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The industrial sector of Pakistan is currently facing severe load-shedding, which ultimately affects its unit production. The greater dependency on conventional energy resources (Thermal, Nuclear, etc.) results in higher production costs and environmental pollution. A sustainable, cost-effective, and environment-friendly solution can help the industrial growth of Pakistan. This article proposes an optimal hybrid energy system (HES) for the industrial sector of Pakistan to overcome the mentioned challenges. The proposed HES is developed in HOMER Pro. Three different energy cases (Case I: Existing energy system including a utility grid and diesel generator, Case II: On-grid Biogas system, and Case III: On-grid PV system with batteries) are considered for the Gourmet food Industry in the Sundar Industrial estate, Pakistan. The Load profile of the selected site was calculated through on-site visits and data provided by the designated utility grid feeder. The analysis shows that Case III is more effective than other cases, indicating reduced Net Present Cost (NPC), Cost of Energy (COE), and Operating Cost (OC) to $ 19.2 million, $0.034/kWh, and $ 573,371/year respectively. Moreover, the On-grid PV system with batteries (Case III) provides an environmentally friendly solution by reducing 63.82% by and 62.22% . Comparing the sensitivity analysis for various grid sell-back prices ($0/kWh, $0.043/kWh, $0.061/kWh, and $0.09/kWh), Case III is more cost-effective than Case II. The revenue generation in Case III is $128,499.41/yr, considering the supply of excess electricity into nearby small industrial loads at $0.065/kWh, this indicates that installing optimal HES in industries will not only help in overall cost reduction but also support in mitigating environmental pollution and load shedding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is a significant contributor to anthropogenic global warming. In recent years, agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China, which is the largest emitter, has been decreasing. In order to identify whether or not Chinese agricultural development has affected GHG emission, we used the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) factor decomposition model to study the effect of productivity factors on GHG emission and their characteristics in four phases of Chinese agricultural development. The results indicate that land productivity is the most significantly promotion factor which contributes 1.12 Gt CO2e GHG emission growth. On the contrary, technological input intensity exerts an obvious mitigating effect with 1.57 Gt CO2e GHG emission reduction. The effects of productivity factors on GHG emission differ between household-based farming systems and large-scale management systems. A more nuanced perspective on the significant role of agricultural large-scale management in GHG emission could aid climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with increasing maritime trade, the shipping industry has faced the challenge of mitigating escalating greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the cost mitigation strategies of shipping companies in response to three key regulations: the Carbon Intensity Indicator, the EU Emissions Trading System, and the FuelEU Maritime regulation. By proposing optimal speeds for container ships on the Asia–Europe route and examining the potential for carbon leakage, the study aims to predict strategies of shipping companies and derive insights for achieving sustainable regulatory compliance. The results provide a comprehensive analysis of the regulations' impact on operational costs and emissions, with the robustness of the findings confirmed through extensive sensitivity analyses. The discussion highlights the unintended consequences of current regulations that may deviate from the ultimate objectives of reducing GHG emissions and achieving sustainable maritime transport. Ultimately, the study seeks to support the development of effective maritime regulations that align with the operational strategies of shipping companies, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to achieve the intended outcomes of environmental policies. • Integrated analysis of EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and CII regulations in shipping costs. • Case study approach proposes optimal speeds for Asia-Europe container ships. • Results reveal potential carbon leakage due to cost-optimal strategies under regulations. • Unintended consequences highlight the need for a holistic approach to sustainability. • Insights provide guidance for sustainable shipping strategies post-regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

German legislation sets forth that anthropogenic greenhouse gases must be net-zero from 2045 onward (KSG, 2019). In contrast, road freight transport is projected to grow significantly (BMVBS, 2008; BMVI, 2021). If sustainable solutions for road freight transport are not implemented swiftly, Germany will not be able to meet its climate protection targets. This study analyzes the potential of the eHighway system—an overhead contact line-based electrification of trucks—to reduce the road freight transport's carbon footprint. Based on more than three years of field test operation with over 500,000 real-world driven kilometers, we estimate the saving potential of directly emitted greenhouse gases from five pilot overhead contact line trucks that use the eHighway system (O-trucks). We conclude that with only a five percent electrified stretch of a trip, 14–17% of direct greenhouse gas emissions are saved compared to a conventional truck. We develop a scaling and comparison calculator for the estimation of directly emitted greenhouse gases of O-trucks. We argue that with an electricity mix based upon renewable energies and an appropriately extended eHighway network, road freight transport is capable of offering transport with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Based on a unique data set, we provide a benchmark for all further research in evaluating eHighway technology and for comparing it to alternative drive technologies. • We analyze the overall GHG emission saving potential of the eHighway system. • We develop a scaling and comparison calculator for estimating GHG emissions. • The eHighway system allows savings of greenhouse gas emissions of up to 100%. • Especially the electricity mix has a major impact on the GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to shed light on the influence of climate governance on carbon emission disclosure. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on S&P BSE 500 Indian firms over six years, i.e. from 2016–2017 to 2021–2022. The panel regression has been used to determine the association between climate governance and carbon emission disclosure. Findings: The results of this study suggest that climate governance exerts a significant influence on corporate carbon emission disclosure. Moreover, results corroborate that climate governance elements such as the environment committee, carbon strategy and environment management system are critical contributors to carbon emission disclosure. Practical implications: This study adds to the emerging literature on climate change, carbon emission disclosure, corporate governance and climate governance. Social implications: This work provides valuable insights to corporate managers and policymakers as the study concludes that climate governance enhances firms' carbon emission disclosure. Originality/value: Earlier literature has examined the influence of corporate governance on carbon emission disclosure. However, this study extends to the corporate governance literature by providing novel insights into how integrating climate governance elements into corporate governance can influence carbon emission disclosure. Moreover, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to explore the association between climate governance and carbon emission disclosure in the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is an important global environmental issue impacting public health across the world. Innovative satellite-based technology has revolutionized the monitoring of air pollution, enabling assessments on various scales with unprecedented accuracy and coverage. The study attempts to estimate the seasonal and spatial fluctuations of various gaseous pollutants using Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite images at the district level in Odisha. In order to comprehend the environmental impact of air pollution, an effort must be made to assess potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and potential acidification levels in Odisha. Results showed that potential emissions of greenhouse gases vary regionally and range from 378.82 g CO2 equivalent/m2 to 386.22 g CO2 equivalent/m2, while potential acidification levels range from 0.008 g SO2 equivalent/m2 to 0.034 g SO2 equivalent/m2. The north-western (Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Sundargarh) and north-central (Angul, Dhenkanal, and Deogarh) regions of Odisha exhibit high potential emissions of greenhouse gases and levels of acidification. This is attributed to comparatively higher concentrations of various pollutants stemming from sources like industrial and vehicle emissions. Although the satellite-based study enabled us to characterise the relative air pollution across the state, it necessitated a number of air pollution monitoring stations for validation purposes. A future road map to address climate change and environmental protection may be developed with the aid of local officials and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rice production in Northeastern Vietnam is livelihood-oriented with a small farm size in the northern mountainous and midlands region. This study aims to determine the contribution of agronomic and input factors to the total carbon (C) footprint of rice production to identify solutions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture in this region. Methods: We used a life cycle assessment method for the C footprint of rice production from planting to harvesting. Agronomic parameters and input data in both spring and summer crops were collected through interviews conducted with 50 rice-farming households in the Quang Minh commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province, using questionnaires. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted to gather information on energy used for land preparation and harvesting. Results and discussion: The C footprint per hectare and per tonne of grain of the summer rice crop (15.6 ± 3.3 t CO2-eq/ha, 2.34 ± 0.54 t CO2-eq/t) was significantly higher than that of the spring crop (9.5 ± 1.8 t CO2-eq/ha, 1.3 ± 0.26 t CO2-eq/t). GHG emissions were due mainly to direct methane emissions during rice growth, accounting for 89.5% of the total C footprint of the summer crop and 80.5% of that of the spring crop. Fertilizer emissions also contributed significantly, accounting for 5.4% and 10.4%, respectively, nearly 75% from N-fertilizer emissions. A higher C footprint (per grain basis) was generally associated with straw incorporation, continuous flooded irrigation, longer rice growth duration, and lower rice yield, indicating the importance of agronomic management of crop residues, water and nutrients, choice of varieties, and growing seasons. Small farm size did not lead to higher carbon intensity. Conclusions: The solutions to avoid direct incorporation of rice straw, to conduct intermittent irrigation, to reduce the amount of N-fertilizer, and to use short-duration rice varieties (especially for summer crop) with high yield potential along with optimal agronomic management practices should be highlighted. Greater adoption of these measures will contribute significantly to reducing the C footprint of rice production in Northeastern Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Livestock production contributes significantly to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Probiotic-fed broiler production has been shown to reduce greenhouse emissions in other nations significantly, however, outcomes in Malaysia are unknown. Aims: This study assesses the total greenhouse emissions of probiotic-fed broiler production from cradle to farm-gate using an accredited Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool, Greenhouse Accounting Framework (GAF). It determines the hotspot of greenhouse emissions and emission intensity of the farm in kg CO2-eq/kg liveweight. Three types of mitigation methods, i.e. selling untreated manure, composting, and conversion into biochar, were compared to identify their effectiveness. Methods: The research involves three broiler houses with one production cycle. Fifty-four gas samples and 90 poultry litter samples were collected throughout the production cycle and analysed for the targeted gases – i.e. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen and volatile solid composition. Analysis results were used to estimate total greenhouse emissions from the farm using the LCA-GAF model. The mitigation efficiency achieved by selling untreated manure, composting, and biochar production is assessed by estimating the carbon stock mass. Key results: A new LCA model based on probiotic-fed broiler production was generated, specifically using data obtained from the experiment. The experimental results indicated that energy consumption, i.e. electricity and fuel, have the highest greenhouse emissions (44%), followed by feed production with 40% of the total 53.51 t CO2-eq/house/cycle in the probiotic-fed broiler farm. The emissions intensity of the farm is 1.57 kg CO2-eq/kg liveweight. Estimates of the mitigation efficiency were compared among untreated manure, biochar, and compost. Conclusions: Energy consumption, particularly electricity and fuel, contributed the highest greenhouse emissions in the probiotic-fed broiler production. The strategy of selling untreated poultry litter was the most effective carbon mitigation method. However, due to its adverse environmental and human health impacts, converting poultry litter into biochar is the preferable mitigation option. Implications: This study is profound for the poultry industry and environmental sustainability. It highlights the crucial role of energy consumption in greenhouse emissions from the probiotic-fed broiler farm, and the necessity of addressing the environmental impacts. Implementing sustainable agricultural practices could lead to more ecological poultry production, contributing to global efforts in climate change mitigation. Livestock production plays a major role in global greenhouse gas emissions, and the impacts of using probiotics in broiler production is a new area of study in Malaysia. This research conducted on three broiler farms, reveals that energy consumption, particularly electricity and fuel, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The findings highlight the potential of probiotics