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• HSRN is modeled as a two-layer network based on high-speed trains running in it. • Space-time failure effects of high-speed trains on HSRN robustness are investigated. • A method assessing robustness is proposed from function feature and topology feature. • Travel time and passenger flow are taken into account in the methodology. High-speed rail (HSR) has become a critical infrastructure and even has formed a network in some countries, which plays an increasingly significant part in the modern transport system and exerts increasingly obvious impacts on regional economic activity and human mobility. Although its interruption may cause serious consequences, researching its robustness doesn't attract attention until recent years. Based on previous researches on the issue, this paper proposes a comprehensive method to assess the robustness of high-speed rail network (HSRN) by combining the network function features with network topology features and modeling HSRN as a two-layer network based on the high-speed trains running in the network, in which the travel time and passenger flow are taken into account. Finally, taking China's HSRN (CHSRN) as a case study, this paper investigates the failure effects of HSR stations and high-speed trains on the robustness of CHSRN, especially the space-time failure effects of high-speed trains at three typical HSR stations. Results reveal that the failure effects of trains at the selected stations on the performance of CHSRN are limited, and the failure effects of trains at three typical stations on the performance are different as the different failure time, which is beneficial to prioritize the decisions on maintenance resource allocation and prepare emergency response plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The materials stocked in infrastructures are rapidly growing, and their distribution is uneven. • The gap in material stocks across different provinces is increasing. • Affluence is the major driving factor increasing MS, and the population and technology changes have different effects. • Relevant countermeasures and suggestions are proposed based on an analysis of different scenarios. The materials stocked in infrastructures comprehensively reflect resource consumption, waste generation and sustainable development; therefore, research investigating this topic is particularly important. First, this paper uses the bottom-up material flow analysis method to account for the material stocks (MS) in urban infrastructures and examines the spatial and temporal changes in the MS in China from 1997 to 2016. The results show that MS increased 4.04 times during this period and are spatially inclined to decrease from coastal regions to inland areas. Second, this paper combines the population and economic factors using the IPAT model (which considers the environmental Impact as a product of the Population, Affluence and Technology) and a panel data regression analysis to conclude that affluence is the major driving factor increasing MS, while the impact of technology has a negative effect throughout China. The effect of affluence in different regions is consistent with that throughout China, but the population and technology changes have different effects. Third, this study estimates the environmental impact under different scenarios and proposes suggestions and strategies for promoting sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to diverse methodologies and data sources, China's agricultural greenhouse gas (AGHG) emissions estimates demonstrate significant variability. A quantitative review was conducted on the prevalence and application of various accounting methods to clarify and reduce discrepancies in AGHG emissions estimation techniques and data application. Using a systematic PRISMA framework, 4257 global studies were analyzed, yielding 681 AGHG emission records from 57 papers and four databases explicitly focusing on China. The analysis reveals similarities between Chinese and global research trends, concentrating on environmental science, soil science, and ecology. Furthermore, the spatial scale and methodologies for China's AGHG emissions estimation are relatively centralized, with 53.21% of the research targeting site-specific scales and 74.12% employing inventory methods and statistical analysis. Regarding the variability in China's AGHG emission estimates between 1996 and 2020, estimates ranged from 100 to 800 Mt. C-eq, with the highest estimate being approximately 25 times the minimum within the same period. Notably, compared to the average AGHG emissions calculated for 1996–2020 (284.7 to 548.7 Mt. C-eq), estimates from the FAO and Our World in Data were higher by an average of 114.7% and 81.9%, respectively. These findings underscore the need to enhance remote sensing and survey data application and standardize AGHG emissions estimation methodologies and boundaries to ensure comparability across various accounting methods and datasets. This study conducts a quantitative analysis to identify and bridge the gaps in AGHG emission evaluation techniques, laying the groundwork for establishing a more comprehensive and resilient framework for AGHG emissions assessments. • An analysis of 4257 studies is conducted to assess uncertainties and discrepancies in AGHG emissions in China. • 53.21% of AGHG research targets site-specific scales; 74.12% uses inventory methods and statistical analysis. • The gap between different estimates of China's annual AGHG emissions is as high as 25 times. • Emissions estimates by the FAO and OWD exceed those from 57 scholarly articles by 114.7% and 81.9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cement production is one of the most energy-intensive industries with huge amount of CO 2 emissions. In this paper, extended exergy analysis is employed to explore a typical cement production