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The article reviews international acts in the field of combating climate change (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement), identifies the main trends in the field of carbon regulation: emissions quoting; implementation of climate projects; introduction of greenhouse gas reporting and expansion of the legislative framework. A comparative analysis of the national legislation in force in the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation is carried out, its conditional classification is considered with the allocation of carbon regulation instruments being applied, viz. the market ones, the restrictive ones, the supporting ones and the auxiliary ones. The regulation of greenhouse gas emissions should include a wide range of activities and cannot be reduced solely to restrictive instruments. Market instruments include the national emissions trading system, international voluntary markets and instruments of international cooperation, while restrictive instruments include the introduction of carbon taxes, quotas, and mandatory carbon reporting. Among the examples of supporting instruments subsidies, targeted financing and tax preferences, as well as information policy may be noted. Auxiliary instruments include methodologies for quantitative assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and uptake, carbon reporting standards and tools for verification of reporting on greenhouse gas emissions, legislated possibility of implementing climate projects. The normative national regulation regarding the accounting of greenhouse gas emissions is considered, the categories of emission sources and greenhouse gases whose emissions are subject to accounting are identified. It is important to note that the legislation on greenhouse gases in the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, as well as around the world, has not been finalized and is in the process of formation.

This paper investigates the impact on polluting emissions as a result of manufacturing industries in China offering services as well as products. We merge detailed firm-level statistics covering 2000 to 2011, and use two-way linear fixed effects regression to control for firm and year heterogeneities and a host of control variables. The empirical results show that manufacturing servitization significantly reduces the emission intensity of firms. This effect is achieved by improving the total factor productivity of firms, optimizing the efficiency of energy use, and increasing the share of the highly-skilled labour force. Moreover, the emission reduction effect of manufacturing servitization is more profound in the eastern and central regions, pollution-intensive industries, non-state-owned firms, and processing trade firms. In addition, our extended analysis shows that the emission reduction effects of manufacturing servitization can be strengthened through trade liberalization and cohort study. The major policy implication is that governments should undertake industrial policies that reinforce the positive effects of manufacturing servitization in order to achieve win-win outcomes in manufacturing upgrading and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions concept is emerging as a fundamental principle for initiatives to address climate change ranging from global to corporate scale. Offsetting emissions using carbon credits features in many sub-global net-zero and carbon-neutrality claims and pledges. Assertions that the use of emission reduction credits (ERCs) is insufficient in the context of offsetting emissions for such claims at sub-global scales are gaining acceptance. Conversely, we show that regardless of whether offsetting is based on the use of ERCs or carbon removal credits (CRCs), the impact on the net transfer of GHG to the atmosphere is the same. Therefore, both ERCs and CRCs are adequate for offsetting with the purpose of achieving net-zero emissions or carbon neutrality. We show that assertions that the use of ERCs is insufficient for offsetting for these purposes are based on an incorrect setting of assessment boundaries and related misconceptions. The results presented in this paper have fundamental implications for what kind of GHG mitigation action beyond entities’ own value chains may be considered adequate in relation to entities’ claims concerning making no contribution to the net accumulation of GHG in the atmosphere, i.e. net-zero and carbon-neutrality claims.

The deployment of energy storage systems can play a role in peak and frequency regulation, solve the issue of limited flexibility in cleaner power systems in China, and ensure the stability and safety of the power grid. This paper presents a comprehensive environmental impact analysis of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system for the storage and delivery of 1 kW-hour of electricity. Quantities of copper, graphite, aluminum, lithium iron phosphate, and electricity consumption are set as uncertainty and sensitivity parameters with a variation of [90%, 110%]. The results show that global warming potential is 9.08E+01 kg CO2 eq. and fossil resource use is 1.21E+03 MJ, with uncertainty ranges of [8.54E+01, 9.23E+01] and [1.15E+03, 1.23E+03], respectively. Electricity consumption during the manufacture and installation process is the greatest contributor to climate change (CO2 eq. emissions), accounting for 39.71% and largely owing to non-renewable sources, followed by cathode materials at 27.85% and anode materials at 18.36%. The disposal and recycling process offers emission reductions but requires an additional 1.17% use of fossil resources. Sobol T indices for the quantity of electricity are the highest for acidification, climate change, fossil resource use, and ionizing radiation. By considering the pathway of China's electricity mix from 2020 to 2050 under the Paris Agreement's 2° target, the potential for environmental emission reduction in the system is evaluated. The results show that the greener electricity mix could lead to a 24.59% reduction in acidification impact, a 35.74% reduction in climate change impact, a 33.24% reduction in fossil resource use, and a 44.13% reduction in ionizing radiation impact. This study offers a comprehensive view of the environmental impact reductions associated with the lithium iron phosphate battery and its industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive literature review on voluntary carbon offsetting (VCO) programs in aviation highlights a predominant focus on offsetters' sociodemographic traits, behavioral triggers, and propensity to pay for offsets, inadvertently overshadowing the critical exploration of policy efficacy. Despite enriching our understanding of air passenger behavior, these studies afford limited insights into the role of VCO programs in enhancing aviation sustainability. The potential of VCO programs to significantly curtail aviation emissions becomes questionable, as increased participation could paradoxically raise offset costs, necessitating public policy intervention. Compounding the challenge is the low level of awareness about VCO programs and the aviation industry's misleading claims, suggesting a propensity toward greenwashing. While air passenger preference leans toward pro-environmental aviation policies and mandatory offsetting, several