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Blue carbon refers to the carbon fixed in marine ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. Considered a treasure house for capturing and storing carbon dioxide, it can alleviate environmental issues linked to climate change and positively influence the environments where people live. Thus, to clarify the hotspots and development trends of blue carbon research, bibliometric analysis incorporating ScientoPy and VOSviewer software were used to quantitatively analyze 4,604 blue carbon publications from Web of Science and Scopus databases between 1993 and 2023. The results indicate a rapidly growing number of published studies on blue carbon, with blue carbon research being multifaceted and gradually becoming an interdisciplinary and international topic. This study on blue carbon, which is based on keyword clustering analysis, comprises three stages. The analysis of the strength of the cooperative connections between scholars in various countries who have published work on blue carbon. found that the cooperation networks of developed countries are strong and those of developing countries are relatively weak. Quantitative trend analysis reveals a growing focus on the restoration and conservation of blue carbon ecosystems, with remote sensing being the predominant technology used in the blue carbon research field in recent years. In blue carbon research, increasing carbon sequestration capacity, climate change mitigation, and carbon sequestration in macroalgae remain potential hotspots for research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Executive Order No. 14008 mandated that U.S. federal agencies and departments develop Climate Change Adaptation Plans to enhance the nation's resilience to climate change. Invasive species are documented to reduce the effectiveness of climate adaptation and mitigation actions. In spite of this, only eight of the 26 federal plans directly reference invasive species, and just four meaningfully consider the reciprocal impact of invasive species on climate adaptation efforts. To ensure that climate adaptation planning and processes are effective with associated benefits for biodiversity conservation, a gap analysis of the Climate Change Adaptation Plans was conducted. Five key recommendations were developed that would transform how invasive species are considered within them. Examples of how invasive species have been included in some of the plans are provided, with suggestions for agencies that did not include invasive species on how they might do so, to illustrate that dedicated efforts in prevention, detection, and management of invasive species can safeguard carbon sequestration, protect communities and infrastructure, and minimize economic and biodiversity losses. Although developed based on U.S. federal plans, these recommendations can be used by state and local, as well as international, jurisdictions tasked with implementing climate‐adaptive policies to build resilience across multiple sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt marshes provide many important ecosystem services, key among them being carbon sequestration. However, a large degree of uncertainty remains in salt marsh carbon budgets, particularly during colder months of the year when salt marsh microbial and vegetative activity is assumed to dormant. We also lack data on urban systems. In this study, we used an easily portable carbon dioxide sensor package to directly measure net carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes throughout the winter in a temperate, urban salt marsh. We sampled across the dormant season both on normal (cold) temperature days and on days that were anomalously warm (defined here as air temperatures 2.8°C above the long-term average). We demonstrated that median (±mad) daytime CO2 fluxes doubled on the warm days, compared to cold days (1.7 ± 2 mmol m-2 h-1, 0.7 ± 1.3 mmol m-2 h-1, respectively). We also show that net CO2 emissions scaled with soil temperature. The high day-to-day variability, however, implies that infrequent or sparse measurements cannot sufficiently capture the temporal dynamics of dormant season salt marsh net CO2 fluxes. The magnitude of the net CO2 source from our sampling during the dormant season leads us to hypothesize that, as mean annual temperatures continue to increase, dormant season CO2 emissions from salt marshes will increasingly offset growing season carbon dioxide uptake. This change compromises the carbon sequestration capacity, and therefore the climate mitigation potential of these ecosystems. Future studies should focus on quantifying the impact of dormant season CO2, and other greenhouse gases on salt marsh carbon budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestation is a key strategy for climate mitigation in China through its biogeochemical (BGC) effect of ecosystem carbon sequestration. Additionally, the BGC effect of forestation can be either reinforced or counteracted by concurrent biogeophysical processes (BGP effect) resulting in local land surface warming or cooling, which can be translated into CO2e (i.e., BGC effect) using a local transient climate response. Previous evaluations of the climate mitigation potential of future forestation in China have, however, focused on the BGC effect only and neglected the BGP effect, potentially leading to suboptimal forestation areas. Here, we determined priority forestation areas in China by incorporating both effects to