Search

The climate commitment to achieving carbon neutrality before 2060 in China has been announced recently. In the context of pursuing carbon neutrality, sharing similar sources as greenhouse gases, aerosol particle and precursor emissions are projected to substantially decrease in China, which can potentially have a great impact on climate. Here, we investigate the effects of future aerosol reductions, because of achieving carbon neutrality, on solar and wind energy in China by using an earth system model. We show that significant reductions in aerosol emissions, particularly in eastern China, lead to increases in the surface downwelling shortwave radiation, surface air temperature and wind speed, which can further enhance the potential of solar and wind energy production. The findings underline that the pursuit of carbon neutrality can yield co‐benefits of not only mitigating climate change and air pollution but also fortifying the stability of renewable energy sources. Plain Language Summary: In response to China's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, our study examines the potential impact of reducing aerosol emissions and greenhouse gases on solar and wind energy generation. Employing an earth system model, we observe significant reductions in aerosols, particularly in eastern China, resulting in increases in surface downwelling shortwave radiation, surface air temperature, and wind speed. These changes have promising implications for enhancing solar and wind energy production. Our research underscores the interconnected benefits of pursuing carbon neutrality, encompassing climate change mitigation, air quality improvement, and the enhancement of renewable energy reliability. Key Points: The effects of future aerosol reductions in China due to achieving carbon neutrality on solar and wind energy are investigatedAerosol emission reductions, especially in eastern China, increase surface downwelling shortwave radiation, temperature and wind speedClimate changes resulting from emission reductions under carbon neutrality enhance the potential of solar and wind energy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planted forests are in the utilisation phase in Japan, contributing to the increased use of timber and the realisation of carbon neutrality. We simulated and compared the carbon emission reduction effects of three forest management scenarios, including a no final cutting scenario at two geographical scales, in the context of a privately owned Cryptomeria japonica planted forest in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. We adopted two substitution approaches: the status quo approach and the dynamic approach in line with Japan's nationally determined contribution. We used hypothetical stands over three rotation periods of 150 years at the stand level, and a harvest schedule of 120 years at the regional level. The harvesting scenarios based on the status quo substitution approach reduced carbon emissions more than the no final cutting scenario for current wood usage at the study site, although those based on the dynamic substitution approach reduced carbon emissions as much as the no final cutting scenario during the first 30 years. Sustainable timber production from forests may reduce carbon emissions as much as unharvested forests until 2050, indicating that the substitution effects of harvested wood products could have a significant impact on the climate change mitigation effect arising from timber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of the carbon market came forth as a tool for managing, controlling, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, combining environmental responsibility with financial incentives. Biochar has gained recognition as one of potential carbon offset solution. The practical and cost-effective establishment of biochar carbon credit standards is crucial for the integration of biochar into carbon trading systems, thus encouraging investments in the biochar industry while promoting sustainable carbon dioxide sequestration practices on a global scale. This communication focuses on the potential of biochar in carbon sequestration. Additionally, it spotlights case studies that highlight how biochar effectively generates carbon credits, as well as discussing the evolving carbon removal marketplace. Furthermore, we address knowledge gaps, areas of concern, and research priorities regarding biochar implementation in carbon credits, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of its role in climate change mitigation. This review positions biochar as a versatile and scalable technology with the potential to contribute significantly to carbon credits, aligning with sustainable development goals. It calls for continued research, transparency, and international cooperation to explore the full potential of biochar in climate change mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to the Paris Agreement and climate change mitigation, Indonesia aims to reach net zero by 2060 or sooner. Due to Indonesia's dependence on coal and growing consumption, alternative sources of clean energy are imperative for meeting its rising energy needs and reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the energy transition. This project aims to examine Indonesia's opportunities and potential to achieve low carbon ambition in the energy sector and identify alternative pathways for the energy transition in Indonesia. In this study, the open-source energy modelling system (OSeMOSYS), which is a long-term energy system modelling tool, is employed to compare electricity generation, investment, and carbon dioxide emissions between business-as-usual and five alternative scenarios. Six scenarios, including business as usual, least-cost, two coal-phrase out and two net zero aligned with national climate targets and optimal scenarios, were simulated across different target years. The results show that the net zero (NZ) scenario is more cost-effective and emits fewer greenhouse gases than the other scenarios in meeting Indonesia's future energy demand. However, achieving net zero by 2050 (NZ50) results in significantly lower CO2 emissions (10,134 MtCO2), which is less than half of the emissions in the net zero by 2060 (NZ60) scenario (16,849 MtCO2) at a similar cost (6229 and 6177 billion USD, respectively). This paper's insights emphasise that large-scale renewable energy deployment and coal retirement are critical pathways to reaching carbon neutrality and achieving the energy mix transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orange and cherry industries