countries resort to non-earmarked, distance-based air passenger taxes, ostensibly to encourage sustainable travel. This review underscores the urgency for a balanced approach, marrying individual initiatives and structural reforms to effectively manage VCO programs in aviation and yield significant emission reductions. The role of public policy in ensuring transparency in VCO communications is also strongly emphasized. • VCO studies focus more on behavior than policy efficacy. • Effectiveness of VCOs in reducing emissions remains uncertain. • Potential greenwashing risk with low awareness of VCO programs. • Passengers show preference for mandatory over voluntary offsets. • Air taxes' role in sustainable travel behavior is debatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To guarantee the blue skies for the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing and Zhangjiakou from February 4 to 20, Beijing and its surrounding areas adopted a series of emission control measures. This provides an opportunity to determine the impacts of large-scale temporary control measures on the air quality in Beijing during this special period. Here, we applied the WRF-CMAQ model to quantify the contributions of emission reduction measures and meteorological conditions. Results show that meteorological conditions in 2022 decreased PM 2.5 in Beijing by 6.9 and 11.8 µg/m3 relative to 2021 under the scenarios with and without emission reductions, respectively. Strict emission reduction measures implemented in Beijing and seven neighboring provinces resulted in an average decrease of 13.0 µg/m3 (-41.2%) in PM 2.5 in Beijing. Over the entire period, local emission reductions contributed more to good air quality in Beijing than nonlocal emission reductions. Under the emission reduction scenario, local, controlled regions, other regions, and boundary conditions contributed 47.7%, 42.0%, 5.3%, and 5.0% to the PM 2.5 concentrations in Beijing, respectively. The results indicate that during the cleaning period with the air masses from the northwest, the abatements of PM 2.5 were mainly caused by local emission reductions. However, during the potential pollution period with the air masses from the east-northeast and west-southwest, the abatements of PM 2.5 were caused by both local and nonlocal emission reductions almost equally. This implies that regional coordinated prevention and control strategies need to be arranged scientifically and rationally when heavy pollution events are forecasted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of significant activity changes on air pollutant concentrations across the three European cities Hamburg, Liège, and Marseille and focuses on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown measures as a case study for such significant activity changes. To identify such effects, this study utilizes urban-scale chemistry transport modeling, embedded in regional-scale Chemistry Transport simulations. The outcomes underscore the significance of considering local conditions and emissions sources, as variations between urban and regional simulations demonstrate. Notably, lockdown regulations yield the most substantial impact in Marseille due to its dense road traffic and port area, with Liège following suit, primarily influenced by regional air quality alterations. Conversely, Hamburg exhibits lower mean changes, attributed to its widespread urban structure. Analysis of modeled exceedances of limit values reveals significant reductions, particularly in areas of urban and road land use. These findings contribute valuable insights into the efficacy of significant activity changes, such as lockdown measures, in mitigating air pollution, underlining the importance of tailored strategies for emission reduction in urban environments.

Methane emission reductions are crucial for addressing climate change. It offers short-term benefits as it holds high short-term reductions in radiative forcing. Efforts towards the reduction of methane emissions are already underway. In this study, we compared and analyzed the mitigation benefits of cutting large amounts of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector on short-time scales with reducing an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide using carbon capture and storage (CCS). Characteristics of CCS are that it would require substantial infrastructure development and that it incorporates deployment delays. Results illustrate that prioritizing quickly deployable methane emission reduction alternatives that necessitate minimal construction is an efficient approach to achieve near-term climate change relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voluntary carbon offsets are a rapidly growing market and claims related to offsetting and carbon neutrality are visible in citizens' daily lives. Proponents suggest that carbon offsetting offers a cost-effective way to incentivize climate action while critics discuss offsetting as an opaque and dysfunctional practice. Previous studies have examined citizens' perceptions principally through quantitative data, and especially by economic choice experiments. As voluntary carbon offsetting is unsettled in citizen's everyday lives, we argue that such studies overlook the more subtle ways in which this is happening. To address these ways in detail, we conducted a multi-method analysis of a nationally representative survey (n = 1000) in Finland. The closed questions of the survey were first analysed quantitatively, and the insights then enriched by a qualitative analysis of the open questions. The combined results highlight citizens' views and understandings as uncertain and ambivalent: despite a widespread willingness to address climate change, there is little unreserved support for voluntary carbon offsetting and distrust towards the sector is high. Our study cautions against placing high hopes in individuals' voluntary carbon offsetting as a form of climate action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data centres, though a necessary part of modern society, are being stigmatised for consuming vast amounts of electricity for their operational and cooling needs. Due to Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels to meet the increased energy demand of data centres, the data centres are contributing significantly to Ireland's total carbon emissions. As much of this energy is expelled from data centres as waste heat energy, the potential for recycling some of this wasted heat energy was explored using environmentally friendly systems from recent publications. The recovered waste heat energy was applied in a vertical farming system, and the benefits of this waste heat to the vertical farm were analysed and quantified in two scenarios. Using conservative estimates, it was predicted that each vertical farm could be between 5–23% the size of the data centre and produce enough food to feed between 14–61 adults their daily calorie needs, and between 13–58 people their daily fresh produce requirements, depending on the scenario applied. For a more accurate prediction, each vertical farm would have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, as there is no current research in this area. However, there was not enough data available on Irish data centres to perform these calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Circular