maximize its global climate mitigation effect. Our results suggest an additional 167.2 Mha potentially suitable for forestation in China, exceeding the largest forestation target (86.8 Mha) possibly assumed by the government in 2060. The forestation‐induced BGP effect (18.7 ± 61.9 tCO2e ha−1) largely reinforces the BGC effect (458.2 ± 92.6 tCO2e ha−1) in China, yielding a total climate mitigation effect of 476.9 ± 114.2 tCO2e ha−1 over 40 years (2021–2060). Under the 2060 forestation target, considering both BGC and BGP effects will displace 17.7% (15.3 Mha) of the forestation area derived by considering the BGC effect alone. Integrating both BGC and BGP effects will lead to a CO2 uptake of 28.8 GtCO2e by 2060, 3.9 GtCO2e higher than the value obtained when considering the BGC effect only. Our results highlight the importance of considering BGP effect when making forestation policies for climate mitigation. Plain Language Summary: Forestation plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change through both carbon sequestration (biogeochemical or BGC effect) and modification of land surface temperature (biogeophysical or BGP effect). Maximizing forestation contribution to global climate mitigation requires maximizing the collective effects of both BGC and BGP through converting BGP to BGC, as temperature change is fundamentally driven by atmospheric CO2 changes which are further influenced by forestation BGC effect. However, previous evaluations of China's forestation potential almost completely focused on the BGC effect. This study identified optimal forestation areas to maximize their global climate mitigation effect in China by considering both BGC and BGP effects. Considering both effects will displace 17.7% (15.3 Mha) of forestation areas determined by considering only the BGC effect under the 2060 forestation target. Considering both effects also leads to a higher CO2 uptake of 3.9 GtCO2e than the value when considering the BGC effect only by 2060. Forestation‐induced BGC and BGP effects mostly work in synergy in China, mutually enhancing the overall climate benefits. Our findings have implications for future forestation policy in China to maximize its contribution to global climate mitigation. Key Points: The biogeophysical (BGP) effect should be included in the traditional forestation policies considering only biogeochemical (BGC) effectConsidering BGC and BGP effects will lead to 17.7% of forestation area being displaced, compared to considering the BGC effect only by 2060Integrating BGC and BGP effects exhibits a 15.8% (3.9 GtCO2e) increase in CO2 uptake by 2060 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Dual Carbon" initiative is a two-stage carbon reduction goal proposed by China, with significant implications for global climate change mitigation. This article examines the impact of the "Dual Carbon" strategy on China's forestry development and explores how to leverage this strategy to facilitate the transformation and advancement of the forestry sector. Current review indicated that forestry has the advantage of achieving higher emission reduction targets at a low cost. Starting with an overview of the "Dual Carbon" strategy, this paper analyzes the carbon sequestration potential of plants and soil, and the challenges and opportunities faced by forestry development under this framework. Furthermore, we outline implementation pathways for forestry development, aiming to provide insights for the progress of China's forestry sector. Overall, it should be noted that the priority is to vigorously develop timber resources, and we also need to vigorously develop and protect forestry talent with the support of China's policies. By trapping into the carbon storage capabilities and leveraging carbon trading mechanisms of forests, a favorable ecological environment can be created, thus achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. Highlights: • Forest development and its carbon sinks, attributed to plant and soil have the potential in carbon sequestration process, thus helping China achieve carbon neutrality. • The supply of forest products and the balance of economic growth and environmental protection are the key difficulties under the "Dual Carbon" strategy. • Trading forest carbon sinks can boost China's sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and the resultant environmental deterioration signify one of the most challenging problems facing humankind in the 21st century. The origins of climate change are multifaceted and rooted in anthropogenic activities, resulting in increasing greenhouse gases in the environment and leading to global warming and weather drifts. Extremophilic fungi, characterized by their exceptional properties to survive extreme habitats, harbor great potential in mitigating climate change effects. This review provides insight into the potential applications of extremophilic fungi in climate change mitigation strategies. They are able to metabolize organic biomass and degrade carbon compounds, thereby safely sequestering carbon and extenuating its release into the environment as noxious greenhouse gases. Furthermore, they possess extremozymes, which break down recalcitrant organic species, including lignocellulosic biomass and hydrocarbons. Enzymatic machinery equips these extremophilic fungi to perform the bioremediation of polluted environments. Extremophilic fungi can also be exploited for various biological interventions, such as biofuels, bioplastics, and other