors associated with renewable energy sources, buildings and other sectors, placing emphasis on France. The methodology includes: Collection of scholarly writings, classification, identification of research questions, bibliographic analysis, identification of important findings, discussion. The results of a study (EDF, Le nucléaire en chiffres) demonstrated that, in 2019, around 80% of the electricity production from nuclear energy (in France) was provided by 4 regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes , Grand Est , Centre-Val de Loire , Normandie. France has a high dependence on nuclear power generation and, for this reason, renewable-energy penetration is an imperative part of the French energy transition. Numerous studies show that energy transition requires actions based on burgeoning and avant-garde technologies, and effective policies. Moreover, energy transition poses challenges: decisions on nuclear power plants, sustainable development of small-island economies, etc. A discussion on the energy transition in Corsica (France) is also provided. Regarding the French overseas territories Corse (Corsica), Guadeloupe , Martinique , Guyane , Mayotte , Réunion , the findings of a study (Rakotoson and Praene, 2017) demonstrate that thanks to renewable energy sources/network interconnection, Corsica and French Guiana have lower emissions in comparison to the other territories: 0.505 and 0.373 kg CO 2.eq /kWh e , respectively. • The role of renewable energy sources in energy transition has been analysed. • Factors related to buildings, industry, etc. have been discussed (emphasis: France). • France, 2019.→ ≈ 80 % of the nuclear electricity generation was provided by 4 regions • There are challenges such as energy storage and decisions on nuclear plants. • Corsica and French Guiana: emissions 0.505 and 0.373 kg CO 2.eq /kWh e , respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry, a sustainable land-use system that integrates trees with crops and/or livestock, is recognized as an effective strategy for synergizing climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in India. However, the prevalence of limited land under agroforestry indicates the presence of significant constraints hindering its widespread implementation. To address this challenge, the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) represents a potentially potent policy tool for driving the expansion of agroforestry at the sub-national level. The aim of this study was to examine (i) how the SAPCCs recognized and reported the benefits of agroforestry for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and (ii) what policy approaches are put forth to operationalize agroforestry in India. For this study, the information on agroforestry was coded using a hybrid approach (a combination of deductive and inductive coding) followed by thematic analysis and peer debriefing (for validation of the generated codes and themes). Many of the mitigation and adaptation benefits of agroforestry are reflected in the SAPCCs. However, the predominant focus of these SAPCCs has been on tree-based agroforestry, with insufficient attention given to the crop-tree-livestock nexus, which could offer greater scope for reducing agricultural emissions. Furthermore, existing constraints to the expansion of agroforestry have not been adequately addressed, and the strategies proposed lack the necessary precision to enable effective implementation on the ground. These shortcomings are further compounded by the absence of accurate budgetary estimates, thereby hindering the ability to execute meaningful actions at the grassroots level. The results of this study could offer valuable perspectives on how the potential benefits of agroforestry may be harnessed more prudently to realize mitigation and adaptation outcomes in India while aligning with the country's Nationally Determined Contributions and building sustainable livelihood. [Display omitted] • India's sub-national climate change action plans acknowledge agroforestry's potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation. • However, the plans primarily focus on adding trees to expand agroforestry and overlook the potential of agrosilvopastoral systems. • The existing constraints of agroforestry adoption in India are not sufficiently addressed, and budget estimates vary significantly among states. • To address these issues, the plans require revision to incorporate specific actions and a clear implementation roadmap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural landscapes play a crucial role in global carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. The presence of trees outside forests has been recognized as a significant carbon pool, but it is crucial to acknowledge that these trees serve purposes beyond being a carbon sink. This study focuses on integrating border trees and home gardens as distinct land use classes in Indonesian Javanese agricultural land to assess their impact on carbon stock potential and biodiversity connections. The objective is to classify and quantify the tree composition of these classes, estimate their carbon stock potential, analyze plant