in New South Wales, Australia, are major horticulture industries with a high export value. Climate change has resulted in the carbon footprint of products being used by consumers to guide purchases meaning that products with a relatively high carbon footprint risk losing market access. The carbon footprint of cherry and orange production is unknown and there is no assessment of the success of climate change mitigation strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of their production and move production towards being carbon neutral. This study assesses the climate change mitigation potential of five management changes to on-farm cherry and orange production (revegetation, the use of nitrification inhibitors, renewable energy, green N fertilisers, and pyrolysis of orchard residues) over a 25-year period. for example, orchards in relevant growing regions. The results show that the carbon footprint of production can be reduced by 73 and 83% for cherries and oranges, respectively, when strategies that avoid emissions are included in their production. When strategies that sequester C from the atmosphere are also included, cherry and orange production becomes C negative in the first few years of the scenario. The economics of implementing these strategies are unfavourable, at present; however, our results indicate that the NSW cherry and orange industries can be confident in achieving emissions reductions in on-farm production to assure market access for their products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While carbon offsets in agriculture can play a role in addressing climate change, they are not a perfect substitute for direct emission reductions. As shown in this paper through various arguments and case studies, climate policies in Canada have avoided the use of offsets to be sold in carbon markets, preferring instead to incentivize adoption of best management practices (BMPs) that provide environmental benefits along with climate mitigation benefits. We argue that this is a preferred policy option due to the perils and pitfalls inherent in the measurement and monitoring required to identify offset credits. While an appropriate approach might be to penalize Canadian farmers for any emissions their activities cause, this may do more harm than good. Canadian agricultural production is highly efficient and technologically advanced; therefore, reductions in Canada's contribution to the global food supply will result in less‐efficient production occurring elsewhere (i.e., leakage) that increases global greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the Paris Agreement's goals of keeping the global temperature rise well below 2 °C, or even better below 1.5 °C, relative to pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, countries need to make fair and ambitious contributions to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Here, three clusters are proposed that encompass fourteen approaches derived from three main equity principles to determine equitable national emission allocations in the year 2030 for the seventeen countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region. The allocations are compared with the Nationally Determined Contributions of each country in order to assess the degree to which current EMME climate change mitigation targets are sufficient. The results suggest two approaches that may be considered both realistic and fair, although with the caveat that both rich and poor EMME countries may still have reason to resist the allocations indicated by these approaches. One of these two approaches relates to the principle of responsibility and the other relates to a combination of capability and responsibility. Both require emissions in the EMME region to drop by nearly 50% by 2030 as compared to 2019 levels so as to be in line with a 1.5 °C warming scenario. The fairness of global decarbonisation efforts is foundational to climate change mitigation discussions. Achieving equitable emission reduction targets requires consideration of factors such as realism, which are less often discussed than those that are purely socioeconomic. Realistic and fair emissions abatement targets that reflect the equity principles of responsibility and capability should be identified and country-specific responses taken accordingly. The significant heterogeneity among EMME countries makes it particularly challenging to allocate emissions abatement targets in a fair and politically acceptable way. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of EMME countries are not aligned with required emissions abatement targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper by Kiss and Szalay ([12]) titled I Sensitivity of buildings' carbon footprint to electricity decarbonization: a life cycle-based multi-objective optimization approach i examines how changes in electricity mix impacts GHG emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizes the need to immediately tackle climate change by significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and capping global warming at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels (IPCC, [8]). The study found that total GHG emissions from maize production were on average 429 ± 27 kg CO2-eq/ton grain, with the highest emissions occurring during the dry season. This SI further contributes to raising awareness to the topic of measuring GHG emissions, decarbonization measures as well as climate neutrality. [Extracted from the article]

Land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector plays an important role in climate change mitigation as long-term goal of carbon neutral economy depends on sector's ability to sequestrate carbon in biomass and soil. With reference to the Paris Agreement, accounting rules for LULUCF sector have been heavily discussed in European Union (EU), seeking of trustworthy inclusion of the sector in the assessment of Union's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target. Therefore, the paper aims to analyze LULUCF sector's contribution to climate change mitigation with different accounting rules applied in EU countries and particularly in Lithuania. On EU level LULUCF sector's absorption in 2019 has equaled around -234 million t CO2 eq. (6% of total EU GHG emissions), in some countries reaching more than a half of national emissions. However, different accounting rules applied may provide significantly different number of potential credits for separate EU countries, creating some "winners" and "losers" situation. Though inclusion of LULUCF sector into GHG's emissions reduction targets