Search

With the increasing severity of global warming, the goal of carbon sequestration and emission reduction in various industries has become an important responsibility for sustainable development. As an important part of carbon sink, the improvement of net carbon efficiency in the plantations industry will make a great contribution to the realization of the "double carbon" target in agriculture. However, there are large spatial and temporal differences in the net carbon efficiency of the plantations sector in various provinces, and there is still a large scope for increasing carbon sink and reducing carbon emission. In this paper, we have analyzed spatial and temporal trends in the net carbon sink efficiency of the plantations' production processes in 31 provinces in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) from 2000 to 2020. On this basis, we have analyzed the influencing factors of net carbon efficiency in the plantations' production process through an extended Kaya constant equation. Through the geographically and temporally weighted regression model, we explore the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the influencing factors, and further analyze the driving and restraining factors of net carbon efficiency in plantations' production process, in order to propose appropriate countermeasures. The study shows that: (1) The net carbon efficiency of plantations sector in China increase between 2000 and 2020, and the development of net carbon efficiency is uneven across regions. (2) The geographic center of net carbon efficiency of China's plantations industry shift from the northeast to the southwest and is consistent with the migration direction of agricultural inputs. (3) The influencing factors of net carbon efficiency in the plantations sector show large regional differences, and can be specifically divided into four major types of zones. In this regard, this paper provides more appropriate countermeasure suggestions for increasing carbon sink and reducing carbon emission in each zone, with a view to achieving the goal of double carbon in agriculture with practical significance. • Net carbon efficiency is a new objective indicator to measure the carbon sink level of cropland. • Cultivated land carbon sink capacity is closely related to agricultural inputs. • Regional differences in the factors influencing net carbon efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trade-induced carbon transfer has emerged as a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, with international carbon competitiveness playing a pivotal role in this transfer. Based on a sample of 43 major economies from 2000 to 2014, this paper empirically examines the influence of digital transformation on the international carbon competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. The results reveal a substantial enhancement in manufacturing's international carbon competitiveness facilitated by digital transformation. Three primary mechanisms drive this enhancement: the scale effect, advancement of the forward global value chains position, and an improved energy structure. Notably, both domestic and foreign sources of digital transformation bolster the international carbon competitiveness of domestic manufacturing. Furthermore, the enabling of segmented digital industry strengthens this competitiveness, especially in publishing, programming, and broadcasting activities. This paper enriches the research on the environmental implications of digital transformation and offers insights for policymakers aiming to boost international carbon competitiveness and promote greener industrial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trade-induced carbon transfer generates significant impacts on global carbon emissions, leading to carbon inequality (CI). This paper introduces a novel indirect metric, the trade-induced domestic carbon share (TDCS), designed to quantify economies' carbon benefits from international trade. Based on data from 17 manufacturing sectors in 66 major economies, this study compares the impact of developed and developing economies' participation in global value chains (GVCs) on TDCS, offering insights into trade-related carbon inequality. Our analysis reveals that GVCs participation by developed economies generally decrease their TDCS, in contrast to an increase in developing economies, thereby exacerbating carbon inequality. Notably, backward participation in GVCs reduces TDCS across all economies, whereas forward participation in GVCs results in increased TDCS in developing economies but a decrease in developed ones. Additionally, our study indicates that developed economies enhance their position in both forward and backward GVCs but experience a decline in the ratio of domestic value added (DVAR). In contrast, developing economies strengthen their forward GVCs position and DVAR but weaken their backward GVCs position. These findings offer new perspectives on carbon inequality in international trade and provide valuable guidance for policymakers in devising industrial trade and carbon reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's industry is facing a carbon lock-in (CLI) dilemma. Based on the complexity and dynamics of CLI, exploring diversified unlocking paths is an important way to achieve emission reduction goals. This paper innovatively applies system dynamics (SD) to the study of CLI prediction and unlocking path, and systematically constructs an industrial CLI SD model, trying to break the positive feedback mechanism of CLI through multiple causality and feedback chains. This paper simulates and predicts the changing trend of the CLI level of China's industry and 8 major subsectors from 2020 to 2050. At the same time, the random forest algorithm is used to select the regulatory variables of policy analysis. Compared with the previous research methods, the accuracy and objectivity of the selection of regulatory variables are improved, so as to test the effectiveness of the unlocking path under each scenario. The results show that (1) the whole industry faces a serious CLI problem and is still in a deep lock-in state. From the perspective of subsectors, the light, electromechanical, and textile industries have achieved unlocking; the oil and extractive industries are in a moderately lock-in state; the chemical, steel, and power industries are in a deep lock-in state; and the CLI situation is serious. (2) The results of the random forest algorithm show that R&D investment, the proportion of fixed asset investments in the energy industry, car sales, energy structure, and carbon emission industry structure are the most significant factors affecting CLI in each subsystem. (3) Compared with the existing economic development model, the technological, institutional, social, and comprehensive unlocking scenarios can all enable industry to achieve carbon peak and carbon unlocking in advance. However, the effect of each scenario is as follows: comprehensive unlocking scenario > technological unlocking scenario > institutional unlocking scenario > social unlocking scenario. (4) The unlocking times of the oil, chemical, steel, and power industries are relatively late in each scenario. To realize carbon unlocking in industry, these four areas should be focused on in the future. This study helps policymakers formulate reasonable policies to accelerate industrial carbon unlocking and promote the implementation of the "dual carbon" strategy. • The whole industry faces a serious carbon lock-in problem. • The technological, institutional, social and comprehensive unlocking scenarios can all achieve carbon unlocking in advance. • The comprehensive unlocking scenario has the best effect, and the social unlocking scenario has the worst effect. • The oil, chemical, steel and power industries should be focused on in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Robust low-carbon planning method is proposed for the SMGUS in steelmaking plant. • Decarbonizing steel plant through renewable energy, hydrogen, energy storage & CCUS. • Planning under different market conditions and CO 2 reduction routes are