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Improving the structure of energy consumption (ECS) through green finance and the digital economy is one of the main paths to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. This paper explores the impact of green finance and the digital economy on the ECS of 30 regions in China from 2007 to 2022 using the Generalized method of moments(GMM) model, further analyzes its heterogeneity, and then provides a reference for the scientific development of relevant decisions. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The change in the ECS is closely related to the degree of optimization of the ECS in the previous year, and this is a process of dynamic adjustment. The level of digital economy development can improve the ECS of the country as a whole and in the eastern and central regions, while the western regions have not yet played a significant role due to the underdevelopment of the digital economy. Green finance can inhibit fossil fuel energy consumption in all regions, and it promotes cleaner, more efficient, and low-carbon energy consumption, thereby improving the ECS. However, the impact effect is the largest in the east and smaller in the west. (2) The urbanization levels of the country as a whole and that of the central and western regions show a positive correlation with the results of energy consumption. However, in the eastern region, it shows an inhibitory effect on fossil fuel energy consumption, which can optimize the ECS. The industrial structures in all regions have positive impact coefficients; the development of industry is not conducive to the optimization of the ECS. Trade openness can improve the ECS only in the eastern region; technological progress in all regions can significantly improve the ECS. Based on the background of carbon neutrality, this paper reveals that green finance and the digital economy promote cleaner, more efficient, and lower carbon energy consumption and reduce the level of energy consumption. This paper also provides a reference for the scientific formulation of relevant decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutrality is urgent as rapidly emerging economies aggravate their share of global energy demand. In China, the energy structure is dominated by fossil fuels, but it varies significantly across provinces. As an indicator of carbon neutrality, previous studies of decoupling between carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth focused at the national and sector levels in China. However, they overlook the role of industrial structure in decoupling at the provincial level. In this light, the following paper focuses on Qinghai Province, analyzing decoupling and its influencing factors for achieving carbon neutrality from an industrial structure perspective over 1990–2021. It uses the Tapio decoupling model to evaluate decoupling states and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index decomposition to evaluate the influencing factors. A Data Envelopment Analysis model of super-efficiency Slacks-Based Measure is used to evaluate the decarbonization efficiency. The study finds that the overall trend shifted from weak to strong decoupling. Strong decoupling dominated the primary industry while weak decoupling dominated the secondary and tertiary industries. Economic growth negatively impacted overall decoupling, while population had a marginal effect. Energy structure and intensity generally promoted decoupling. Additionally, the overall mean efficiency of decarbonization was 0.95, led by the tertiary industry. The paper concludes by discussing policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green and high-efficiency water resource utilization patterns hold paramount importance in promoting sustainable economic and social development, as well as in attaining the goal of carbon neutrality. Most research on water utilization efficiency have taken a general perspective to quantify it, neglecting independent relationships and green effects among water use sectors. This study proposed an integrated measurement model of green water resource utilization efficiency (GWRUE), combined with the carbon dioxide emission equivalent analysis method of water resource behaviors, and constructed an input–output indicator system of GWRUE from four dimensions: domestic, industrial, agricultural, and ecological water. The aim is to achieve the measurement of GWRUE towards carbon neutrality. In this paper, 18 cities in Henan Province were used as instances to carry out the study. The results show that (1) The CO2 emission equivalent from multiple water use sectors in Henan Province showed a tendency of fluctuating reduction during the study period, from a peak of 21,090,100 tons in 2012 to a low of 12,351,900 tons in 2021, with large spatial variations, and the CO2 emission effect existed in most cities, with Zhengzhou being the highest. (2) The GWRUE of domestic, industrial, and agricultural water in Henan Province and 18 cities exhibited an overall upward trend, while that of ecological water presented a downward trend and was at the lowest level among the four sectors. (3) Consolidated GWRUE in Henan Province tended to decrease and then increase; its value was 0.512 in 2011, 0.448 in 2017, and 0.586 in 2021, and most of its cities were at a Medium level. The findings of this study can serve as a theoretical and practical basis for improving the level of green and efficient utilization of water resources, as well as offer references for relevant water use sectors to formulate CO2 emission reduction policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen is gaining increasing attention as a key component of the global energy transition towards a more sustainable industry. Chile, with its vast renewable energy potential, is well positioned to become a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen. In this context, this paper explores the prospects for green hydrogen production