remains discussible, some stability in rules is one of the main preconditions for proper LULUCF sector management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global carbon neutrality, climate change mitigation and response has become a top priority. Currently, countries around the world are setting emission reduction targets or are already involved in carbon–neutral actions, with technological innovation becoming the key to global emission reduction. Therefore, a systematic review of the literature related to technology innovation and emission reduction in response to carbon–neutral actions for climate change is conducted. A global bibliometric visualization analysis is presented using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. This study visualizes the basic relationship between global emission reduction and technology-related literature under the carbon neutrality target and analyzes and discusses the spatial distribution and hotspot trends of the co-author network and knowledge base. The results show that (1) the trend of the number of relevant studies can be divided into two phases before and after, and starts to increase gradually after 2020. (2) The structural relationship of the author- and institution-based cooperative networks is relatively loose, and the main cooperative networks, mainly by countries, are initially formed by the key contributions of developed and emerging economies. (3) Relevant research hotspots are reflected in multiple perspectives such as investment, management, and policy, in addition to emission reduction targets and technological innovation itself. The causal relationship between relevant research and economic and political dimensions has become an important driving factor for research development. Especially in the paradigm shift phase, there are research characteristics of human intervention and specific actions. (4) In terms of future trends, research involving policy management, methodological efficiency, and systemic models will become important research paths in the future by matching the supply of actions to real needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of carbon neutrality, the BRICS countries, representatives of emerging developing countries, have proposed their own adaptation policies and carbon emission reduction targets (CERT). Here, we sort out the evolution of their climate policies and actions over the past half-century. After piecing together their energy structures and carbon emissions from various sources and by different sectors, we see distinct energy structures diverging over time with increasing varieties of non-fossil energy. However, all the BRICS countries, except for Brazil, still rely heavily on fossil fuels, which poses a real challenge to emission reduction. After considering their diversified energy structures, we estimate their timelines for achieving the carbon neutrality goal using the Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model. From the model output, we propose possible solutions to help achieve the carbon neutrality goal with respect to their individual status quo and future needs for socioeconomic development. The suggestions include reinforcing the legislation, strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy and carbon management and in core technologies for carbon emission reduction, improving the cooperation mechanisms of the BRICS countries, and further expanding all-round cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assuming responsibility for emission reduction is an important part of participating in the global governance of climate change. Countries with a carbon neutrality target now cover about 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Carrying out fairness evaluations of their carbon neutrality targets provide a strong basis for the global carbon inventory. In this paper, the target years of carbon neutrality for major countries and regions under the global target of 2 °C and 1.5 °C are studied using the burden sharing model. On this basis, this paper simulates the possible pathways of carbon neutrality and evaluates the ambition of emission reduction targets in terms of annual emission reduction, per capita emission, and cumulative per capita emission. The results show that, from the perspective of equity, most of the developing countries cannot meet the global goal of 1.5 °C. The United States and the European Union nations could achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by continuing their annual emission reductions under their existing NDC targets. However, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, China's annual emission reduction rate from 2030 to 2050 will be 6.7%, and the annual amount of emission reduction accounts for 51% of the global amount under the 1.5 °C target. Meanwhile, China would become the main force behind global cumulative emissions in the following decades. Thus, the emission reduction pathways China chooses will have an important impact on global climate mitigation progress. Based on the above research conclusions, this paper proposes that developed countries and developing countries should explore bilateral or multilateral cooperation in technology and finance in the field of climate change. Under the great pressure to achieve carbon neutrality, China needs to carry out research on the overall emission reduction pathways as soon as possible and clarify the paths at the scale of sectors, industries, provinces, and time stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As nations scramble to reduce and offset their greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, and corporations do the same for their own reasons, voluntary carbon markets flourish and demand for nature-based carbon credits outpaces supplies. Global attention is on countries with substantial potential to generate certifiable forest-based carbon credits. Despite nearly 30-years of experience with carbon offset projects, forest-based climate change mitigation projects of questionable quality still proliferate in Malaysia and elsewhere. Here, we assess the feasibility and sustainability of the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) - a recent project that includes two million hectares of protected forest in the Malaysian state of Sabah. We use this seriously flawed example to identify five key issues that forest carbon projects should not ignore: transparency, additionality, social equity, sovereignty, and complementarity. We also suggest how all five issues could be mitigated by use of a jurisdictional approach to forest carbon project