economy (CE) means efficient resource use. It is a matter of better available resource management. Understanding the characteristics, potential, use advantages and disadvantages, and management systems, in each context, is the basis to construct a feasible CE framework to deal with climate change and economic scarcity challenges. Urban stormwater has potential importance in CE when addressed as a useful resource rather than as waste. Its use can replace part of the water supply (reduce principle), brought from distant sources using energy-consuming and emission-producing systems. Thus, it can be a source of energy savings and emission reduction since stormwater can be used and stored near the place where rainwater falls or infiltrates to supply groundwater (reuse principle). Urban agriculture can also gain benefits by using, e.g., green infrastructures (GIs) (recycling principle). The main gap still lies in the implementation of the efficiency mentality, reducing expenses and consequently improving revenues, profits, and environment issues, such as emissions. It is a big paradigm shift. The creation of policies, institutions, and regulations aligned with each other, together with urban planning and water cycle efficiency, from a CE perspective is fundamental. Urban stormwater as a CE component is a moving paradigm shift based on a change in mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to advance our understanding of the underlying reasons that sustain high levels of academic flying, and examines how a low‐carbon academia with less air travel might come about. Data from 30 interviews with academics showed that expectations of internationalisation, networking, and ideals of a productive academic stand among the strongest drivers of academic flying. These drivers come forth from underlying objectives such as pursuing excellence in research and working towards successful careers. Findings from this research suggest that institutional and cultural change are prerequisites to mainstream practical alternatives to academic flying, such as wider use of digital communication tools, grounded travelling, and low‐carbon conferences and meetings. We see a role for universities, grant‐providing authorities, and other academic organisations to include environmental standards and criteria in internationalisation strategies, the concept of excellence, and funding evaluation processes. From our analysis of academics' experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic, we identify three factors that appear essential in determining whether digital communication tools can substitute for physical presence: (1) desired type of interaction, (2) existing social relations among participants, and (3) number of participants. Finally, we discuss whether and to what extent voluntary guidelines, the adoption of digital tools, and other soft measures may lead to cuts in academic flying at the scale and pace required for meeting climate targets, suggesting that enforcing limits on academic air travel might be unavoidable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For national energy capacity improvement and CO2 emission reductions, Mongolia has focused its attention on grid-connected residential PV systems. Due to the feed-in tariff (FIT), the aggregated residential PV systems are expected to increase with the PV penetration level. Currently, there is no power injection limitation in Mongolia. A new policy for the PV penetration level of residential PV systems needs to be developed. This study analyzed the techno-economic performances of distributed PV-battery systems, considering PV generation, the historical load demand, and the tariff structure. We studied the performances of 40 combinations of PV sizes (2 kW–9 kW) and battery capacities (4.4 kWh, 6.6 kWh, 10 kWh, 12 kWh, and 15 kWh) to find feasible system sizes. The aggregated PV-battery systems in a low-voltage (LV) distribution system located in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, are also discussed. The results show that six combinations satisfied the technical and economic requirements. The maximum profit was determined to be an NPV of 1650 USD with a 9-year payback period using combination 3 (6 kW PV and 6.6 kWh battery capacity). Combination 6 (8 kW PV and 15 kWh battery capacity) shows that the energy management strategy for residential houses with battery storage has the potential to increase the installed capacity of PV systems without voltage violence in the LV network. For the distributed PV-battery storage system (BSS), the environmental analysis indicates that CO2 and SO2 emissions were reduced by 3929 t/year and 49 t/year, respectively. The findings obtained from this analysis will be used for power system planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trucks has caused serious atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), China, while substituting the truck fuel (gasoline/diesel) by green hydrogen is a critical way to solve the problems. Accordingly, we established a Hydrogen availability-Greenhouse gas and Atmospheric Pollutant emission reduction (HGAP) evaluation model. We revealed that the annual available green hydrogen energy in the GBA reached 1.36 × 1010 GJ, which could fuel all the trucks in the region. Via truck fuel substitution by hydrogen, a 45% reduction in regional greenhouse gas emissions in the GBA could achieve. The emission reductions of CO and HC by vehicles in the GBA achieved approximately 1/4, NOx was about 1/2 and PM was about 60%. We served a solution of developing without eco-sacrifice for developed, strategic yet high-emission coastal regions and countries. • A solution of developing without eco-sacrifice for strategic yet high-emission China GBA. • The H 2 availability in the China GBA is 1.36 × 1010 GJ/a able to fuel all trucks in the region. • A 45% reduction in regional greenhouse gas emissions in the China GBA. • Up to 60% emission reductions of atmospheric pollutants by vehicles in the China GBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on a pivotal objective: enhancing air quality and attaining pollutant concentrations in accordance with WHO guidelines. The study extensively evaluates the feasibility of reducing emissions, specifically targeting an 80% decrease in SOX, NOX, PM, NH3, and NMVOC emissions within a limited timeframe. Despite notable emission curtailments of 50% and 80%, the research reveals that recommended pollutant levels are unlikely to be met across most areas of the Po Valley region. Even when implementing the finest available technologies across various sectors, particularly within the Lombardia region, this goal remains unattainable without simultaneous reductions in activity levels. This involves diminishing factors like vehicle miles traveled, energy consumption for heating, and industrial, agricultural, and livestock production. Overall, achieving improved conforming to the new AQG limits is a multifaceted endeavor involving numerous stakeholders and diverse strategies. Successful adherence to Air Quality limits mandates the implementation of Source-Specific emissions standards at the EU level, alignment of the National Emission Reduction Directive with limits specified in the Air Quality Directive, and the formulation of comprehensive Air Quality Plans at national, regional, and local tiers.

