Search

Using environmentally friendly packaging (E-packaging) instead of non-environmentally friendly packaging (N-packaging) can mitigate pollution and reduce carbon emissions. However, the market penetration rate of E-packaging is low, and the packaging carbon reduction level is uneven. This study uses game theory models to examine the factors affecting packaging carbon reduction levels and fees as well as firms' package-type decisions. First, we obtain the optimal solutions for packaging manufacturers and firms when they use different types of packaging under monopoly and competition, respectively. We find that green competition reduces the carbon reduction level of E-packaging, whereas price competition can increase it under certain conditions. The unit manufacturing cost of N-packaging and cost coefficient of carbon reduction are critical considerations for package-type decisions. When the unit manufacturing cost of N-packaging is low and the cost coefficient is large, no firm uses E-packaging. We also demonstrate that firms in a competitive market may become trapped in a prisoner's dilemma after making package-type decisions. Interestingly, we show that the firms' package-type decisions can hurt consumers and welfare under certain conditions, depending on the N-packaging's unit manufacturing cost and pollution damage factor. Our findings provide insights for packaging manufacturers, firms, and environmental regulatory agencies, and can help promote E-packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building carbon emissions (CE) have become the focus of the current topic, but there is still no mature typical building life cycle theory method from the perspective of building materials, and the research on the relationship between building durability and building life cycle is still insufficient. To this end, this study established a detailed calculation method for building carbon emissions (CE) and divided the building life cycle (BLC) into three stages: manufacturing, use, and demolition according to the result analysis. In addition, a durability improvement and carbon reduction scheme of "partition, resistance, and repair" is proposed, and the carbon emission reduction index of effectiveness index is proposed. The proposed method is applied to the case of residential buildings in Northwest China. The main conclusions are as follows: the CE of residential buildings are more dependent on the use stage. If the centralized heating system is adopted, the CE in the operation stage account for 80–90%. If the air conditioning refrigeration and heating system is adopted, the CE in the operation stage account for about 50%. Using the method of improving the durability of buildings to extend the service life of buildings is very significant for building carbon reduction (RC); the effectiveness index proposed in this paper includes key indicators such as total CE, service life, and building area. Compared with the traditional index, the effectiveness index is more accurate and comprehensive. CR is the focus of green building, but the impact of economy needs to be considered in practical engineering. In the future research, durability, CE, and economy need to be considered comprehensively for careful study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the challenges of poor engineering properties and the high difficulty in improving peat soil, a composite cement solidification agent (CCS) comprising ultra-fine cement (UFC) and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was proposed for the solidification of simulated peat soil. The influence of UFC on the permeability of cement-soil samples was investigated through osmotic pressure tests and X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments. Osmotic pressure tests results indicate that, under constant CCS dosage, the permeability coefficient k of specimens decreases with increasing UFC mass fraction, with a significant attenuation of the decreasing trend observed when the UFC mass fraction exceeds 12%. For CCS with a UFC mass fraction of 12%, k decreases with increasing CCS dosage, and the declining trend is notably attenuated when the dosage exceeds 25%. XRD results indicate that the diffraction peak intensity of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) in the samples increases with both the increase in the UFC mass fraction and the curing time. Compared to OPC, CCS achieves superior solidification efficiency with a reduced cement dosage, facilitating the attainment of carbon reduction objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries have committed to carbon reductions and carbon neutrality targets in response to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With economic development, the transportation sector has become a major source of carbon emissions. In China, transport infrastructure—as an important carrier of the transportation sector—is important for controlling carbon emissions from this sector and achieving carbon neutrality and the targets of the SDGs. However, most studies have focused on transport vehicles and neglected transport infrastructure. Furthermore, the influences of collusive behavior and digital control technologies on the carbon reduction process have not yet been examined. This study aimed to analyze the influencing factors in the carbon reduction process in transport infrastructure. This study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the factors influencing carbon reductions in transport infrastructure and the mediating roles of collusive behavior and digital control technologies in the carbon reduction process. Low-carbon technologies, digital control technologies, and collusive behavior have positive direct and indirect effects on the carbon reduction effect. Digital control technologies have a positive effect on low-carbon regimes. Low-carbon technologies influence carbon reduction effects. Collusive behavior plays a mediating role in low-carbon regimes. Finally, the industrial structure influences carbon reduction effects. This study extends China's carbon emission research in the transportation sector by focusing on infrastructure rather than vehicles. Additionally, this is the first study to incorporate collusive behavior and digital control technologies into the framework to analyze the impact of carbon reductions. The study also employs PLS-SEM to explore effective carbon reduction paths. The findings provide decision-making support for controlling carbon reductions in transport infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the relationship between lean management, carbon inventory, and carbon reduction, along with the main factors affecting factory carbon inventory and carbon reduction, and proposed a set of carbon emission reduction strategies based on green value stream mapping. An electroplating factory and its production line in Taiwan was selected. Fourteen carbon inventory records, three work circle meetings, and green value flowcharts were utilized to collect and analyze data. Furthermore, this study applied the DMAIC framework and TRIZ to solve the issue of carbon emissions. The key factor affecting factory carbon inventory and carbon reduction was found to be electricity waste, which could be reduced through energy-saving methods. After analyzing the green value stream mapping, effective carbon emission reduction can be implemented in the manufacturing process. The company was found to gradually progress towards carbon reduction after investigating seven major green wastes. This study confirms that lean management can help organizations achieve their carbon emission reduction goals and is valuable in improving the organization's environmental performance and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermogravimetric (TG) experiments were carried out on the combustion of coal, peanut shells and their mixtures with different blending