in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in broiler production and developing sustainable practices in the poultry industry to address environmental concerns. This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine the energy utilization and greenhouse gas emission in apple production. Within the scope of the study, energy utilization efficiency indicators and greenhouse gas emission calculations were made in apple production. Total energy input in apple production has been calculated as 35338.97 MJ/ha, totals energy output as 60038.50 MJ/ha, energy utilization efficiency as 1.70, specific energy 1.39 MJ/kg, energy productivity as 0.72 kg/MJ and net energy value as 24699.53 MJ/ha. Energy inputs in apple production consisted of direct energy with 11958.05 MJ/ha (33.84%). indirect energy with 23380.92 MJ/ha (66.16%). renewable energy with 3486.55 MJ/ha (9.87%) and non-renewable with 31852.42 MJ/ha (90.13%). In apple production greenhouse gas emission arising from inputs has been calculated as 1718.90 kgCO2eq/ha while greenhouse gas emission rate has been calculated as 0.07 kgCO2eq/kg. In respect to energy utilization efficiency, it is possible to claim that apple production was efficient for the 2021 production season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An integration of vehicle routing problem and life cycle assessment was adopted. • Derived leachate treatment contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. • Centralized vehicle management decreases the greenhouse gas emissions. • Waste separation decreases greenhouse gas emissions significantly. • Vehicle electrification holds big potentials for greenhouse gas reduction. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with waste transfer and transport, incorporating derived leachate treatment—a factor often overlooked in existing research. Employing an integration model of life cycle assessment and a vehicle routing problem (VRP) methods, we evaluated the GHG reduction potential of waste transfer and transport system. Two Chinese counties with different topographies and demographics were selected, yielding 80 scenarios that factored in waste source separation as well as vehicle capacity, energy sources, and routes. The functional unit (FU) is transferring and transporting 1 tonne waste and treating derived leachate. The GHG emissions varied from 12 to 39 kg CO 2 equivalent per FU. Waste source separation emerged as the most impactful mitigation strategy, not only for the studied system but for an integrated waste management system. Followings are the use of larger capacity vehicles and electrification of the vehicles. These insights are instrumental for policymakers and stakeholders in optimizing waste management systems to reduce GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Controlled irrigation reduced net global warming potential (net GWP) by 16–220%. • Hydrochar addition decreased greenhouse gas emission by 10–41% compared to straw addition. • Hydrochar and straw addition increased net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB) by 21–34%. • Hydrochar + controlled irrigation reduced greenhouse gas emission while increased NECB. Hydrochar is proposed as a climate-friendly organic fertilizer, but its potential impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in paddy cultivation is not fully understood. This two-year study compared the impact of exogenous organic carbon (EOC) application (rice straw and hydrochar) on GHG emissions, the net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB), net global warming potential (net GWP), and GHG emission intensity (GHGI) in a rice pot experiment using either flooding irrigation (FI) or controlled irrigation (CI). Compared with FI, CI increased ecosystem respiration by 23 – 44 % and N 2 O emissions by 85 – 137 % but decreased CH 4 emissions by 30 – 58 % (p < 0.05). Since CH 4 contributed more to net GWP than N 2 O, CI reduced net GWP by 16 – 220 %. EOC amendment increased crop yield by 5 – 9 % (p < 0.05). Compared with CK, hydrochar application increased initial GHG emission, net GWP and GHGI in the first year, while in the second year, there was no significant difference in net GWP and GHGI between CI–hydrochar and CK. Compared with straw addition, hydrochar amendment reduced net GWP and GHGI by 20 – 66 % and 21 – 66 %; and exhibited a lower net CO 2 emission when considering the energy input during the hydrochar production. These findings suggest that integrated CI-hydrochar practices would be a sustainable and eco-friendly way for organic waste management in rice production as it holds potential to enhance the NECB and SOC sequestration of rice production, while also offsetting the extra carbon emissions from organic inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on reducing sewage sludge by an oxic-settling-anaerobic (OSA) pilot plant compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) process in view of resource recovery and moving towards plant carbon neutrality. The OSA plant was supplied with real wastewater and the anaerobic reactor was operated under two hydraulic retention times (HRT) (4 and 6 h). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were monitored for the first time to determine the OSA process's production mechanism. The results highlighted that under the lowest HRT (4 h), the removal efficiencies of COD and PO4−P, increased from 75 to 89% and from 39 to 50% for CAS and OSA configurations, respectively. The observed yield coefficient was reduced from 0.58 gTSS gCOD−1 (CAS period) to 0.31 gTSS gCOD−1 (OSA period). A remarkable deterioration of nitrification efficiency under OSA configuration was obtained from 79% (CAS) to 27% (OSA with HRT of 6 h). The huge deterioration of nitrification significantly affected the GHG emissions, with the N2O-N fraction increasing from 1% (CAS) to 1.55% (OSA 4 h HRT) and 3.54% (OSA 6 h HRT) of the overall effluent nitrogen, thus suggesting a relevant environmental implication due to the high global warming potential (GWP) of N2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock farming is considered one relevant cause of global warming. The aim of this article is to show that the environmental footprint of broilers and laying hens is small among farmed animal species. Author examines the increase in the production of broilers and laying hens over the past decades as a result of genetic selection, and as a consequence their greenhouse gas emissions, land, water and energy use have decreased. It was evidenced that with the increase of production the environmental footprint per unit of product decreases. On the other hand, in alternative housing systems, especially in free-range and organic production, all indicators deteriorate. Supplying the Earth's ever-growing population with a sufficient amount of high-quality food of animal origin, in such a way that the environmental footprint of poultry farming is reduced, can be achieved with intensive production taking into account animal welfare. New tools and methods such as genomic selection, gene editing or precision poultry breeding will help in this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock farming is considered one relevant cause of global warming. The aim of this article is to show that the environmental footprint of broilers and laying hens is small among farmed animal species. Author examines the increase in the production of broilers and laying hens over the past decades as a result of genetic selection, and as a consequence