development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests offer significant climate mitigation benefits, but existing emissions reduction assessment methodologies in forest-based mitigation activities are not scalable, which limits the development of carbon offset markets. In this study, we propose a measurement method using optical satellite imagery and space LiDAR data fusion to assess forest emissions reduction. Compared with the ALS-based carbon stock density estimation method, our approach presented a strong scalability for mapping 10 m-resolution carbon stock at a large scale. It was observed that dense canopy top height estimated by combining GEDI and Sentinel-2 could accurately predict forest carbon stock measurements estimated by the ALS-based method ( R 2 = 0.72). By conducting an on-site experiment of an ongoing forest carbon project in China, we found the consistency between the emissions reduction assessed by the data fusion measurement method (589,169 tCO 2 e ) and the official ex post-monitored emissions reduction in the monitoring report (598,442 tCO 2 e ). Our results demonstrated that forest carton stock estimation using optical satellite imagery and space LiDAR data fusion is efficient and economical for forest emissions reduction assessment. The acquisition of the data was more efficient over large areas with high frequencies using space-based technology. We further discussed the challenge of building a near-real-time monitoring system for forest-based mitigation activities by utilizing optical satellite imagery and space LiDAR data and pointed out that a quality control framework should be established to help us understand the sources of uncertainty in LiDAR-based models and improve carbon stock estimation from individual trees to forest carbon projects to meet the requirements of carbon standards better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emissions embodied in anthropogenic activities represent the major cause of global warming. Countries, regions, and cities have implemented comprehensive, multi-level and multi-scale measures to reduce emissions and move towards carbon neutrality. The demand for carbon emission reduction (CER) is made more challenging by different geographical locations, country-owned natural resources, and economic development stages. The main objectives of this paper are to conduct a bibliometric analysis to map the frontiers and directions of CER and to explore the paths and development models of CER from the perspective of spatio-temporal, multi-scale, multi-sectoral, and multi-responsible subjects. This study reveals that carbon emission evaluation and prediction, correlation and causal relationship analysis, and CER-related policy simulation and optimization are the most critical hotspots. Additionally, we point out the shortcomings of and future developments for the three study dimensions above. The bibliometric analysis also highlights the fact that a cooperative global value chain as well as amendable policies and mechanisms for CER will help with climate change mitigation and adaptation through the use of advanced carbon capture and storage technologies. We review the technical measures for and policy responses to CER adopted by different countries and industries at the theoretical and practical levels and provide new recommendations. Our work provides important information for climate actions in different countries and sectors and for developing more effective CER strategies and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquatic landscapes of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (hereafter, the Delta) and Suisun Bay represent both a significant past and future soil carbon stock. Historical alterations of hydrologic flows have led to depletion of soil carbon stocks via emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), and loss of elevation as a result of subsidence. Optimizing ecosystem hydrology in the Delta and Suisun Bay could both reduce and reverse subsidence while also providing significant opportunities for climate mitigation and adaptation. Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs)--notably CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)--contribute to global warming at different rates and intensities, requiring GHG accounting and modeling to assess the relative benefits of management options. Decades of data collection, model building, and map development suggest that past and current management actions have both caused--and can mitigate--losses of soil carbon. We review here the magnitude of potential GHG offsets, management options that may be achievable, and trade-offs of carbon storage under different land management. Using a land-use/land-cover framework to assess these management options, we describe the potential of three interventions (impoundment to reverse subsidence, agricultural management, and tidal reintroduction and/or maintained connectivity), both in acreage and radiative balance to clarify their relative influence on the region's GHG balance today and in relation to its millennial history. From floodplains to farming to floating aquatic vegetation, we find specific scalable strategies to manage hydrology that can alter regional GHG balance. Preservation of soil carbon stocks and restoration of net atmospheric CO2 fluxes into soils are the primary route to net negative emissions in the Delta and Suisun Bay, with CH4 emission management occurring in a supporting role. Over a 40-year horizon of climate-mitigation markets, the resilience of different aquatic habitats introduces the most uncertainty, from expected and unexpected hydrologic changes associated with land, ocean, and operational water flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a climate change mitigation strategy, emission reduction projects, such as those related to forest carbon, are being developed around the globe. Framed under a multiple-win narrative, such projects are praised by multi-lateral organisations as initiatives that simultaneously mitigate climate change and foster socio-economic development in project countries. A great deal of scholarly literature, however, has found that projects fail to deliver on the promised benefits and can even have security implications. This study contributes to an emerging body of literature on the undesired effects of climate change mitigation interventions in the Global South. Research into the security implications of climate change mitigation actions remains scarce and the current evidence is largely drawn from case-by-case analysis. Using a multi-level logistic regression