discussed. • Considering uncertainties promotes the deployment of flexibly adjustable equipment. • CCUS is the key for decarbonization of steel plant before massive use of renewables. Decarbonization of the steelmaking industry is imperative in achieving the carbon neutrality target. This paper proposes a two-stage low carbon robust planning method for the steel mill gas utilization system (SMGUS), which is the major CO 2 emission source of the conventional blast furnace route based-steelmaking plant. The planning aims to find the optimal installed capacities and relevant deployment time of multiple low-carbon technologies, such as renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen energy and carbon capture & utilization, so that the demand of steel production can be met in an economically competitive and environmentally friendly way. Case studies are carried out on the low-carbon planning of a steelmaking plant with annual production of 1.5 million tons of crude steel, in which different carbon market conditions and CO 2 reduction routes are considered. The results show that the low carbon planning can reduce the CO 2 emissions to 1.22 tons per ton of steel by 2045–2050 through the proper deployment of the low carbon technologies. The CO 2 emissions can be further reduced to 0.31 tons per ton of steel if the BF-BOF process is replaced by H2-DRI and EAF technologies. This paper presents an effective planning method for the decarbonization of steelmaking plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Physical, Regulatory and Brand value risks due to climate change challenges are foreseen by businesses globally. This paper is oriented towards these challenges and prepared a comprehensive Greenhouse gases (GHG) footprint plan and identification of mitigation opportunities for ONGC, a fortune 500 and national oil company of India. Internationally recognized standards and guidelines like Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ISO-14064, and American Petroleum Institute compendium have been referred for quantifying carbon emissions in nearly real 400 + operation control facilities. The GHG inventory is based on Operational Control approach to identify the boundary for which emissions are to be quantified and two significant scopes of emissions viz Direct Emissions and Indirect Emissions are identified and quantified. The quantification concluded that GHG emission footprint for the year 2016–17 is in the range of 9 million tons of CO 2 equivalent. GHG emissions mainly account due to stationary combustion, fugitive emissions and wastewater treatment, which share the around 56% of total emissions. Another 24–26% of emissions are contributed due to flaring, processes by glycol dehydrator, acid gas removal units, and by electricity purchased from the grid. As a result, it has been found that ONGC emits 187 kg CO 2 e emissions per tonne throughput and also compared with its global peer organizations. At the organization level, "Key Industrial Sites" have been identified as contributing higher GHG emissions and accordingly key "hot-spots," a list of 15 GHG mitigation opportunities have been proposed in the paper. Two GHG mitigation initiatives based on solar energy and bioenergy application undertaken at ONGC has also been briefed on case studies. Highlights • Comprehensive carbon footprint plan and identification of mitigation opportunities for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), a fortune 500 and national oil company of India. • Guidelines like Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ISO-4064 and American Petroleum Institute compendium are referred for quantifying carbon emissions from direct and indirect sources. • Green policy, incentives and mandatory compliance. • CO2e emissions per tonne throughput and also compared with its peer global organisations. • Key hot-spots, with a list of 15 GHG mitigation opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain enterprises can solve the cost problem caused by emission reduction through the pledge financing of carbon emission rights. This paper aims to optimize the pricing and ordering strategy and carbon reduction decision of the supply chain based on the pledge financing of carbon emission rights, establishes the expected revenue model of the manufacturer and the retailer, and analyzes the mechanism of the carbon reduction decision of the supply chain on its pricing and ordering strategy, expected revenue and revenue distribution strategy. The results illustrate that the optimal order quantity and the optimal wholesale price maximize the expected revenue of the retailer and the manufacturer, regardless of whether the pledge financing of carbon emission rights is introduced. With the adoption of the pledge financing of carbon emission rights, there is an optimal amount of carbon emission reduction per unit of the product to maximize the optimal order quantity. When both order quantity and wholesale price are optimal, the present value of expected revenue for the retailer and the manufacturer increases with the amount of carbon reduction per unit of product. The upper and lower limits of the retailer's share of sales revenue rise and fall as the amount of carbon reduction per unit of product increases, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southeastern US coastal plain was originally home to over one million ha of evergreen shrub bogs, locally known as pocosin. More than 70% have been drained for agriculture and forestry. These drained peatlands release GHGs to the atmosphere, mainly as CO 2 , which has resulted in significant concerns about their impact on climate change. Our long-term study at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (PLNWR) and adjacent private peatlands in North Carolina investigates the effect of drainage, and hydrologic restoration on carbon (C) budgets, including GHG losses, C sequestration rates, soil C respiration, and net ecosystem exchange (NEE). Soil CH 4 and N 2 O emissions were negligible as CO 2 emissions made up 99% of their GHG contributions. Carbon budgets indicate that the vast majority of C (>97%) is stored in the peat soil with the drained site having only about 53% of the peat mass found at the restored site. The reference site with the highest biomass produced the highest annual soil GHG loss of 11.3 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 followed by the drained site at 6.8 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 with the restored site having the lowest annual losses at 5.2 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. The drained site exported 0.39 Mg ha−1 yr−1 of TOC through hydraulic transport, a value 15% higher than either the restored or reference site annual mean. Eddy-covariance analyses revealed that restoring peatlands by raising water tables by 30 cm, i.e., by decreasing water table depth (WTD) from −60 to −30 cm, reduces CO 2 losses to the atmosphere by >90%. When annual mean WTDs are deeper than a threshold of -30 cm, the drier peatlands generate an annual C loss and if WTDs are shallower (-20 cm) and wetter the peatlands show annual C gains, thus providing restoration guidelines. • This paper provides new information regarding the effects of hydrologic restoration on C stocks and GHG releases from peatlands known as pocosin. • Our study offers water table restoration guidelines for rewetting drained pocosin to reduce CO 2 and CH 4 releases to the atmosphere. • Restoring water levels to between -20 and -30 cm will greatly reduce GHG losses from pocosin peatlands and foster an increase in C sequestration. • This research provides a C budget for pocosins peatland systems, and guidelines for restoring these ecosystems as C sinks on the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voluntary corporate environmental disclosure has increased significantly in the last decade. However, the increase in environmental disclosure has also been accompanied by the social questioning of its veracity. Previous studies have mainly focused on the determinant factors behind corporate decisions to disclose environmental data, with only limited consideration