bioprocessing applications. However, these fungi characterize a valued but underexplored resource in the arsenal of climate change mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing estimates of the climate mitigation potential from cropland carbon sequestration (C‐sequestration) are limited because they tend to assume constant rates of soil organic carbon change over all available cropland area, use relatively coarse land delineations, and often fail to adequately consider the agronomic and socioeconomic dimensions of agricultural land use. This results in an inflated estimate of the C‐sequestration potential. We address this gap by defining a more appropriate land base for cover cropping in the United States for C‐sequestration purposes: stable croplands in annual production systems that can integrate cover cropping without irrigation. Our baseline estimate of this suitable stable cropland area is 32% of current U.S. cropland extent. Even an alternative, less restrictive definition of stability results in a large reduction in area (44% of current U.S. croplands). Focusing cover crop implementation to this constrained land base would increase durability of associated C‐sequestration and limit soil carbon loss from land conversion to qualify for carbon‐specific incentives. Applying spatially‐variable C‐sequestration rates from the literature to our baseline area yields a technical potential of 19.4 Tg CO2e yr−1 annually, about one‐fifth of previous estimates. We also find the cost of realizing about half (10 Tg CO2e yr−1) of this potential could exceed 100 USD Mg CO2e−1, an order of magnitude higher than previously thought. While our economic analyses suggest that financial incentives are necessary for large‐scale adoption of cover cropping in the U.S., they also imply any C‐sequestration realized under such incentives is likely to be additional. Plain Language Summary: As a "Nature‐based Climate Solution" (NCS), the practice of cover cropping has received widespread attention and investment recently. Through cover cropping, croplands may be able to absorb and hold more carbon in soil, drawing down CO2 in the atmosphere (i.e., sequester carbon). However, the sequestration that is feasible, which reflects socioeconomic and land use considerations, remains unquantified. We estimate this feasible potential for carbon sequestration in the U.S. croplands from cover cropping and find it to be a fraction of previous estimates. A large portion of the reduction is due to our use of a more realistic and rigorous definition of the land area suitable for cover cropping for climate mitigation purposes. This land area comprises "croplands remaining croplands" (or stable croplands) that are planted to annual crops, like corn and soybeans, because they can more easily integrate the practice. We exclude irrigated croplands to conserve water resources. At just under 44 million ha, our baseline area estimate is 32% of the current U.S. cropland extent. The rest of the reduction is associated with our use of more conservative rates of increase in soil carbon from cover cropping than earlier studies that are more realistic for assessing soil carbon sequestration potential over large areas. Our economic analyses suggests that without financial incentives, implementing cover cropping could be expensive for most U.S. farmers. This high cost hurdle needs to be evaluated against the cost‐effectiveness of alternatives that compete for the same limited resources for climate mitigation. Key Points: For U.S. croplands, the feasible potential of carbon sequestration from cover cropping is a fraction of previous estimatesDefining the land base suitable for mitigation practices more realistically and rigorously is critical to estimating the feasible potentialCover cropping, though beneficial for soil health, may not be a low‐cost pathway for climate mitigation at scale in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural ecosystems store large amounts of carbon globally, as organisms absorb carbon from the atmosphere to build large, long-lasting, or slow-decaying structures such as tree bark or root systems. An ecosystem's carbon sequestration potential is tightly linked to its biological diversity. Yet when considering future projections, many carbon sequestration models fail to account for the role biodiversity plays in carbon storage. Here, we assess the consequences of plant biodiversity loss for carbon storage under multiple climate and land-use change scenarios. We link a macroecological model projecting changes in vascular plant richness under different scenarios with empirical data on relationships between biodiversity and biomass. We find that biodiversity declines from climate and land use change could lead to a global loss of between 7.44-103.14 PgC (global sustainability scenario) and 10.87-145.95 PgC (fossil-fueled development scenario). This indicates a self-reinforcing feedback loop, where higher levels of climate change lead to greater biodiversity loss, which in turn leads to greater carbon emissions and ultimately more climate change. Conversely, biodiversity conservation and restoration can help achieve climate change mitigation goals. Loss of vegetation carbon from biodiversity loss could rival emissions from other sources such as land-use change. This creates a feedback where climate change increases biodiversity loss, leading to greater emissions and more climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global climate change is