and use in Chile. The perspectives presented in this study are primarily based on a compilation of government reports and data from the scientific literature, which primarily offer a theoretical perspective on the efficiency and cost of hydrogen production. To address the need for experimental data, an ongoing experimental project was initiated in March 2023. This project aims to assess the efficiency of hydrogen production and consumption in the Atacama Desert through the deployment of a mobile on-site laboratory for hydrogen generation. The facility is mainly composed by solar panels, electrolyzers, fuel cells, and a battery bank, and it moves through the Atacama Desert in Chile at different altitudes, from the sea level, to measure the efficiency of hydrogen generation through the energy approach. The challenges and opportunities in Chile for developing a robust green hydrogen economy are also analyzed. According to the results, Chile has remarkable renewable energy resources, particularly in solar and wind power, that could be harnessed to produce green hydrogen. Chile has also established a supportive policy framework that promotes the development of renewable energy and the adoption of green hydrogen technologies. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as the high capital costs of green hydrogen production and the need for supportive infrastructure. Despite these challenges, we argue that Chile has the potential to become a leading producer and exporter of green hydrogen or derivatives such as ammonia or methanol. The country's strategic location, political stability, and strong commitment to renewable energy provide a favorable environment for the development of a green hydrogen industry. The growing demand for clean energy and the increasing interest in decarbonization present significant opportunities for Chile to capitalize on its renewable energy resources and become a major player in the global green hydrogen market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has made remarkable achievements in reducing carbon emissions in recent years. However, there is still much reduction room before achieving carbon neutrality. In Beijing, the capital of China, it is a strategic choice to respond to global climate change by promoting green and low-carbon development. This paper calculates the carbon dioxide emissions of key industries in Beijing and analyzes the temporal evolution trend of carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions in Beijing before 2030 are predicted based on the grey prediction GM (1,1) and BP neural network model. The effects of factors of carbon dioxide emissions are discussed using the threshold regression model under different economic conditions. The results show that energy consumption intensity, GDP per capita, and the ownership of civil cars have a positive impact on carbon dioxide emissions, while the number of permanent residents and urban green space areas have a negative impact on carbon dioxide emissions. These findings of carbon emission prediction and influencing factors contribute to carbon reduction path design. Related policy implications on carbon emission reduction are put forward from the aspects of promoting industrial upgrading, accelerating the construction of advanced economic structures, optimizing transportation structures, and strengthening green building development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has committed to peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and has set a goal of working towards carbon neutrality by 2060. Hunan province is a vital undertaking place for national industrial transfer. It is of great significance for promoting energy conservation and emission reduction to investigate the influencing factors and spatial effects of carbon emissions in Hunan province. Firstly, based on the energy consumption data of Hunan province from 2005 to 2017, this paper uses the method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to measure the carbon emissions of Hunan province and its economic zones. Secondly, the five-factor Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model is constructed to analyze the influence degree of population size, economic development, industrial structure, energy intensity, and energy structure on carbon emissions. Finally, the spatial differences of the influencing factors in the four economic zones of Hunan province are analyzed. The research shows that: (1) An overall carbon emission reduction has been achieved in Hunan province since 2011. (2) Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Economic Zone is the key area to achieve carbon emission reduction, while there is still the phenomenon of emission increase in the other three economic zones. (3) For all economic zones, economic development contributes the most to the increase in carbon emissions, while energy intensity shows the strongest inhibitory effect. Other factors have various effects on the four economic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing green trade barriers from developed nations, particularly the EU, based on product carbon footprints, China's renewable energy industries confront significant challenges in transitioning towards sustainability and low carbon emissions. This study delves into the carbon footprint of China's renewable infrastructure, evaluating wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) panels, and lithium batteries across varied decarbonization scenarios, emphasizing both production and international trade transportation. The initial findings for 2022 indicate baseline carbon footprints of 990,701 kg CO2-eq/MW for wind turbines, 2994.97 kg CO2-eq/kWp for PV panels, and 67.53 kg CO2-eq/kWh for batteries. Projections for 2050 suggest that decarbonization advancements could slash these footprints by up to 36.1% for wind turbines, 76.7% for PV panels, and 72.5% for batteries, closely mirroring the EU's 2050 low-carbon benchmarks. Considerable