species diversity, and identify the ecological connections between home gardens and field borders. To achieve this, high-resolution multispectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar images were used from four sampling areas covering 100 km2 each in Lamongan and Malang districts, East Java, Indonesia, for land cover/land use mapping. The land use function method was used to identify border trees and home gardens as separate land use classes. Carbon stock potential was estimated based on tree cover composition, while plant species diversity was analyzed through field surveys and farmer focus group discussions. Crops with border trees cover approximately 28% to 48% of the cropland area in the study sites, while home gardens represent about 74% to 85% of the settlement area. This suggests a potential to double tree presence in these sites by adopting border trees and home gardens practices across the entire area. The median tree cover ratio was around 27% for border trees and 33% for home gardens. This stratification approach identified 31% to 50% more carbon stock compared to calculations using standard classes. Furthermore, home gardens and border trees show a positive correlation with species richness, indicating their role as keepers of biodiversity. Therefore, home gardens and border trees could serve as a sustainability indicator for agricultural land in the Javanese farm system. This research contributes to sustainable agricultural practices and climate change mitigation. The stratification approach of identifying border trees and home gardens offers a cost-effective approach for the better computation of carbon stock and can lead to effective land use policies and conservation measures that promote ecological resilience. The study provides valuable insights for similar agricultural contexts worldwide, guiding efforts toward a more sustainable agricultural future. [Display omitted] • Trees outside forests constitute significant carbon pools and play diverse ecological roles, not just carbon sinks. • Proposed classification categories of "home gardens" & "border trees" can enhance our understanding of their functions. • Multispectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar images were used for the analysis of land use and land cover. • This stratification approach identifies 31–50% more carbon stock than the conventional approach. • The home gardens and border trees area have a positive correlation with the number of species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-native species are expanding globally and can alter ecosystem functions, including food web dynamics, community structure and carbon storage. Seagrass are foundation species that contribute a variety of ecosystem services in near-shore coastal ecosystems, including a significant sink of carbon. In the Caribbean, the rapidly expanding non-native Halophila stipulacea has unknown impacts on carbon storage. To investigate the impacts on carbon storage, we quantified organic carbon (C org) content in sediment and seagrass tissues from monotypic H. stipulacea beds, mixed native seagrass beds dominated by Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme, and unvegetated substrate in St. John, USVI. We found native seagrass-vegetated sediment contained 1.3 times more C org than sediment covered by H. stipulacea , and 1.6 times more C org than unvegetated areas on average. Whereas, H. stipulacea -dominated substrate stored 1.2 times more C org than unvegetated substrate. Likewise, native species contained 2.2 times more aboveground biomass and 6.0 times more belowground biomass than H. stipulacea. Since seagrasses are critical sources of carbon sequestration, our results suggest that invading H. stipulacea is associated with lower carbon stocks which has potential implications for conservation activities and climate change mitigation. [Display omitted] • Non-native species are expanding globally and can alter ecosystem functions. • Our results suggest that invading H. stipulacea is associated with lower carbon stocks. • In the Caribbean, rapidly expanding Halophila stipulacea may reduce carbon storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The β of terrestrial ecosystems in China varied among ecosystem types. • The β of terrestrial ecosystems in China increased linearly with latitude. • Climate-shaped vegetation factors dominated the spatial variation in β. • Lower hydrothermal conditions limit the importance of vegetation factors to β. The Bowen ratio (β), which is the ratio of sensible heat (H) to latent heat (LE), reflects the energy balance and partitioning processes among soil, vegetation, and the atmosphere. Although the spatial patterns of β have been clearly delineated, the importance of vegetation in the spatial variation of β is frequently underestimated. Revealing the spatial patterns of β would improve the understanding of the variation in energy partitioning in terrestrial ecosystems and its reciprocal relationship with environmental change. Here, we calculated β by integrating H and LE flux values from 80 flux observation sites based on the eddy-covariance method in ChinaFLUX to analyze the