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Forestry carbon sink refers to the net income generated by forests, trees and woodlands in the process of absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide and fixing renewable forest resources. With the rapid development of Chinese economy and accelerating industrialization and urbanization, global climate change has become the focus of attention of all countries. Forest has a strong carbon sink function. The study of forest carbon sequestration and oxygen release value assessment is of great significance for the protection, development and utilization of forest resources and the mitigation of climate change. In this paper, the distributed storage model based on cloud computing architecture was adopted to evaluate the value of forest carbon sequestration and oxygen release. This model can be used to quickly calculate the value of forest carbon sequestration and oxygen release in a certain region, provide data support for forestry carbon sink trading, and provide method reference and scientific basis for forestry carbon sink project accounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are the largest pool of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems and are important for climate change mitigation. By analyzing the carbon sequestration process of forest ecosystem, the carbon sequestration amount of forest can be modeled as a nonlinear function, and the mechanism of forest carbon sequestration can be discussed on this basis. The research first introduced the relevant theories of forest carbon sequestration, followed by the preparation of the visualization system construction based on the research area and data sources, and then the construction of the visualization system, and finally carried out the simulation verification. The results show that the system is effective and accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological carbon sinks play a crucial role in global carbon cycling and climate mitigation, making their effective management essential. This study develops a novel risk zoning and multifactor analysis framework for ecological carbon sink management in Yunnan Province, China, a region recognized for its ecological diversity and carbon sequestration potential. Our results reveal that high-priority ecological carbon sink zones, mainly in the southwest and western regions, cover 20% of the total area and contain over 60% of the province's carbon stocks. In contrast, high-risk zones, primarily in urbanized regions, show a reduction in carbon sequestration, with emissions exceeding 25.7 million kg due to urban development and landscape degradation. The analysis delineated five distinct risk zones; urgent intervention zones, risk control zones, priority restoration zones, long-term conservation zones, and integrated management zones. Notably, urgent intervention and priority restoration zones, while representing just 9.6% of the area, are critical for protecting over 40% of the carbon sequestration potential. The comprehensive risk zoning framework, combining principal component and canonical correspondence analysis (PCA-CCA), effectively integrates landscape indicators, socio-economic factors, and natural elements. Our innovative, data-driven approach offers strategic insights into managing carbon sinks while balancing ecological integrity and socioeconomic needs, providing a replicable model for ecosystem management. The framework presented in this paper. [Display omitted] • Created a zoning framework combining carbon sink priorities with landscape risks for precise ecological risk management. • Established a zoning matrix for differentiated strategies to enhance carbon sink conservation and mitigate ecological risks. • Integrated PCA and CCA for assessing ecological carbon sinks, revealing impacts from landscape and socio-economic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a crucial component for sustainable cities, as inefficient waste disposal contributes to the release of about a billion tons of CO 2 -eq in greenhouse gases (GHG) annually. With escalating global waste generation, there is an untapped opportunity to integrate carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies into existing MSW management processes. This review explores current research on utilizing MSW for CDR, emphasizing its potential for both energy generation and carbon sequestration. The investigation covers three waste management practices: landfilling, waste-to-energy (WtE), and biochar production, revealing two paths for carbon sequestration. First, MSW serves as a feedstock in bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), acting as a carbon-neutral resource that avoids fossil fuel and energy crop use, reducing GHG emissions and generating value through energy production. Second, direct storage of organic MSW and its derivatives, like biochar, in various carbon sinks allows for extended sequestration, offering a comprehensive approach to address the challenges of waste management and climate change mitigation. Moreover, this review advocates for an extended exploration into several subjects including in-depth analysis of waste, research on MSW-derived biochar recalcitrance across different carbon sinks, and understanding the symbiotic connections with GHG-emitting sectors like agriculture and energy. Finally, this review emphasizes the necessity of conducting life-cycle assessment studies to fully discern the benefits and assess the impacts of any future endeavors exploring the role of MSW in carbon sequestration. [Display omitted] • Municipal solid waste (MSW) is an untapped resource for carbon dioxide removal. • Three strategies to utilize MSW for CO 2 removal include landfilling, waste-to-energy, and biochar production. • Carbon sequestration is achieved through MSW-burial and energy recovery with CCS. • Auditing carbon emissions and LCA are necessary to illuminate the impacts of MSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with the multiple challenges of mitigating climate change, controlling air pollution, preserving ecological environments, and promoting economic growth, developing countries need to seek a synergistic development path. The Forest Carbon Sink Project (FCSP) has the potential to support developing countries in achieving these objectives. Currently, empirical research on the synergistic benefits of FCSPs is limited, leading to ongoing debate about their economic and environmental benefits. Therefore, this study uses panel data from 1600 counties in China to provide evidence for the development of FCSPs. Firstly, the study employs a difference-in-differences model to quantitatively assess the causal relationship between FCSP and both economic development and air quality. Furthermore, this study evaluates the potential of FCSP to reduce carbon emissions by setting a scenario of bioenergy planting (BCP). The empirical results show that, compared to non-project counties, FCSP project counties experience a 6.70% increase in real GDP and a 0.90% decrease in PM 2.5 concentration. FCSP generates economic benefits by increasing residents' income, boosting fixed asset investment, and upgrading industrial structure. And it improves air quality by expanding forest area and enhancing vegetation coverage. Scenario simulations show that in the BCP scenario, one project county can yield 23.39 Kt of biomass yearly. Scaling the FCSP to 500 counties would result in an annual reduction of 24.46 Mt. of CO 2 emissions. This amount constitutes roughly 28% of China's CO 2 emission increase in [ 8 ], which was 88 Mt. • Statistical and remote sensing data are combined to build a county-level economic and air quality database in China. • A multi-period DID model is applied to identify the synergistic