of both carbon performance and the veracity of the information disclosed. Based on an international sample of firms from 12 countries, this paper analyzes the impact of regulative pressures related to climate change on the likelihood of companies engaging in greenwashing. The results show that the number of regulations related to climate change negatively influences the propensity of firms to engage in greenwashing. Furthermore, firms in countries with stringent climate-related regulations are less likely to participate in greenwashing practices. This paper adds to the existing literature concerning greenwashing by demonstrating that institutional theory can deliver further insights into the explanation of corporate greenwashing behavior. This is the first study to incorporate international climate-related regulations into the analysis of corporate greenwashing. It also provides a new method for identifying greenwashing firms, based on their carbon performance and disclosure. • Countries' climate-related laws negatively influence corporate greenwashing. • Stricter climate-related regulations reduce greenwashing practices of firms. • The study provides a new method for the identification of greenwashing firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating carbon emissions consideration into topology optimization can improve the environmental sustainability of machine tools. However, existing studies on combining topology optimization methods with low-carbon technologies for honing machines are limited. The study aims at minimizing compliance (i.e., the maximum stiffness) while considering the carbon emissions associated with honing processes by changing the shape and distribution of abrasive grains on oilstone components, which are the key parts causing carbon emissions in the use stage of honing machines. Considering the hierarchical characteristics of the problem, a one-to-many Stackelberg cooperative game model is proposed to describe the decision behavior in each level. The model has two subgames, i.e., a dynamic Stackelberg sub-game to obtain a benefit equilibrium between the upper-level compliance optimization problem and the lower-level carbon emissions optimization problem, and a static cooperative sub-game in the lower level to minimize carbon emissions. A bilevel game theoretic solution method is developed to solve the model. A case study is presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method. The results indicate that the proposed method can reduce compliance and carbon emissions of the oilstone component by 39.2% and 29.3% compared with a non-optimized oilstone component. • This paper studies a minimum compliance problem considering carbon emissions. • The problem is described by a one-to-many Stackelberg cooperative game model. • A bilevel nested game theoretic solution is developed to solve the game model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Household carbon emissions account for a significant proportion of the national total emissions. Using a unique nation-wide survey data, this paper investigates the impact of different subjective measures of social awareness on household carbon emissions in China. Subjective variables are found to have significant impacts on household carbon emissions. Feeling secure, compliance with rules, and happiness have negative and significant effects on household carbon emissions, whereas the impact of interest in social issues is positive, which indicates the existence of a gap between awareness and behavior. The impacts of consumer lifestyles on the relationship between awareness and household emissions are also explored and are found to play a significant role in the relationship between awareness and emissions. People with a frugal lifestyle not only associate with lower emissions but also reinforce the role of social awareness. Furthermore, substantial differences are found across rural/urban areas and regional and income groups in China. The government should further promote a green lifestyle and give households more incentives to engage in green consumption behavior. Highlights • Household emissions are studied based on China Household Finance Survey. • Subjective factors are found to have significant impacts on household emissions. • Lifestyles matter in the relationship between awareness and household emissions. • Regional and income differences are considered in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coordinating the dilemma of economic development and reducing carbon emissions is of great significance to reaching China's energy-saving and emission-reduction targets. This paper investigates the decoupling relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions from the construction industry of China's 30 provinces, and uses the standard deviational ellipse method to explore the spatial evolution of carbon emissions and the economy. The results indicate that the economic development levels of most provinces were positively correlated with carbon emissions. The spatial differences in the decoupling state of provincial construction industry are significant, and the decoupling states of the same type exhibited a certain spatial aggregation phenomenon. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the output value and carbon emissions exhibited a northeast-southwest pattern. The weighted mean centers of both were located in the east and moved towards the northwestern region. These results may provide a basis for assessing regional construction carbon emissions and formulating strategies for the coordinated development of low carbon emissions in the construction industry. Highlights • The standard deviational ellipse method is employed. • It studies the spatial pattern of economic growth and carbon emissions. • It demonstrates the dynamic evolving trend of the decoupling relationship. • It can further promote carbon emission reduction at the provincial level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Road traffic is one of the main sources of carbon emissions that cause climate change. Despite numerous studies on road traffic emissions, significant challenges remain in carbon emissions measurement and quantitative evaluation of mitigation effects. This paper first reviews the measurement of carbon emission from road traffic including the top-down model and the bottom-up model. Then, we summarize the main factors that affect the traffic carbon emissions, which are divided into three categories: demand side factors, supply side factors and environmental measurement factors. Finally, traffic mitigation measures from economic, technical and administrative aspects are examined. Based on the review, we can conclude that the results of carbon emissions calculated by different methods are quite different, and there are differences in the accuracy and application scope of various methods. Each type of factor plays a different role in the process of traffic reduction, in which the demand factors are the roots, the supply factors are the means, and the environmental factors are the conditions. The development of traffic mitigation measures is not targeted, and there is a lack of quantitative research on policy effects. In the future, it is necessary to standardize the statistical caliber and error standard of measurement of carbon emission for road traffic, and to clarify the responsibility of emission reduction from various traffic subjects. More research efforts need to be focused on quantifying the effect of mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lab synthesis of various adsorbents for adsorption-based PCC. • Bench and pilot-scale experimental studies of adsorption-based PCC. • Molecular simulation of adsorbents for post-combustion carbon capture. • Process modelling\simulation and techno-economic analysis of adsorption-based PCC. • Achievements, challenges and future prospect in adsorption-based PCC. Adsorption-based post-combustion carbon capture is a promising emerging technology for capturing CO 2 emissions from fossil-fueled power plants due to the ease of adsorbent regeneration in comparison with solvent-based technologies. To increase its competitiveness, research efforts have focused on the development of new adsorbent materials and processes. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of such efforts, focusing on lab synthesis and characterization of adsorbent materials, (carbon capture) experimental studies, molecular simulation, process modelling\simulation and techno-economic analysis. Most experimental studies on adsorption-based post-combustion capture are at bench scale. Just a few experimental studies are at pilot scale. There are currently no commercial deployment of adsorption-based post-combustion capture technology. This review paper points out challenges encountered in these experimental investigations utilizing different adsorbent materials, limiting its commercial deployment. These gaps in experimental investigations need further research especially in the chemical modification of the adsorbent materials to increase the adsorption capacity. Molecular simulation of adsorbents and process modelling\simulation of carbon capture processes are cost-effective and time efficient approaches for the assessment of adsorbents' CO 2 capture performance. The review also highlighted the need for more research in the model development of adsorbent materials at molecular scale and the model development of adsorption-based post-combustion process adopting new reactor configurations to further reduce the cost of CO 2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Embodied and operational carbon tradeoffs in building envelopes are studied. • Envelope variables include wall assemblies, WWRs, glazing and shading. • Energy decarbonization models are used to determine the 30-year operational carbon. • Results show the importance of a total carbon approach to envelope design. • Over or under insulation can result in waste of 10–150 kgCO 2 e/m2. The building envelope has a substantial influence on a building's life cycle operational and embodied carbon emissions. Window-to-wall ratios, wall assemblies, shading and glazing types, have been shown to have a significant impact on total emissions. This paper provides building designers, owners, and policy makers with actionable guidance and a prioritization framework for establishing co-optimized lifecycle carbon performance of facade assembly components in a broad spectrum of climate contexts and energy carbon intensities. A large parametric study of building envelopes is conducted using building performance simulation and cradle-to-gate embodied carbon calculations in 6 US cities. The authors derive the total carbon emissions optimization for commercial office and residential space types using standard code-reference models and open-source lifecycle data. Comparisons between optimal total carbon solutions and (i) optimal operational carbon and (ii) minimum required assemblies, show the impact of under and over investing in envelope-related efficiency measures for each climate. Results show how the relationship between embodied and operational carbon is highly localized, that optimal design variables can vary significantly. In low carbon intensity energy grids, over investment in envelope embodied carbon can exceed as 10 kgCO 2 e/m2, while under investment in high carbon intensity grids can be higher than 150 kgCO 2 e/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China in 2013 to promote the interconnected development and prosperity of all participating countries. In the context of global response to climate change, understanding the embodied carbon transfer change along economic trade before and after the Belt and Road Initiative is essential to reduce carbon overall emission. In this paper, we used a multi-regional input-output model to study the embodied carbon transfer in trade between the Belt and Road countries that have signed cooperation documents with China from 2004 to 2017. The results showed that from 2004 to 2017, the growth rate that China's carbon emissions imported from other Belt and Road Initiative countries was about 1.9 times that of its exports. From 2004 to 2017, the proportion of China's carbon imports from other Belt and Road countries in China's total carbon imports increased from 3.41% to 3.73%, and exports decreased from 6.52% to 6.03%. In both 2004 and 2017, Electricity, Gas and Water sector, Heavy Industry sector, Transport sector were the three largest carbon transfer sectors in China's multilateral trade. In 2017, the embodied carbon transfer by multilateral trade among other Belt and Road countries except China increased by 15.53% compared with 2004. By comparing the characteristics of carbon transfer between China and the Belt and Road countries from 2004 to 2017, this study will provide insights for carbon emission reduction policy setting of Belt and Road Initiative countries. • We took countries that have signed documents with China as research objects. • MRIO model was used to analyze the carbon transfer change from 2004 to 2017. • The embodied carbon transfer in 2017 of BRI increased by 15.53% compared with 2004. • The growth rate of China's carbon imports from BRI was 1.9 times that of exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the climate is warming up and climate disasters occur more frequently, China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets are gaining attention, with provinces starting to set carbon peak targets and constantly exploring low carbon economic development opportunities. However, the existing evaluation index system mainly focuses on low carbon cities and green cities, and there is no evaluation index system for carbon peak and carbon neutrality. This study adopts a combination of theoretical and empirical research and draws on domestic and international research results to construct the first index system for evaluating China's provincial carbon peak and carbon neutrality. The evaluation index system includes 18 indicators from three dimensions: climate ambition, low carbon status, and emissions trends. Using this index system, we calculated the carbon peak and carbon neutrality indices of 30 Chinese provinces. Further, the 30 provinces were classified into six categories, and corresponding policy recommendations for achieving the "Dual carbon" targets were put forward. The evaluation index system constructed in this paper can provide a reference for future carbon peak and carbon neutrality assessments. By disclosing the integrated index of each province, we hope to effectively curb the increasing local carbon emissions; avert inaction in areas with good natural endowments; and motivate the advancement of the latter, to boost the implementation of the "Dual carbon" targets coherently for the whole country. [Display omitted] • An integrated evaluation system on China's Provincial "Dual carbon" was proposed. • 30 provinces in mainland China were ranked based on the integrated index. • 6 groups were classified to show provincial differences on dual carbon performance. • Policy recommendations to fulfill China's climate commitment were put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The average carbon reduction performance increases year by year. • The policy has an immediate impact on CO 2 reduction in demonstration cities. • The policy has follow-up impact on carbon emission reduction. • Less thermal power and more research investment are the paths to policy effect. The Energy-saving and Emission Reduction Demonstration City (ESERD) Policy brings more favorable development conditions and opportunities for the cities selected, but the carbon reduction effect of the energy-saving policy is not clear which needs to be quantified and evaluated. By measuring the Total Factor/Energy Carbon Performance Index (TCPI /ECPI) of 286 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2019 and by constructing a quasi-natural experiment, this paper contributes in three aspects. (1) we are committed to a method of calculating the energy consumption and carbon emission of prefecture-level cities in China; (2) we provide evidence to the CO 2 reduction effect of the ESERD policy in a more comprehensive way; (3) we probe the paths