spatial pattern and mechanism of β in China. Terrestrial ecosystems in China had an average β of 0.64 ± 0.47. β varied significantly among ecosystem types. Deserts had the highest β (2.08 ± 0.17), while wetlands had the lowest β (0.37 ± 0.11). The β values of terrestrial ecosystems exhibited a significant latitudinal pattern, increasing linearly with latitude. This pattern also existed in forest and cropland ecosystems. The spatial pattern of β was dominated by climate-shaped vegetation factors, including leaf area index (LAI) and fractional vegetation cover (FVC). Nevertheless, as water and thermal conditions decline, the contribution of vegetation factors gradually wanes. These findings demonstrated the spatial variations and driving mechanisms of terrestrial ecosystem β and provided insights into the mitigation of future climate change by vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Climate smart practices increase soil carbon in a Corn Belt agricultural field. • Eddy covariance and soil sample analyses both detected increases in SOC. • Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance showed the most increase during the non-cash crop season. Climate smart agricultural practices have received considerable attention recently for their potential for climate change mitigation through sequestering atmospheric carbon. Despite the enthusiasm for climate smart practices, there is limited evidence they are more effective at removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil than current practices. We hypothesized that a field with aspirational (ASP) practices (i.e., no-till corn-soybean-wheat-hay rotation with cover crops) would accumulate more soil organic carbon (SOC) versus a business-as-usual (BAU) field (i.e., conventional-tillage, corn-soybean-soybean rotation). We used deep soil cores (1 m) to assess changes in soil organic carbon (ΔSOC) between 2016 and 2022 for the two fields and compare with estimates based on eddy covariance calculation of ΔSOC. We found that the ASP field had ΔSOC that was positive, and larger than the BAU field. Both the soil sample method (ΔSOC SS) and the eddy covariance method (ΔSOC EC) agreed on this point, but the magnitude of ΔSOC was much larger when estimated with soil samples (ΔSOC SS was 1.9 ± 1.7 % yr−1 and -0.7 ± 1.3 % yr−1 at ASP and BAU, respectively) than with eddy covariance (ΔSOC EC was 0.80 ± 0.09 % yr−1 and 0.12 ± 0.06 % yr−1 at ASP and BAU, respectively). Finally, we used the continuous measurements of carbon fluxes from the eddy covariance towers to examine how conservation practices (cover crops, no-till, or expanded crop rotation) led to increased carbon storage. We found that unharvested cover crops add carbon to the soil that offsets net carbon losses that otherwise reduce soil carbon storage when the field is fallow. No-till and expanded crop rotations also affect the carbon budget of the agro-ecosystems. Results from this study illustrate the value of conservation practices in a changing climate and the value of eddy covariance measurements for assessing climate smart practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the difference of optimal operation of energy communities (ECs) with respect to economic and technical goals. ECs have emerged as a promising solution for accelerating the transition to more sustainable energy systems and therefore climate change mitigation. While cost optimization (economic goal) is most commonly used in ECs, optimizing their resilience (technical goal) can be an important part of operating a distribution grid with high photovoltaic (PV) and electrical vehicle (EV) penetration in the future. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the impact of those two objective functions on overall EC costs as well as individual member costs. The findings highlight the trade-off between the flexibility measures required for a resilient EC and the cost associated with them. This study helps quantify the subsidies that would be required to incentives EC to operate in a resilient matter as a form of grid service. • An energy community optimization model with multiple objective function options. • Energy production, flexibility and grid constraints in single energy community model. • Considering grid tariffs and energy allocation to members. • Cost optimization results show high demand/production peaks. • Resiliency optimization results show high financial burden on members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for carbon neutrality, the cement industry employs various CO 2 mitigation strategies, including material efficiency, cement plant technologies, and clinker-to-cement ratio reductions. This study reviews the past decade's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature on cement production to assess the feasibility of modeling these strategies. Heating energy is the predominant factor in energy consumption, benefiting from energy efficiency measures. Allocation consistently favors cement in evaluations of secondary fuel-related impacts, leading to significant reductions in energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. However, transparency improvements are necessary