benefits of Forest Carbon Sink Project (FCSP). • The scenario simulation method is applied to study the possible development paths of FCSP. • Existing FCSPs can synergistically promote economic growth and improve air quality. • Developing bioenergy plantations could allow FCSP to steadily reduce carbon emission in energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the main driver of the energy balance partitioning and influences hydrological and carbon cycles at global, regional and local scales. Furthermore, it is the main requirement for developing strategies to improve water use in agriculture. It is known that there is a close relationship between ET and rainfall, especially in tropical environments. Thus, the main goal of this article was to evaluate how ET and its controls (surface conductance - Gs; decoupling coefficient - Ω; Priestley-Taylor parameter - α) respond to the seasonal variability of meteorological forcing in tropical grazed pastures under the climatic conditions of Northeast Brazil. ET was measured using an Eddy covariance (EC) system and analyzed based on data from two agricultural years (2015–2016 and 2016–2017) with negative (-59 mm) and positive (356 mm) rainfall anomaly, respectively. ET exhibited pronounced seasonality, closely aligned with the seasonality of rainfall. Lower daily averages were observed during the dry season in both agricultural years (1.01 ± 0.60 and 0.89 ± 0.44 mm, respectively). On the other hand, higher daily averages were observed during the rainy season (2.44 ± 0.75 and 4.83 ± 0.96 mm, respectively). The Gs patterns and the significant correlation between Gs, Ω, and α (p < 0.01) indicate that surface control prevails over atmospheric control on an annual scale. This finding is confirmed by the annual mean values of Ω (0.27, 2015–2016) and α (0.38, 2016–2017). This relationship is likely induced by a vegetative stomatal control mechanism, which protects the vegetation against excessive water loss during periods of high temperatures and low humidity levels. These findings are crucial for understanding how droughts modulate components of the energy balance and water fluxes in pastures, especially given the intensification of these events. This has implications for the implementation of climate change mitigation policies and soil management. • The seasonality of grazing pasture ET was in line with the seasonality of rain. • On an annual scale, surface control over ET is more relevant than atmospheric control. • VPD is the main controlling factor of surface conductance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The 57.00% of the Yangtze River Economic Belt area exhibited a significant increase in annual NPP. • The response of NPP on climate factors was nonlinear, with greater sensitivity to temperature. • The impact of topographic factors on NPP changes had a threshold effect. Net primary productivity (NPP) of terrestrial ecosystems serves as a crucial carbon sink, playing a significant role in mitigating climate change. This study, focusing on the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), a key area for both economic development and ecological conservation in China, evaluates the temporal and spatial changes in regional NPP and its responses to climatic factors against the backdrop of global change. Utilizing long-term NPP and meteorological grid data from 1981 to 2017, we analyzed the annual change patterns of NPP and its linear and nonlinear responses to climatic factors using copula functions. Our findings indicate that 57.00 % of the YREB has experienced a significant increase in NPP, with the most substantial decreases observed in Shanghai and its surrounding areas (P < 0.05). Temperature emerged as the primary climatic driver, positively correlating with NPP changes in over half of the study area (P < 0.05). Moreover, the nonlinear response of NPP to temperature and precipitation underscores the complex interactions between these factors, revealing a sensitivity to temperature variations that surpasses that to precipitation. The study also highlights the influence of solar radiation and topographic factors, with a significant positive correlation between NPP and solar radiation observed in 15.85 % of the area (P < 0.05). The practical significance of these findings lies in their implications for regional ecological management and climate resilience strategies. The positive correlation between temperature and NPP underscores the potential for targeted temperature management to optimize carbon sequestration across the YREB. Furthermore, the identified nonlinear responses and the role of solar radiation and topography in influencing NPP offer valuable insights for the formulation of adaptive strategies that enhance ecosystem productivity and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality goals. By elucidating the dynamics of NPP in response to a range of environmental factors, this study provides a foundation for informed decision-making in ecological conservation and climate change mitigation efforts within the YREB and similar regions globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Climate change threatens the carbon sink capacity of forests in Chile. • Industrial plantations do not contribute towards achieving carbon neutrality. • Wildfire emissions exceed the nationally determined contributions mitigation. • Climate actions should diversify including a wider range of nature based solutions. • Conservation and restauration of wetlands can contribute to carbon neutrality. As president of the Climate Change Conference of the Parties, Chile has advocated for developing ambitious commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2050. However, Chile's motivations and ambitious push to reach carbon-neutrality are complicated by a backdrop of severe drought, climate change impacts (i.e., wildfires, tree mortality), and the use of industrial plantations as a mitigation strategy. This has become more evident as widespread and severe wildfires have impacted large areas of industrial plantations, transforming the land-use, land-use change, and forestry sector from a carbon sink to a net carbon source. Consequently, Chile must diversify its climate actions to achieve carbon-neutrality. Nature-based solutions, including wetlands-peatlands and oceans, represent alternative climate actions that can be implemented to tackle greenhouse gas emissions at a national level. Diversification, however, must guarantee Chile's long-term carbon sequestration capacity without compromising the ecological functionality of biodiverse tree-less habitats and native forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renewal of old bridges is sometimes restricted to avoid the high carbon emissions caused by materials and construction, which however might not be conductive to climate change mitigation due to their insufficient functions. In order to facilitate the optimization of renewal timing and strategy from the perspective of reducing the comprehensive global warming impacts, we put forward the low-carbon bridge renewal decision method referring to the ideas of consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) and dynamic LCA. In the proposed method, a comparative system boundary matching the bridge renewal characteristics is constructed, where the carbon emission reduction owing to the traffic efficiency improvement by functional updating is incorporated as the low-carbon benefits of renewal, and three types of time-dependent factors, i.e., time-dependent characterization factor, trend factors and changes of traffic demands, are introduced to characterize the influence of renewal timing. The proposed method provided guidance for the renewal of Maogang Bridge, the first long-span cable-stayed bridge in Shanghai. Results