one of the major challenges facing the world today, and forests play a crucial role as significant carbon sinks and providers of ecosystem services in mitigating climate change and protecting the environment. China, as one of the largest developing countries globally, owns 60% of its forest resources collectively. Evaluating the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests not only helps assess the contribution of China's forest resources to global climate change mitigation but also provides important evidence for formulating relevant policies and measures. Results: Over the past 30 years, the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests in China has shown an overall upward trend. Except for coastal provinces, southern collective forest areas, as well as some southwestern and northeastern regions, have the advantage of lower carbon sequestration costs. Furthermore, LSTM network predictions indicate that the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests in China will continue to rise. By 2030, the average carbon sequestration cost of collective forests is projected to reach 125 CNY per ton(= 16.06 Euros/t). Additionally, there is spatial correlation in the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests. Timber production, labor costs, and labor prices have negative spatial spillover effects on carbon sequestration costs, while land opportunity costs, forest accumulation, and rural resident consumption have positive spatial spillover effects. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate regional disparities in the spatial distribution of carbon sequestration costs of collective forests, with an undeniable upward trend in future cost growth. It is essential to focus on areas with lower carbon sequestration costs and formulate targeted carbon sink economic policies and management measures to maximize the carbon sequestration potential of collective forests and promote the sustainable development of forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horse mussel beds are listed as a Priority Marine Feature (PMF) in Scotland for their influence in the creation of diverse benthic communities and provision of ecosystem services. In Scotland, horse mussel beds are also recognised for their importance in marine carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of data on horse mussel bed carbon stocks and sediment thickness. There are also significant financial and logistical barriers with which to address these data gaps. This study investigates the robustness of Sub-Bottom Profiling (SBP) as a costeffective method to quantify horse mussel sediment thickness across a landscape. Integrating SBP and Drop-Down Video (DDV) data, this study also details an integrated approach to investigate the links between horse mussel habitat condition and sediment thickness. With the addition of abiotic data, this study uses Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to elucidate key relationships between abiotic factors, biotic variables, and sediment thickness. There is a significant positive correlation of horse mussel habitat condition and sediment thickness. Average horse mussel total sediment thickness, across all measures of habitat condition, was 1.37m. These findings substantially increase previous estimates of horse mussel sediment thickness, and potential value to climate change mitigation through blue carbon frameworks. This study highlights the importance of both abiotic and biotic factors on marine carbon sediment quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of Perhutani and local farmers in developing agroforestry in Bogor Forest Management Unit (FMU) is important for carbon sequestration-based climate mitigation efforts. Different compositions of the plants in seven agroforestry systems in four part of Bogor FMU. Farmers adjust the multipurpose crops planted with Perhutani main plants, which are more dominant. The potential mean annual carbon increment based on aboveground carbon stock of agroforestry is between 2.26 to 66.65 tonnes per hectare, while in 2 monocultures land system is between 13.65 to 18.29 tonnes per hectare. The carbon increment in agroforestry systems is better than monoculture because of plant diversity and different ages. Then, carbon revenue using carbon pricing set by the World Bank-FCPF Program in East Kalimantan is in the range of IDR 1,547,325 to IDR 49,292,405 per hectare, using the Social Cost scheme in the range IDR 12,997,535 to IDR 414,056,204 per hectare and using domestic carbon tax is range IDR 635.017 to IDR 20,229,441 perhectare. Regarding carbon revenues, the wider the agroforestry land managed by farmers, the higher the carbon income received. Using the benefit transfer method over a 20-year mitigation period, an estimated 2.19 times increase in carbon revenues is obtained at an inflation rate of 4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a cross‐sectoral push among conservationists to simultaneously mitigate biodiversity loss and climate change, especially as the latter increasingly threatens the former. Growing evidence demonstrates that animals can have substantial impacts on carbon cycling. As such, there are increasing calls to use animal conservation and rewilding to dually overcome biodiversity loss and mitigate climate change.Specifically, trophic rewilding—which involves restoring intact animal communities, functional roles and trophic structure within food webs, and natural ecosystem processes—utilizes a