Anthropogenic activities have drastically impacted the climate system since the Industrial Revolution. However, to what extent anthropogenic emissions influence the cloud droplet number concentration (Nd), the critical parameter for understanding aerosol‐cloud interactions, is poorly known on the hemispheric scale due to the considerable retrieval uncertainty. We employed multiple widely used Nd retrieval sampling methods to evaluate the long‐term trend in Nd contrast (ΔNd(NH‐SH)) between the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and Southern Hemisphere (SH). Here we show that the ΔNd(NH‐SH) was halved from 2003 to 2020 using different sampling methods and channels, even though the range of magnitudes of ΔNd(NH‐SH) from different retrieval sampling methods is large. Such dramatic changes in ΔNd(NH‐SH) are dominated by the significantly decreased Nd over the NH (∼20%) due to emission reductions compared to the relatively stable and pristine nature of the SH. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol index (AI) correlate poorly with Nd based on long‐term trends, even though they replicate the contrast trends. This poor correlation is partly contributed by stratospheric smoke from wildfires in Australia that had little influence on Nd in the SH. The northwest Atlantic shows the largest contribution, ∼38%, to the Nd trend, whereas the northwest Pacific dominates the change in AOD and AI, contributing more than 60% to AOD and ∼50% to the AI trend in the NH. Our results imply that emission reductions significantly reduced ΔNd(NH‐SH) and provide strong observational evidence that anthropogenic activities have extensively altered liquid clouds in the NH in the last two decades. Plain Language Summary: Cloud droplet number concentration (Nd) is essential in understanding cloud physics, precipitation formation, and quantifying the effective radiative forcing associated with aerosol‐cloud interactions. Under the background of emission reductions over the past two decades, this study used global satellite observations to explore the long‐term (2003–2020) trend in Nd over the ocean and its hemispheric contrast (ΔNd(NH‐SH)) between the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. We found that Nd decreased ∼20% over the Northern Hemisphere, but no clear Nd trend was found over the Southern Hemisphere. As a result, the fractional change (defined as the trend divided by its climatology) of ΔNd(NH‐SH) is about −60% from 2003 to 2020. We further quantify the regional contribution and found that the northwest Atlantic shows the largest contribution, ∼38%, to the Nd trend over the Northern Hemisphere. Our results provide strong observational evidence that anthropogenic activities have extensively modified the microphysical properties of liquid clouds in the Northern Hemisphere over the past two decades. Key Points: The interhemispheric contrast of cloud droplet number concentration (Nd) was halved during 2003–2020 mainly due to emission reductionsAlthough Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol index (AI) replicated the contrast trends, they correlate poorly with NdIn the Northern Hemisphere, the northwest Atlantic contributes the most to Nd long‐term change, whereas the northwest Pacific dominates the AOD/AI trend [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (DCGE) model to estimate the long-term impacts of CCUS on carbon emission reduction, energy structure, economic growth, and social welfare. Results show that CCUS contributes to optimizing energy structure led by renewable sources and raises the share of clean energy generation to 85.41%–89.84% in 2060. CCUS can help China achieve an earlier peak in carbon emissions and subsequent reductions, with the emission reduction contribution of CCUS estimated at 27.41%–65.00% of total emissions by 2060. Our findings suggest that CCUS has the potential to support China's sustained economic growth, with real GDP rising by 8.82%–18.16% in 2060 compared to the baseline scenario. Additionally, the CCUS fosters growth in social welfare and contributes to mitigating the urban-rural income disparity in the long term. The study broadens the scope of the economic assessment of CCUS and provides valuable insights to enhance comprehension of CCUS's strategic positioning and implementation. • The environment, economy, and social effects of CCUS are studied by the CGE model. • CCUS contributes to optimizing energy structure and reducing carbon emissions. • CCUS may enhance China's economic development and social welfare in the long term. • CCUS helps to mitigate the urban-rural income disparity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public policies and economic incentives are widely used as a strategy to stimulate the use of green technologies and low-emission practices in the waterborne transport sector. Since the Paris Agreement, countries have been encouraged to implement more strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to build resilience against climate change impacts in developing countries. This article presents a literature review on policies, regulations, and programs that represent economic incentives to promote alternatives to decarbonize maritime and inland waterway transport in sixteen countries, including Colombia. More than one hundred thirty sources of information were reviewed, including official portals of governments, port authorities and organizations, and scientific articles; therefore, the incentives found were grouped into three categories: project financing, differentiated port tariffs, and incentives to cover onshore power service fees. As a result of this review, it was found that differentiated port tariffs were the most common type of incentive. Finally, the specific case of Colombia was analyzed, which provides a deeper perspective of current policies and measures aimed at encouraging the decarbonization of waterborne transport and compares them with the international panorama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data centres, though a necessary part of modern society, are being stigmatised for consuming vast amounts of electricity for their operational and cooling needs. Due to Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels to meet the increased energy demand of data centres, the data centres are contributing significantly to Ireland’s total carbon emissions. As much of this energy is expelled from data centres as waste heat energy, the potential for recycling some of this wasted heat energy was explored using environmentally friendly systems from recent publications. The recovered waste heat energy was applied in a vertical farming system, and the benefits of this waste heat to the vertical farm were analysed and quantified in two scenarios. Using conservative estimates, it was predicted that each vertical farm could be between 5–23% the size of the data centre and produce enough food to feed between 14–61 adults their daily calorie needs, and between 13–58 people their daily fresh produce requirements, depending on the scenario applied. For a more accurate prediction, each vertical farm would have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, as there is no current research in this area. However, there was not enough data available on Irish data centres to perform these calculations.