illustrate that the global warming impacts of renewal construction activities and the low-carbon benefits from functional updating decrease with the renewal timing. For Maogang Bridge, the rapidly increasing traffic demands inevitably advocated renewal in advance, and the reduction of global warming impacts from emission reduction or carbon uptake could be manifested for renewal in advance. Adopting material recycling in the disposal of old bridge helped reconstructing a new bridge while deconstructing the old one in 2019 becoming the finally selected low-carbon renewal strategy, which is expected to reduce 15.04 kt CO 2 e-2019 compared to the essential renewal in 2050 with the landfill disposal method. The robustness of the strategy choice has been justified, given the variations of analytical time horizon, expected emission trends and repair emissions. In this way, the low-carbon renewal decision method could build a quantitative basis for judging the urgency of functional updating and verifying the low-carbon benefits of immediate concrete recycling in up-coming urban renewals. • Low-carbon bridge renewal decision optimizes renewal timing and strategy. • System boundary is expanded for quantifying benefits from functional updating. • Emission trends and time-dependent characterization factors are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The nexus between forest-based climate mitigation and health is poorly researched. • This scoping review identified exposure pathways and health co-benefits from forests. • There is potential for synergies between forest management and health benefits. • Interdisciplinary efforts are required for advancement of research and understanding. Climate change is a pressing global challenge with profound implications for human health. Forest-based climate change mitigation strategies, such as afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable forest management, offer promising solutions to mitigate climate change and simultaneously yield substantial co-benefits for human health. The objective of this scoping review was to examine research trends related to the interdisciplinary nexus between forests as carbon sinks and human health co-benefits. We developed a conceptual framework model, supporting the inclusion of exposure pathways, such as recreational opportunities or aesthetic experiences, in the co-benefit context. We used a scoping review methodology to identify the proportion of European research on forest-based mitigation strategies that acknowledge the interconnection between mitigation strategies and human impacts. We also aimed to assess whether synergies and trade-offs between forest-based carbon sink capacity and human co-benefits has been analysed and quantified. From the initial 4,062 records retrieved, 349 reports analysed European forest management principles and factors related to climate change mitigation capacity. Of those, 97 studies acknowledged human co-benefits and 13 studies quantified the impacts on exposure pathways or health co-benefits and were included for full review. Our analysis demonstrates that there is potential for synergies related to optimising carbon sink capacity together with human co-benefits, but there is currently a lack of holistic research approaches assessing these interrelationships. We suggest enhanced interdisciplinary efforts, using for example multideterminant modelling approaches, to advance evidence and understanding of the forest and health nexus in the context of climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Carbon sink capacity of a typical ecotypic county was precisely estimated. • STARFM was employed to estimate interannual NEP at county scale. • The NEP dataset at a 30 m grid scale from 2000 to 2020 was generated. • Spatio-temporal dynamics of NEP in ecotype county were grasped. Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) serves as a pivotal metric for quantitatively elucidating the carbon sink function of terrestrial ecosystems. As a prototype county for the development of an ecological civilization in China, the quantitative estimation of the ecotypic county's ecosystem carbon sink capacity holds immense significance in comprehending the carbon cycle and facilitating the sustainable advancement of regional ecosystems. This study undertook the estimation of NEP in Wuning County from 2000 to 2020, employing a fusion of multi-source remote sensing data, the Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (STARFM), the improved Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach model, and the soil respiration model. Furthermore, we delved into the differences in NEP across various types of land cover. In addition, we employed the Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and Mann-Kendall test to discern the spatio-temporal trends of NEP. The findings indicated the following: (1) The downscaled NDVI generated by STARFM exhibited a remarkable consistency with Landsat NDVI overall (R 2 > 0.95, P < 0.01, 0 < RMSE < 0.1). (2) The gross NEP from 2000 to 2020 in the study area ranged from 542.78 to 720 Gg C, with a multi-year average NEP of 183.84 g C m−2 yr−1. The simulated NEP demonstrated higher accuracy when compared to the measured data (R 2 = 0.79, P < 0.01). (3) The NEP exhibited a spatial pattern characterized by lower values in the central area and higher values in the north and south. Approximately 89.60 % of the total area demonstrated an increase in NEP, with woodland acting as the primary contributor, while 4.50 % of the total area displayed a decreasing trend, predominantly due to the expansion of built-up land. (4) Notable variations in NEP existed among different types of land cover. In terms of vegetation types, the annual average NEP ranked as follows: woodland > grassland > cropland. The application of STARFM has provided valuable insights into the methodology for precise delineation of spatio-temporal dynamics of NEP at the county scale. The outcomes of this study have furnished support for implementing climate change mitigation strategies in ecologically-oriented counties and the bottom-up promotion of China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While carbon sequestration is significant to achieve the net zero and plays an important role in climate change mitigation, urbanization-led land use land cover (LULC) changes are causing significant impacts on the carbon stocks of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite rapid urbanization in Pakistan, previous studies focus solely on localized areas without documenting the influence of urbanization on carbon stock. Hence, insights regarding the carbon storage dynamics (CSD) in response to LULC changes become essential to drive informed decisions and policies. In this context, we leverage high-resolution (30 m) remote sensing data to evaluate and map the grid-level spatial-temporal interactions between urbanization and CSD at the national scale in Pakistan during 1990–2020. To do so, multi-sensor earth observation data are retrieved and processed using the Google Earth Engine and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs models. Our findings indicate that urban areas have expanded exponentially (an increase of ∼1040%), resulting in reduced carbon storage (a decrease of ∼ − 5%). Major cities (e.g., Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad) showed less urban sprawl while emerging cities (e.g., Rawalpindi and Peshawar) demonstrated higher urban sprawl, primarily due to shifting patterns from rangeland (∼47%) and agriculture (∼35%) to built-up class. Though some afforestation projects have increased forest carbon stocks in the northern region, there is a large north-south spatial heterogeneity in carbon storage loss across Pakistan. The presented high-resolution mapping