to clarify the origin and calculation of combustion-related emissions. Challenges arise from limited data availability when assessing grinding energy, especially for high-quality cement aligned with a material efficiency strategy. In our examination of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs), we have observed that production process variations and allocation assumptions significantly influence LCA models, while highlighting the absence of waste availability consideration in current substitution-focused LCA methods for both secondary fuels and SCMs. • Cement functionalities are generally not described and should be based on strength. • Existing models overlook impacts of increased cement quality due to grinding energy. • Allocation method choice affects climate change impacts of slag-blended cement. • Excluding allocation methods, slag recovery shows climate change impacts variability. • Substantial variability is also found for heating energy for clinkerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting the adoption and maintenance of low-carbon consumption behaviors (LCBs) is a global climate action. Most prior studies have considered only the adoption of LCBs and not explored how behavioral characteristics and emotions influence individual behaviors. To address these limitations, this study builds a dual-level integrated model to detect the maintenance rate of various LCBs and identify what factors affect behavioral maintenance. Using data collected from 2052 residents in China, generalized linear mixed models are employed to examine the effects of behavioral and individual-level factors and of social interaction on the maintenance of LCBs. Robustness is checked using the instrumental variable method, least-squares dummy variable method, and Probit approach. The estimated maintenance rate for different LCBs ranges between 29.02 % and 83.49 %, while the estimated cessation rate ranges between 2.31 % and 6.58 %. Maintenance of LCBs is positively affected by context stability but negatively influenced by effort expectancy. Anticipated guilt is identified as the strongest driver (positive) of maintenance of LCBs for all tested variables, followed by symbol expectancy. However, neither behavior routinization nor anticipated pride is found to be significantly associated with behavioral maintenance. The effects of anticipated guilt, effort expectancy, and symbol expectancy on behavioral maintenance are moderated by social interaction. Regarding demographics, family size is positively associated with behavioral maintenance, while females are more likely than males to maintain LCBs. These findings address the under-studied effects of behavioral characteristics and emotions on behavioral maintenance, and provide new insights for redefining target interventions to engage the public in maintaining LCBs. [Display omitted] • Maintenance of low-carbon consumption behaviors (LCBs) is studied. • A dual-level integrated model incorporating social interaction is built. • Maintenance rate of LCBs is estimated between 29.02 % and 83.49 %. • Anticipated guilt is the strongest driver (positive) of maintenance of LCBs. • Symbol expectancy and context stability contribute to maintaining of LCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying transmission sectors that may not be revealed by existing indicators, such as production-based emission (PBE) and consumption-based emission (CBE) accounting, is significant in emission reduction policies and provides insights into novel opportunities for companies and industries to reduce emissions. This study proposed an intermediate-based emission (IBE) accounting approach that considers indirect emissions from intermediate goods production and a case study was conducted using Exiobase 3.8. The highest IBE sector was 'basic iron' (1131 Mt-CO 2), and the sector's IBE was higher than its PBE (1052 Mt-CO 2). Additionally, the material sector, such as aluminum products (326 Mt-CO 2), was identified as a key transmission sector, although PBE (21 Mt-CO 2) and CBE (3 Mt-CO 2) of the sector is very low. In addition, IBEs were observed to be closely related to overall supply chain emissions in Germany, Japan, and Asia, and cooperation is required to reduce the emissions. The method enables approaching supply chains with large emissions from three perspectives (production-, consumption-, and intermediate-based accounting) and exploration of the emission reduction responsibilities of the three key sectors. The utility and discussion of the approach are consistent with Scope 3 emissions and facilitate fair allocation of emission reduction responsibilities to a larger number of countries and industries. • This study suggested intermediate-based emission (IBE) accounting. • Industries such as basic iron have high production–based emissions but higher IBE. • Intermediate industries not focused on by existing emission accounting identified. • Existing betweenness-based emission accounting much higher than actual emissions. • Germany, Japan, and Asian HEMs have strong correlation with IBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop residue burning is a common practice in