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Carbon emission reduction in China matters to global climate change mitigation. China has been experiencing extensive land changes, which profoundly influence terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage (TECS) and carbon emissions. Scholars have predicted influences of land changes on TECS in China with scenarios obtained from global integrated assessment models (IAMs), which lack national details. Moreover, universally existing variations in land-use intensity have not been considered when estimating influences on TECS. This study simulated changes of land-use intensity of China from 2000 to 2050 using CLUMondo under China-specified policies for sustainable development modeled by a national IAM named Threshold21-China. We proposed a more precise TECS estimation method by distinguishing land-vegetation and land-soil types. Results demonstrated that under scenario with preceding policies, the total TECS can increase by 865.5 Tg C from 2000 to 2050. Through implementing preceding policies, TECS loss by conversions from cultivated land to artificial surfaces can decline by 82 Tg C, and new TECS accumulated by increased and densified forests can increase by 73 Tg C. Mountainous and rapidly urbanizing regions are sensitively influenced and need more restrict land change management policies. This study demonstrates the significance of sustainable development policies for TECS conservation and indicates specific critical regions. • Introducing national IAM into land change simulation. • Considering land-use intensities in land change simulation. • Proposing an improved TECS estimation method. • Estimating influences of land changes on China's TECS. • TECS accumulation could be improved under sustainable policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is best supported by intersectoral policies informed by a range of evidence and knowledge types (e.g. scientific and lay). Given China's rapid urbanisation, scale and global importance in climate mitigation, this study investigates how evidence is perceived and used to inform urban health and sustainability policies at central and local levels. Well-informed senior professionals in government/scientific agencies (12 in Beijing and 11 in Ningbo) were interviewed. A thematic analysis is presented using deductive and inductive coding. Government agency participants described formal remits and processes determining the scope and use of evidence by different tiers of government. Academic evidence was influential when commissioned by government departments. Public opinion and economic priorities were two factors that also influenced the use or weight of evidence in policymaking. This study shows that scientific evidence produced or commissioned by government was routinely used to inform urban health and sustainability policy. Extensive and routine data collection is regularly used to inform cyclical policy processes, which improves adaptive capacity. This study contributes to knowledge on the 'cultures of evidence use'. Environmental governance can be further improved through increased data-sharing and use of diverse knowledge types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme weather and climate events tend to increase and strengthen as global warming intensifies, which severely affect human life and sustainable economic development. Therefore, based on the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project (DAMIP) and the Land Use Model Intercomparison Project (LUMIP) provided by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6), the optimal fingerprinting method is applied to quantify the greenhouse gases (GHG), aerosols (AA), natural forcing (NAT), and land use/cover change (LUCC) contributions to the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme temperatures in China during 1960—2020. The results show that GHG is the main driver of extreme temperature changes in China, except for ice days (ID0) and cold spells (CSDI). GHG causes an increase in warm spells (WSDI) by about 10 days and an extension of the growing season length (GSL) by 6 to 8 days. The Tibetan Plateau is the region with the strongest extreme temperature changes influenced by GHG. AA forcing has a cooling effect that partially offsets the warming effect of GHG, especially in southeastern China. It should be pointed out that AA forcing is also the main driver for the changes in diurnal temperature range (DTR) in southeastern China, which exceeds the GHG contribution. Additionally, LUCC has greater impact in nighttime extreme temperature indices changes than the regional AA, and becomes the second dominant factor beside GHG. LUCC leads to an attributable cooling contribution of 0.34 °C for the maximum of daily minimum temperatures (TNx). Spatially, the LUCC effects on extreme temperature changes are stronger in western China than in eastern China. The more robust estimation of the GHG, AA, NAT, and LUCC contributions over distinct regions provides an advanced understanding of anthropogenic impacts on regional extreme temperatures, which is expected to be an important reference for regional climate change adaptation and mitigation. [Display omitted] • Tibetan Plateau is the region with the strongest extreme temperature changes influenced by greenhouse gases (GHG). • GHG displays a nonuniformity effect on the changes in the extreme temperature frequency. • Land use/cover change (LUCC) has a stronger role in nighttime extreme temperature indices changes than the regional AA. • The LUCC effects on extreme temperature changes are stronger in western China than in eastern China • The LUCC effects on extreme temperature show asymmetrical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholder participation is recognized as a key principle for effective climate governance. Climate mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), REDD+, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) provide