chain in China. The cumulative exergy consumption (C E x C) , capital and labor exergy, and environmental remediation exergy are calculated to quantify the real ecological cost of cement production and the specific sectors with exergy losses are identified. Moreover, three scenarios including carbide slag substitution, corn straw substitution and waste heat recovery are set up to examine the potential improvement of the traditional cement production with detailed comparison of extended exergy components. In the carbide slag substitution scenario with three substitution percentages, the total extended exergy, C E x C conversion efficiency and exergy loses change little. In the corn straw substitution scenario under three substitution scenarios, the C E x C conversion rates are slightly improved while the exergy loses are notably decreased. The C E x C conversion efficiency of the waste heat recovery scenario is almost the same due to the extra capital investments on kilns and power generation units. The results may provide useful suggestions for upgrade of cement industry in an integrated perspective of energy efficiency and socio-economic and environmental costs. • An extended exergy accounting method is employed. • CO 2 emission mitigation is incorporated in environmental remediation cost. • Scenarios for raw materials and corn straw substitutions and waste heat recovery are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and timely carbon emission accounting (CEA) is vital to industrial corporations, especially those who participate in the carbon market. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and power systems, the power data-based method provides a new way for real-time CEA. However, the extensive installation of distributed photovoltaics (PV) significantly increases the accounting difficulty of corporate carbon emissions. This paper proposes a non-intrusive method of real-time CEA for industrial corporations from the perspective of modern power systems. First, a device operation state (DOS) estimation model based on a modified Informer algorithm is proposed to calculate corporate direct carbon emissions. Wherein, an equivalent distributed PV output estimation model is used to decrease the impact of invisible PVs on direct emission accounting. Second, an improved carbon emission flow model is proposed to calculate corporate indirect carbon emissions, which considers "prosumers" arising from the installation of distributed PVs. Finally, the total corporate carbon emissions, including direct and indirect parts, are obtained by using the CEA model. Case studies based on four typical high‑carbon-emission factories in Zhejiang province, China demonstrate that the proposed method can make accurate CEA for industrial corporations by effectively lessening the impact of distributed PVs. • A non-intrusive carbon emission accounting method for industrial corporations. • A novel perspective of modern power systems for carbon emission accounting. • Calculating carbon emissions considering distributed photovoltaics' impacts. • The method becomes superior as the photovoltaic output proportion increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to creating value and jobs, the construction industry uses a considerable amount of resources with severe consequences for the environment. Therefore, its implications should be reduced, especially since this industry has opportunity to reduce economic, environmental and social impacts. Once mitigating impacts is such an important matter for the construction industry, a systematic review of the literature has been run in order to investigate studies on the quantitative methodologies of sustainability in construction. This paper presents a review of over 2,600 papers on the topic. Mixed methods were applied for bibliometry, with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis methodology to conduct a quantitative bibliometric search and subsequently assess the articles included using qualitative methods. These studies were subdivided into three groups: sustainability in construction, environmental aspects, and others. VOSviewer software was used in the quantitative analysis of documents, institutions and the most referenced journals. The results demonstrated that the first articles related to the topic of sustainability in construction were published in 1993 and that among the studies found in Web of Science only 2.54% used quantitative methodologies to assess the sustainability of the construction industry. • Quantitative sustainability assessment methods accounted for 2.54% of the total. • Few assessment methods have been developed for single-family dwellings. • The disproportionality of articles specific to environmental aspects. • Subjectivity in the assessments of environmental aspects of buildings. • Few articles from institutions in developing countries except for China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-efficiency composite indicators are widely accepted as the ratio of environmental impact to created economic value. These indicators are realistic measures for assessing sustainability performance considering the economy and environment. The weights reflect the importance of indicators to the aggregated environmental impacts. Estimating the relative weight of indicators is highly subjective, and therefore the search for a single unique weighting method has been going on for years. The regression-based weights are one of the most recent trends in sustainability modeling. Since these methods are designed initially to investigate the impact of multiple variables on a response variable rather than to estimate weights, some drawbacks are associated with their potential to provide proper weights. This paper presents a novel weighting approach integrating linear mixed-effect models with Johnson's relative weights to address these drawbacks and provide meaningful