Following the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in order to safeguard the realization of the Paris Agreement on climate protection, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have to be reduced by 50% by the year 2050. This objective shall be reached by decarbonization of maritime traffic, which is why ship operators currently increasingly search for alternative fuels. Moreover, since the start of the Ukrainian war in February 2022, this issue of alternative fuels has gained central importance in political agendas. A promising candidate for clean shipping that meets the IMO goals is ammonia since it is a carbon-free fuel. Ammonia (NH3) shows good advantages in handling and storage, and it ensures long sea voyages without any significant loss in cargo space for a reasonable price. Hence, ammonia has the potential to improve the environmental footprint of global shipping enormously. Induced by the introduction of stricter regulations in the so-called emission control areas (ECAs) in Northern Europe in 2015 as well as the renewed global sulfur cap, which entered into force in 2020, ship operators had to decide between different compliance methods, among which the most popular solutions are related to the use of expensive low-sulfur fuel oils, newbuilds and retrofits for the usage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) or the installation of scrubber technology. A change to ammonia as a marine alternative fuel represents an additional novel future option, but the successful implementation depends on the availability of NH3 in the ports, i.e., on the installation of the maritime NH3 infrastructure. Currently, the single German NH3 terminal with maritime access is located in Brunsbüttel, the western entrance to Kiel Canal. The distribution of NH3 from the existing NH3 hub to other German ports can be analyzed by the mathematical model of an inventory routing problem (IRP) that is usually solved by combinatorial optimization methods. This paper investigates the interrelated research questions, how the distribution of marine NH3 fuel can be modeled as an IRP, which distribution mode is the most economic one for the German ports and which modal mix for the NH3 supply leads to the greenest distribution. The results of this paper are empirically validated by data that were collected in several EU projects on sustainable supply chain management and green logistics. The paper includes a special section that is dedicated to the discussion of the economic turbulences related to the Ukrainian war together with their implications on maritime shipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging large battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are key enablers in the electrification of the shipping sector. With huge government investments in BESSs, there are large gaps between the government supported BESS initiatives and actual BESS integration results on vessels. This study aims to close these gaps, allowing BESSs to become the preferred solution for ship owners without needing government support. Firstly, this industry-driven study reviews both the industrial approaches to achieve CO2 emission reductions and the fuel savings and emission reductions from 500 BESS installations on various vessels. Secondly, a 630 kWh BESS retrofitted onto a hybrid-electric vessel is used to quantitively identify the improvement requirements for installations and operations. The installations required many custom designs that were expensive and have high failure risks. The standardization of interfaces' between BESSs and vessels is thus urgently required. The BESS was intended for spinning reserve capacity and peak shaving but in practice was under-used in terms of energy throughput (shallow cycles and low equivalent full cycles of 80 versus the design specification of 480 yearly). Thirdly, this study develops new, integrated BESS operational models by learning from large operational data, balancing BESS degradation against fuel saving and utilizing onshore/offshore green power supply/charging. The R&D of BESS is required to deal with the increasing safety requirements and further CO2 emission reductions. Finally, four BESS acceleration scenarios were established to facilitate the technical and operational transferability through utilizing digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying PM 2.5 sources is crucial for effective air quality management and public health. This research used the Multilinear Engine (ME-2) model to analyze PM 2.5 from 515 EPA Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) and Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) sites across the U.S. from 2000 to 2019. The U.S. was divided into nine regions for detailed analysis. A total of seven source types (tracers) were resolved across the country: (1) Soil/Dust (Si, Al, Ca and Fe); (2) Vehicle emissions (EC, OC, Cu and Zn); (3) Biomass/wood burning (K); (4) Heavy oil/coal combustion (Ni, V, Cl and As); (5) Secondary sulfate (SO 4 2-); (6) Secondary nitrate (NO 3 -) and (7) Sea salt (Mg, Na, Cl and SO 4 2-). Furthermore, we extracted and calculated secondary organic aerosols (SOA) based on the secondary sulfate and nitrate factors. Notably, significant reductions in secondary sulfate, nitrate, and heavy oil/coal combustion emissions reflect recent cuts in fossil-fueled power sector emissions. A decline in SOA suggests effective mitigation of their formation conditions or precursors. Despite these improvements, vehicle emissions and biomass burning show no significant decrease, highlighting the need for focused control on these persistent pollution sources for future air quality management. [Display omitted] • A 20-year study identifies key PM 2.5 pollution sources across the U.S. using an advanced Multilinear Engine (ME-2) model. • Substantial emission reductions achieved in the fossil fuel sector indicate the effectiveness of pollution control measures. • No significant decrease in vehicle emissions and biomass burning highlights the need for focused pollution management. • Future efforts aim to link emission sources with health outcomes, enhancing air quality management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency programs as an energy source with multiple advantages (low cost, more reliability, and highly clean) are considered as one of the most effective solutions to meet future energy needs. In this paper, Energy Efficiency Programs (EEPs) are modeled as virtual sources of power generation to investigate their impacts on expanding transmission network and Reactive Power Planning (RPP). A multi-stage model based on AC power ow is used to indicate the possibility of postponing the investment actions as the investment deferral in Transmission Expansion Planning (TEP). Two groups of regulatory support schemes are considered as investor income to promote participation in EEPs, namely purchasing Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and shared saving model. In addition, two standard case studies (Garver and 46-bus Brazilian) are evaluated to demonstrate the promising potential of the proposed model in handling the planning problems of practical power systems. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model to solve such planning problems in the presence of EEPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the next ten years, the Baltic countries ― Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ― are planning large investments in renewable power generation and transfer capacity, substantial phase-out of fossilbased power generation, and desynchronization from the Russian electricity grid. In this article, the operational impacts of these changes on the Baltic energy system from 2017 to 2030 are studied with an open-source Backbone energy system model. The operation of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian power and heat, transport, and building sectors are optimized simultaneously on an hourly level, and results are analysed with operational, environmental, economic, and security indicators. Results suggest that the planned transition would support Baltic targets in renewable generation (from 45% to 92%) and self-reliance (2.3 TWh increase in domestic power generation and 5.5 TWh decrease in natural gas imports) with a moderate impact on system costs. However, an increase in transport CO2 emissions could risk national non-ETS targets. The hourly operation of the system, with a high share of wind and solar, is based on active use of storages and interconnectors. Model results raise concerns about the amount of Estonian dispatchable capacity, the commercial feasibility of Latvian natural gas CHP’s, and the high ramping rates of Lithuanian interconnectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, 4.1 billion tonnes of freight and 437 million passengers passed through the 1200 European ports. This dimension of geographically concentrated activities is the rationale that ports are characterised by a high-energy demand and a high share of emissions. Driven by a growing awareness for a cleaner environment, a stronger focus on sustainability and intensified environmental regulations, ports are forced to take responsibility when it comes to environmental issues. As a response, in recent studies, the concept of ‘green ports’ emerged. Simultaneously, in the context of digitalisation, the term ‘smart ports’ has received growing attention in the latest scientific discussions, too. Since an important driver towards greener maritime operations is linked to digitalisation, we argue that digital efforts in ports should next to the automation of inherent logistics processes also contribute to reducing the emissions and energy demands. Previous studies have primarily concentrated on the automation of container handling operations. Hence, there exists a research gap concerning the automation of bulk cargo handling operations in ports. Thus, this study addresses the question of how to automate the dry bulk cargo loading operations in the frame of a green and smart port development. The developed case study refers to the seaport of Wismar, whereby the results show that the digitalisation and greener port operations can be successfully aligned. Overall, this study extends the discussion on green and smart port development, while it contributes to the scientific literature by proving that both conceptual ideas can be achieved in the operating business.

In the next ten years, the Baltic countries ― Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ― are planning large investments in renewable power generation and transfer capacity, substantial phase-out of fossil-based power generation, and desynchronization from the Russian electricity grid. In this article, the operational impacts of these changes on the Baltic energy system from 2017 to 2030 are studied with an open-source Backbone energy system model. The operation of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian power and heat, transport, and building sectors are optimized simultaneously on an hourly level, and results are analysed with operational, environmental, economic, and security indicators. Results suggest that the planned transition would support Baltic targets in renewable generation (from 45% to 92%) and self-reliance (2.3 TWh increase in domestic power generation and 5.5 TWh decrease in natural gas imports) with a moderate impact on system costs. However, an increase in transport CO2 emissions could risk national non-ETS targets. The hourly operation of the system, with a high share of wind and solar, is based on active use of storages and interconnectors. Model results raise concerns about the amount of Estonian dispatchable capacity, the commercial feasibility of Latvian natural gas CHP’s, and the high ramping rates of Lithuanian interconnectors.

This article presents results of research concerning the possibility of reducing the level of toxic nitric oxides (NOx) emission to the atmosphere. The research has been conducted on DKVR 20-13, PTVM-50 and DE 25-14 gas boilers. The complex character of this issue requires individual consideration regarding each boiler configuration. Each case requires consideration of characteristics and details of all elements constituting the boiler-furnace unit. The main problem was to establish the reference level to which the reduction of nitric oxides occurs. The actual maximum emission of nitric oxides was assumed as this level. It was verified with the maximum allowable emission of nitric oxides for each boiler. Three levels of the potential influence of emission on the atmosphere have been taken into account. This experimental research allowed for proposing an effective method, which led to reducing nitric oxides emission by around 30%.