ratios in an air atmosphere to study the combustion characteristics of single particles and mixtures of the two, as well as the interactions between peanut shells and coal, and to find out the kinetic parameters of the combustion process, and to determine the optimal blending ratios. And the heat source plant 58 MW circulating fluidized bed boiler was used to carry out field mixing experiments on coal and peanut shells with different blending ratios to explore the pollutant emissions. The results show that blending peanut shell biomass can significantly improve the combustion characteristics of coal combustion and make combustion more likely to occur. The synergistic effect of peanut shells and coal was most significant when the blending ratio of peanut shells was 40%, and the mixture samples had the best combustion performance and the highest combined combustion properties index of 1.08 × 10–7. Compared with coal combustion alone, the emission concentrations of SO2 and NOx were reduced by 77.07% and 30.70% respectively when the ratio of peanut shell blending was 40%, the emission of dust showed a tendency of decreasing and then increasing, and the carbon content of fly ash was reduced from 7.55% to 5.86%. In our study, 40% peanut shells + 60% coal is the optimum blending ratio for mixed combustion. The results provide theoretical and technical support for energy saving, pollution reduction, and carbon emission reduction in coal-fired heating units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic development often results in significant greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate change, which demands immediate attention. Despite implementing various low-carbon policies to promote sustainable economic and environmental progress, current evaluations reveal limitations and deficiencies. Therefore, this study utilizes a dataset detailing policy intensity at a prefecture-level city in China to investigate the impacts of these policies on carbon emission reduction from 2007 to 2022 in 334 prefecture-level cities, employing a fixed-effects model. Additionally, it assesses the policies' efficacy. The findings indicate a significant negative correlation between China's low-carbon policies and carbon emissions, supported robustly by multiple tests. Specifically, a one-unit increase in China's policy intensity correlates with a 0.53-unit reduction in carbon emissions. Furthermore, the heterogeneity analysis shows that variations in urban agglomerations, environmental resource endowments, pollution levels, and low-carbon policy intensities influence the effectiveness of these policies in reducing carbon emissions. This analysis underscores that policy intensity achieves emission reductions through technological innovation, industrial transformation, welfare crowding out, and pollution transfer, with varying impacts across different environmental contexts, pollution levels, and policy intensities. Based on this analysis, we recommend several policies: formulating low-carbon strategies tailored to local conditions, enhancing regional low-carbon policies, establishing cross-regional coordination mechanisms, and so on. These recommendations not only offer valuable policy insights for China but also serve as useful references for the green and sustainable development of other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technology plays a vital role in driving toward a zero-carbon future. This paper explores whether new infrastructure, serving as carriers for digital technology, contributes to carbon reduction and efficiency gains in cities. Drawing on panel data from 280 Chinese cities spanning 2011 to 2019, we establish a theoretical analytical framework to investigate how new infrastructure influences urban carbon performance through the perspectives of influence, threshold, and spatial spillover effects. The study reveals that new infrastructures development has a contributing effect on the total factor carbon productivity of cities, with consistent results across various testing methods. Additionally, the threshold effect test suggests that the dual threshold of regional energy consumption influences the enhancing effect of new infrastructure on total factor carbon productivity, exhibiting nonlinear characteristics. Furthermore, the spatial spillover effect test suggests that new infrastructure construction accelerates the local carbon emission performance, while having a positive spillover effect on neighboring cities. This study provides innovative ideas and experiences from China for the global realization of simultaneous promotion of digital economy development and energy conservation and emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental governance approaches are critical for carbon reduction and energy security. Using the data from government work reports and public search, this paper investigates the impact of government policies and public awareness on carbon emissions. The 'top-down' administrative regulation is found to have more effective in promoting carbon reduction in cities than 'bottom-up' public awareness, and this carbon reduction effect is more pronounced in central, western and lower levels of economic development cities. The findings suggest that regions with higher economic development tend to exhibit greater dependency on carbon, posing challenges in achieving prompt reductions in carbon emissions through governmental policies and public awareness. Additional discoveries indicate that 'top-down' administrative regulation exhibits a certain sustainability, mainly through industrial structure adjustments. This aspect proves beneficial for enhancing the city's developmental path and quality in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of the new energy industry has intensified the competition among companies. Finding solutions to achieve technological innovation, carbon reduction, and to earn consumers' confidence has become a pressing challenge. In this research, we aim to develop a four-party evolutionary game model involving government, manufacturers, dealers, and consumers to examine the strategic decisions made by these parties in order to accomplish carbon emission reduction goals. We will perform numerical simulations to analyze the strategic choices of each party and the relevant influencing factors. The results suggest the following: (1) The tax hike on traditional car production is less than the innovation expenses for new energy vehicles, leading manufacturers to lean towards manufacturing traditional vehicles. (2) The rise in taxes resulting from the manufacture of conventional vehicles will influence manufacturers' strategic decisions, whereas the expenses related to technological advancements will have a more significant effect on manufacturers' strategic choices. (3) Compared to dealers, manufacturers' strategic choices are more significantly influenced by consumers' awareness of low-carbon preferences. (4) In the early stages of technological innovation, the government typically offers incentive subsidies to manufacturers to boost technological innovation activities. Whereas, in the later stages of technological innovation, the government usually provides direct subsidies to consumers to encourage the market acceptance and widespread use of innovative products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing resource efficiency and mitigating climate change have become consensuses of human society. However, there is still a gap in assessing the carbon emission efficiency (CEE) and identifying the influence of various factors, especially in rapid urbanizing regions. In this paper, we built a stochastic frontier analysis model to assess CEE and conducted a case study in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration (BTHUA), a typical area of collaborative development in China. A comprehensive influencing factor index was