of the policy effects. The main findings are: (1) TCPI and ECPI has been rising since 2011, the eastern cities have more outstanding achievement while the performance of the western region has been at a relatively high level during the time period of the study, and the performance of cities have diverged in recent years. (2) The policy's contribution to the demonstration cities' carbon reduction performance is significant, immediate and far-reaching, a lower share of electricity consumption due to indirectly reducing the use of coal, and higher investment in scientific research for improving the technology level of industrial development are both paths to achieve carbon emission reduction in the demonstration cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multi-regional input–output model is applied for empirical analysis. • Relationships between rebound effects and consumption patterns are investigated. • The rebound risks are measured from three perspectives. • Repressing the direct rebound effect can counteract the total rebound effect. Improving energy efficiency is considered to be essential to carbon emission reduction. However, it may not be as effective as expected due to the rebound effect. This paper attempts to investigate the carbon rebound effects and rebound risks in households. For this purpose, a comprehensive analysis framework incorporating elastic estimates, environmentally extended multi-regional input–output model and re-spending model, were built. Three rebound risk indicators were then constructed, following which a simulation of direct and indirect carbon rebound effects was conducted for urban households in China. By comparing the estimation results of the four re-spending scenarios, we found these households' carbon rebound effect to be significant. The empirical results further indicate significant differences in the rebound risk among different provinces. Overall, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Ningxia are the provinces most vulnerable to the rebound effect. These findings point to the necessity of the government adopting other measures besides energy efficiency policies, with regional differences taken into account, in order to curb the carbon rebound effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global trade not only brings about the exchange of goods and services, but also stimulates the transfer of carbon emissions. Given different economic development stages and industrial structures, global carbon inequality occurs due to the mismatch between trade-related carbon emissions and value added. Combining the multi-regional input-output model and regional environmental index (REI), this paper constructs an integrated research framework to trace the embodied carbon emissions and value-added among six regions from 2010 to 2015 to shed light on global carbon inequality from a multi-regional perspective. The results indicate that major carbon exporters are placed in inferior positions in global trade, rendering them victims of carbon inequality. The EU, Japan and the USA have been favored by global trade from both economic and environmental perspectives, and the advantaged position of the EU has improved whereas the positions of Japan and the USA have slightly decreased. For disadvantage regions, China and ASEAN10 has improved their situations, yet the inequality suffered by the RoW148 has deteriorated. Adjusting the export structure from primary to advanced products is an effective measure to mitigate global carbon inequality. Our major implications help strike thinking on the rationality of global trade and offer integral solutions towards sustainable development. • Embodied carbon emissions and value added are traced based on the MRIO model • An optimized REI index is established to identify carbon inequality from a multi-regional perspective • Carbon inequality in global trade and its sectoral contributors are explored • Export structure changing from primary to advanced products can alleviate carbon inequality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power sector plays a significant role in China's energy transition and emission reduction strategy. Considering that the aggregation of the power sector from different sources in input-output (IO) tables will lead to the "aggregation bias problem", it is vital that we disaggregate the power sector using IO tables when analyzing and comparing the driving forces of embodied carbon emission changes in the power sector. This paper first disaggregates the power sector into seven subsectors; then, it uses structural decomposition analysis (SDA) to analyze the driving forces of embodied carbon emission changes in each subsector and allocates embodied emissions that occur from 2007 to 2015 according to the demand categories. The results show that the embodied carbon emissions from each clean energy sector were relatively lower than those from thermal power during the study period. Consumption volume was the main driving factor for the embodied carbon emission increments. From 2012 to 2015, the production structure was mainly responsible for the embodied emission increases in each clean energy sector, indicating that the embodied carbon emissions caused by power equipment updates or reconstruction processes should receive more attention. In addition, the embodied carbon emission changes induced by urban residential consumption on the thermal power showed a plateaued trend from 2007 to 2015. This paper provides support for the formulation of emission reduction measures and the low-carbon structural transformation of the power sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present climate emergency demands the construction industry to minimise the carbon footprint of concrete buildings. In this paper, the potential different optimisation strategies to reduce 'cradle-to-gate' embodied carbon of concrete floors which require different levels of modifications to the conventional design and construction practice were compared. The embodied carbon savings possible from parametrically optimising slab depth and grade of concrete, post-tensioning, considering alternative conventional slab types, and adopting novel thin shell floor systems were quantified for a range of spans. Compared to reinforced concrete flat slabs designed for conventional span/depth ratios, minimising slab depths and considering lower grades of concrete can reduce embodied carbon of flat slabs up to 12%, only with changes to the design methods. By adopting other conventional alternatives available in the present market, post-tensioning can save embodied carbon up to 23% but two-way slabs on beams and hollow-core slabs can save up to 36%. Much higher carbon reductions up to 65% are possible with novel construction methods of thin shell floors that transfer loads through membrane action rather than bending. Hence, the construction industry should approach shape optimised floor construction forms in future while adopting parametric design and considering conventional alternatives in the present to minimise carbon emissions. [Display omitted] • Optimisation strategies with different changes to traditional practice are compared. • Parametric design of depth and grade of concrete in flat slabs cut up to 12% carbon. • Selecting the design from conventional slab alternatives can save carbon up to 36%. • Floor systems that transfer loads through compression arches reduce carbon by 65%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emission allowances are issued to limit the carbon emission by enterprises, but some unforeseen variables may cause their demand unpredictable. Together with the high volatility of carbon price dynamic, management of carbon asset is of great significance and difficulty for those enterprises with heavy carbon consumption. To cope with the demand and price uncertainty of carbon emission right, carbon derivative provides a feasible solution for those enterprises. This paper proposes applying the carbon option for carbon management. For better applying this tool, carbon option is evaluated through a geometric Brownian motion model with