rewilding framework to simultaneously support biodiversity conservation and carbon capture and storage. Trophic rewilding is a complex conservation approach to mitigating climate change, involving accurate estimations of baseline conditions and continuous monitoring of carbon cycling and species impacts within a system. It is also predicated on garnering social support for both the reintroduction and monitoring of a species, and obtaining the animals themselves.We are excited by the growing interest in this potential, but emphasize that a species' net impact on ecosystem carbon dynamics is context‐dependent. Caution is required whenever biodiversity conservation (including rewilding), climate change mitigation, and human welfare do not readily align. Hence—similar to other nature‐based solutions—these burgeoning efforts must avoid sweeping generalizations.To bolster successful trophic rewilding, we highlight a range of social and ecological context dependencies that can vary outcomes in a rewilded carbon cycle and provide ethical considerations for successful implementation.We conclude with an overview of the available technology to predict and monitor progress toward both biodiversity and climate mitigation goals. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue carbon has been proposed as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation; however, a limited number of published works and data and knowledge gaps hinder the development of small island developing states' (SIDS) national blue carbon resources globally. This paper reviews the blue carbon ecosystems of Seychelles as a case study in the context of SIDS, comparing estimations by the Blue Carbon Lab and recent blue carbon (mangrove and seagrass) evaluations submitted to the Seychelles national government. Mangroves (2195 ha, 80% in Aldabra Atoll) and seagrasses (142,065 ha) dominate in Seychelles, with coral reefs having the potential for carbon sequestration (169,000 ha). Seychelles is on track to protecting its blue carbon, but these systems are threatened by rising sea levels, coastal squeeze, erosion, severe storms, and human activities. The importance of carbon inventories, accounting institutions, and continuous monitoring of blue carbon systems is discussed. Blue accounting is necessary for accurate accounting of carbon sequestration and carbon storage, generating carbon credits, and representing impactful reductions in greenhouse gases for NDCs. Challenges and opportunities include policy legislation regarding ownership rights, accreditation and certification for carbon credits, sustainable financing mechanisms like natural asset companies and blue tokens, local engagement for long-term success, and carbon market dynamics following COP27. The restoration and regulation of blue carbon resources for optimal ecosystem services delivery, carbon inventories, and blue carbon policy are recommended development priorities. Blue carbon ecosystems have the potential to contribute to NDCs of SIDS while simultaneously offering sustainable development pathways for local communities through the multiple ecosystem services they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sacred groves are remnants of primary forests with rich biological diversity, protected by indigenous communities. Their role in carbon sequestration and provision of other ecosystem services is being recognized. We investigated four sacred groves (Idanre Hills, Igbo-Olodumare, Ogun-Onire, and Osun-Osogbo) in southwestern Nigeria for biodiversity conservation, biomass production, and carbon storage. A total of 32 temporary sample plots of 800 m2 each were laid across all the sacred groves. Within each plot, all trees with dbh greater or equal to 10 cm were identified, and their diameters and heights measured. Saplings and seedlings were assessed within 100 m2 and 25 m2 sub-plots, respectively. Non-destructive methods were employed in estimating volume, biomass production, and carbon storage. Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Margalef index, and tree species richness in the four groves ranged from 2.63–3.55, 5.64–10.02, and 41–85, respectively, and differed significantly. The four groves were sanctuaries for many indigenous tree species of immense social, religious, ecological, and socio-economic importance. The high densities of seedling and sapling, together with the inverted-J tree diameter distributions, are indications of active regeneration and healthy ecosystem. Mean volume was high (range 244.99 to 343.08 m3 ha−1). The biomass (range 87.8 to 231.85 t ha−1) and carbon stock (range 43.9 to 115.9 t ha−1) of the groves revealed their potentials for climate change mitigation through atmospheric CO2 sequestration. Thus, besides being an effective biodiversity conservation method, sacred groves are important carbon sink. This calls for further conservation of sacred groves to serve as long-term carbon storage mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) is highly stable, and constitutes an important source of long-term C storage in agrosystems. This stored carbon is resistant to the processes of oxidation of carbon compounds. In our research phytolith content in barley (Estonia) and oat (Poland) grain and straw was assessed at field trials, with Si as a liquid immune stimulant OPTYSIL and compost fertilisation. We showed that cereals can produce relatively high amounts of phytoliths. PhytOC plays a key role in carbon sequestration, particularly for poor, sandy Polish and