of CSD over the past three decades advances our understanding of where and how much urbanization has influenced carbon sequestration, nationally. Considering the results, this study emphasizes the need for policies and management approaches that support sustainable urbanization, which does not compromise carbon pools in the country. • Grid level impact of LULC transition and its influence on CSD is mapped. • Transition from green cover to built-up areas led to reduced carbon storage. • Sustainable land management is imperative to maintain carbon storage capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hundreds of millions of unstable croplands have been underutilized in the time series by repeated cultivation and abandonment, leading to threats to food security and loss of ecological benefits due to frequent disturbance on ecosystem restoration. Understanding unstable cropland and its connections to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is required in the context of increasing food demand and natural conservation. Here, we first investigate the global cropland instability and influencing factors, then simulate the stable utilization of unstable cropland and its ecological effects under different scenarios of maintaining crop production. 395 million hectares of croplands in 173 countries are found under unstable utilization, accounting for 22% of global croplands. Over three-quarters of unstable croplands are distributed in areas with unfavorable agricultural conditions or high conservation value, and countries experiencing high cropland instability share a common characteristic of climatic or terrain constraints on agriculture. According to the simulation results, 141 million hectares or 36% of the unstable croplands could be released for ecological restoration with 3.8 more billion tons of carbon sequestration, while the rest of the unstable croplands could be stably used to increase 3% of global total crop production. This study highlights the importance of managing unstable croplands in climate mitigation and natural conservation as well as reconciling crop production and other SDGs, with guiding significance for land-use management, climate action, and biodiversity conservation. • 395 million hectares of croplands in 173 countries are under unstable utilization. • Three quarters of unstable croplands are constrained by natural and socio-economic factors. • 36% of the unstable croplands could be released for durable ecosystem recovery by simulation. • Projected increase of 3.8 billion tons of carbon sinks with a 3% increase in crop production. • Stabilizing unstable croplands can benefit the SDG win-win by lasting ecosystem recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon footprint at the UBI consumption level is 4.8 tCO 2 -eq per capita. • UBI carbon footprint is around half of the average carbon footprint in Finland. • Downscaling consumption alone is not enough to achieve sustainable lifestyles. • Additional mitigation solutions are needed alongside downscaling. • At a societal level, downscaling is hard to reconcile with high social security. Human economic activities and following carbon emissions have been recognized to be a real threat to the environment. The current levels of consumption-based carbon footprints in all developed economies grossly exceed the sustainable level. Scientists have concluded that in addition to technological solutions, downscaling of consumption and far-reaching changes in lifestyles will be needed to achieve environmental sustainability. In this study, we provide a tangible real-world example that reveals the scale of the needed change from a perspective of a European welfare state citizen. Universal basic income (UBI) represents an income that is just enough to fulfil basic needs, such as food, shelter, and medication. In our case country, Finland, UBI is in practice at the same level as the income of the lowest income decile. The purpose of this study is to present and analyse the carbon footprints at a consumption level that corresponds to UBI. We compare the carbon footprints at this low-income level to average Finnish carbon footprints and discuss their sustainability in the light of global carbon budgets. We use an input-output approach based on the Finnish ENVIMAT model. The average carbon footprint at the UBI level is 4.8 tCO 2 -eq and it focuses on necessities. It's significantly lower than the average carbon footprint in Finland, 9.4 tCO 2 -eq, but still far from the level compatible with the current climate change mitigation targets. The results emphasize how challenging it is to find true low-carbon solutions for living in affluent countries. Lifestyle changes and technological leaps need to be combined and fostered by legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With emphasis on constructing low-carbon cities, the renovation of old communities highlights the importance of renewing rainwater management facilities. Rain garden is an exceptional Nature-based Solution for rainwater management. When applying them to renovate old communities, the carbon footprint should be considered. This study focused on renovating facilities in the Greater Bay Area and utilized the Energy Expert platform to calculate rain garden carbon footprint with the Life Cycle Assessment. The carbon reduction benefits during the operation were estimated. This study accounting the life cycle carbon footprint of the 5455 m2 rain garden was 1117.42 tCO 2 e. The carbon footprint contribution, from highest to lowest was the end-of-life phase, materials production phase, construction phase, use and maintenance phase. Regarding carbon emission inventory, waste soil landfill, fertilizer acquisition, and waste soil recycling ranked high. Transportation also accounted for a remarkable carbon emission. The rain garden showed great potential for climate change mitigation, with a total and net carbon reduction of 1927.41 and 809.99 tCO 2 e, respectively. To reduce the carbon footprint of the rain garden, we should focus on waste soil treatment and transportation. Recommendations included increasing waste soil recycling, in situ recycling and green transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Stand spatial structure plays an important role in the fragile natural secondary forest. • Species diversity have a negative impact in changing restored woodlands, thereby reducing productivity. • Stand spatial structure has a stronger impact on forest carbon sink than species diversity. • Stand spatial structure is a prioritized indicator in the regulation of fragile forest ecosystems. Increasing attention for adjusting forest structural and species diversity has been paid to enhance carbon storage. However, the relative importance of stand spatial structural diversity and species diversity to restored stand carbon stocks remains unclear. To address this issue, we conducted a sample plot setup in the Loess Plateau with the aim of exploring the effects of stand spatial structural diversity and species diversity on forest carbon stocks. Therefore, we determined index parameters for species diversity (Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, and Pielou) and spatial structural diversity (Angular scale, Mingling, Aggregation, and Competition) within the oak forest ecosystem. We examined carbon storage in all vegetation organs and different soil layers. Additionally, we employed a structural equation model to develop a model that illustrates the effects of stand spatial structure and species diversity on ecosystem carbon storage. The results reveal that stand spatial structure and species diversity influence the ecosystem carbon storage through biomass (trees and litter) and soil carbon (0–100 cm). Stand spatial structure exhibits positive direct effects (path coefficients: 0.764 and 0.890), while species diversity shows negative direct effects (−0.320 and −0.206) on biomass and soil carbon, respectively. Finally, the total effect of spatial structure diversity on forest carbon storage surpasses that of species diversity. Therefore, stand spatial structure should be adjusted preferentially during forest management in fragile ecological environment. Our results provide important insights into the climate change mitigation potential associated with the structure-based management of forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agricultural and food processing practices are often proposed as attractive strategies enabling food systems to respond to the challenges posed by climate change in terms of adaptation and mitigation. However, information on the actual contribution to climate change provided by sustainable food production systems is lacking in literature. With the intention to contribute to a more informed debate, this study aims at quantify the actual impact on climate of sustainable practices applied to a grape-to-wine system in Italy. The overall budget of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes is assessed at wine farm level, from the vineyard to the final bottle of wine, through an integration of methods, including the eddy covariance technique, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and the IPCC guidelines. All the components of the GHG budget have been considered: the (a) biogenic GHG fluxes and the (b) anthropogenic GHG emissions generated for the grape production as well as the (c) carbon stock change due to the vineyard management and the (d) anthropogenic GHG emissions generated by the transformation of grape into wine. At the vineyard level, the overall GHG budget resulted to be close to zero, showing a potential carbon neutrality of sustainable viticulture: the sum of biogenic GHG fluxes (a) and the carbon stock change (c) resulted in a net carbon sink with a potential contribution to climate change mitigation of −0,27 ± 1,11 Mg CO 2 eq year−1 per hectare; while the anthropogenic GHG emissions (b) for the sustainable vineyard management accounted for 0,24 ± 0,05 Mg CO 2 eq ha−1 year−1. The total carbon footprint (b + d) of sustainable wine is 0,79 ± 0,14 kg CO 2 eq per bottle, with 15% attributable to the agricultural phase and 85% to the transformation of grape into wine. These findings indicate that sustainable wine production has in general a lower contribution to climate change. In particular, sustainable practices applied to viticulture can turn the system into a net carbon sink able to totally compensate the anthropogenic emissions for the vineyard management. Therefore, sustainable viticulture allows food production with a potential carbon neutrality without exacerbating climate change. • Sustainable viticulture allows food production with a potential carbon neutrality without exacerbating climate change. • Sustainable viticulture generates biogenic GHG fluxes that turn the agrosystem into a net carbon sink. • Anthropogenic GHG emissions in sustainable vineyard are low and can be totally compensate by the net carbon sink. • The carbon footprint (CF) of sustainable wine is 0,79 ± 0,14 kg CO 2 eq per bottle. • Sustainable wine production has in general a lower contribution to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Spatiotemporal changes of central heating CO 2 emissions at city level are shown. • A high-resolution gridded inventory of heating-related CO 2 emissions is built. • The satellite nighttime light data is used to downscale the city level emissions. • Differences in CO 2 emissions between urban and non-urban areas are discussed. Abstract Energy consumption from central heating has rapidly increased in the cities of the North China Plain (NCP). The increasing use of natural gas in the central heating supply system may have altered the spatial and temporal patterns of CO 2 emissions from central heating, yet the quantitative impacts are poorly understood. Here we detect the spatio-temporal dynamics of CO 2 emissions of central heating from 2012 to 2016 at the prefectural-city level in the NCP region, by using the satellite NPP-VIIRS nighttime light data and a panel regression model to estimate CO 2 emissions on a 5 × 5 km2 grid. We find that despite a slight decrease (2%) in 2014 under the "Natural Gas Utilization Policy", CO 2 emissions continued to grow. Between 2012 and 2016, CO 2 emissions from central heating in the NCP increased from 106 to 121 Tg, although CO 2 emissions declined by 12% in Beijing due to the increasing contribution of natural gas boilers. The gridded CO 2 emissions map shows that over 2012–2016 coal burning is the main driving force of CO 2 emissions in both urban and non-urban regions, despite the increasing fraction of gas-based heating. Our results contribute to city-level policymaking on carbon reduction and climate change mitigation. The high-resolution gridded CO 2 emissions can also be applied in physical models to facilitate carbon cycle studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have suggested that some mangrove soils might contribute to wetland methane (CH 4 ) production and emissions, especially when the mangroves are disturbed. CH 4 emissions were measured seasonally from nine locations on two mangrove creeks on Naples Bay in southwest Florida, USA. One of the tidal creeks has been impacted in the past few decades with alteration of upstream watersheds and freshwater inflows; the other creek was an un-impacted reference tidal creek. Our study sites were established along a longitudinal gradient (distance to the creeḱs mouth) with different plant communities and freshwater influences, which were further evaluated by measurements during the dry and wet seasons. CH 4 emission measurements were also performed during the flood and ebb tides (n = 6) to incorporate the influence of water level fluctuations on CH 4 emissions. Additionally, hydroperiods and soil pore water electrical conductivity (EC) as a measure of salinity were measured along the study creeks. Our study showed very small, if not negligible, CH 4 emissions from mangrove soils in this southwest Florida location at all sampling locations and sampling times. Despite our collecting over 1900 methane samples from methane emission chambers, most analyses of rates of change in the chambers showed no methane emissions. Seasonal averages ranged from 0.24 to 1.68 mg CH 4 -C m −2 d −1 (annual average of 0.32 g CH 4 -C m −2 y −1 ). Ironically, the lowest methane emissions were at the end (December–January) of a typical wet season of daily rainfall and were highest in the dry season (March–April) when freshwater inputs from watersheds and precipitation were negligible. Water level fluctuations, freshwater inputs, and plant species composition did not play a significant role in CH 4 emissions. There appeared to be a slight pattern of methane emissions versus air temperature but the relationship was not linear. Combining our results with carbon sequestration rates in a companion study suggested that mangroves in southwest Florida are clearly net sinks of both carbon and radiative forcing and therefore beneficial for mitigating climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most country long-term climate strategies envision reliance on NETs. • Most countries emphasize NETs that enhance natural carbon sinks. • Few countries explicitly envision slowing down short-term mitigation measures. • Countries estimate huge carbon sink potentials despite pervasive uncertainties. • This may set in motion a spiral of delay as uncertainties are sought to be reduced. In order to address the pressing challenge of climate change, countries are now submitting long-term climate strategies