their greenhouse gas emissions, land, water and energy use have decreased. It was evidenced that with the increase of production the environmental footprint per unit of product decreases. On the other hand, in alternative housing systems, especially in free-range and organic production, all indicators deteriorate. Supplying the Earth's ever-growing population with a sufficient amount of high-quality food of animal origin, in such a way that the environmental footprint of poultry farming is reduced, can be achieved with intensive production taking into account animal welfare. New tools and methods such as genomic selection, gene editing or precision poultry breeding will help in this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is one of the major public health epidemics that the world currently faces. The environmental implication of obesity is reflected in its impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to increased pressure on food production system, oxidative metabolism, and combustion of fossil fuels during transportation. However, few studies exist on the linkage between GHG emissions and obesity. This seeks to fill this gap by analyzing the effect obesity total GHG emission, carbon dioxides emissions, per capita carbon emissions, and emissions of carbon dioxide from liquid fuel. The data were from 45 African countries for the period 1990-2016. The data were analyzed with panel corrected standard error (PCSE) after positive feedbacks from cross-section dependence, and cointegration tests. The results showed that obesity, urban population, and GDP per capita were generally positively related to GHG emissions, while renewable energy, livestock production index and utilization had negative association. It was recommended that initiatives to reduce obesity promise some environmental benefits. Also, there is the need to promote renewable energy utilization and facilitate sustainable agricultural production, to reduce environmental damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, the significant high environmental impacts of meat consumption have drawn increasing attention around the globe. This study took 2018 meat consumption levels as baselines. It explored the emission implications of the more sustainable counterfactual healthy red meat diet (HRMD), healthy poultry meat diet (HPMD), and world balanced meat diet (WBMD). Meat commodity supply for human consumption data was extracted from the FAOSTAT database. The data were then adjusted for cooking and edible meat yields to obtain the cooked-and-edible meat. Emission factors obtained from published meta-analyses were used to estimate the emission implications of cooked-and-edible meat consumption. Counterfactual HRMD showed that adjusting 18 regions' (10% of the world population) red meat consumption to a serving per day and poultry meat consumption to three servings per week equivalent could reduce the meat-related emission by 4%. The HPMD showed that further reducing red meat consumption in the HRMD to the world average in 21 regions (13% of the world population) and substituting the reductions with poultry meat could reduce the meat-related emission by 12%. WBMD showed aligning all regions' meat consumption to a serving of each bovine, pig, and poultry meat per week, and the ovine meat consumption to the world average could reduce the meat-related emission by 21%. HRMD and HPMD could be the step-by-step transition strategies towards a WBMD to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and simultaneously address malnourishment issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beef production is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We conducted a choice experiment to analyse consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for beef characterised as carbon-friendly. We included a treatment where respondents were informed about carbon-friendly production and surveyed beliefs regarding beef production's contribution to GHG emissions. The results show that consumers have a positive WTP for carbon-friendly beef and providing information increases the premium that they are willing to pay for it. The findings also suggest that consumers who believe that beef production contributes to GHG emissions are willing to pay more for beef carrying a carbon-friendly label. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) stemming from the sludge treatment sector in China and to investigate the feasibility of novel technologies in curtailing these emissions, with the aim of fostering sustainable sludge management methodologies. Employing a life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the research computed the comprehensive GHG emissions resulting from sludge treatment, taking into consideration diverse elements such as treatment techniques (e.g., landfills, incineration, and land application) and the geographical variations among China's 660 municipalities. Findings indicate that the total amount of GHG emissions from sludge treatment amounted to 18.54 Mt CO2-eq in 2017, with incineration registering the highest emissions (10,011.53 kg CO2-eq/t dry sludge (DS)), followed by landfills (717.51 kg CO2-eq/t DS) and land application (276.41 kg CO2-eq/t DS). The geographical dispersion of emissions characteristics reveal notable regional disparities, with the top 1% of cities responsible for 34.2% of the overall emissions. The concentration of emissions in the top 1 percent of cities underscores the necessity for tailored mitigation measures that consider localized sustainable development challenges. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrates that economic determinants and treatment scales exert substantial influence on emissions, underscoring the imperative of aligning Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with economic advancement. To curtail the carbon footprint associated with sludge treatment and enhance sustainability, the study evaluated the emission mitigation potential and expenses of diverse technologies, encompassing thermal conversion, anaerobic digestion, hydrothermal treatment, and wet oxidation. These technologies have the capacity to slash GHG emissions by 0.09–0.46 t CO2-eq/t DS in comparison to traditional approaches, while concurrently advancing resource recuperation and principles of circular economy. For instance, gasification could diminish GHG emissions by 0.33–0.46 t CO2-eq/t DS, whereas anaerobic digestion could yield reductions of 0.09–0.30 t CO2-eq/t DS. The implementation of these innovative technologies across 660 Chinese municipalities could potentially curtail total GHG emissions from sludge treatment by 15–40%. Nevertheless, further enhancements are imperative to refine their environmental and economic efficiency and guarantee enduring sustainability. By deploying these technologies and embracing optimization tactics, China's sludge treatment sector can make a substantial contribution towards attaining national carbon neutrality objectives and advancing sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household food waste is a significant concern beyond policy formulation and regulations because of its proximity. This study examines the impact of climate change awareness and household behavioral intentions toward food waste consequence mitigation in south-eastern Nigeria. Specifically, we evaluated complicated household attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention toward food waste in two experiments with between-subject designs: participants (N = 480), 240 (awareness, 120 aware and 120 unaware) and 240 (information, 120 high and 120 low). The first and second experiments revealed that a significant effect of climate change awareness elicited a more favorable effect on food waste reduction when households were exposed to awareness and high information banners because climate change awareness was sensitized through food waste consequences and disasters. Intention toward food waste reduction mediated the relationship between climate change awareness and food waste reduction. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous oxide (N2O), a major greenhouse gas, has the potential to be emitted from waste landfills. Previous studies have demonstrated the propensity of landfilling facilities to emit significant quantities of N2O, a fact underscored by the IPCC Guidelines, which emphasize the importance of researching this phenomenon. However, due to the absence of established international guidelines for quantifying N2O emissions from landfills, many countries, including the United States, have excluded N2O from greenhouse gas inventories. Therefore, this study aims to estimate N2O emissions from landfills in the United States, a country with a significant landfill waste volume. In this study, N2O emissions from U.S. landfills over an 11-year period (2010–2020) are estimated by using the emission estimation formula provided in CDM AM0083 and emission factors from the 2006 IPCC Guidelines. Additionally, emissions were calculated spatially for each state and individual landfill facility. As a result, the impact of integrating N2O emissions from landfills into the national greenhouse gas inventory was assessed. The average annual landfill N2O emission in the United States over the 11-year period was estimated to be 3,214,693 ton-CO2-equivalent/year, with an overall decreasing trend. In 2020, Indiana, Michigan, and Oregon exhibited high landfill N2O emissions per capita, while the Virgin Islands, Connecticut, and Massachusetts demonstrated lower emissions. When incorporated into the U.S. greenhouse gas inventory, landfill N2O emissions represent 10.41% of the total sector N2O emissions. Although N2O emissions are declining alongside reduced waste landfilling in the United States, the quantity remains significant and should be factored into greenhouse gas inventory calculations and emission scenarios for the next CMIP6. Further research investigating N2O emission coefficients across different regions and waste types is necessary. Ultimately, this study aims to support the United Nations (UN)'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action), by enhancing the tools for accurate greenhouse gas inventory and promoting sustainable waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, significant attention has been paid to the large-scale use of renewable energy through high-voltage direct current (HVDC) because of its economic feasibility. At the same time, the growing demand for electricity and the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources have prompted the electric power industry to explore methods to optimize the use of the existing grid infrastructure. Dynamic thermal line rating (DTLR) is a technique that allows transmission lines to operate at their maximum capacity, considering their real-time operating conditions. The majority of existing research on this topic has focused predominantly on employing DTLR in alternating current systems and exploring their applications. This study presents a novel approach by applying DTLR to HVDC transmission corridors, with the aim of maximizing the utilization of their capacity and facilitating increased integration of renewable energy. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated by conducting a case study for an HVDC transmission line in Alberta, Canada. On average, the mean increase in ampacity above the static rating is 64% during winter and 34% during summer. This additional capacity can be used to integrate wind energy, replacing coal-fired generation. This leads to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, also quantified in this contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions are a critical concern for China's automotive industry, especially for passenger cars due to their high sales' volume. Recently, the trend towards connected and autonomous driving vehicles has been significant in the passenger car market. However, the impact of these systems on the life cycle emissions of vehicles remains unclear. This paper focuses on system function levels from driver assistance to full driving automation and studies their life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. This research establishes a component list for the hardware system and a material inventory. Then, this paper reveals significant differences in total system emissions at these technology levels, 540.1 kg for primary, 1318.7 kg for medium, and 2279.2 kg for advanced systems. Despite this difference, the total is less than 7.23% of the total vehicle emissions. To further reduce this portion of GHG emissions, it is recommended that vehicles favor millimeter-wave radar over solid-state LiDAR in their sensing system hardware, coupled with cameras as the primary sensing element. In addition, Intelligent Hardware Systems are not recommended for internal combustion engine passenger cars for optimal balance between functionality and environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global community is actively pursuing alternative energy sources to mitigate environmental concerns and decrease dependence on fossil fuels. Biodiesel, recognized as a clean and eco-friendly fuel with advantages over petroleum-based alternatives, has been identified as a viable substitute. However, its commercialization encounters challenges due to costly production processes. Establishing a more efficient supply chain for mass production and distribution could surmount these obstacles, rendering biodiesel a cost-effective solution. Despite numerous review articles across various renewable energy supply chain domains, there remains a gap in the literature specifically addressing the biodiesel supply chain network design. This research entails a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) focusing on the design of biodiesel supply chain networks. The primary objective is to formulate an economically, environmentally, and socially optimized supply chain framework. The review also seeks to offer a holistic overview of pertinent technical terms and key activities involved in these supply chains. Through this SLR, a thorough examination and synthesis of existing literature will yield valuable insights into the design and optimization of biodiesel supply chains. Additionally, it will identify critical research gaps in the field, proposing the exploration of fourth-generation feedstocks, integration of multi-channel chains, and the incorporation of sustainability and resilience aspects into the supply chain network design. These proposed areas aim to address existing knowledge gaps and enhance the overall effectiveness of biodiesel supply chain networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Optimal human health requires the adequate provision of all nutrients in the correct proportions, ensuring the provision of energy and essential small molecules. All primates, including humans, are omnivorous but the most striking difference from other primates is the remarkable diversity of the diets we consume. Animal-sourced