Estonian soils. The phytolith content was always higher in straw than in grain regardless of the type of cereals. The phytolith content in oat grains varied from 18.46 to 21.28 mg∙g-1 DM, and in straw 27.89-38.97 mg∙g-1 DM. The phytolith content in barley grain ranged from 17.24 to 19.86 mg∙g-1 DM, and in straw from 22.06 to 49.08 mg∙g-1 DM. Our results suggest that oat ecosystems can absorb from 14.94 to 41.73 kg e-CO2∙ha-1 and barley absorb from 0.32 to 1.60 kg e-CO2∙ha-1. The accumulation rate of PhytOC can be increased 3-fold in Polish conditions through foliar application of silicon, and 5-fold in Estonian conditions. In parallel, the compost fertilisation increased the phytolith content in cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global climate warming caused by greenhouse gases poses a great threat to human living and biological ecosystems. To mitigate climate change, many measures have been taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Among them, the forest carbon sink (FCS) is considered as one of the most economical and effective carbon sequestration methods to realize carbon emission reductions in next 30 to 50 years. FCS projects are being implemented in many countries to increase their carbon sequestration and thereby to realize carbon emission reductions. However, there are some issues associated with implementation with such policies. Firstly, these projects mainly have focused only on carbon sequestration and have ignored the comprehensive ecological effects to obtain their best economical benefits. Secondly, implementing these projects fails to establish a sustainable and healthy forest industry because they place too much reliance on preferential policies from governments. Finally, the projects lack systematic technological standards and legislation to guarantee their smooth implementation. This editorial briefly discusses these issues for the suitable implementation of the FCS projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the conversion of garden organic waste into value-added products, namely compost or biochar, employing various processes. Three distinct scenarios are considered: composting garden organic waste followed by screening of oversized materials (CBP), pyrolysis of oversized screenings of compost into biochar AP(I), and in-situ conversion of garden organics into biochar AP(II). A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using OpenLCA software and life cycle impact assessment was conducted using Recipe 2016 midpoint methodology. The environmental ramifications of each scenario were assessed, optimising transport distances in AP(II) to achieve a functional unit of one tonne of biochar produced within a cradle-to-gate system boundary. For the first time, this study offers a holistic exploration of the benefits of soil biochar application, extending its scope to climate change mitigation, incorporating the optimisation of transport distance and its influence when scaling up the technology. The results revealed that global warming was increased from 125 kgCO 2 eq during composting of garden waste to 232 kgCO 2 eq where oversized screenings of compost is converted to biochar at an off-site facility. However, direct conversion of the oversized organic waste to biochar, without composting, showed reduced global warming impact of 56 kgCO 2 eq, and is thus the most favourable scenario to limit climate impacts of this fraction of organic garden waste. However, among 18 environmental impact indicators studied, eight indicators were either not influenced or did not significantly increase by transport distance to an off-site pyrolysis facility, while the magnitude of 10 impact indicators increased with transport distance. The insights and methodologies presented in this study hold global relevance, based on an actual case study in regional Australia, offering valuable recommendations for sustainable waste management practices and establishing biochar as a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative solution. The findings contribute to existing waste management knowledge and provide guidance for accessible carbon dioxide removal and soil carbon sequestration technologies. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive LCA for valorisation of garden organics was conducted. • Direct conversion of garden organics to biochar showed least potential environmental impacts. • Biochar provides opportunities for avoided, reduced, and removed carbon from atmosphere. • Maximum transport distance has been identified for individual impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oleaginous forests provide diverse ecosystem services, including timber, seed yield (a vital feedstock for biodiesel production), and substantial carbon savings. These carbon savings encompass carbon sequestration related to timber growth and carbon savings resulting from substituting fossil fuel with biodiesel. However, oleaginous forests are vulnerable to seed wasp attacks (disservice), which significantly threaten both seed yield and carbon savings. Using an integrated ecological-economic model that includes Faustmann's Land Expectation Value model and a pest damage control model, we aim to understand the intricate relationship among multiple ecosystem services and disservices of oleaginous forests. The results reveal four distinct phases contingent on varying pesticide application rates: the pesticide under-use phase, substitution phase, complementary phase, and over-use phase. Notably, a