constructed to analyze and identify the key influencing factors of CEE. The results revealed that the average CEE among the 13 cities increased in volatility from 2000 to 2019. The average CEE in Langfang was lowest, while that in Tangshan was highest. The input-related factors had a negative effect on CEE, including carbon emissions per capita, employment per ten thousand people, total assets per capita, and energy intensity. GDP per capita, the urbanization level, and the proportion of the tertiary sector's GDP had positive impacts on CEE. Future policy formulation should focus on the transition from labor- and material-intensive industries to knowledge- and technology-intensive industries. All the results can contribute to achieving high-quality development and dual-carbon target of rapid-urbanizing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is motivated by the need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation given the new wave of chase for higher economic growth trajectories comes with its environmental cost implications, especially among developing blocs like the Emerging 7 (E7) countries. There is a consistent trade-off between economic growth versus environmental quality. Government apparatus are perpetually on the chase for low-carbon emission policies via the pursuit for green economy. To this end, this present study extends the conventional environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) argument by incorporating the role of institution in emerging industrialized economies (E7) and using second-generation panel analysis methods like mean group (MG), augmented mean group (AMG), common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG), and the Dumitrescu and Hurlin causality test for more robust estimates and inferences. To this end, we explore the long-run and causality relationship between economic growth, quadratic form of economic growth, institutional quality, trade flow, investment in energy sector, and financial development in an EKC environment. Empirical analysis established a long-run equilibrium relationship among the outlined variables over the study period. The long-run regression shows the presence of EKC in the E7. Thus, suggesting the preference for GDP growth over environmental quality at the earlier stage of growth curve. Interestingly, investment in energy, trade flow dynamics across the blocs, and financial development dampens the detrimental effect of environmental pollution as we observed negative relationship with the ecological footprint. On the contrary, quality of institution is weak as institutional quality increase (worsen) the quality of environment in the E7 economies. From a policy perspective, this current study proposed the need for more stringent environmental treaties and regulations and promotion of green economy without compromising economic growth. In the conclusion part of the study, more details and specifics about the policy blueprint are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional pavement in aging communities requires renovation in alignment with global carbon reduction initiatives. This study, centered on upgrading facilities in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and the Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), utilized the Energy Expert platform to assess the carbon footprint of permeable pavement using life cycle assessment (LCA). The results revealed that the total carbon emission of the 64,065 m2 permeable pavement was 7066.21 tCO2eq. The carbon emission contribution, from highest to lowest, was the production phase, maintenance phase, end-of-life phase, and construction phase. Notably, transportation alone constituted a substantial portion, amounting to 30.15% of total carbon emissions. Compared to traditional pavements, permeable pavement showcased substantial potential for carbon reduction, primarily during the use phase, by enhancing groundwater recharge and mitigating the urban heat island effect, which is critical in reducing the carbon footprint. The estimated total carbon reduction was 853.10 tCO2eq. Sensitivity analysis highlighted diesel energy use in the maintenance phase (51.20%), transportation of cement raw materials in the production phase (45.80%), and transportation of graded gravel for disposal in the end-of-life phase (3.00%) as key factors. Our findings suggest that adopting specific carbon reduction measures, such as substituting gangue for cement binder, transitioning to manual sweeping, and recycling all discarded materials can achieve notable reductions in the respective phases. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of permeable pavement in reducing carbon emissions, providing insights for the renovation of aging communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the policy text from 1999 to 2022, this paper quantitatively analyzes photovoltaic power, wind power and new energy policies in mainland China by keyword capture and policy strength and establishes a spatial Durbin model to study the carbon reduction effects. The results show the following: (1) The development of new energy is primarily project-based and concentrated in rural areas. (2) Financial support is a double-edged sword. (3) After the implementation of the Renewable Energy Law in 2015, the change trend in policy quantity, total policy intensity, and average policy intensity is generally consistent. (4) The increase in the strength of new energy policies has effectively reduced the intensity of provincial carbon dioxide emissions. (5) New energy policies introduced in a single region are less effective in reducing carbon emissions than joint regional regulation. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the quality and coordination of new energy policies through the effective convergence of policies and regular evaluations to enhance the positive guidance of the policies. Policy measures for new energy are refined in three areas: improving the amount and quality of new energy policies, strengthening new energy policies and establishing cooperation mechanisms for the cross-regional consumption of new energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in modern urban water environmental protection. However, they face challenges related to high operational costs and carbon emissions. This study focused on addressing these issues through an analysis of four urban WWTPs in Jiujiang city, China. The study involved comparing the size and processes of the plants, evaluating influent and effluent water quality, assessing energy consumption and chemical usage, and calculating both direct and indirect carbon emissions. The results demonstrated that the high operational costs and increased carbon emissions in these WWTPs were primarily attributed to low hydraulic loadings, low influent concentration, and high energy and chemical consumption. In response, three targeted scenarios were proposed to enhance the efficiency of the WWTPs and reduce carbon emissions. These scenarios involved adjusting the amount of wastewater imported into the WWTPs to meet the designed capacity, optimizing operating costs, or combining both approaches. Among the scenarios, Scenario 3 emerged as the most effective in terms of improving efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. The operational costs for WWTPs could be reduced in the range of 0.42-1.04 RMB/m3, representing a reduction rate of 35%-57%. Additionally, carbon emissions could be lowered from 15.02 to 598.85 gCO2e/m3, corresponding to a reduction of 2.91%-41.38%. Although Scenario 2 exhibited a lower carbon emission reduction of 14.8-316.33 gCO2e/m3, it was identified as the most feasible and easily implementable high-efficiency solution at present, with a reduction in operational costs ranging from 0.43 to 1.31 RMB/m3. To achieve zero energy consumption and zero carbon emissions in wastewater treatment in the future, it is recommended to undertake additional measures, such as enhancing dosing system accuracy, implementing tail gas collection, adopting photovoltaic power generation, implementing carbon sequestration techniques, and exploring wastewater heat source recycling. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the operational efficiency of urban WWTPs, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting sustainable wastewater treatment practices in Jiujiang city, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the major influence of soils on climate change, carbon sequestration, pollution remediation, and food security, soil remains a largely unexplored media with an extreme complexity of microbes, minerals, and dead organic matter, most of them being actually poorly known. In particular, soil biofilms have recently attracted attention because they strongly influence biogeochemical reactions and processes. Here we review biofilms with focus on their behavior, proliferation, distribution, characterization methods, and applications. Characterization methods include optical, electron, scanning probe, and X-ray microscopy; metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, metabolomics; and tracking approaches. Applications comprise pollution remediation by metal immobilization or organics degradation; and methane oxidation, carbon dioxide reduction, and carbon sequestration. Advanced methods such as DNA-stable isotope probing and meta-omics have uncovered the multiple functions of soil biofilms and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Investigations have improved our understanding of inter- and intra-kingdom interactions, and of gene transfer. Extracellular materials such as polysaccharides enhance the transport of substances and electrons flow among microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies have attributed the heightened positive thermal response during summer to perceived control. The process through which perceived control is cultivated in the built environment has been scarcely explored. A field study was conducted in a dormitory building operating successively in natural ventilation and mixed-mode in the cold region of China. A total of 922 valid samples were obtained. The data analysis indicated that the building's operation mode impacted both perceived control and its influencing factors. In natural ventilation mode, occupants perceived less control than in mixed-mode, and perceived control was shaped by both thermal stimulus and exercised control. Conversely, in mixed-mode, the occupants' perceived control was solely influenced by exercised control. Reflecting on this result, this study is the first to suggest a method for determining 'perceived effectiveness' by assessing occupants' thermal sensations and preferences. Only air conditioning was perceived as effective, amplifying occupants' perceived control, while other controls diminished it. In mixed-mode, control combinations incorporating air conditioning were judged to have perceived effectiveness. On this basis, further combining psychological adaptation with behavioural adaptation, active and passive technology was used to play the role of behavioural adaptation, and the upper limit of acceptable temperature for occupants was increased to 31.1°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accurately assess the carbon emissions associated with assembled steel structure office buildings, this study develops a comprehensive life cycle carbon emission calculation. Utilizing advanced tools such as Autodesk Revit, Tekla Structures, and DeST-C, the model offers a detailed methodology for calculating emissions. This approach adheres to the guidelines set forth in the “Standard for the Calculation of Carbon Emission from Buildings” (GB/T 51366—2019). By applying this model to the Wuxi CEC PARK case study, the research quantifies the carbon footprint of such structures and compares these findings with those of assembled precast concrete structures and cast-in-place steel–concrete structures. The model encompasses all six stages of a building’s life cycle: material preparation and component production, logistics, operation and maintenance, renovation and reuse, and finally, dismantling and recycling. This comprehensive scope ensures that the model captures the carbon emissions linked to every aspect of “human, machine and material” interactions throughout the building’s life cycle. The accuracy of the calculation results is thus guaranteed. Specifically, the analysis highlights the carbon emission factors from steel structure components within the context of Wuxi CEC PARK. The results show that the average annual carbon emission intensity for the building is 59.47 kg·m−2·a−1. This figure is approximately 5.46 kg·m−2·a−1 and 13.59 kg·m−2·a−1 lower than that of the assembled PC structure and the cast-in-place steel–concrete structure, respectively. These results underscore the beneficial impact of assembled steel structures in reducing carbon emissions. The operation stage is the largest contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 58.79% of the total. This is followed by carbon emissions from material preparation and component production, which represent 29.58%. The study finds a negative carbon emission value of −3295.27 t in the dismantling and reuse phase, indicating a significant reduction in emissions in this phase of the building’s life cycle. Additionally, the incorporation of renewable energy sources and plant carbon sinks into the building’s design further offsets carbon emissions, contributing an additional reduction of 389.33 t. The method proposed in this paper addresses the gap in existing methodologies for full life cycle carbon emission calculations for assembled steel structure office buildings. It provides a solid foundation for such buildings, promoting the adoption of assembled steel structure office buildings. It lays a foundational framework for assessing the carbon reduction potential of these structures, thereby facilitating their wider adoption within the construction industry. It provides a reference for future research on the prediction of carbon emissions for similar office buildings and advancing carbon reduction initiatives in the construction industry.

Abstract Addressing the rise in global temperatures and the associated increase in greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, is a critical challenge necessitating innovative approaches within the building sector, a significant contributor to worldwide carbon emissions. While previous studies have demonstrated the prefabrication’s potential in reducing emissions, comprehensive assessments using actual project data for buildings constructed entirely with modular methods in Hong Kong are lacking. This study bridges this gap by evaluating the modular integrated construction (MiC) method through an embodied carbon assessment of the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility. Using comprehensive project data from China State Construction (HK) Limited, the research conducts a comparative analysis between the actual emissions of the MiC method and those of a hypothetical conventional construction approach. Quantitative analysis reveals that MiC achieves a 20.7% reduction in embodied carbon, primarily due to shortened construction timelines, decreased waste generation, and optimized material usage. This significant reduction suggests substantial potential for decreasing the construction industry’s carbon footprint. The study provides empirical evidence supporting the environmental benefits of MiC in Hong Kong construction industry, promoting its broader adoption of MiC as a strategy for achieving carbon reduction targets. The findings align with Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality goals and contribute to the global initiative to mitigate the effects of climate change.