to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. These strategies include within them potential future use of 'negative emissions technologies' (NETs). NETs are interventions that remove carbon from the atmosphere, ranging from large-scale terrestrial carbon sequestration in forests, wetlands and soils, to use of carbon capture and storage technologies. We assess here how NETs are discussed in 29 long-term climate strategies, in order to ascertain the risk that including the promise of future NETs may delay the taking of short-term mitigation actions. Our analysis shows that almost all countries plan to rely on NETs, particularly enhanced use of natural carbon sinks, even as a wide array of challenges and trade-offs in doing so are highlighted. Many strategies call for improved accounting systems and market incentives in realizing future NETs. While no strategy explicitly suggests that NETs can be a substitute for short-term mitigation, most estimate substantial potential for future use of NETs even in the face of acknowledged uncertainties. This, we suggest, may have the consequence of resulting in what we describe here as 'a spiral of delay' characterized by the promise of future NET options juxtaposed with the simultaneous uncertainty around these future options. Our analysis highlights that this inter-connected delaying dynamic may be intrinsic to what we term 'governing-by-aspiration' within global climate politics, wherein the voicing of lofty future ambition risks replacing current action and accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the Paris agreement in 2015, the European Union (EU) set a carbon neutrality objective by 2050, and so did France. The French agricultural sector can contribute as a carbon sink through carbon storage in biomass and soil, in addition to reducing GHG emissions. The objective of this study is to quantitatively assess the additional storage potential and cost of a set of eight carbon-storing practices. The impacts of these agricultural practices on soil organic carbon storage and crop production are assessed at a very fine spatial scale, using crop and grassland models. The associated area base, GHG budget, and implementation costs are assessed and aggregated at the region level. The economic model BANCO uses this information to derive the marginal abatement cost curve for France and identify the combination of carbon storing practices that minimizes the total cost of achieving a given national net GHG mitigation target. We find that a substantial amount of carbon, 36.2 to 52.9 MtCO 2 e yr−1, can be stored in soil and biomass for reasonable carbon prices of 55 and 250 € tCO 2 e−1, respectively (corresponding to current and 2030 French carbon value for climate action), mainly by developing agroforestry and hedges, generalising cover crops, and introducing or extending temporary grasslands in crop sequences. This finding questions the 3–5 times lower target of 10 MtCO2e.yr−1 retained for the agricultural carbon sink by the French climate neutrality strategy. Overall, this would decrease total French GHG emissions by 9.2–13.8%, respectively (reference year 2019). • Additional carbon storage, net GHG budget, and cost of 8 agricultural practices. • MACC shows abatement potential of 40–60 MtCO 2 e.yr−1 for carbon price 55–250 €.tCO 2 e−1. • Key practices: agroforestry, hedges, cover crops, grasslands in crop sequences. • No "one size fits all strategy" due to heterogeneity across regions and practices. • French agricultural carbon sink potential is 5 times higher than anticipated by the government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes and artificial reservoirs present as funnels for global and regional carbon cycling. However, limited information is available about dissolved organic carbon (DOC) bioavailability, especially for its trophic controls and compositional transformations in widely distributed karst waters. Here we examined DOC biodegradation (%BDOC), temperature sensitivity (Q 10 value), nutrients and their stoichiometric ratios, as well as DOC composition over a 28-day laboratory incubation experiment in karst lakes and reservoirs. Fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Visible spectroscopy were employed to trace DOC variability. We found that %BDOC ranged between 1.17% and 66.6% (median: 30.1%) at 15 °C and 5.95%–68.5% (median: 31.0%) at 30 °C, respectively. The Q 10 values were mainly distributed between 0.75 and 1.50, suggesting a large amount of degraded substrate with low activation energy. Aquatic DOC and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) were tightly linked to the %BDOC, whereas significant phosphorus (P) limitation (TDN:TD P > 25) did not induce discernible correlations. Carbohydrates as a dominant contributor to biodegradable DOC (BDOC) largely drove DOC remineralization. The incomplete degradation of humic-like fractions increased the relative abundance of fulvic acid, tyrosine-like and tryptophan-like fractions. A distinctive mode as biological utilization of extreme active and inactive components could be summarized in the karst lakes and reservoirs. These findings hope to supplement special mechanisms of DOC transformation and fate in the context of climate change mitigation for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. [Display omitted] • Carbohydrates as a primary contributor to BDOC in the karst waters. • Large labile fractions caused insignificant BDOC temperature sensitivity. • Low activation energy of the degraded substance invalided nutrient limitation. • Incomplete degradation of humic-like DOC induced molecular weight fluctuations. • Extreme active and inactive components dominated biological utilization of DOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Global forest sector model intercomparison of 81 future pathway scenarios. • Socioeconomic drivers have strongly influence forest sector model estimates. • Global forests could sequester 1.2–5.8 GtCO2e/yr over the next century. • Improved management can increase carbon and harvests without expanding forest area. • Climate policy assessments could better represent forest markets and management dynamics. Deforestation has contributed significantly to net greenhouse gas emissions, but slowing deforestation, regrowing forests and other ecosystem processes have made forests a net sink. Deforestation will still influence future carbon fluxes, but the role of forest growth through aging, management, and other silvicultural inputs on future carbon fluxes are critically important but not always recognized by bookkeeping and integrated assessment models. When projecting the future, it is vital to capture how management processes affect carbon storage in ecosystems and wood products. This study uses multiple global forest sector models to project forest carbon impacts across 81 shared socioeconomic (SSP) and climate mitigation pathway scenarios. We illustrate the importance of modeling management decisions in existing forests in response to changing demands for land resources, wood products and carbon. Although the models vary in key attributes, there is general agreement across a majority of scenarios that the global forest sector could remain a carbon sink in the future, sequestering 1.2–5.8 GtCO2e/yr over the next century. Carbon fluxes in the baseline scenarios that exclude climate mitigation policy ranged from −0.8 to 4.9 GtCO2e/yr, highlighting the strong influence of SSPs on forest sector model estimates. Improved forest management can jointly increase carbon stocks and harvests without expanding forest area, suggesting that carbon fluxes from managed forests systems deserve more careful consideration by the climate policy community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines empirically climate change related