potential avenue to minimize pest damage is identified during the complementary phase by reducing the optimal rotation age at the expense of decreased carbon sequestration and bioenergy provision, posing a challenge to climate change mitigation. These findings have implications for formulating policies to manage conflicting ecosystem services of energy forests, offering valuable insights into the intersection of sustainable forest management and climate policy. [Display omitted] • Oleaginous forests provide services such as bioenergy and carbon sequestration. • The vulnerability of oleaginous forests to seed wasp attacks affects their services. • We employ Faustmann's Land Expectation Value model and a pest damage model. • Minimizing pesticide application may compromise carbon sequestration. • Climate policy requires coordinated forest management of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutrality strategies have a significant role in climate mitigation efforts. As global concerns regarding climate change continue to increase, achieving carbon neutrality has emerged as a paramount objective for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the adverse impacts of anthropogenic activities on the environment. This research investigates a wide range of scholarly works to conduct an in-depth analysis and synthesis of the relevant information about carbon neutrality strategies. The review introduces carbon neutrality principles and terminologies, highlighting their importance in climate mitigation. It then proceeds to explore the wide range of strategies employed across different sectors and industries, investigating their effectiveness, scalability, and potential challenges. A multidimensional analysis contrasts the United States Nationally Determined Contributions pathway 2023, China's Nationally Determined contributions 2023, and the EU Directive 2023/2413, assessing their economic, environmental, political, and social impacts. The study evaluates strategies' effectiveness, scalability, and innovation for transitioning to a sustainable, low-carbon future. It fills a gap by analyzing global approaches across the US, China, and the EU, which account for about 50% of the world's total GHG emissions. It evaluates the novel application of diverse strategies, from renewable energy transitions to innovative policy measures, highlighting their potential to mitigate climate change effectively. By providing a multidimensional analysis of these strategies' impacts, the research not only enhances understanding of effective carbon neutrality tactics but also underscores the importance of international cooperation in realizing a sustainable, low-carbon future. • Identifies and analyzes carbon neutrality strategies, emphasizing the need for diverse US, Chinese, and EU approaches. • Evaluate renewable energy, carbon capture, and policy tools for carbon reduction effectiveness, scalability, and innovation. • Highlights the study's novelty in synthesizing current knowledge on carbon neutrality, addressing a significant research gap. • Concludes with strategic ideas for international collaboration and policy development for low-carbon futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A CGE model elaborately depicting six CCS technologies was developed. • Impacts of four CCS incentive scenarios on decarbonization pathways were simulated. • CCS can sequester 960 ∼ 1,604 MtCO 2 annually in China by 2060 with policy incentives. • CCS incentives can reduce China's future primary energy demand by 7.7 ∼ 17.4 %. • CCS incentives can increase GDP by 5.64 ∼ 6.59 % compared to no policy scenario. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, considered as a pivotal tool in mitigating climate change within the fossil energy system, particularly in China, has experienced slower development than expected. The exploration of direct incentive policies to facilitate its growth remains relatively underdeveloped. This study developed a hybrid dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to simulate the substantial impacts of CCS incentive policies on China within the context of carbon neutrality target. Two potential incentive policies, carbon emission trading system (ETS) and 45Q tax credit, were simulated, with different sectoral coverage. The results indicate that CCS technologies can reduce carbon emissions by 960 ∼ 1,604 MtCO 2 annually by 2060 through the strategic implementation of these incentive policies. The 45Q tax credit demonstrates its effectiveness in promoting early-stage research and development (R&D) and demonstration of CCS, while the ETS policy facilitates the commercial development of CCS in the later stage of development. By 2060, the implementation of CCS incentive policies could potentially result in 7.7 ∼ 17.4 % reduction in China's primary energy consumption, 71.2 ∼ 82.7 % decrease in the carbon price of ETS and 5.64 ∼ 6.59 % increase in the GDP compared with the no-policy scenario. In addition, the sectoral output in various sectors and the welfare of urban and rural households also increase. This paper provides an important reference for the realization of China's carbon neutrality goal and the model framework can be applied to other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture technologies are becoming increasingly crucial in addressing global climate change issues by lowering CO 2 emissions from industrial and power generation activities. Post-combustion carbon capture, which uses membranes