为服务于碳减排国家战略，以某典型大豆油脂加工企业为研究对象，明确碳排放计算边界，梳理能耗指标变化，采用碳排放系数法确定该企业二氧化碳排放量，推算2015—2022年我国大豆油脂加工业二氧化碳排放量，并提出碳减排措施。结果表明：2020年前该企业二氧化碳排放量为0.111 t/t（以大豆计），2020年后经工艺改进其二氧化碳排放量为0.097 t/t（以大豆计）；大豆油脂加工业二氧化碳排放量在2017年达到峰值，为1 095万t；如加工能耗稳定下降，虽然2030年大豆消费量达到最大值(1.26亿t)，大豆油脂加工业二氧化碳排放量仍在2017年达峰；蒸汽消耗和电耗是影响油脂加工碳排放的主要因素。为推动碳减排目标实现，大豆油脂加工业碳减排路径主要是通过持续管理和工艺改进，降低蒸汽用量和电耗。In order to serve the national strategy of carbon reduction, a typical soybean oil processing enterprise was taken as the research object, the calculation boundary of carbon emission was clarified, changes in energy consumption indicators were sorted out, and the carbon emission coefficient method was used to determine the carbon dioxide emission of the enterprise. The carbon dioxide emission of soybean oil processing industry in China from 2015 to 2022 were calculated, and carbon reduction measures were proposed. The results showed that before 2020, the carbon dioxide emission of the enterprise was 0.111 t/t (based on soybean), and after 2020, after process improvement, the carbon dioxide emission was 0.097 t/t (based on soybean). The carbon dioxide emission of the soybean oil processing industry reached its peak in 2017, reaching 10.95 million tons. If the processing energy consumption steadily decreases, although the soybean consumption will reach its maximum value (126 million tons) in 2030, the carbon dioxide emission of the soybean oil processing industry was still at its peak in 2017. Steam and electricity consumption are the main factors influencing the carbon emission of oil processing industry. To promote the achievement of carbon reduction targets, the main carbon reduction path of soybean oil processing industry is to reduce steam and electricity consumption through continuous management and process improvement.

Both dry reforming of methane (DRM) and methanation of carbon dioxide (MCD) processes offer impressive capabilities for carbon dioxide utilization. However, operating these processes independently involves substantial consumption of natural gas and hydrogen, along with high energy demands, which restrict their broader application. Addressing these challenges is crucial for advancing low-carbon development. This work analyzes the characteristics of two independent processes, namely DRM and MCD. It explores the potential for mass and heat coupling between them, considering the complementary nature of their feedstocks, products, and thermal effects. This investigation leads to the innovative proposal of process coupling schemes for DRM and MCD, marking a pioneering step in this research area. The feasibility of such coupling is assessed through process simulations, examining the characteristics under different situations. The results show that advancements in catalyst technology could enable efficient dual coupling of the DRM and MCD processes in terms of both quality and energy. This coupling process significantly reduces the consumption of natural gas and hydrogen, offering substantial energy savings. In addition, it demonstrates excellent carbon dioxide elimination and utilization capabilities, with the added benefit of flexible adjustability. A key highlight of the DRM‒MCD coupling process is its high mass integration efficiency. Methane produced in the MCD process can serve as a feedstock for DRM, addressing natural gas shortages. Similarly, hydrogen generated by DRM can feed into the MCD, potentially reducing hydrogen usage by at least 26% and mitigating hydrogen resource constraints. Moreover, the coupled process has excellent energy integration. The heat from the exothermic MCD system can be transferred to the endothermic DRM system, leading to significant reductions in energy consumption. When compared to operating the DRM and MCD processes separately, the coupled process could lower total energy consumption by at least 44% and 28%, respectively. This work provides valuable insights for the design and optimization of DRM and MCD process coupling. It underscores the potential engineering applications and feasibility of this approach, contributing to the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by transforming conventional energy and chemical processes.

The reasons for China's economic slowdown over the past decade have rarely been explored. With the introduction of promotion reforms for officials, the Chinese government's attention has gradually shifted toward the latter in the "economy–environment" balance. Based on this interesting phenomenon of China's development, this article attempts to solve the mystery of China's economic growth decline. We find that the reform lowers emissions, possibly at the cost of economic growth. Heterogeneity analysis shows it significantly affects western and resource-based cities, while the impact differs in other cities. The economic growth rate effect of the policy shows a fluctuating downward trend over time, while the suppression effect of carbon emissions is the opposite. Corporate environmental governance actions are micro-channels for policy effectiveness. The findings of the study emphasize the policy implication that rational transformation of the economic structure requires continuous reform of the promotion and appraisal mechanism of officials in order to achieve the goal of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Traditional DID models overlook variations in policy intensity, causing estimation deviations from the actual situation and a limited understanding of the influence mechanism. In response, the Intensity Modified SDID Model is built to examine the influence mechanism of ETS's carbon reductions. Moreover, through model extensions, the study explores the spatiotemporal characteristics and heterogeneities of ETS’s effects. Results show that: (1) "Dual-circulation" influence mechanism is confirmed, where ETS directly contributes to carbon reductions (2.70% to 10.0% impact) through external pathways, and internal pathways continuously strengthen reduction effects, comprehensive mechanisms are thereby formed and enhanced based on interaction among internal and external pathways. (2) Reasonable ETS levels are estimated and proposed to achieve "Dual Carbon Target", constraining nationwide carbon quotas by 20 billion tons/year, increasing carbon trading volumes by 80 thousand tons/year, and elevating the carbon trading prices by 100 RMB (14 USD) per ton. (3) ETS's carbon reduction effects are identified with temporal and spatial characteristics, temporally, effects peak in the 4th period (Event +4 ) but diminish in the 5th period (Event +5 ), spatially, effects peak in areas distancing around 1000 km but disappear beyond 1500 km. (4) ETS also has synergistic effects with atmospheric pollution reduction, including industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and smoke (dust), but are insignificant to industrial emissions of wastewater and solid waste.