many parts of the world that causes air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Regenerative practices that return residues to the soil offer a 'no burn' pathway for addressing air pollution while building soil organic carbon (SOC). Nevertheless, GHG emissions in rice-based agricultural systems are complex and difficult to anticipate, particularly in production contexts with highly variable hydrologic conditions. Here we predict long-term net GHG fluxes for four rice residue management strategies in the context of rice-wheat cropping systems in Eastern India: burning, soil incorporation, livestock fodder, and biochar. Estimations were based on a combination of Tier 1, 2, and 3 modelling approaches, including 100-year DNDC simulations across three representative soil hydrologic categories (i.e., dry, median, and wet). Overall, residue burning resulted in total direct GHG fluxes of 2.5, 6.1, and 8.7 Mg CO 2 -e in the dry, median, and wet hydrologic categories, respectively. Relative to emissions from burning (positive values indicate an increase) for the same dry to wet hydrologic categories, soil incorporation resulted in a −0.2, 1.8, or 3.1 Mg CO 2 -e change in emissions whereas use of residues for livestock fodder increased emissions by 2.0, 2.1, or 2.3 Mg CO 2 -e. Biochar reduced emissions relative to burning by 2.9 Mg CO 2 -e in all hydrologic categories. This study showed that the production environment has a controlling effect on methane and, therefore, net GHG balance. For example, wetter sites had 2.8–4.0 times greater CH 4 emissions, on average, than dry sites when rice residues were returned to the soil. To effectively mitigate burning without undermining climate change mitigation goals, our results suggest that geographically-target approaches should be used in the rice-based systems of Eastern India to incentivize the adoption of regenerative 'no burn' residue management practices. • Efforts to build SOC for climate change mitigation, while simultaneously avoiding burning, may have unintended consequences. • Tier 1, 2, and 3 modelling approaches were used to compare no-burn rice residue pathways. • Field hydrology had a dominant effect on methane emissions. • Soil incorporation of residues increased emissions relative to open burning, except in comparatively dry fields. • Biochar is estimated to have the lowest GHG emissions of the evaluated 'no burn' alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Provide an in-depth analysis of the recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives in HPTSU technologies. • Discusses various methods of hydrogen production and highlights the developments in transportation and storage solutions. • Explores the potential applications of hydrogen across different sectors, and identifies the key research areas for further improvement and large-scale deployment of hydrogen technologies. Hydrogen has been recognized as a promising alternative energy carrier due to its high energy density, low emissions, and potential to decarbonize various sectors. This review paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives in hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and utilization (HPTSU) technologies. The paper discusses various methods of hydrogen production, highlights the developments in transportation and storage solutions, explores the potential applications of hydrogen across different sectors, and identifies the key research areas for further improvement and large-scale deployment of hydrogen technologies. This review provides a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders seeking to understand the latest technical advancements in HPTSU technologies, and their potential to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analyze if cash transfers can help to alleviate distributional effects of carbon pricing. • We build on extensive microdata for 16 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. • We find large horizontal differences in carbon pricing incidence across all countries. • Existing cash transfer programs can only partially help to reimburse most affected households. • We discuss alternative compensating options to shield vulnerable households. One reason carbon prices are difficult to implement is that they might imply high additional costs on poor and vulnerable households. In response, studies often highlight that recycling revenues through cash transfers can render carbon pricing reforms progressive. This neglects that existing cash transfer programs target households from low-income groups imperfectly and that impacts of a carbon price are heterogeneous within income groups. In this study, we analyze if existing cash transfer programs can help to alleviate distributional effects of carbon pricing in 16 Latin American and Caribbean countries. We find that carbon pricing is regressive in 11 countries and progressive in 5. Most importantly, differences within income groups exceed differences between them. Beyond total household expenditures, car ownership and cooking fuel usage explain the variance in carbon pricing impacts. We show that households who are most affected by carbon pricing, some