Following the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in order to safeguard the realization of the Paris Agreement on climate protection, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have to be reduced by 50% by the year 2050. This objective shall be reached by decarbonization of maritime traffic, which is why ship operators currently increasingly search for alternative fuels. Moreover, since the start of the Ukrainian war in February 2022, this issue of alternative fuels has gained central importance in political agendas. A promising candidate for clean shipping that meets the IMO goals is ammonia since it is a carbon-free fuel. Ammonia (NH3) shows good advantages in handling and storage, and it ensures long sea voyages without any significant loss in cargo space for a reasonable price. Hence, ammonia has the potential to improve the environmental footprint of global shipping enormously. Induced by the introduction of stricter regulations in the so-called emission control areas (ECAs) in Northern Europe in 2015 as well as the renewed global sulfur cap, which entered into force in 2020, ship operators had to decide between different compliance methods, among which the most popular solutions are related to the use of expensive low-sulfur fuel oils, newbuilds and retrofits for the usage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) or the installation of scrubber technology. A change to ammonia as a marine alternative fuel represents an additional novel future option, but the successful implementation depends on the availability of NH3 in the ports, i.e., on the installation of the maritime NH3 infrastructure. Currently, the single German NH3 terminal with maritime access is located in Brunsbüttel, the western entrance to Kiel Canal. The distribution of NH3 from the existing NH3 hub to other German ports can be analyzed by the mathematical model of an inventory routing problem (IRP) that is usually solved by combinatorial optimization methods. This paper investigates the interrelated research questions, how the distribution of marine NH3 fuel can be modeled as an IRP, which distribution mode is the most economic one for the German ports and which modal mix for the NH3 supply leads to the greenest distribution. The results of this paper are empirically validated by data that were collected in several EU projects on sustainable supply chain management and green logistics. The paper includes a special section that is dedicated to the discussion of the economic turbulences related to the Ukrainian war together with their implications on maritime shipping.

Emerging large battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are key enablers in the electrification of the shipping sector. With huge government investments in BESSs, there are large gaps between the government supported BESS initiatives and actual BESS integration results on vessels. This study aims to close these gaps, allowing BESSs to become the preferred solution for ship owners without needing government support. Firstly, this industry-driven study reviews both the industrial approaches to achieve CO2 emission reductions and the fuel savings and emission reductions from 500 BESS installations on various vessels. Secondly, a 630 kWh BESS retrofitted onto a hybrid-electric vessel is used to quantitively identify the improvement requirements for installations and operations. The installations required many custom designs that were expensive and have high failure risks. The standardization of interfaces’ between BESSs and vessels is thus urgently required. The BESS was intended for spinning reserve capacity and peak shaving but in practice was under-used in terms of energy throughput (shallow cycles and low equivalent full cycles of 80 versus the design specification of 480 yearly). Thirdly, this study develops new, integrated BESS operational models by learning from large operational data, balancing BESS degradation against fuel saving and utilizing onshore/offshore green power supply/charging. The R&D of BESS is required to deal with the increasing safety requirements and further CO2 emission reductions. Finally, four BESS acceleration scenarios were established to facilitate the technical and operational transferability through utilizing digitalization.

Coral reefs are one of the ecosystems most sensitive to climate change. The recent loss and degradation of coral reef ecosystems is expected to continue even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. There is therefore an urgent need to develop new technologies and management approaches to coral reef conservation. Emerging technologies, however, bring new challenges for decision making as they are associated with novel risks and impacts on the reef system. We argue that accounting for multiple biophysical thresholds and identifying key decisions in the planning process are crucial to avoid perverse outcomes in coral reef conservation. We identify opportunities to apply an Adaptation Pathways (AP) framework combined with a 'values, rules and knowledge' approach to facilitate long-term and large-scale coral reef conservation by explicitly considering uncertainty with climate change impacts in the decision-making process. The AP process can be used to reconcile the diverse values of stakeholders, scientific and cultural knowledge about the system, and the policy and regulatory context within which management must occur, in order to achieve robust long-term management. Climate change is a key driver of global coral reefs decline, with current management practices are expected to be insufficient in a changing world. Long-term strategic planning is needed to reduce risks of failure in coral reef conservation. Adaptation Pathways are a promising decision approach to develop a shared view of the changing systems and challenges for the conservation of coral reefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial introduces the main findings from the 30th Volume of the International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management. This volume probes into analyses of the technical interactions between multi-energy carrier energy hubs and the role and feasibility of cogeneration of heat and power in a Portuguese context. It moves on to analyse the framework for implementing photo voltaic technology and decision processes for implementing PV technology. Lastly, it presents work on the role of renewable energy sources in meeting carbon dioxide emission reduction goals in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little study was done to understand the role of high-altitude oak forests in climate change mitigation. Here, we analyzed data from 30 sample plots collected along the four altitudinal gradients to assess species distribution and carbon stocks in the Panchase Conservation Area in Nepal. Three carbon pools were considered, namely aboveground carbon (AGC), belowground carbon (BGC), and carbon in litters (leaf litters, grass, and herb biomass, CiL). Seven species were found, of which two are oak tree species (Quercus semecarpifolia and Quercus lamellosa). Quercus semecarpifolia is the most dominant species in terms of stem density and carbon stocks, followed by Quercus lamellose. Average tree diameter, height, and total carbon stocks were 27.7 cm, 8.4 m, and 127.6 MgC ha−1, respectively. Our study found higher carbon stocks at the higher altitudinal gradient. Pearson’s correlation analysis shows a strong effect of altitudinal gradients on carbon stocks (r = 0.7124), moderate effect on tree height (r = 0.5263), and less effects on diameter (r = 0.1733). A stepwise multiple regression analysis shows strong relationship between carbon stocks with height (P = 0.0059) and carbon stocks with tree diameter (P = 0.0148). Our ground observations and random interviews indicate that the low carbon stocks at the low altitude were due to human disturbance. Oak forests at lower altitudes are sparse forest stands with poor regeneration capacity, overgrazing, and extensive lopping. If such disturbance is prevented, oak forest can increase carbon stocks to 361.7 MgC ha−1 as found at the higher altitude. Conservation of oak forests in the Panchase Conservation Area could result in emission reductions of 633.0 MgCO2 ha−1. These reductions could be eligible for financial incentives under the REDD + scheme.