vulnerability impacts, and remedial options as an optimal and applicable strategy by prioritizing needs in climate change mitigation over 95 years. An Empirical Downscaling Dynamic Integrated model of Climate and the Economy (EDDICE) is deployed using an optimal scenario for Malaysia against a baseline scenario of existing conditions following the top-down disaggregation strategy recommended by other studies. The model takes account of various climatic variables, including, temperature, carbon cycle, carbon emission, climatic damage, carbon control, and carbon concentration, which was adapted from observational records of climatic changes caused by global warming from 2010 to 2105. The results are interesting in prioritizing climate change mitigation for the future. Whereas the cumulative cost of climatic damage over the period 2010–2105 will amount to MYR40,128.1 billion under the present climatic regime in Malaysia, it will fall to MYR5263.7 billion under the optimal regime. In addition, the government would have collected revenue from carbon taxes amounting to MYR9535.4 billion over the 95 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP), preferentially initiated to reduce water loss and soil erosion in the Loess Plateau of China in 1999, is the largest eco-restoration project in the world in recent decades. This massive effort improved the vegetation conditions markedly and was expected to have a great potential to enhance terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration. However, the spatially-explicit C consequences of the SLCP remain largely unknown at the regional scale. Using Ansai County in the Loess Plateau as a case study, we assessed the impacts of the SLCP on ecosystem C dynamics based on the General Ensemble Biogeochemical Modeling System (GEMS). The results showed that ecosystem C stock (including C stored in biomass and soil) decreased slightly in the first five years after the implementation of the SLCP (i.e., 1999-2003) due to the low production of the newly forested land, and increased evidently (mostly in biomass) thereafter thanks primarily to the growth of young plantations. Overall, the study area functioned as a net C sink in the past three decades, yet the magnitude was greatly amplified by the SLCP, indicated by a C sink in 2004-2010 nearly twelve times that in 1978-1998 (41.5 vs. 3.5 g C m-2 yr-1). These results highlight the importance of the SLCP in promoting terrestrial C sequestration which may help mitigate climate change. Nevertheless, there were time-lags between the impact of the SLCP and the associated C dynamics in the eco-restored areas, particularly in the soil, calling for future efforts toward addressing long-term C consequences of the SLCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Random forest (RF) has the best performance statistically compared to the SVM, GBM, DT and MLR models. • Deciduous broadleaf forest (DBF) shows the lowest uncertainty in terms of NEE of CO 2 estimation. • Soil temperature plays a critical role in modeling improvement across the grasslands. • The highest uncertainty occurs during the maturity period in all PFTs. Identifying the complex relationships of Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of CO 2 , as an underlying factor of land surface, and atmosphere interactions is extremely important to the dynamic of carbon fluxes. Assessment of the model-based estimation of land-atmosphere carbon flux across various plant functional types (PFTs) can support the accurate identification of the carbon cycle and the adaptation and mitigation of climate change programs. Five different machine learning methods named Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) and Random Forest (RF) were used to predict daily NEE magnitude. In this study, 24 sites classified into four PFTs of Deciduous Broadleaf Forest (DBF), Evergreen Needle-leaf Forest (ENF), Mixed Forest (MF) and Grassland (GRA) were examined through ground-based flux tower data. The numbers of sites were six, four, six and eight for DBF, ENF, MF and GRA respectively, while measurement periods varied from two to thirteen years. The model calibration and validation were carried out using 70%and 30% of the data-set, respectively. The models' performances were assessed using statistical indices including the coefficient of determination (R2), the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), bias error (Bias) and root mean square error (RMSE) through Python software. Based on statistical indices, the models showed different levels of capability when analyzing data from the DBF, ENF, MF and GRA sites. Among the models, RF showed the best performance, MLR showed the poorest performance, while SVM, GBM and DT models all had moderate responses. The effect of both air and soil temperatures, as the state variables, were examined to assess model performance. Whether soil temperature is included in the model plays a more important role in the performance of the models in grassland than in forest. Soil temperature inclusion, as an input variable, improved the models' performance about 14% in grassland, while it improved performance 2.4%, 2.4% and 3.5% in ENF, MF and DBF, respectively. Finally, to assess the models' performances, the NEE behavior in terms of over- or under- estimation was investigated across each PFT and over various phenological periods. The results indicate that high uncertainty occurs between the 140th and 220th days of the Julian calendar for forested areas and between the 120th and 210thdays for grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating climate change and improving food production are major challenges worldwide. Applications of lignite-based bioorganic products (or lignite-based fertilizer) can improve soil physicochemical properties and crop production in saline-sodic farmland. However, little is known about the effects of lignite bioorganic fertilizer (LBF) on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change mitigation. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted in saline-sodic farmlands in the upper Yellow River basin, Northwest China. The field experiment comprised six treatments, including a negative control without any organic fertilizer (CK), a positive control amended with sheep manure (FYM), and four treatments amended with 1.5 (LBF1), 3 (LBF2), 4.5 (LBF3), and 7.5 t ha−1 (LBF4) LBF. The results showed that the LBF treatments decreased the emissions of CH 4 and CO 2 while increasing N 2 O emissions when the application rate was over 3 t ha−1. Additionally, FYM treatment acted as a CH 4 source, while LBF2 and LBF3 treatments were both CH 4 sinks. The LBF3 treatment had the highest net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB) and the lowest net ecosystem global warming potential (NGWP), which were 6.04 and 4.82 t ha−1 and -22.09 and −17.39 t ha−1 higher than those of the CK treatment in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Moreover, the net ecosystem economic budget (NEEB) of the LBF2 and LBF3 treatments was higher than that of the other treatments. Compared with the CK treatment, the FYM treatment increased the NCEB and decreased NGWP but it also decreased the NEEB. For nitrogen and carbon cycling, the LBF3 treatment increased almost all gene families involved in nitrogen cycling, except for nirA and hao , while the FYM treatment reduced the nirKS, norBC , nosZ , and hao gene families. The modules for carbohydrate metabolism and methanogenesis were also reduced by the LBF treatments. In conclusion, the LBF2 and LBF3 treatments had higher NECB, NGWP, and NEEB, indicating that the application of lignite bioorganic fertilizer at 3.0–4.5 t ha−1 is appropriate for climate change mitigation in saline-sodic farmlands in the upper Yellow River