guidelines for local stakeholder consultation (LSC). However, little empirical research exists on how LSC is practised, and synergies between climate mechanisms are largely unexplored. This study explores how international LSC rules are practised at national and local levels. It aims to better shape future LSC in climate mechanisms by learning from the case of China. First, LSC policies in CDM, REDD+, and GCF are identified. Relevant rules in China's local policies are analysed. To understand the interaction between CDM policies and China's local LSC rules, a selection of Chinese CDM Projects Design Documents (PDDs) are analysed, providing an overall impression of the stakeholder process and results. Afterwards, we focus on a single case for an in-depth understanding of LSC in practice. Results point to the weakness of current CDM LSC rules and lack of good practice guidance, e.g. regarding who to consult, what approaches to be used, and when and how consultations shall take place. It also points to the lack of a clear relationship between global CDM policies and national LSC rules. The weaknesses of existing CDM LSC practices and procedures are not unique to the China case but are relevant to other countries and climate mechanisms. REDD+ and GCF provide good examples of LSC rules, where CDM can learn, share experiences, and explore synergies for future revisions. Policy relevance Contributing to the debate on public participation and effective climate governance related to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Article 6, this study examines stakeholder participation in the CDM and explores synergies with other mitigation mechanisms such as REDD+ and the GCF. Stakeholder participation in China is investigated to present realities on the ground. It points out the lack of detailed guidelines and provides insights into how national regulations and cultural practice take precedence over international CDM rules. The findings point to proposals for improving international regulations on stakeholder participation in the CDM and beyond for a stronger framework across climate governance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban form is increasingly being recognised by scientists for the potential role it might play in the coordination of sustainable urban development and the reduction of CO 2 emissions. However, despite increasing interest in the morphology of cities in climate change science, few quantitative estimates have been made of the effects of urban form on CO 2 emissions. The goal of this study is to quantify this relation, using panel data for China’s 30 provincial capital cities from 1990 to 2010. In order to meet this aim, we first selected a series of urban form indicators, which we quantified by applying spatial metrics to remotely sensed data. We then estimated CO 2 emission levels using a unified standard method recommended by the IPCC Guidelines, and subsequently performed a panel data analysis. The results of the study demonstrated a positive correlation between the growth of urban areas and CO 2 emission levels. Further, it was also found that increased “urban continuity” led to reductions in CO 2 emissions and that, conversely, increased “urban shape complexity” exerted a positive influence in relation to CO 2 emissions. The findings of this study indicate that measures to make existing cities in China more compact may in fact help to reduce levels of CO 2 emissions, just as increasing fragmentation or increased irregularity with respect to urban form may contribute to increased CO 2 emissions. If serious about achieving meaningful reductions in CO 2 emissions, decision makers and planners should take urban form into consideration when developing low-carbon cities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since climate change mitigation is the central debate of modern literature, the realization of carbon neutrality in response to diversified macroeconomic variables is the most crucial concern of international economies. However, the critical role of trade and renewable electricity output in export diversification-environmental nexus is missing. Therefore, this study investigates the combined influence of trade openness, exports diversification, and renewable electricity output on carbon dioxide emissions (CO 2) in China from 1989 through 2019. Applying novel time series econometric techniques robust to structural breaks, following new outcomes are obtained. Firstly, long-run equilibrium cointegration existed among the under-analysis variables. Secondly, export diversification and renewable electricity output are predicted to decelerate CO 2 , supporting carbon neutrality in the long run. Thirdly, trade openness and gross domestic product accelerated the CO 2 , delaying carbon neutrality accomplishment. Most importantly, significant structural break dummy interacting with trade openness implicated that during the post-2001 era, China's trade openness extensively deteriorated the environmental quality in the face of trade liberalization obtained after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Based on empirical results, export diversification and renewable electricity production policies should be mutually non-exclusive and closely coordinated. Further, to counter the carbon emission acceleration impact of trade openness, increasing the share of green tradable products is suggested. Finally, bilateral trade restructuring is recommended to realize the long-term dream of economic sustainability and carbon neutrality. • The role of exports diversification and trade openness is analyzed for China. • Novel time series methods are used for data from 1989 to 2019. • Exports diversification and renewable energy limit carbon emissions. • Trade openness and economic growth cause emissions to increase. • Sustainable trade is encouraged for achieving carbon neutrality target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]