The implementation of emission reduction and carbon reduction measures and the implementation of the “double carbon” goal are important transformation opportunity for coal chemical enterprises to move towards high-end,diversified and low-carbon development. Shaanxi Coal Industry Group Yulin Chemical planned a 4 million ton/year carbon dioxide capture, transportation and storage (CCS) demonstration project and carried out a 400000 ton/year pilot test project to help the country reach carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Based on the experience of Shenhua 100000 ton CCS demonstration project and CO2 produced in the 1.8 million ton/year ethylene glycol project, two supercritical CO2 storage processes, high purity (98.94%) and low purity (77.78%), are designed in this paper; Based on the understanding of Triassic and Permian salt water layers in the eastern Ordos Basin, three sets of geological salt water layers (Liujiagou Formation, Shiqianfeng Formation and Shihezi Formation) with good physical properties and great CO2 storage potential were found.After in-depth evaluation and analysis of CO2 storage layer cover and storage capacity, it is believed that the best storage environment for CO2 in salt water layer over 1000 meters. By designing four injection and storage Wells and combining with the numerical simulation method, the storage operation mechanism of 400000 ton/year CO2 is studied and analyzed, and it is theoretically feasible; It is designed to use PNX logging, downhole optical fiber sensing and surface InSAR monitoring methods to build an integrated monitoring and management platform for CO2 from wellbore to reservoir and then to reservoir diffusion; From the perspective of CCS’s current economic and technological costs, industrial policy development, opportunities and challenges,the development of CCS in coal mining chemical industry has great potential.

Abstract The study focuses on the energy consumption (EC) and environmental pollution caused by carbon consumption in China’s development. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region is selected as the primary focus of investigation. To gain insight into the relationship between China’s economic growth (EG) and carbon reduction (CR), two major research elements, the impact of each on the other is examined. The study mainly uses decoupling models and influence models to analyze the decoupling relationship and effectiveness between CR and EG. The research results showed that there was a difference between long-term and short-term effects. The short-term effect in the YRD region was manifested as a continuously improving decoupling state, while the long-term effect was manifested as the significant impact of population and per capita Gross Domestic Product on CR. The effect value of EC factor was 0.43, while the effect value of CR factor was 0.07. In functional comparison, the role of EC factors was more significant.

Global warming that has an impact on climate change is mostly influenced by an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in the air. Decarbonization programs in building green industry ecosystems play an important role in achieving Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060. The Objective of the study is to investigate risk control in the Decarbonization program consisting of Carbon Reduction and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS). The focus of the study area in this research is the Donggi Matindok gas field in Central Sulawesi. The research method is to conduct a risk analysis of the decarbonization program implemented so that it can mitigate the risk of operation failure and safety. The results of the evaluation obtained that the carbon reduction program that has been carried out consists of gas processing innovations, energy efficiency, flaring reduction has a low risk with a reduction of 22% per year from the total CO2 produced. The application of the energy management system or ISO 50001 supports in maintaining energy performance so that energy efficiency can be achieved so that the carbon reduction program can be developed every period. Then for the implementation of the CCUS program has a medium to high risk with significant CO2 reduction potential, which later in this research will review the risk mitigation that needs to be prepared for project completion. CCUS programs that will be carried out are CCU Microalgae and CCS well Injection programs. Well targeted risk mitigation can help ensure that government efforts to support decarbonization programs are effective and successful in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the "power restriction" measures were taken in many localities, industrial electricity consumption was interrupted, mainly in the "two high" (high energy consumption and high pollutant emission) enterprises. Take the "power restriction" event in 2021 as an example, this event affected a wide range of regions and disrupted people's livelihood. It not only refers to the power switch and rationing measures taken by individual regions, but also includes differentiated policies implemented by over 20 provinces to limit power supply and industrial production. This paper investigated in detail and summarized the different requirements of power restriction across the country, through the comparison of annual growth rates of power generation and industrial added value，the comparison results of energy intensity, electricity production, power consumption and the industrial growth rate in each province are analyzed. Industrial enterprises and related industrial chains were most heavily affected by the "power restriction" event，mainly in steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, industrial silicon, textile printing and dyeing, chemical fiber, chemical and other enterprises with high energy consumption and high pollutants emission. The measures to limit electricity will affect the normal production of enterprises to a certain extent, leading to not only the decrease of production efficiency, but also the increase of energy consumption and pollutant emission per unit product. Energy management measures such as differentiated electricity price have limited effect on the output of "two high" industrial products, and the economic leverage of differentiated electricity price is gradually being diluted by the price rise of end products. This paper analyzed the reasons and explored several key problems that need special attention. then recommended certain countermeasures for its appropriate application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible air conditioning energy use, leveraging building thermal inertia and thermal energy storage, can effectively reduce building carbon emissions. The carbon reduction potential of flexible energy use in air conditioning is influenced by uncertainties, such as dynamic electricity carbon emission factors. To accurately quantify this potential, a methodology for calculating the carbon reduction achievable through flexible energy use in air conditioning, considering these uncertainties, is proposed. First, the sources of uncertainty in air conditioning energy use are identified and mathematically described. Next, the relationship between uncertainty, load, and carbon emissions is analyzed. Subsequently, the carbon reduction mechanisms of various flexible air conditioning energy use methods, based on building thermal inertia and energy storage, are, respectively, explained, and corresponding mathematical models are established. Finally, a case study is conducted to verify the feasibility of the method and reveal the characteristics of the carbon reduction potential of various flexible energy use methods, considering uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "dual-carbon" strategy promotes the development of the wastewater treatment sector and is an important tool for leading science and technology innovations. Based on the global climate change and the new policies introduced by China, this paper described the new needs for the development of wastewater treatment science and technology. It offered a retrospective analysis of the historical trajectory of scientific and technological advancements in this field. Utilizing bibliometrics, it delineated the research hotspots within wastewater treatment, notably highlighting materials genomics, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology. Furthermore, it posited that, in the future, the field of wastewater treatment should follow the paths of technological innovations with multi-dimensional needs, such as carbon reduction, pollution reduction, health, standardisation, and intellectualisation. The purpose of this paper was to provide references and suggestions for scientific and technological innovations in the field of wastewater treatment, and to contribute to the common endeavor of moving toward a Pollution-Free Planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization technologies have emerged as a promising approach to address the direct and indirect consequences of climate change and the need for sustainable resource management. Those innovative technologies aim to capture and utilize CO2 by converting it into valuable products or directly using it as a chemical feedstock in various industries, thus, avoiding their release into the atmosphere. In this study, different CO2 utilization pathways including CO2 to chemicals and fuels, CO2 to building materials, CO2 to enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and CO2 to bio‐products are discussed in terms of their status – economic, environmental and technology readiness level performances. Moreover, various CO2 utilization pathways are comparatively analyzed considering their advantages and drawbacks, CO2 uptake potentials, and overall climate benefits. According to the comparison results, photocatalytic and electrochemical reduction of CO2 along with the bio‐fixation of CO2 are gaining more attention in the recent research and investigations, from the energy intensity and environmental point of view, whereas EOR remains dominant in terms of the scalability, maturity and economic benefits. However, limitations of EOR related to the capacity, life cycle and different geolocations, as well as the complexities of other mature approaches make room for emerging technologies to be more energy‐effective and environmentally friendly. Overall, most of the promising CO2 utilization techniques are either technologically immature or limited in scale to deploy globally. One of the main barriers to reusing CO2 is associated with the high cost of CO2‐based production and the low value of the CO2 market. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nearly zero-energy building is characterised by its low energy demand and enhanced thermal insulation, with great potential to integrate renewable energy systems to satisfy various demands and improve energy efficiency. Solar energy is a primary renewable energy resource that can be harnessed in different ways to provide electricity, heating, and cooling in building applications. In this study, a solar–ground-source heat pump system was designed and established in a nearly zero-energy building. The system's performance was presented, and its control strategy was optimised. To evaluate and assess the operation of the solar energy system, an experimental setup was built, and the experiment was divided into two periods, taking into account the weather conditions. In the first experimental period, different parameters of the heating system were tested and evaluated. In this regard, the variation trends of the heat pump unit's coefficient of performance, the system coefficient of performance, the collector start-up temperature difference, and the heat pump setting temperature were analysed under different parameter combinations. On this basis, the optimal operating parameters were identified for different heating periods. In the second period, the optimal operating parameters identified were used to carry out heating experiments. The results highlighted that the adoption of the preferred operating parameters increases the percentage of direct solar energy supply by 2.0%. Additionally, the system coefficient of performance increases by 8.9%, the unit coefficient of performance increases by 6.7%, the carbon emissions are reduced by 4.18 tonnes, the SO2 emissions are reduced by 0.143 tonnes, and the dust emissions are reduced by 0.1 tonnes. The findings of this study can provide useful data and a guiding reference for optimising and promoting the implementation of renewable-energy-driven heating systems for nearly zero-energy buildings in severe cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the energy consumption (EC) and environmental pollution caused by carbon consumption in China's development. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region is selected as the primary focus of investigation. To gain insight into the relationship between China's economic growth (EG) and carbon reduction (CR), two major research elements, the impact of each on the other is examined. The study mainly uses decoupling models and influence models to analyze the decoupling relationship and effectiveness between CR and EG. The research results showed that there was a difference between long-term and short-term effects. The short-term effect in the YRD region was manifested as a continuously improving decoupling state, while the long-term effect was manifested as the significant impact of population and per capita Gross Domestic Product on CR. The effect value of EC factor was 0.43, while the effect value of CR factor was 0.07. In functional comparison, the role of EC factors was more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge and red mud, as common industrial waste, have become a research hotspot in the field of achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, reducing carbon emissions, and solving environmental problems. However, their treatment and disposal have always been a difficult problem in the environmental field. Utilizing these two materials for thermal energy storage can not only improve energy utilization efficiency but also further reduce carbon emissions during their treatment process, providing a new approach for sustainable development in the industrial sector. This article summarizes the research progress for the resource recovery of sewage sludge and red mud for direct thermal energy recovery and composite phase change energy storage. After proper treatment, sludge and red mud can be directly used as energy storage materials. In addition, sludge and red mud can be combined with phase change materials to prepare composite materials with an excellent energy storage performance. This composite has broad application prospects in fields such as solar energy utilization and building energy efficiency. However, there are still some challenges and issues in this resource recovery and utilization, such as potential environmental pollution during the treatment process, the long-term stability of energy storage materials, and cost-effectiveness, which require further research and resolution. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential of sewage sludge and red mud as energy storage materials, to explore their feasibility and advantages in practical applications, and to reveal the research progress, technical challenges, and future development directions of these two materials in the field of thermal energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the integration of Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or Carbon Footprint (CFP), a Carbon Management Accounting (CMA) method that can incentivize firms to reduce carbon. A literature review was conducted to identify the decision-making situations and limitations that MFCA and LCA (CFP) integration models can support. Twenty-one previous literatures were collected and three types of MFCA and LCA (CFP) integration methods were identified: collaborative, product-based partial integration, and process-based partial integration. Next, the collected prior literature was analyzed based on the CMA decision-making framework proposed and some issues were identified. The common challenge of the three existing integrated models is that they can only provide short-term and past-oriented information. It is difficult to provide incentives for carbon reduction because it does not show the relationship between the physical information of carbon emissions and the cost information. It is also difficult to encourage management to make long-term decisions on green procurement, capital investment, environmentally conscious product design, etc. Another common issue is that the use of MFCA tends to focus on the carbon emissions of material losses rather than all the carbon emissions carried by materials, which may impede product development and capital investment with zero or low carbon emissions in mind. This may inhibit product development and capital investment in consideration of zero carbon and low carbon emissions. The quality of LCA (CFP) information to support internal corporate decision-making is still lower than that of MFCA. Finally, another issue is how to share the information from MFCA among supply chains to extend the process-based partially integrated model to the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study evaluates the impact of China’s carbon finance development on carbon emission reduction and its role in promoting low-carbon economic growth. We construct an evaluation index system and employ Systematic Cluster Analysis (SCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methods to analyze the carbon finance markets in five representative Chinese provinces (autonomous regions). Utilizing the DEA-BCC model and DEA-Malmquist index, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the carbon emission reduction effects between 2022 and 2023. Our findings reveal that while China’s carbon finance development significantly contributes to carbon emission reduction, there are considerable regional disparities in effectiveness. Beijing and Guangdong achieved DEA efficiency, whereas Jilin, Ningxia, and Xinjiang experienced efficiency losses, suggesting a need for structural optimization. The study provides insights into challenges and potential improvements in China’s carbon finance sector and offers policy recommendations for enhancing market mechanisms, technological innovation, and social engagement to support China’s carbon peak and neutrality goals.