of them poor, do not necessarily have access to existing cash transfer programs. We suggest that governments aiming to compensate households should consider broadening the coverage of existing cash transfer programs, utilizing in-kind transfers or removing other distortionary taxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO 2 , a byproduct from various industrial reactions, must not be released into the atmosphere and should be managed through capture, conversion, and utilization. The first step in converting CO 2 into valuable products is to break the C–O bond. This work focuses on designing Single Atom Catalysts (SACs) by doping Cu(211) surface with 13 different s, p, and d block elements with an aim to minimize the activation barrier for C–O bond cleavage. Our work demonstrates that SACs of Mg/Al/Pt@Cu(211) favor CO 2 chemisorption compared to Cu(211) where CO 2 physisorbs. The barrier for CO 2 dissociation is lowest for Mg@Cu(211) and it increases in the order Mg@Cu(211) < Al@Cu(211) < Pt@Cu(211) < Zn@Cu(211) < Ga@Cu(211) < Cu@Cu(211) < Pd@Cu(211). These findings suggest that doping Cu(211) with earth-abundant metal like Mg can potentially be a viable catalyst for CO 2 conversion, providing a promising solution to reduce carbon footprint and mitigate climate change. [Display omitted] • Investigating interaction of CO2 with SACs@Cu(211) by employing periodic DFT. • Doping Cu(211) with single metal atom enhances its catalytic activity. • Significant lowering of the barrier for reducing CO2 to CO on Mg/Al/Pt@Cu(211). • Mg@Cu(211) demonstrates superior performance by exhibiting the lowest barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal production faces challenges related to thermal comfort, air quality, and carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions, thereby the need for more efficient and sustainable systems due to climate change. This study examines green roofs and their potential to absorb atmospheric CO 2 and reduce heat load through photosynthesis and evapotranspiration, resulting in decreased energy consumption and increased CO 2 emissions. The maximum CO 2 concentration limit in animal production facilities is 3000 ppm. Depending on the ventilation system used in broiler production facilities, the CO 2 concentration can exceed 2000 ppm. Dark House poultry facilities tend to have higher concentrations reaching up to 777 ppm. In pig farming, the nursery sector has higher concentrations of CO 2 , exceeding 1200 ppm. In dairy farming, the number of milkings, the type of ventilation system and local climatic conditions can affect the CO 2 concentration, reaching values of up to 1401 ppm. C3 plants have a CO 2 saturation point at 800 ppm and C4 plants at 200 ppm. The CO 2 balance in animal production facilities that use a green roof can be done considering the CO 2 produced and the CO 2 absorbed. Green roofs are therefore considered a sustainable solution for animal production. Its implementation enhances air quality in the facilities, supporting the reduction of environmental impacts and mitigation of climate change effects caused by the agroindustry. This investigation underscores the significance of green roofs, emphasizing their environmental, social, and economic benefits, as well as their applicability in animal production. • It is possible to estimate the CO 2 balance in animal production facilities with a green roof. • Green roof can improve air quality in animal production. • Green roof can reduce the thermal stress of the animals in the premises. • Green roof can contribute to the sustainability of animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia is actively addressing environmental responsibilities by pledging a 45 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, aided by a large-scale solar photovoltaic initiative. Nonetheless, the unprecedented meteorological events due to climate change such as extreme temperatures and precipitation may reduce the large-scale solar performance and lead to infrastructure damage. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a screening-level analysis from both technical and economic perspectives, in order to assess the effects of extreme temperature and precipitation on large scale solar in Malaysia. This study hypothesized that extreme temperature and precipitation reduce large scale solar performance and increase infrastructure damage. The results demonstrate that both extreme temperature and precipitation increase the power and efficiency loss over time. In general, infrastructure damages caused by extreme temperature and precipitation can result in degradation, a shortened lifespan, and ultimately a collapse. In this study, the costs of physical damage were estimated using the modified levelized cost of energy, and it was found that the cost of physical damage in extreme temperature conditions was approximately 30 % greater than the cost in extreme precipitation conditions, which was nine times greater than in normal condition. Compared to a no-adaptation scenario, it is possible to reduce the additional costs due to extreme temperature and precipitation by up to 53 % and 49 %, respectively. Enhancements, additional