model based on the geospatial information of 22 forest carbon projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, this study finds that community contestation drastically increases after project implementation and that violent conflict also increases in the wider project landscape. The qualitative findings from one sampled case, the Bukaleba forest reserve in Uganda, provides further support for this relationship by documenting not only conflict events but also multiple factors that can increase conflict risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California is widely seen as a climate and environmental policy leader in the U.S. and beyond. However, allowing local land use decisions to proceed as usual represents a major gap in the state's climate policy framework. Climate mitigation rules and formulae are utilized to claim zero net emissions for large-scale land development at the urban fringe. Such developments continue to destroy habitats and radically transform landscapes. Newhall Ranch, a subdevelopment at the edge of urbanized Los Angeles County, has claimed emissions offsets such that the development of 60,000 homes will have less than zero greenhouse gas emissions. Offsets largely rely on using disadvantaged communities, and significant threats to endangered species on site are compensated by payments to the project's environmental opponents. The net result is land development as usual, with a veneer of solarization and investments in GHG mitigation projects with poor quantification and verification. This situation demonstrates the enduring structures of land use development that drive GHG emissions and environmental change, and calls for stronger requirements for local compliance with state emissions-reductions targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First study to comprehensively address climate strategies for the O&G upstream sector in Brazil. • Decarbonization scenarios are simulated using a national Integrated Assessment Model (IAM). • O&G production can be sustained without compromising national decarbonization goals, but CO 2 and CH 4 emissions reductions must exceed simulated efforts to match industry leaders. • Ample potential to offset emissions through reforestation (∼ 500MtCO 2 /2050) and BECCS (∼ 400MtCO 2 /2050), presenting appealing business prospects for the industry. • CCS can play a vital role in advancing the decarbonization goals of both the sector and the country. Future projections of oil and gas demand suggest that some production will remain necessary. Although attention often focuses on CO 2 emissions from the combustion of their products, oil and gas production is also a relevant global emission source of both CO 2 and CH 4. Hence, understanding the carbon performance of upstream activities in producing nations is vital for distinguishing producers in a climate-pressured global market. This work explores climate strategies for the oil and gas upstream sector, using Brazil as a case study. The sector´s emissions profile is evaluated under distinct national climate scenarios. The analysis employs BLUES, a national Integrated Assessment Model (IAM), to access production volumes, mitigation measures applicable to the sector, and carbon dioxide removal potentials within the country to eventually offset the sector's remaining emissions. Results indicate sustained oil and gas production over the evaluated horizon (2020–2050) without compromising national climate goals, yet the sector's future emissions trajectory does not align with decarbonization targets pursued by more ambitious oil-producing nations and industry players. Despite sectoral mitigation measures indicated by the model, considerable emissions remain until 2050. Conversely, the country offers ample offsetting opportunities with potential synergies for the sector, especially through BECCS. Furthermore, the acceptability of offsets is discussed. [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]

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Glasgow a year later than scheduled, with expected outcomes achieved under a post-pandemic background. Based on the Issue-Actor-Mechanism Framework, this paper systematically evaluates the outcomes achieved at COP26 and analyzes the tendency of post-COP26 climate negotiations. Overall, with the concerted efforts of all parties, COP26 has achieved a balanced and inclusive package of outcomes and concluded six years of negotiations on the Paris Rulebook. It is fair to say that COP26 is another milestone in climate governance following the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, the Glasgow Climate Pact has cemented the consensus on a global commitment to accelerating climate action over the next decade and reached a breakthrough consensus on reducing coal, controlling methane, and halting deforestation. In the post-COP26 era, we still need to take concrete actions to implement the outcomes of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact, innovate ways to speed up CO2 emissions reduction, and continue to strive for breakthroughs in important issues such as finance, technology, adaptation, and collaboration. In addition to avoiding the escalation of international conflicts, we need to collectively and properly handle the relationship between energy security, carbon reduction, and development and facilitate the efforts of countries to achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including climate-related goals. China will continue to maintain the existing multilateral mechanisms and processes for climate governance, unremittingly take concrete actions to address climate change, promote a domestic comprehensive green transition and global cooperation on carbon neutrality, and contribute constructively to global climate governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International carbon markets are core features of climate mitigation policy. They include the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism, the Paris Agreement's Sustainable Development Mechanism, and the International Civil Aviation Organization's Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. Yet, studies suggest that large quantities of international carbon offsets may not result in additional reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This article examines these markets' legal accountability; in other words, the extent to which their performance can be independently assessed against legal standards, and the potential for consequences if those standards are not met. Specifically, it looks at the markets' internal appeal and