For centuries Europe's transport has been a catalyst for economic development. At present, it facilitates exchange among European Union (EU) Member States and much of the rest of the world. Maritime transport forms the main axis of international exchange, carrying ~90% of total traded tonnage. In doing so, it bears responsibility for 2.5% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The efforts to reduce negative environmental impact of transport activity is centered on better modal integration of the common transport system, sustainability, green technologies in the transport sector, resource efficiency, and carbon emissions reduction. The International Maritime Organization has tasked its members to achieve a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 or, if possible, to eliminate them altogether. From a business end, it is possible to apply a variety of technologies to ensure zero-emissions or, at the least, a dramatic reduction of emissions in the shipping sector. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the strategic approach to the decarbonization process based on EU strategic documents and low-emission and zero-emission technologies, used and developed, in maritime transport. An estimation of external costs incurred by maritime transport will allow for the assessment of benefits resulting from the application of technologies and alternative fuels proposed in the solutions. On the basis of the obtained results from the external cost valuation it will be possible to estimate the potential for decarbonization in maritime transport.

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) aims to maintain forest carbon stocks above benchmark reference levels through financial compensation. However, countries with high forest cover and low deforestation (HFLD) are unlikely to be compensated fairly if REDD+ initiatives fail to conserve existing forests and to incentivize low deforestation rates. Here we analyze the submissions of forest reference levels (FRLs) of five HFLD countries [Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo (Congo), Guyana, Papua New Guinea, Suriname] to the REDD+ platform of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We assessed if the FRLs are likely to yield compensation payments that maintain carbon stocks above the business-as-usual scenario and compared the FRLs with quantitative emission data. Our results show that only Guyana submitted an FRL that yielded sufficient monetary incentives for low deforestation rates. Compensation payments will likely be insufficient in Suriname, Papua New Guinea, and the Congo. The FRL of the DRC would generate the highest compensation payment (on average US$ 1.3 billion annually). Overall, our results suggest that payments from REDD+ will fail to provide adequate incentives for most HFLD countries. We suggest that the FRL should allow for post hoc adaptation to changes in the drivers of deforestation. This implies that REDD+ schemes need sufficient flexibility to reflect changes in the opportunity costs of alternative land uses, which is particularly acute for HFLD countries where pressure on forests can accumulate rapidly. More adaptive REDD+ likely better rewards HFLD countries in ways that preserve their valuable forest ecosystems.

Temperature and water vapor have been considered as important factors affecting ozone concentrations, however, their synergistic effect on ozone, as well as its response to a warming climate remains unclear. Here, numerical experiments with different combinations of climate and emissions highlighted opposite changes of annual ozone over the contiguous U.S. under scenarios with high vs. low ozone precursor emissions in the future with warming. Comparing the occurrence of heat waves on higher vs. lower ozone days, we found significant suppression of the heat wave exacerbation of ozone by anthropogenic emissions reductions. Variations of ozone with temperature ( T ) and water vapor ( Q ) over the western U.S. and southeastern U.S. in the simulations are clearly revealed through the construction of an O _3 - T-Q diagram. Based on the diagram, we further identified a T -dominant regime at higher temperatures where ozone increases with temperature increase, and a Q -dominant regime at lower temperatures where ozone decreases with temperature increase due to the negative effect of water vapor. With larger anthropogenic emission reductions, ozone may increase at a lower rate with temperature in the T -dominant regime, or even decrease with temperature in the Q -dominant regime. Our results show that with large emission reductions, substantial ozone pollution due to warming and increasing heat waves may be counteracted by water vapor, partly turning the ‘climate penalty’ on ozone into ‘climate benefit’. Hence controlling anthropogenic emissions may be an increasingly important strategy in a warmer and wetter climate to improve air quality and public health.

The objective of this study was to assess the current chemistry of trace elements in upland headwater lakes in Ireland and determine their trends during the last decade in response to decreasing emissions. Twenty-nine upland lakes were sampled in 2017–2018; 19 were previously sampled in 2007–2008. The 2017–2018 samples were analyzed for conductivity, pH, DOC, and 18 trace elements. The lakes had low element concentrations; only 7 of 18 trace elements were > 1 µg/L (Fe, Al, Zn, Mn, B, Sr and Ba). Nine elements were assessed for significant decadal changes; four elements decreased (B, Co, Mn, and Sr) and one increased (Pb). Their correlation with conductivity, pH, and DOC and the associated changes in those variables partially explained the observed trends. In general, elements that were correlated with DOC did not decrease, while those that were not correlated decreased between the two periods. Despite decreased anthropogenic emissions, ecosystem recovery and climate perturbations can confound or mask the benefits of emissions reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]