analysis, and validation of these findings could aid in the readiness for climate change mitigation efforts, not only for solar power systems but also for other types of energy systems. [Display omitted] • Generic screening-level analysis for assessing techno-economic impact of solar. • Extreme temperature and precipitation reduce solar performance and increase damage. • Study employs modified levelized cost of energy to estimate physical damage costs. • A proactive adaptation strategy reduced the additional cost for both scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local governments are expected now more than ever to lead climate action planning as climate change intensifies and urbanization increases rapidly. However, studies indicate limitations in the comprehensiveness and level of integration of adaptation and mitigation in existing climate action plans. To develop suitable climate action plans that are comprehensive and consistent with globally accepted standards and benchmarks, this study proposed an Urban Climate Action Planning framework and pilot-tested it with 257 urban climate action plans. Overall, 43 criteria are included in the framework across three stages of climate planning. The pilot test revealed that more than half of the sampled plans have a medium level of suitability, with 39% having a weak level of suitability. About 51% of plans from Europe have a weak level of suitability. Surprisingly, none of the plans sampled from Africa and Latin America achieved a weak level of suitability despite lacking a significant share of global climate research and development funding. A Kruskal-Wallis test shows a statistically significant association between stages of climate planning and (a) city types (p-value of 0.004326) and (b) year of adoption or publication of climate plans and suitability scores (p-value of 0.0001027). Urban climate action plans adopted or published more recently (2018–2022) are likely more suitable than those adopted or published earlier. The sampled urban climate action plans from the Global South had higher average suitability scores than those from the Global North. The study presents key findings and considerations for urban climate action planning and future research. [Display omitted] • A framework for assessing the suitability of Climate Action Plans (CAPs) is proposed. • The framework is used to pilot-test the suitability of 257 urban CAPs. • Suitability analysis is done across city types, regions, and the global divide. • Most sampled plans achieved a medium level of suitability. • The CAPs lack criteria related to implementation and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A dataset of biochar incubations is made available along with code to analyse it. • Curve fitting and data selection are key steps in biochar persistence modelling. • The H/C ratio remains the main indicator of biochar persistence. • Non-linear models improved correlations between BC 100 estimates and properties. The climate change mitigation benefits of biochar systems arise largely from carbon storage in biochar. However, while biochar is increasingly recognized as a carbon dioxide removal technology, there are on-going scientific discussions on how to estimate the persistence of biochar carbon when biochar is used in soils. Estimates vary from decades to millennia, building on different modelling approaches and evidence. Here, we revisited the persistence estimates derived from extrapolation of biochar incubation experiments, with the aims of making incubation data available, modelling choices transparent, and results reproducible. An extensive dataset of biochar incubations, including 129 biochar decomposition time series, was compiled and is made available alongside code for its analysis. Biochar persistence correlations were sensitive to data selection procedures and to the curve fitting modelling step, while soil temperature adjustments methods had less impact. Biochar H/C ratio remained the main predictor of biochar persistence, in line with previous research, regardless of the extrapolation assumptions (multi-pool exponential functions or power function) used in curve fitting. The relation between H/C and percentage of biochar carbon remaining after 100 years (BC 100) was better explained by a power model than a linear model, with R2 values between 0.5 and 0.9. Using multi-pool exponential functions, estimated BC 100 varied between 90 % and 60 % for H/C from 0 to 0.7. However, using power functions, BC 100 was constrained between 90 % and 80 % for the same H/C range. Additional information about the biochar, the pyrolysis conditions or the environmental incubation conditions did not significantly increase explained variance. Notably, the dataset lacks observations at H/C ratios below 0.2, of biochar made from manure and biosolids, biochar from processes other than slow pyrolysis, field studies, and incubation temperatures below 10 °C, which should guide future experimental work. The detailed analysis performed in this study does not cast doubts on the longevity of biochar carbon storage; rather, it confirms previous knowledge by critically examining the