grievance processes - or lack thereof - and hypothetical domestic litigation related to the markets' environmental integrity. Drawing on recent climate change cases and law on the immunity of international organizations, the article explores whether courts in Canada and Germany could hold these international markets to account and mitigate the risk that they do not fulfil their purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximising resource‐use efficiency, productivity and environmental sustainability are all fundamental requirements to raise global food production by ~70 per cent in order to feed a world population of ~9.7 billion people by 2050. Perhaps the most vital resource within our capacity to achieve this goal is our soil. Broadly, the fundamental question concerns whether or not satisfying this production demand will accelerate soil degradation, climate change, and the loss of soil carbon stocks. This paper builds upon the outputs of the UK Charity 'Food & Farming Futures' (chaired by Lord Curry of Kirkharle) virtual workshop held on 23 March 2021, entitled 'Capturing the Potential of Soil'. The event focussed on the link between soil health, primarily soil organic carbon (SOC), and agricultural productivity. Supported with commentaries by Professor Pete Smith (University of Aberdeen and Science Director of the Scottish Climate Change Centre of Expertise) and Professor Steve McGrath (Head of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences at Rothamsted Research), specific focus will be given to the research challenges within the UK's ability to improve soil health and functionality, the implementation priorities that must be held in order to improve soil management by 2050 and what the potential co‐benefits could be. These co‐benefits were scattered across environmental, economic, social and political issues, yet they may be summarised into six primary co‐benefits: developing natural capital, climate change mitigation, carbon trading, improvements in crop yield, animal performance and human health (nutrition). Additionally, the main barriers to improved soil management practices are centred on knowledge exchange‐regarding agri‐environmental techniques—whilst the most impactful solutions rely on soil monitoring, reporting and verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable socio-economic development requires a global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We utilize an incentivized experiment to map the preferences of 'policymakers' over climate actions of 'decision-makers'. Our design guarantees that these preferences are unaffected by selfish motives such as a concern about being re-elected or an unwillingness to pay for the greater good. Few of our impartial policymakers choose interventions that leave the autonomy of decision-makers' completely untouched. The choice patterns of those who intervene suggest that policymakers care not only about minimizing emissions, but also about how emissions are reduced. Policymakers strongly prefer pricing policies over capping emissions, and among the pricing policies, they prefer those that include voluntary carbon offsets, even if this leaves considerable scope for decision-makers to selfishly emit CO 2. The reason is that policymakers expect decision-makers to voluntarily offset some of their emissions at their own cost, and believe that this would eventually improve the outcome in terms of both emissions and the decision-makers' profit relative to a standard carbon pricing policy (without offsetting). Our decision-making data confirm this expectation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses droughts in the Iberian Peninsula and the need to address both mitigation and adaptation to climate change. In the Middle Ages, mitigation focused on prayers and processions, while adaptation was based on the construction of canals and dams. Nowadays, mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but it is recognized that this requires a global effort. Additionally, the importance of implementing adaptation measures, such as infrastructure construction and cooperation between regions, is highlighted. The need for a coherent and coordinated peninsular or even European plan is mentioned. The article also points out the limitations of global climate models in predicting the impacts of climate change at a regional scale and highlights the complexity and lack of effective planning in response to droughts. The importance of addressing both mitigation and adaptation is emphasized, as global emissions reduction is not guaranteed. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate potential impact of internal carbon pricing in emission reduction in Higher education institutions (HEIs). Over the past century, human activities have increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere. If GHG emissions continue their upward trend, this will disturb the natural balance and trigger abrupt changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change would require a substantial and sustained reduction in GHG emissions from all sectors. HEIs, as major emitters, indeed need to respond to the demand to become more sustainable by making practical changes to the way their institution is run. Design/methodology/approach: Using emission data associated with campus waste, this study describes how HEIs can take the lead on emission reduction through the implementation of carbon pricing. Findings: Specifically, this study estimates the cost of emissions from campus waste to illustrate the primary benefits of internal carbon pricing for scaling up campus carbon neutrality initiatives and describes practical implications for enhancing sustainable waste management in a university setting. This study will contribute to identifying the potential for emissions reduction through waste management using a carbon pricing mechanism in university settings. Originality/value: While carbon pricing has long been regarded as an alternative approach to tackling carbon pollution, it has not been thoroughly explored with regard to waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global carbon neutrality challenge places a spotlight on forests as carbon sinks. However, greenhouse gas (GHG) balances of wood for material and energy use often reveal GHG emission savings in comparison with a non-wood reference. Is it thus better to increase wood production and use, or to conserve and expand the carbon stock in forests? GHG balances of wood products mostly ignore the dynamics of carbon storage in forests, which can be expressed as the carbon storage balance