foods are important for human nutrition and health, but they can have a negative impact on the environment. The aim here is to examine these impacts that can result in land use tensions associated with population growth and the loss of native forests and wetlands during agricultural expansion, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and high water use with poor water quality outcomes. However, several technologies and practices can be used to mitigate against these impacts. These include grazing when feed quality is high, the use of dietary additives, breeding of animals with higher growth rates and increased fecundity, rumen microbial manipulations using vaccines and other additives, soil management to reduce nitrous oxide emission, management systems to improve carbon sequestration, improved nutrient use efficacy, use of cover crops, low-emission composting barns, covered manure storages, and direct injection of animal slurry into soil. Other technologies and systems to provide further solutions continue to be researched. Animal-sourced foods are important for human nutrition and health, but they can have a negative impact on the environment. These impacts can result in land use tensions associated with population growth and the loss of native forests and wetlands during agricultural expansion. Increased greenhouse gas emissions, and high water use but poor water quality outcomes can also be associated. Life cycle analysis from cradle-to-distribution has shown that novel plant-based meat alternatives can have an environmental footprint lower than that of beef finished in feedlots, but higher than for beef raised on well-managed grazed pastures. However, several technologies and practices can be used to mitigate impacts. These include ensuring that grazing occurs when feed quality is high, the use of dietary additives, breeding of animals with higher growth rates and increased fecundity, rumen microbial manipulations through the use of vaccines, soil management to reduce nitrous oxide emission, management systems to improve carbon sequestration, improved nutrient use efficacy throughout the food chain, incorporating maize silage along with grasslands, use of cover crops, low-emission composting barns, covered manure storages, and direct injection of animal slurry into soil. The technologies and systems that help mitigate or actually provide solutions to the environmental impact are under constant refinement to enable ever-more efficient production systems to allow for the provision of animal-sourced foods to an ever-increasing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission has been growing for decades, that has resulted in serious environmental problems. Many researches have focused on production planning in supply chains that are primarily attributed to objectives of cost minimization and profit maximization. There has been limited research concentrated on emission of GHGs (e.g. CO 2 , N 2 O, CH 4 ) from industrial activities. The social concern of air pollution is the motivation towards the proposed study. In this study, we propose an optimization model for designing a sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) network that attempts to reduce carbon emission, improve social benefits and eventually improve customer experience. The optimization model is a multi objective mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulation. The proposed model is a multi raw-material, multi-product, multi-period, multi-sites model that focuses on improving three dimensions of sustainability: viz. economic, environmental and social. Model performance is demonstrated through numerical experiments. The authors are currently working on solution algorithm for solving larger instances of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing the nitrogen (N) fertilization level and cropping system is critically important for achieving good production performance with low environmental pollution. However, there is a knowledge gap on the relationship between crop production sustainability, water and nitrogen consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission under the change in N application rate under cereal and legume mixed systems. A 3-year field experiment with two cropping systems [sole forage sorghum (SS) and forage sorghum/lablab mixed cropping (SL) with four N fertilizer application rates (N0, 0 kg N ha−1; N90, 90 kg N ha−1; N180, 180 kg N ha−1; and N270, 270 kg N ha−1)] was conducted. Results obtained showed that mixed cropping combined with N fertilization enhanced forage biomass and crude protein yield by 34.0 % and 51.1 %, respectively, particularly in mixed cropping combined with the N180 treatment compared with the N0 level in the sole cropping system. Similar improvements were observed for yield stability and sustainability (2.97 % and 0.95, respectively), which reached maximum values at N180 in the mixed cropping system. In addition, mixed cropping increased the water productivity of dry matter yield (WPDM) and water productivity of crude protein yield (WPCPY) by 17.2 % and 27.6 %, respectively, at 180 kg N ha−1 compared with the corresponding treatments of the sole planting system. Furthermore, mixed cropping combined with appropriate N application significantly improved N physiological efficiency (PEN) and reduced GHG intensity (GHGI), where N application of 180 kg ha−1 N increased PEN by 21.3 % and reduced GHGI by 17.6 % compared with the corresponding monoculture in the mixed cropping system. This study demonstrated that reducing N fertilization in cereal–legume cropping systems can promote forage productivity by optimizing water and N management while decreasing environmental pollution. Therefore, forage sorghum mixed with lablab and fertilization at 180 kg N ha–1 is a preferable approach for sustainable agricultural production in the Northwest arid region of China.

The escalating issue of solid waste with a significant focus on plastic waste has prompted the exploration of alternative sustainable approaches for waste management. This paper discusses the pressing environmental challenges associated with solid waste, particularly plastics. It highlights the importance of implementing a systematic approach that aligns with the most effective environmental practices. With approximately 5.6 million tonnes of plastic waste produced annually in India alone, and only 12.3 % being recycled, there is a critical need for a sustainable plastic-waste management strategy. Traditional methods like landfilling, incineration, and recycling have some limitations, emphasizing the need for a sustainable approach. In this context, plastic biodegradation by microorganisms isolated from landfills presents a promising solution, efficiently breaking down plastics into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass in an eco-friendly manner. In recent years, substantial research efforts have been dedicated to identify microorganisms and enzymes with the ability to degrade plastics. This review thus, explores the limitations of conventional plastic waste management and delves into microbiological-based approaches, with the focus on recent advances and findings in this arena. The crucial prerequisite for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to combat plastic pollution is underscored. Therefore, this paper also explores the current challenges associated with the biodegradation of plastics and accentuates future prospects for the ongoing advancement of plastic biodegradation technologies.