instead of adsorbents, has emerged as one of promising and environmentally friendly approaches among these technologies. The operation of membrane technology is based on the premise of selectively separating CO 2 from flue gas emissions. This provides a number of different benefits, including improved energy efficiency and decreased costs of operation. Because of its adaptability to changing conditions and its low impact on the surrounding ecosystem, it is an appealing choice for a diverse array of uses. However, there are still issues to be resolved, such as those pertaining to establishing a high selectivity, membrane degradation, and the costs of the necessary materials. In this article, we evaluate and explore the prospective applications and roles of membrane technologies to control climate change by post-combustion carbon capturing. The primary proposition suggests that the utilization of membrane-based carbon capture has the potential to make a substantial impact in mitigating CO 2 emissions originating from industrial and power production activities. This is due to its heightened ability to selectively absorb carbon, better efficiency in energy consumption, and its flexibility to various applications. The forthcoming challenges and potential associated with the application of membranes in post-carbon capture are also discussed. • Crucial role of carbon capture technology in climate change mitigation and environmental resilience. • Crucial role of membrane in climate change mitigation for ecosystem has been critically analyzed. • Efficiency, cost, and benefits of membranes for climate change in ecosystem. • Challenges and prospects in CO 2 capture for and environmental resilience are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Substitution factors for forest products for the Canadian context were developed. • Substitution factors ranging from 0.51 to 0.91 tC/tC were found. • They will lead to more accurate assessments of the forest GHG mitigation potential. • These factors will help governments to manage forest and fight climate change. Evaluating the climate change mitigation potential of the forest sector requires a holistic approach based on forest carbon (C) sequestration, C storage in harvested wood products (HWP) and substitution on markets. High uncertainty is associated with substitution factors, that express avoided fossil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the use of forest-based products in replacement of GHG-intensive materials and fossil fuels. Few studies have focused on the development of substitution factors in Canada, resulting in the use of unrepresentative generic data. Here, we provide a framework to reduce uncertainties related to substitution factors for primary wood products in a Canadian context. A life cycle assessment framework is used to quantify fossil GHG emissions for a baseline and a wood-intensive scenario. For solid product substitution, we focused on the construction sector and analyzed a range of innovative wood buildings with steel and reinforced concrete as alternative materials. We found non-weighted averages of 0.80 tC/tC for sawnwood and 0.81 tC/tC for panels. For energy substitution, we analyzed cases with different specifications on biomass product, facility type and alternative fossil fuel source in non-residential heat production and biofuel transportation sectors. We found a non-weighted average of 0.80 tC/tC for non-residential heat production and 0.51 tC/tC for biofuel transportation, that can be interpreted as 0.91 tC/tC for heavy fuel oil, 0.69 tC/tC for light fuel oil and 0.68 tC/tC for natural gas substitution. These results provide a benchmark for substitution factors in Canada, to help guide forest management strategies for climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of escalating global climate challenges, effective carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture techniques remain at the forefront of mitigating anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This comprehensive review elucidates the latest advancements in CO₂ capture, emphasizing two predominant methodologies: absorption and adsorption. We delve into the mechanisms underlying each process, highlighting the novel materials and technologies that have emerged over recent years. For absorption, the focus is placed on the material design strategy, and identifying new materials in the class of amines, ionic liquids (ILs) and nanofluids for enhanced CO 2 capture capacities and reduced energy requirements. In the realm of adsorption, the synthesis of innovative adsorbents, such as metal organic framework (MOF), organic polymers, inorganic adsorbents, silicon-based adsorbents, and biochar and byproducts from biomass with superior selectivity and stability, is explored. Additionally, the review addresses the challenges associated with each method, offering insights into potential avenues for further research. By providing a holistic overview of the current landscape of CO₂ capture, this article serves as a pivotal resource for researchers and industry professionals aiming to advance sustainable solutions to combat climate change. [Display omitted] • Absorption and adsorption materials are at the forefront of CO 2 capture technologies. • Ionic-liquids and nanofluids can be comparable to amines with improvements in scalability and stability. • Biomass byproducts as adsorbents offers a sustainable solution to CO 2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]