in forests (CSBF). For Germany, a CSBF of 0.25 to 1.15 t CO2-eq. m−3 wood can be assumed. When the CSBF is integrated into the GHG balance, GHG mitigation substantially deteriorates and wood products may even turn into a GHG source, e.g., in the case of energy wood. In such cases, building up forest carbon stocks would be the better option. We conclude that it is vital to include the CSBF in GHG balances of wood products to assess the impacts of wood extraction from forests. Only then can GHG balances provide political decision makers and stakeholders in the wood sector with a complete picture of GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held for the first time in Glasgow, Scotland, spanned the fortnight October 31 through November 13. Success in this regard - that is, positioning the world community to restrict global warming above preindustrial temperature to less than 1.5°C - requires strong leadership by the major historical greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, the United States foremost among them. The two major GHG emitting nations - the United States (most historical emissions) and China (most current emissions) - released a Joint Glasgow Declaration during COP26 (US Department of State, [18]). Toward that end, the White House announced new economy-wide, near-term GHG emissions reduction targets of 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, and 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035. [Extracted from the article]

The political and diplomatic events dedicated to climate in the first part of 2021, preparing the Glasgow COP-26 in November, mark a breakthrough in the failure caused by COP-25 (2019) and the reprisal of the multi-sided UN approach, under the impulse of the return in force, by the attitude of the Biden administration, of the US in the fight against climate change. In a broader sense, the Leaders' Summit on Climate (22-23 April 2021) and the associated negotiations revive the approach on eco-climatic problematic that allowed and reached the Paris Agreement of 2015, in the way of continuing the preparations and enabling of its system. Adopted as an annex to Decision 1/CP.21 (nonbinding), the conventional text of six years prior is juridical, but in an original formula that gives central place in its implementation to the attitude and will of the states, which can adopt a holistic effort in developing a common action, and through a global response, or on an individual folding, resulting in a general insufficiency. The positions expressed within the Summit of 22-23 April consolidate the former, accentuates the universal vocation of the Agreement, and align the states to the objectives of ambitious mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 2030, and to reach climate neutrality by 2050-2060. In the sense of the same evolutions, climate change has been reinscribed on the agenda of the UN Security Council as an issue of global security. In this new formula, of world leadership competition in the climate action, along with the US and China, the EU remains a fundamental pillar, especially by revising its climatic ambitions, by adopting the Green Deal as a sustainable development strategy, and of the "climate law", as an instrument of legal action. The coupling in the same equation of the objective to limit the increase of global temperature under 20C and the one regarding carbon neutrality imposes an adequate enforcement also regarding the pertinent macroeconomic research and evaluation. Under such premises, promising results are being expected from COP-26 (November 2021, Glasgow). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government has announced ambitious carbon reduction goals to address climate change, however, there has been limited scientific attention to the achievement of deep decarbonization in regions with insufficient economic development. Moreover, the complex impacts of climate change mitigation on energy system, environment and economic development remain unclear in Northwest China. Here we construct a comprehensive evaluation model system to evaluate the effects of different climate mitigation pathways in Qinghai, Ningxia, Gansu and Xinjiang provinces. Results show that the four provinces need to vigorously increase the share of electricity that consumed in final energy to 53.1–60.0% and 52.9–62.0% for 2 °C and 1.5 °C target, respectively, and reduce total energy demand to 11.6–44.4 Mtoe and 8.2–34.1 Mtoe in 2050. Meanwhile, the CO 2 emissions for their energy systems will reach peak by 2025 at lower values. Moreover, the synergies of CO 2 reduction are most conducive to abating SO 2 pollution and also contributing to decreasing PM 2.5 concentrations. Additionally, the GDP losses in 2050 fluctuate from 5.0 to 21.7 billion USD in the 2 °C scenario to 11.5–52.7 billion USD in the 1.5 °C scenario. Our study provides practical guidance on achieving carbon reductions in less developed regions of China and lays foundations to promote decarbonization of energy systems in other provinces. • Realizing climate goals requires low-carbon energy systems led by electricity. • Energy-related carbon emissions in Northwest China will peak by 2025. • More ambitious climate and clean air policies are needed for air quality improvement. • Economic loss shows an upward trend in the future under climate targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigation actions in all sectors of society, including sports, to limit global warming have become an increasingly hot topic in public discussions and sports management. However, so far, there has been a lack of understanding and practical examples of how these organizations, especially in team sports, can holistically assess and reduce their climate impacts to achieve carbon neutrality. This paper presents a carbon footprint assessment, implemented actions for GHG emission reduction, and offers the example of a professional Finnish ice hockey team that achieved carbon neutrality. The study is based on a life cycle assessment method. The Results show that the team's carbon footprint was reduced from 350 tCO 2eq by more than 50% between seasons 2018–2019 and 2021–2022 in the assessed categories. The most GHG emission reductions were achieved in the team's and spectators' mobility and ice hall energy consumption. Furthermore, the team compensated for their remaining emissions to achieve carbon neutrality. Multiple possibilities for further GHG emission reductions were recognized. The majority of the GHG emissions were linked to the Scope 3 category, indicating that co-operation with partners and