We evaluated CO2 equivalent (CO2eq) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and minimum selling price of levulinic acid (LA) produced in two biomass-waste-based processes: the AlCl3/choline chloride (ChCl) process, and the formic acid (FA) process, with catalysts recycling. Six scenarios were synthesized to compare the performances of the two processes in Japan and Canada. In the AlCl3/ChCl process, the total GHG emission was 11.35–11.56 kg-CO2eq/kg-LA and those from the energy input to the pretreatment and ChCl production were 5.22 and 3.90 kg-CO2eq/kg-LA, respectively. In the FA process, the total GHG emission was 9.46–9.68 and 22.29–22.51 kg-CO2eq/kg-LA for 60 wt% and 80 wt% FA, respectively. The operational emissions for makeup FA input were 7.65 and 20.80 kg-CO2eq/kg-LA (60 wt% and 80 wt%, respectively), which accounted for more than 80% in all scenarios. The optimization of the product purge volume, FA concentration in the pretreatment, and FA production using biomass and/or renewable energy are critical parameters to reduce overall environmental impacts of the processes. The liquid content of the solid residue (moisture, water soluble organic matters, and catalyst) had insignificant influences on the GHG emission and minimum selling price. In the FA process, combustion of solid residue can compensate the GHG emissions from the reaction and separation units.

SUMMARY: The objective of this analysis was to quantify how changes in the protein content of soybean meal (SBM) impact the economic value and environmental impact of SBM used in U.S. poultry and swine diets. A recent study presented a framework to quantify SBM value in poultry and swine diets using digestible amino acids and energy as the primary determinants of end-user value. While improved SBM nutritional composition (higher digestible amino acids and energy) results in increased SBM market value, one aspect not well understood is how ingredient quality and composition impact the environmental assessment when formulating animal diets. This study demonstrated that the economic value of SBM in swine and poultry diets increases as SBM protein (amino acids and energy) increases and that this coincides with reduced dietary Green House Gas (GHG) emissions (gCO2e/kg). Least cost diet formulation was conducted on poultry and swine diets to estimate inclusion, diet cost, relative value of SBM, and GHG emissions for the calculated diets. Results show that for each 1% increase in SBM crude protein (CP) from 44.0% to 48.0%, SBM value increases over $19 per metric ton while reducing GHG emissions by 5.5% in poultry diets, and SBM value increases almost $16 per metric ton while reducing GHG emissions 4.8% in swine diets. Furthermore, increasing SBM CP content was confirmed to be favorable financially due to diet cost reductions in poultry and swine diets, with improvements in GHG emissions (gCO2e/kg), and estimated nitrogen excretion being unchanged across SBM CP.

The soil microbiome is a driver of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in terrestrial ecosystems. Identifying the core microbiome of N2O emissions and its temperature sensitivity from trillions of soil microorganisms is a great challenge and is essential to improving the predictability of soil-climate feedback related to increasing temperature. Here, the integrated soil microbiome covering archaeal, bacterial, fungal, algal, and microfaunal communities was studied to disengage the potential linkage with its N2O emissions and its temperature sensitivity in paddy fields by hunting for core species pairs. The results showed that between-group interactions of core bacterial and archaeal members and the within-group interactions of core bacterial members jointly contributed to the N2O emissions and its temperature sensitivity. The contribution of between-group interactions (32 to 33%) was greater than that of within groups (10 to 18%). These results suggested that N2O emissions and their fluctuations related to climate warming are affected by the within- and between-group interactions of the soil microbiome. Our results help advance the knowledge on the importance of microbial keystone species and network associations in controlling N2O production and their responses to increasing temperature. IMPORTANCE Soil microorganisms drive emissions of nitrous oxide from soils; this is a powerful greenhouse gas and the dominant ozone-depleting agent. N2O emissions can be partly predicted from soil properties and specific microbial groups, whereas a possible role of below-ground microbial interactions has largely been overlooked. Here, the integrated soil microbiome covering archaeal, bacterial, fungal, algal, and microfaunal communities was studied to disengage the potential linkage with the N2O emissions and temperature sensitivity of the microbiome in paddy fields by hunting for core species pairs. The results showed that between-group interactions of core bacterial and archaeal members and the within-group interactions of core bacterial members jointly contributed to the N2O emissions. The contribution of between-group interactions (32 to 33%) was greater than that of within-group interactions (10 to 18%). Our results help advance the knowledge on the importance of microbial keystone species and interactions in controlling N2O production and their responses to increasing temperature.

Abstract Understanding the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon stock is crucial for effective climate change assessment and agroecosystem management. However, little is known about the effects of organic amendments on GHG emissions and dynamic changes in carbon stocks in salt-affected soils. We conducted a pot experiment with four treatments including control (only fertilizers addition), biochar, vermicompost, and compost on non-saline and salt-affected soils, with the application on a carbon equivalent basis under wheat crop production. Our results revealed that the addition of vermicompost significantly increased soil organic carbon content by 18% in non-saline soil and 52% in salt-affected soil compared to the control leading to improvements in crop productivity i.e., plant dry biomass production by 57% in non-saline soil with vermicompost, while 56% with the same treatment in salt-affected soil. The grain yield was also noted 44 and 50% more with vermicompost treatment in non-saline and salt-affected soil, respectively. Chlorophyll contents were observed maximum with vermicompost in non-saline (24%), and salt-affected soils (22%) with same treatments. Photosynthetic rate (47% and 53%), stomatal conductance (60% and 12%), and relative water contents (38% and 27%) were also noted maximum with the same treatment in non-saline and salt-affected soils, respectively. However, the highest carbon dioxide emissions were observed in vermicompost- and compost-treated soils, leading to an increase in emissions of 46% in non-saline soil and 74% in salt-affected soil compared to the control. The compost treatment resulted in the highest nitrous oxide emissions, with an increase of 57% in non-saline soil and 62% in salt-affected soil compared to the control. In saline and non-saline soils treated with vermicompost, the global warming potential was recorded as 267% and 81% more than the control, respectively. All treatments, except biochar in non-saline soil, showed increased net GHG emissions due to organic amendment application. However, biochar reduced net emissions by 12% in non-saline soil. The application of organic amendments increased soil organic carbon content and crop yield in both non-saline and salt-affected soils. In conclusion, biochar is most effective among all tested organic amendments at increasing soil organic carbon content in both non-saline and salt-affected soils, which could have potential benefits for soil health and crop production.