regime-switching. Based on the value estimation and analysis of carbon option, decision making and strategy design for carbon asset management are achieved by the quantitative results of option pricing and digital detection during the operation. Development of the modeling and algorithm for carbon option pricing is the main theoretical contribution, also it enriches the theory of real option property of carbon. Moreover, it provides a detailed schema and an inspiring case study of applying the options for carbon asset management and facilitating the decision-making digitally in line with the market information constantly updated, and it is applicable and believed to optimize the risk control for all enterprises with carbon-consumption. • Carbon option is priced and applied for digital decision-making of the transactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of energy consumption and output on carbon emissions in the United States. Earlier research focused on testing the existence and/or shape of an environmental Kuznets curve without taking energy consumption into account. We investigate the Granger causality relationship between income, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, including labor and gross fixed capital formation in the model. We find that income does not Granger cause carbon emissions in the US in the long run, but energy use does. Hence, income growth by itself may not become a solution to environmental problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of different natural gas and electricity end-use technologies in the residential sector, which compete among themselves in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions. The analysis of 17 different technology options, which were chosen in order to match the consumption behaviour of a typical Portuguese family, has shown that the use of electric heat pumps, both for space and water-heating, combined with the use of a natural gas cooker, leads to the lowest energy consumption and to the lowest environmental impacts in terms of carbon emissions. Considering only the running costs, this choice is 45% more economic than having a natural gas centralised heating system combined with a gas cooker, and is 60% more economic than having an electric resistance space heater combined with an electric storage water heater and electric cooker, which is the worst case. The life cycle cost (LCC) analysis shows that the economic optimum is reached by the combination of a natural gas water heater with an electric storage space heater, and a natural gas cooker. The cost of conserved carbon (CCC) analysis shows that the combination of an electric heat pump water heater with an electric storage space heater, and a natural gas cooker is the best option in terms of environmental performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fundamental requirement of carbon abatement is to complete the carbon abatement task set, at the lowest cost. In this paper, the non-radial distance function method is used to calculate the marginal carbon abatement costs of each unit, and the statistical method is used to estimate the carbon abatement efficiency of each unit. Based on the sum of dynamic carbon abatement costs in each province, the carbon abatement task allocation is optimized, and the data before and after optimization is compared and analyzed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The function of carbon abatement efficiency can be estimated using the marginal cost of carbon abatement, by which, the carbon abatement cost of each province can be calculated. (2) The correlation between carbon emissions and carbon abatement efficiency of each province is weak, so the overall carbon abatement efficiency of China is low. (3) Optimizing the allocation of provincial carbon abatement tasks can significantly reduce the total carbon abatement cost and improve the carbon abatement efficiency. This study has significant theoretical and practical value for improving China's overall carbon abatement efficiency, and establishing the provincial initial carbon emission quota. [Display omitted] • We estimate carbon abatement efficiency of China and its provinces. • We improve the method for carbon abatement efficiency using the dynamic data. • We fill a gap in research on carbon abatement efficiency based task allocation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Energy rebound effect leads to "green paradox". • The effect of short-term energy rebound effect is greater than the long-term. • Investment bias and factor market distortion important for policy development. • Government decentralization can suppress the energy rebound effect. Analyzing the influence of energy rebound effect on carbon emissions at different urbanization stages is of great significance to improve the effectiveness of emission reduction polices. In this paper, the energy rebound effect is classified into the short-term energy rebound effect and the long-term energy rebound effect. Based on the environmental Kuznets curve, the nonlinear programming model of urbanization, energy rebound effect and carbon emissions is established to analyzed the influence mechanism of energy rebound effect on carbon emissions at different stages of urbanization. We further discuss how to avoid the impact of energy rebound effect on carbon emission reduction. The results show that: (1) The influence of short-term energy rebound effect on carbon emissions is greater than long-term energy rebound effect, and both of them decrease with the increase of urbanization rate. (2) The "discretionary" and "hitchhiking" behavior of local governments in formulating environmental policies will lead to the "Matthew Effect" of energy rebound effect. (3) Investment bias and factor market distortion could increase energy rebound effect, and they have obvious substitution effect. (4) The decentralization of power by local governments is an effective measure to suppress energy rebound effect. The analysis above could help local governments to formulate policies, suppressing the influence of energy rebound effect and promoting carbon emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a model to examine the impacts of cap-and-trade mechanisms on the decisions of a utility firm when it invests in renewable energy and has an existing conventional energy source. Three cap-and-trade mechanisms are considered, No cap-and-trade Mechanism (NM), Grandfathering Mechanism (GM), and Benchmarking Mechanism (BM). We find that the utility firm invests more in renewable energy under either a GM or a BM than that under NM. As compared to GM, the utility firm under the BM invests more in renewable energy, while at the same time it generates more carbon emissions. We also show that investment in renewable energy does not necessarily reduce carbon emissions. When the government sets the unit carbon quota appropriately, however, BM can not only achieve a reduction in carbon emissions, but also ensure that electricity demand will not decrease. The implementation of BM can make the utility firm invest most heavily in renewable energy, while the implementation of GM will produce the lowest carbon emissions. When either a GM or a BM implemented under a lenient unit carbon quota (or total carbon quota), the utility firm can be more profitable. The study provides some new management insights for the policy-maker. • A utility firm invests in renewable energy with existing conventional energy. • Investment of renewable energy under different mechanisms are compared. • Utility firm invests the most renewable energy under BM than under other mechanisms. • Investing in renewable energy does not necessarily reduce carbon emissions. • Utility firm can be more profitable from a lenient BM/GM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the coupling mechanisms between carbon emissions and the eco-environment is essential for building sustainable economies. Based on the coupling coordination model, this paper investigates the coordination degree of carbon emissions and the eco-environment in China from 2009 to 2015. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index decomposition method was used to identify the key factors affecting the coordination degree. Furthermore, different scenarios were simulated to show the impact of changes in government priorities on the coordination degree. The results show that the dynamic relationship between carbon emissions and the eco-environment in China has reached a barely balanced stage, but a few provinces are still struggling with imbalances. The coordination level of carbon emissions and the eco-environment becomes the key factor affecting coordinated development, while the interaction intensity has a limited effect. Further analysis indicated that although the carbon emission evaluation value has a positive effect on promoting an increase in the coordination degree, the eco-environment evaluation value determines the trend of coordinated regional development. Moreover, the priorities of government policymakers have a substantial impact on coordinated development, but these impacts gradually diminish as the differences in evaluation values decrease. These findings contribute to the formulation of effective regional sustainable development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on panel data from 2007 to 2016, this paper investigates the carbon abatement effect of China's pilot Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and the influencing paths of the policy at both national and regional level by using Difference in Differences model and parallel multiple mediator model. The results reveal that the policy has reduced the total carbon emission reduction by 13.39%, with an upward abatement trend annually. Secondly, a systematic framework containing technique effect, composition effect and allocation effect is proposed to further investigate the influencing mechanisms of the achieved emission curbing effect. It reflects that the policy has not yet promoted the low-carbon innovation completely, only innovation of high-quality played an effective mediating role. Meantime, two other influencing channels of industrial upgrading and optimized resource allocation are verified. Thirdly, policy's heterogeneous impacts are detected by classifying China into three representative regions according to economic and geographical differences, where western China experiences the strongest emission abatement by 21.57%, whereas central China and eastern China is 9.83% and 6.65% respectively. Fourthly, assessments of the regional influencing mechanisms show that the mediating role of high-quality low-carbon technology innovation is only significant in the western region, while the other two regions tend to have rebound effect. Besides, the promotion of industrial upgrading is positively related to the development levels of regions, with the improvement of 18.01% in the eastern region, followed by 17.34% and 12.46% in the central and western region. Finally, the optimization of the resource allocation has not been promoted regardless of the regions. In general, although the current policy has a significant carbon reduction effect, there is still much space for potential abatement to be developed. • China's pilot ETS has significant carbon reduction effects at both national and regional level. • Mediating effects of high-quality innovation, industrial upgrading and allocation optimization are significant nationally. • Only high-quality innovation is effective in western China, while other mediating roles are not significant regionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing recognition that optimizing urban form can reduce road transport-related carbon emissions, particularly in carbon emissions by daily travel. In this study, we proposed an improved bottom-up approach combining Vehicle Specific Power (VSP) model and Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) method to estimate the carbon emissions by daily travel. Then, a geographical weighted regression (GWR) model considering the urban residential density (RD) and land use mix level (LML) of urban form as independent variables was employed to explore the relationship between urban form and carbon emissions. A typical working day (June 5th of 2017) of Hangzhou was chosen as a case study in this paper. The results showed that (1) per hour carbon emission in the morning peak period of 6:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. was higher than that in the evening peak of 22:00–24:00 by 33.34%; and distribution of the highest carbon emissions was in the eastern, northeastern and northwestern parts of Hangzhou; (2) The RD and LML were positively and negatively associated with carbon emissions. and the coefficients for Ln (RD) and (LML) ranged from 0.29 to 0.70 and from −9.01 to −6.06, respectively. (3) The spatial distribution of coefficients demonstrated that the highest effects of RD on carbon emissions were observed in the central parts of Hangzhou, and those of LML on carbon emissions were observed in southern Hangzhou featured by industrial parks. This study may provide insights to mitigate carbon emissions from daily travel with multiple public policies including mixed land-use policies, urban density control and spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of institutional quality on growth-emissions nexus in a panel of three East Asian countries over the period from 1990 to 2016. We also incorporated energy consumption and trade openness as important indicators in the model to avoid variable bias. The results of unit root tests show that the variables are stationary at first difference. The panel cointegration test confirmed that all the variables are cointegrated. We employed Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares methods to estimate the long-run effects of explanatory variables on economic growth. The main findings are: (i) a positive significant interaction variable between carbon emission and institutional quality indicates that efficient and impartial domestic institutions are very important to increase economic growth and decrease carbon emissions, simultaneously. (ii) Institutional quality, energy use and trade openness stimulate economic growth. (iii) The VECM granger causality test results show that there is a one-way causality runs from institutional quality to economic growth, carbon emission and energy consumption, from trade openness to carbon emissions in both short-run and long-run, from energy use to trade openness, from energy use to carbon emission in both short-run and long-run. Moreover, feedback effect is present between economic growth and carbon emission, and between economic growth and energy use in both short-run and long-run. It is therefore, necessary to regulate and strengthen the role and effectiveness of local institutions with the aim of lowering carbon emissions in the course of economic development. Image 1 • Impartial and effective domestic institutions are very important to reduce carbon emissions in the course of economic growth. • Energy consumption and trade openness do contribute to enhance economic growth. • Feedback effect is present between economic growth, carbon emissions and energy consumption in both short run and long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A joint decomposition model based on meta-frontier was proposed. • The effect of scale efficiency was captured based on variable return to scale model. • The catch up effect of carbon emission and energy usage technology was captured. Production-theoretical decomposition analysis (PDA) is widely used to explore the factors related to changes in carbon emissions. However, traditional PDA mainly focuses on scenarios of decision making units (DMUs) with constant returns to scale, and neglects technology heterogeneity among DMUs. Therefore, this paper proposes a joint approach combined PDA and index decomposition analysis (IDA) based on the variable returns to scale (VRS) and the meta-frontier model, and further decomposed the change of carbon emissions into 9 driving factors. Based on above, we investigated the effects of the nine factors on the change of carbon emissions at national, regional and provincial levels in China during the