stakeholders was a key to success in attaining carbon neutrality. This paper also discusses the possible limitations and challenges that sport organizations face in assessing climate impacts and reducing GHG emissions, as well as the prospects of overcoming them. Since there are many opportunities for sports to contribute to climate change mitigation, relevant targets and actions to reduce GHG emissions should be integrated into all sport organizations' management. [Display omitted] • This the first assessment of professional ice hockey team's carbon footprint. • Multiple actions led to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. • Concludes how sport organizations can manage their environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2021 onwards, forests and forestry will for the first time contribute to the European Union's climate action targets. The new Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation commits Member States to achieve carbon neutrality on the basis of an EU-wide system. The system accounts for carbon sequestered and emitted from forests and other land uses like crop- and wetland. What looks like a significant step in the Union's climate policy framework, however, leaves the large potential of Europe's forest sector for climate mitigation untapped. The present article draws this conclusion from a comprehensive analysis of 67 documents related to decision-making on the LULUCF Regulation. It reveals coalitional politics and the salience of the Commission's behavior as key to explain the Regulation's limited scope and concludes with assessing the future role of forests in the Union's climate policy framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major new multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) have entered into force in 2016, including the Paris Agreement (PA) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with nationally determined contributions (NDCs) for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, the Kigali Amendment (KA) to the Montreal Protocol with a phase-down schedule for HFC production and use in all countries as well as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) under the International Civil Aviation Organization, an offset mechanism for GHG emissions. Regarding climate change mitigation, these MEAs are implicitly and explicitly linked to each other. However, the interaction effects between them have not yet been studied. We apply document analysis to assess the following question: how does the MEA interplay impact the scope and effectiveness of international market-based climate policy instruments defined in Article 6 of the PA (Paris Mechanisms) regarding NDC achievement? The Paris Mechanisms can generate early reductions in HFCs that lower the KA baseline and thus the entire phase-down schedule, thereby generating long-term GHG mitigation. Reduction in HFC-23—a large, controversial source of carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)—is now mandated through the KA and thus no longer available for international market mechanisms. If it accepts CDM credits predating 2020, CORSIA will not generate demand for emission units generated by the Article 6 mechanisms and thus not impact their effectiveness. Otherwise, CORSIA demand for Article 6 credits enhances effectiveness, provided that 'double counting' of credits is prevented through corresponding adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Policies to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can yield public health benefits by also reducing emissions of hazardous co-pollutants, such as air toxics and particulate matter. Socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are typically disproportionately exposed to air pollutants, and therefore climate policy could also potentially reduce these environmental inequities. We sought to explore potential social disparities in GHG and co-pollutant emissions under an existing carbon trading program-the dominant approach to GHG regulation in the US and globally.Methods and Findings: We examined the relationship between multiple measures of neighborhood disadvantage and the location of GHG and co-pollutant emissions from facilities regulated under California's cap-and-trade program-the world's fourth largest operational carbon trading program. We examined temporal patterns in annual average emissions of GHGs, particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and air toxics before (January 1, 2011-December 31, 2012) and after (January 1, 2013-December 31, 2015) the initiation of carbon trading. We found that facilities regulated under California's cap-and-trade program are disproportionately located in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods with higher proportions of residents of color, and that the quantities of co-pollutant emissions from these facilities were correlated with GHG emissions through time. Moreover, the majority (52%) of regulated facilities reported higher annual average local (in-state) GHG emissions since the initiation of trading. Neighborhoods that experienced increases in annual average GHG and co-pollutant emissions from regulated facilities nearby after trading began had higher proportions of people of color and poor, less educated, and linguistically isolated residents, compared to neighborhoods that experienced decreases in GHGs. These study results reflect preliminary emissions and social equity patterns of the first 3 years of California's cap-and-trade program for which data are available. Due to data limitations, this analysis did not assess the emissions and equity implications of GHG reductions from transportation-related emission sources. Future emission patterns may shift, due to changes in industrial production decisions and policy initiatives that further incentivize local GHG and co-pollutant reductions in disadvantaged communities.Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine social disparities in GHG and co-pollutant emissions under an existing carbon trading program. Our results indicate that, thus far, California's cap-and-trade program has not yielded improvements in environmental equity with respect to health-damaging co-pollutant emissions. This could change, however, as the cap on GHG emissions is gradually lowered in the future. The incorporation of additional policy and regulatory elements that incentivize more local emission reductions in disadvantaged communities could enhance the local air quality and environmental equity benefits of California's climate change mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]