In order for the EU to achieve its 2050 climate objectives, transport-, power-, and industry sector, which heavily relies on fossil fuels, must significantly decrease their emissions. Green hydrogen and sustainable fuels, among them e-methanol, e-kerosene, and green ammonia, produced using the Power-to-X approach, have been recognised as viable alternatives to reduce emissions and support decarbonization. However, there are some techno-economic challenges in adopting sustainable fuels, particularly related to the higher costs compared to fossil fuels. The economic feasibility of sustainable fuels depends on the cost of green hydrogen and carbon capture technology. Large-scale deployment, improvements in electrolysis modes, and intensive implementation of point-of-source CO2 capture technologies could make sustainable fuels cost-effective and competitive with fossil fuels by 2050. However, it seems improbable that e-fuels would become widely available at low cost in the near future. The prospective environmental performance of adopting e-methanol, e-kerosene, and e-ammonia is examined, highlighting the necessity of conducting a thorough investigation into the possible negative impacts on human health and ecosystems.

It is never an easy task for China to feed 1.4 billion people with only 7% of the world’s arable land. With nearly 30% of the world’s nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied, China achieves high crop yields while facing N pollution resulting from excessive N input. Here, we calculate the farmland N budget on the national and regional scales. The N use efficiency (NUE) in China increased by 28.0% during 2005–2018. This improvement is due to the reduction in fertilization and the improvement of crop management. The fragmented farmland is changing to large-scale farmland with the increase in cultivated land area per rural population and the development of agricultural mechanization. This opportunity brings more possibilities for precision farmland management, thus further improving NUE. The goal of an NUE of 0.6 may be achieved in the 2040s based on the current development trend. This striking N use shift in China has important implications for other developing countries.

ABSTRACTMolasses is a valuable byproduct in the sugar and citrus fruit processing industries. This versatile substance used in various sectors, including beverage production, acetic acid synthesis, baker’s yeast cultivation, formulation of animal feed components, and even as a fertilizer. Beet molasses is used for creation of diverse bakery and confectionery products. In agriculture, beet sugar molasses is employed to enhance nutrient uptake efficiency and stimulate soil biological activity. Molasses also contributes to human health. Sugarcane molasses serves as a source of iron, containing approximately 0.7% iron by weight. Studies have indicated that molasses can have positive effects on glucose regulation, reducing both the peak and total levels of glucose, enhancing the secretion of insulin, amylin, and gastric inhibitory polypeptide after oral intake. Despite its widespread usage, molasses had its own drawbacks like it causes diseases (molasses toxicity, urea toxicity, and bloat) and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Peatlands cover only 3–4% of the Earth's surface, but they store nearly 30% of global soil carbon stock. This significant carbon store is under threat as peatlands continue to be degraded at alarming rates around the world. It has prompted countries worldwide to establish regulations to conserve and reduce emissions from this carbon rich ecosystem. For example, the EU has implemented new rules that mandate sustainable management of peatlands, critical to reaching the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. However, a lack of information on the extent and condition of peatlands has hindered the development of national policies and restoration efforts. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on mapping and monitoring peatlands from field sites to the globe and identifies areas where further research is needed. It presents an overview of the different methodologies used to map peatlands in nine countries, which vary in definition of peat soil and peatland, mapping coverage, and mapping detail. Whereas mapping peatlands across the world with only one approach is hardly possible, the paper highlights the need for more consistent approaches within regions having comparable peatland types and climates to inform their protection and urgent restoration. The review further summarises various approaches used for monitoring peatland conditions and functions. These include monitoring at the plot scale for degree of humification and stoichiometric ratio, and proximal sensing such as gamma radiometrics and electromagnetic induction at the field to landscape scale for mapping peat thickness and identifying hotspots for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Remote sensing techniques with passive and active sensors at regional to national scale can help in monitoring subsidence rate, water table, peat moisture, landslides, and GHG emissions. Although the use of water table depth as a proxy for interannual GHG emissions from peatlands has been well established, there is no single remote sensing method or data product yet that has been verified beyond local or regional scales. Broader land-use change and fire monitoring at a global scale may further assist national GHG inventory reporting. Monitoring of peatland conditions to evaluate the success of individual restoration schemes still requires field work to assess local proxies combined with remote sensing and modeling. Long-term monitoring is necessary to draw valid conclusions on revegetation outcomes and associated GHG emissions in rewetted peatlands, as their dynamics are not fully understood at the site level. Monitoring vegetation development and hydrology of restored peatlands is needed as a proxy to assess the return of water and changes in nutrient cycling and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As digital services are increasingly being deployed and used in a variety of domains, the environmental impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a matter of concern. Artificial intelligence is driving some of this growth but its environmental cost remains scarcely studied. A recent trend in large-scale generative models such as ChatGPT has especially drawn attention since their training requires intensive use of a massive number of specialized computing resources. The inference of those models is made accessible on the web as services, and using them additionally mobilizes end-user terminals, networks, and data centers. Therefore, those services contribute to global warming, worsen metal scarcity, and increase energy consumption. This work proposes an LCA-based methodology for a multi-criteria evaluation of the environmental impact of generative AI services, considering embodied and usage costs of all the resources required for training models, inferring from them, and hosting them online. We illustrate our methodology with Stable Diffusion as a service, an open-source text-to-image generative deep-learning model accessible online. This use case is based on an experimental observation of Stable Diffusion training and inference energy consumption. Through a sensitivity analysis, various scenarios estimating the influence of usage intensity on the impact sources are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]