period of 2007–2016. The results indicated that the increase of carbon emissions in China have slowed down since 2012, but the overall situation is not optimistic, especially in the western region. Economic activity played a dominant role in increasing carbon emissions for each region. Carbon emission efficiency and potential carbon factor were also the two important factors related to increase carbon emissions. Conversely, energy intensity, the catch-up effect of pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency on carbon emissions played a positive role in decreasing CO 2 emissions, especially for the eastern region. However, the driving factors related to energy usage, such as the catch-up effect of energy usage scale efficiency and the pure energy usage technical efficiency had trifling and unstable effects on the change of carbon emissions. Based on the above analysis, we propose suggestions to reduce carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current business market, organizations have to work mutually to control the rising level of carbon emission parallel with long-lasting financial benefits. Green inventory management reduces the environmental impacts of a business without lacking its profit. This study demonstrates a fuzzy green inventory model having non-instantaneous deteriorating products which help the organizations for maximization of total annual profit under different conditions of trade-credit-policies along with minimizing carbon for a cleaner environment. The paper discusses all the potential cases, which may occur in green inventory models with carbon emission cost under different allowable delay-in-payments. Here, the demand rate is taken as dependent on selling price. In addition, shortages are allowable and are completely backlogged. The whole profit is calculated from the retailer's perspective. In this model, demand, as well as deterioration rates, are considered as a triangular fuzzy number. The objective has to evaluate sustainable optimal ordering strategies for retailers, which maximize the entire annual profit and minimize the carbon emission. The various possible scenarios are discussed in detail to get the relevant profit of a retailer. The validity of the established model is proved by presenting a numerical experiment. Sensitivity analysis of this study is also exemplified to verify its factual practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We explore whether each of the 30 Chinese provinces will peak emissions by 2030. • We combine STIRPAT models and scenario analyses to predict emissions trajectories. • 26 provinces are likely to peak emissions under at least one scenario, but 4 are not. • Peaking time and cumulative emissions are considered in seeking optimal peaking path. • Provincial results in aggregate show China may peak in 2028–2040 and 2030 is optimal. China has pledged in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that its carbon emissions will peak no later than 2030. However, the varying carbon emissions trajectories of individual provinces make it difficult to determine whether China can fulfill this ambitious goal on time. To bring transparency and clarity to this core issue, this paper explores for the first time whether and how all the 30 Chinese provinces will peak their energy-related emissions in future by developing a set of extended STIRPAT models that investigate the driving forces behind each province and integrating the estimates into scenario analysis for peaking simulation. We observe that, despite continued economic growth, 26 provinces are highly likely to reach peak emissions under at least one scenario, whereas the remaining are not. We find it interesting that the earliest peaking scenarios may not be the best option for those provinces whose cumulative carbon emissions are estimated to be considerably large. To ensure a viable reaching of China's peak emissions, much more attention should be paid to seeking for the most appropriate emissions trajectory to peak at the subnational level with relatively low cumulative value. Provincial results in aggregate show that China may peak emissions in the period 2028–2040, with cumulative emissions ranging from 403,607 Mt CO 2 (corresponding to peaking in 2030) to 456,191 Mt CO 2 (corresponding to peaking in 2038), while 2030 would be the optimal year for the country to peak because of the lowest cumulative carbon emissions. Our findings only provide a deeper understanding of China's potential peaking paths by province, but also assist policy makers in better prediction and evaluation of possible emissions trajectory for other nations and the whole world from a bottom-up perspective, and therefore could be of global significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Based on the life cycle assessment theory, this paper has estimated and analyzed carbon emissions of 207 residential buildings in Tianjin. • Correlation analysis and elastic net were jointly used to select 12 design factors as independent variables for predictive models. • Four frequently-used regression techniques, PCR, RF, MLP and SVR, were used to develop regression models of carbon emissions. Many studies have been conducted on life cycle assessment and control measures for carbon emissions of buildings. Methods proposed by these studies usually require not only specific accounting model, but also detailed inventory data, which is not available at early design stage. Seeing that the importance of design phase to carbon emissions during building's lifecycle, a study on regression model of carbon emissions using designing factors was done. Firstly, based on process analysis method, the carbon emissions of 207 residential buildings in Tianjin were calculated. The results show that annual carbon emissions per floor area are between 30 and 60 kgCO 2 /(m2•year), with manufacture phase and operation phase accounting for 11%–25% and 75%–87%, respectively. Then, correlation analysis and elastic net were used to determine 12 designing factors for predictive model; At last, four regression techniques, PCR, RF, MLP and SVR were used to develop regression models, respectively; comparison and process analysis of model development were given later. The results show that SVR has the optimal predictive accuracy among four models, its corresponding coefficient of determination can reach to 0.800. This regression model can be utilized to estimate carbon emissions based on designing factors, which can help designers make a strategic decision at early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aluminium industry, with its traditionally high energy consumption, high emissions and high pollution, is facing increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions in China. Implementing effective policies and measures to promote carbon emissions reduction is of great importance. This study deploys the life cycle assessment (LCA) method to explore carbon emissions and CO 2 sources from aluminium manufacturing in China as well as a scenario analysis to evaluate the reduction potential and driving forces of carbon emissions in the industry. The evaluated scenarios include a new capacity allocation scheme, technological progress and energy structure optimization. The carbon emissions from the aluminium chain are mostly contributed by indirect emissions (more than 68%) from electricity generation. Significant regional discrepancies are observed in the total emissions and intensity, and a reasonable industry layout tends to transfer to the south and southwest areas from the perspective of the environmental pillar. Production output remains the dominant factors associated with total carbon emissions from manufacturing firms, such as the aluminium industry. Technological progress and the energy structure contribute to total reductions and carbon efficiency, although the former has a relatively limited scope for aluminium firms. This paper also shows that marginal carbon efficiency improvements are not very effective in lowering the total CO 2 emissions under the context of high output growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]