modelling, elucidating the assumptions and limitations, and making the analysis fully reproducible. There is a need for further interdisciplinary work on integration of various theories and approaches to biochar persistence, ultimately leading to the formulation of policy-relevant conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manure is a widely applied to increase grain yield, while it also attributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture ecosystems. Combining green manure with inorganic fertilizer inputs is a common practice that can influence soil GHG emissions and grain yield, however, its impacts on grain yield and global warming potential (GWP) under different initial soil conditions before rotating experiments and agronomic management in paddy fields remain unclear. We synthesized 508 data pairs to evaluate the responses of CO 2 emissions, CH 4 emissions, N 2 O emissions, and grain yield to combined inputs of green manure plus inorganic fertilizer compared with only inorganic fertilizer application. Our findings indicate that both inorganic fertilizer plus extra green manure (GM-E) and green manure substitutes for inorganic fertilizer (GM-S) could increase CO 2 emissions (22.5 %−76.8 %), CH 4 emissions (100 %−103 %), N 2 O emissions (29.8 %−50.9 %), and yield (2.21 %−19.6 %). Except for GM-E, which showed a non-significant increase in grain yield. The initial soil properties before rotating experiments, the types and timing of green manure application were key drivers of GHG emissions and yield, and extra green manure applied in areas with low initial soil pH and high C:N can increase GWP and yield. Overall, the mixed green manure application had greater impact than leguminous or non-leguminous green manure applied alone. The responses of GHG emissions and yield to GM-S were modulated by mean annual precipitation and initial soil properties before rotating experiments, and green manure substitutes for inorganic fertilizer in areas with high initial soil pH and low C:N can increase GWP and yield. Meanwhile, excessive precipitation caused a reduction in yield and a significant increase in GWP intensity. Our results showed that extra green manure applications of less than 68.1 kg N ha−1 would not significantly increase GWP. Therefore, an effective green manure strategy can achieve a win-win situation for the dual challenge of agricultural production and climate change mitigation. • Green manure inputs significantly increased GHG emissions from paddy fields. • Green manure combined inorganic fertilizer may not increase the yield significantly. • Mixed green manure had greater impact than single-type green manure application. • Green manure substitutes for inorganic fertilizer may not increase the GWPI. • Extra green manure (<68.1 kg N ha-1) is recommended to achieve a win-win situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The network structure characteristics of land-use carbon emissions (LUCE) are explored. • The problems of synergistic CO 2 reduction in Jiangxi province were identified. • The LUCE network structure in study areas becomes increasingly intricate and stable. • The LUCE spatial correlation network exhibited pronounced spatial spillover effects. • The study combines new relevant indicators to conduct carbon balance zoning. Exploring the spatial network structure of land-use carbon emissions (LUCE) and the carbon balance in developing regions is pivotal for climate change mitigation in these areas. Using socio-economic and land-use data from 2000 to 2020, this study focused on Jiangxi Province as a representative case to elucidate the spatial network structure of LUCE and conduct carbon balance zoning. The primary findings were as follows: (1) The LUCE distribution in Jiangxi Province demonstrated a spatial pattern with high values in the northwest and low values in the southeast. An increasing trend was observed in the total amount of LUCE. Furthermore, there were evident regional differences in the Ecological Support Coefficient (ESC), indicating a weakening regional carbon sink capacity. (2) The spatial network structure of LUCE was intricate but stable. Although the gravitational interactions of LUCE between cities have intensified, overall network connectivity remained moderately correlated, indicating a prominent regional development imbalance. (3) There was a pronounced "core-periphery" structure in the LUCE spatial correlation network. Northern Jiangxi was the "core" of the network, taking an "initiator" role, whereas most cities in southern Jiangxi played a "passive" role, and resided at the "periphery" of the network. The inter-regional LUCE network exhibited pronounced spatial spillover, with inter-block correlations surpassing those within blocks. (4) By leveraging empirical data and spatial metrics, we categorized Jiangxi Province into five distinct carbon balance zoning types and subsequently proposed land-use optimization strategies. From the perspective of social network analysis (SNA), this study offers methodological insights into low-carbon development and synergistic emission reduction in developing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]