relative weights for eco-efficiency composite indicators. The proposed approach's operational and computational procedures are illustrated using a real example, and the eco-efficiency of food consumption of 38 countries is estimated for the period between 1990 and 2012 using a consumption-based sustainability accounting method. The findings have shown that energy use and GHG indicators are the most critical contributor to global food consumption's environmental impacts. The country-based eco-efficiency performance in this work has shown that China, India, and Russia are located in the low eco-efficiency score class. The Spatio-temporal analysis downgraded the geographical location's significance on the trends of eco-efficiency behavior in time and space. On the other hand, it revealed the different types of emerging hot spots over the world. • Consumption-based environmental footprint analysis is conducted. • Dynamic ecoefficiency of food consumption is estimated for 38 countries. • A novel weighting approach integrating Johnson's relative weights is proposed. • China, India, and Russia are located in the low ecoefficiency-score cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has made ambitious carbon emission reduction commitments at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015. However, the policies that have been adopted are based on the production accounting principle and are excessively concentrated in high and direct carbon intensity industries. This production-based accounting can lead to unfair responsibility for emissions reduction, mismatch in economic development, and carbon leakage. Embodied CO 2 emissions depict the accumulated emissions generated in the production process of a product, and it is based on the consumption accounting principle. This accounting method addresses some shortcomings on production responsibility, thus providing a new perspective for carbon emission reduction. Based on 1992–2012 input-output tables and direct carbon emissions of China, this study calculated the embodied carbon transfer within 28 industries. A visualized dynamic embodied carbon database was constructed, covering all industries in China within a 20-years period. We characterized the embodied carbon transfer structure among different industries in China. The main embodied carbon input and output sectors were identified, and targeted industry emission reduction recommendations are provided. The power industry (an upstream industry), and the construction industry (a downstream industry) were considered typical net export and import industries. These sectors are suitable for formulating emission reduction policies from their respective supply and demand sides. The chemical industry is in the middle of the industrial chain, where the input and output are equal. Therefore, policies that affect both supply and demand can achieve better results. This paper provides detailed data to support China's overall arrangement of industrial carbon emission reduction. • The study constructs a visualized dynamic embodied carbon database of China from 1992 to 2012. • The study identifies main embodied carbon input and output sectors. • The study gives a differentiated policy orientation based on the characteristics of different typical industries. • The database can provide data support for the improvement of industry climate policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The perspective of MLC research has changed from one-cycle to more than one cycle. • Environmental performance accounting model of MLC recycling system is constructed. • The policy effect is greatly changed through the resource MLC recycling system. • A combined policy scenario is developed to achieve environmental goals of China. • A top-level management organization of MLC recycling system should be constructed. Resource multiple-life-cycle (MLC) recycling process is a complex system with closed-loop and open-loop recycling interwoven with each other, which has recieved vast attention in recent years. Resource MLC recycling has a cascading effect, one recycling process will have an impact on the next cycle, and ultimately affect the overall environmental performance of the social system. Policies will affect the flow of resource MLC recycling. How to maximize the emission reduction effect of resource MLC recycling through policy design is still under exploration. Employing MLC recycling of China's waste PET bottles as an example, this paper constructs an environmental performance accounting method based on MLCA, and simulates the overall impact of various policies such as implementing deposit system, promoting recycled materials, strenghtening environmental regulation and enhancing regeneration technology on the recycling system of PET bottles. The combined policy scenario is constructed by selecting advantageous strategies that can effectively give full play to the strengths of each policy scenario. From 2020 to 2040, the environmental performance loss value of the combined policy scenario will be 52.52% of the baseline scenario without policy support, and the cumulative emission reductions of wastewater, waste gas and solid waste will be 0.98, 3.61 and 341.39 million tonnes respectively, which can help China to achieve emission reduction targets set out in each five-year plan. In order to realize the combined policy scenario, it is suggested that the life cycle assessment (LCA) should be replaced by multiple life cycle assessment (MLCA), the effect of resource saving and environmental emission reduction in the recycling process should be accounted as accurately as possible, a top-level management organization of natural resources across multiple departments should be established as soon as possible, with the goal of maximizing the comprehensive environmental and economic benefits of MLC processes. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]