basin, Northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories underpinning the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol report each country's net annual emissions, that is GHG flows. Yet the UNFCCC's goal is defined as a stock (atmospheric GHG concentration). Flow inventories are apt for the fossil fuel sector where flows are effectively one way, stock changes are almost entirely anthropogenic, and stocks are stable in the absence of human perturbation. For the land sector, flow-based GHG inventories obscure fundamental differences between ecosystems: in their carbon stock stability, restoration capacity, and density. This paper presents a national carbon accounting framework that is comprehensive and includes stocks as well as flows for reservoirs, lands and activities continuously over time. It complements current flow-based inventories under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. The framework differentiates reservoirs by their role in the global carbon cycle, distinguishing between geocarbon (carbon in the geosphere), biocarbon (carbon in the biosphere) and anthropogenic carbon (stockpiles, products and waste). A reservoir ranking system is proposed based on longevity, reversibility of carbon loss, and carbon density. This framework will support policy makers and researchers grappling with mitigation strategies and competing demands on agricultural land and natural ecosystems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The LPJ dynamic global vegetation and hydrology model with river routing is implemented on a compute cluster in order to reduce the overall computation time. In order to achieve this, a parallel algorithm had to be developed for the river routing part of the LPJ code. It can be shown that the run time of the parallel LPJ model scales well with the number of parallel tasks, even getting a super-linear speedup for 8–128 tasks. The sequential part of the model code can be estimated to be only 0.16%. This offers the opportunity, for example, to apply the model to find optimal climate change mitigation/adaptation paths requiring a multitude of subsequent simulation runs. The algorithm can also be used for networks with a different topology than river routing networks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • We compared two valuation approaches to assess carbon sequestration ecosystem service. • The retired lands in the "Grain for Green" project was used as an illustration. • The dynamic method obtained high economic value from carbon sequestration. • The dynamic method decreased the possibility of biomass harvesting. Carbon sequestration plays an essential role in climate regulation, and its monetary value is critical for decision-making. To encourage carbon sequestration and avoid expensing the ecosystem services for future generations, a dynamic monetary valuation perspective was developed by integrating a carbon dynamics model of ecosystems and an atmospheric carbon cycle model. A case study of biomass utilization in Northern Shaanxi was conducted to illustrative the performance of this approach by comparing with the conventional approach. The carbon dynamics in the available lands were simulated by the CENTURY model under the RCP4.5 climate change scenario. The results suggested that the carbon storage was doubled without biomass utilization in the projected 25 years. When biomass was harvested, carbon storage decreased slightly. The monetary value without biomass harvesting in the dynamic approach was higher than that in the conventional approach. After analogizing the monetary values of carbon sequestration and biomass utilization, there was a lower likelihood of biomass harvesting in the dynamic approach than in the conventional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New England forests are carbon sources or sinks depending on future land use. • Stakeholder defined land-use regimes alter harvesting and development. • The primary source of carbon emissions is harvesting in these 50-year simulations. • Reduced harvesting with increased long-term storage maximizes carbon stores. • Less carbon removal must be coupled with reduced consumption for climate mitigation. The extent to which forest carbon sequestration can help mitigate climate change will be determined in large part by future land use. Here we quantify the impacts of five divergent future land-use scenarios on aboveground forest carbon stocks and fluxes throughout New England. These scenarios, four co-designed with stakeholders from throughout the region and the fifth a continuation of recent trends in land use, were simulated by coupling a land-cover change model with a mechanistic forest growth model to produce estimates of aboveground carbon over 50 years. We tracked the fate of forest carbon removed through harvesting and development using a standard carbon accounting methodology, modified to fit our modeling framework. Of the simulated changes in land use, changes in harvesting had the most profound and immediate impacts on carbon stocks and fluxes. In one land-use scenario that included a rapid expansion of harvesting for biomass energy, New England's forests stopped serving as a net carbon sink and became a net carbon source by 2060. In an alternative scenario, relatively small reductions in harvest intensities (i.e., ~10% less biomass removed), coupled with an increased percent of wood going into longer-term storage, led to substantial reductions in net carbon emissions (909 MMtCO 2 eq) as compared to a continuation of recent trends in land use. However, these projected gains in carbon storage and reduction in emissions from less intense harvesting regimes can only be realized if they are paired with a reduction in the consumption of the timber products, and their replacements, that otherwise would result in additional emissions from leakage and substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change mitigation in rapidly growing developing countries is receiving increased global attention, especially after the 2016 Paris Agreement. In Bangladesh, the government has initiated some climate change policies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the last decade. However, the rate of emissions has been increasing recently, which questions the emissions reduction potential of these policies. Therefore, this study has utilized relevant indicators to evaluate the extent to which the policies are mitigating climate change, and of their synergy with national development goals. The findings indicate that the policies have limited impacts on energy decarbonization, energy demand management, and emissions sink improvement. Although policies on renewable energy, energy efficiency and demand management, and afforestation are aligned with national development goals, the policies on electricity generation from coal and forest biomass have little synergy with the goals. By quantitatively evaluating the effects of its climate change policies in enhancing socioeconomic, and environmental benefits, this study can assist Bangladesh's policymakers to understand the impact of the policies on climate change mitigation and their level of integration with national development goals. Also, other developing countries can adopt the study methodology to evaluate their climate change policies and track their progress. Image 10614 • Customized indicators were used to evaluate the effects of climate policies. • Bangladesh's energy efficiency measures have achieved some success in recent years. • Decarbonization, energy demand management and carbon sink options are inadequate. • Increased use of coal and biomass hinders achieving the national development goals. • Renewables and afforestation programs have synergy with national development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]