Abstract The swift advancement of sustainable energy technologies, coupled with the urgent need to address environmental challenges, has generated considerable interest in the multifaceted applications of biochar materials to promote energy, water, and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive review examines recent advancements in the production and applications of functionalized biochar materials, emphasizing their pivotal roles in energy conversion and storage, wastewater treatment, CO2 reduction, soil amelioration, and the promotion of carbon neutrality within a circular economy framework. The functionalization of biochar materials involves surface chemistry and porosity modifications, achieved through techniques like templating, chemical activation, metal impregnation, or heteroatom doping. These modifications substantially enhance the catalytic activity, energy storage capacity, and cycling stability of biochar materials, making them particularly effective in diverse energy applications such as water splitting, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. Additionally, functionalized biochar materials demonstrate remarkable efficacy as catalysts and adsorbents in wastewater treatment, proficiently removing pollutants like heavy metals, organic contaminants, and nutrients, thereby facilitating resource recovery from wastewater. The review also underscores the potential of functionalized biochar materials in CO2 capture and conversion, exploring innovative strategies to augment their CO2 adsorption capacity and state-of-the-art catalytic processes for transforming captured CO2 into valuable fuels and chemicals. In summary, this review offers valuable insights into the recent advancements in biochar research, underscoring its substantial commercial potential as a versatile material contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Article Highlights The current status of biochar research is comprehensively reviewed. The potential of biochar in energy, water, and environmental fields is critically examined. Technology readiness levels (TRLs) of various biochar-based technologies are evaluated. Graphical Abstract

Solid waste recycling saves resources and energy, reduces carbon emissions, and plays a vital role in forming a green and low-carbon mode of production and living and achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. This study analyzes the development status of the solid waste recycling industry in China and abroad and explores the major challenges faced by the industry of China in terms of process of industrialization, capital investment, and technological innovation. Combined with typical case analyses, we propose the following suggestions to promote the high-quality development of China’s solid waste recycling industry: (1) promoting the process of industrialization to integrate the industrial, innovation, talent, and capital chains; (2) reinforcing incentive policies to consolidate the financial foundation; (3) establishing scientific innovation hubs by strengthening project demonstrations; (4) gathering professional talents to build a high-level cooperation platform.

Excessive food waste contributes to the greenhouse effect. Although low-carbon technology has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and generate renewable energy, the high costs may deter the adoption. To promote low-carbon food waste treatment, local authorities could develop carbon reduction policies targeted at the food waste treatment industry, which could lead to a game between local authorities and food waste treatment enterprises. Hence, a bi-level multi-objective optimization model is put forward to balance the decisions of local authorities and those of food waste treatment enterprises. Enterprises can choose which carbon reduction policies to implement, and local authorities determine the intensity of specific policies. After testing this model on Shenzhen’s food waste treatment system, the model’s validity and feasibility were confirmed. It was discovered that by identifying suitable carbon reduction policies, the model can help enterprises achieve more than 50 % carbon reduction. Moreover, different enterprises may choose different carbon reduction policies to implement. Optimal food waste disposal arrangements need flexible adjustments. The constructed model can serve as a decision-making tool for city managers to reduce carbon emissions in food waste treatment.

With the increasing complexity of power systems and the proliferation of renewable energy sources, the task of calculating carbon emissions has become increasingly challenging. To address these challenges, we developed a new method for predicting carbon emission factors. Bayesian optimization technique graphical convolutional networks with long- and short-term network (BO-TGNN) is used to predict the carbon emissions of the power system. The method aims to quickly predict the day-ahead carbon emissions of power system nodes with enhanced feature extraction and optimized network training hyperparameters. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through simulation tests on three different power systems using four deep learning algorithms. The method provides a tailored solution to the evolving needs of carbon reduction efforts and is a significant step forward in addressing the complexity of carbon emission calculations for modern power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the escalating concerns surrounding climate change and air quality degradation, the imperative for energy conservation and emission reduction has garnered widespread attention. Given that factories represent a significant portion of electricity consumption within the power network, a comprehensive analysis of the electricity consumption behavior of energy- intensive enterprises becomes paramount. To meticulously dissect the electricity consumption patterns of energy-intensive enterprises, this paper categorizes them into four distinct production modes: 24-hour all-day production factories, pure daytime production factories, pure nighttime production factories, and environmentally friendly peaking production factories. Employing the dynamic electricity-carbon factor as a guiding force, the analysis encompasses electricity consumption, tariff expenditure, peaking costs, carbon emissions, and comfort levels associated with each production method throughout the year. A delicate equilibrium is sought among multiple objectives, aiming to optimize the user experience while simultaneously mitigating costs and carbon emissions. Furthermore, this paper conducts a comparative analysis of each objective, employing single-objective genetic algorithms and the interior point method. The resultant findings serve as invaluable insights for business users, aiding in informed decision- making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]