carbon footprints from both domestic and international transportation have been quantified, underscoring the importance of logistic decarbonization. Based on these results, it is concluded that China's steadfast commitment to a sustainable and climate-ambitious development path can provide globally competitive, low-carbon renewable infrastructure after 2030. The study advocates for a collaborative approach to product decarbonization across international trade, as opposed to erecting barriers, to effectively contribute to global climate objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the urgency of addressing climate change grows, strategies such as developing zero-emission campuses to achieve carbon neutrality are becoming increasingly crucial. Yet, research in this field remains somewhat underdeveloped and fragmented. This study aims to bridge this gap, providing a scientometric analysis of the research conducted on zero-emission campuses from 1997 to 2023, using data from the Web of Science Core Collection. The study analyzed 1009 bibliographic records with the aid of CiteSpace software, focusing on identifying key co-authors, co-words, co-citations, and clusters. The findings indicate a rapid increase in research in the field of zero-emission campuses, with a significant surge in the number of publications in recent years, culminating in 174 in 2021 alone. The leading universities in terms of publication count were the University of California System, Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Furthermore, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom were identified as the main contributing countries/regions to publishing in this field, indicating a broad, global collaboration. The scope of research has broadened from technical elements, such as energy, to encompass social factors that influence sustainability. Emerging research areas were identified, including education and sustainability, renewable energy and energy efficiency, campus planning and design, waste management and recycling, policy support, and pro-environmental behavior. This study provides a structured overview of the research landscape in the field of zero-emission campuses, offering valuable guidance for academics and encouraging further collaboration. The identified research clusters, notable authors, and influential institutions hold significant implications for policy decisions, industry practices, and the implementation of zero-emission strategies on campuses, aiding in the broader pursuit of sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the recently announced "Green New Deal" policy of South Korea as a sustainability transition strategy. Originally proposed as a post-COVID-19 stimulus plan, the Green New Deal is a sustainability-centered strategy for building a low-carbon and climate-neutral economy. The Green New Deal sets out eight targets to be accomplished under three strategic areas: green urban development, low-carbon decentralized energy, and innovative green industry. The Deal also takes measures to protect the people and sectors at a higher risk of being left behind in the process of the economic transition. It is an upgraded version of the "Green Growth" national policy, with more emphasis on sustainability in addition to the growth aspect. This paper will examine the accomplishments and challenges during the Green Growth policy era and argue why the transition to the new Green New Deal is necessary for a sustainability transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the path followed by two private higher education institutions (HEI) in Colombia towards achieving carbon neutrality. The methodology followed by these universities to achieve a carbon-neutral certification, based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, is first described. The process of developing the GHG inventory, projected towards the carbon neutrality of these organisations while using the standard ISO 14064:2006, involved a series of steps that were consolidated in three phases: (i) definition of the scope, collection of data and emissions quantification; (ii) analysis of results and mitigation actions; and (iii) verification and compensation strategies. Results for the HEIs are shown in terms of the organisational context, carbon footprint measurement, reduction, verification, and compensation. The case is presented for Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, a multi-campus university that became the first carbon-neutral university in Latin America in 2017, and Universidad Ean, a single-campus university that became the second carbon-neutral university in Colombia in 2021, as verified by the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification (ICONTEC). This work shows that universities can play a key role in regional and global agendas with their contribution through the incorporation of sustainability strategies, since HEIs can not only achieve carbon neutrality, but they can help other organisations by delivering graduates who are aware of sustainability and provide specific training towards building a sustainability culture, which is needed for regenerative development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The market for non-fungible token (NFT) art is expected to reach USD 44.2 billion in 2021 and increase by 67.57 percent in 2022, revolutionizing the relationship between artists, collectors, and investors. Despite this, concerns regarding the environmental impact of blockchain technology's high energy consumption persist. NFT art transactions will continue to generate significant carbon emissions after Ethereum's "Merge" to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system in September 2022, rendering many low-carbon solutions obsolete and necessitating further research into post-Merge alternatives. This study identifies solutions in the NFT art market, such as carbon neutrality, lazy minting, alternative consensus mechanisms, Layer 2 solutions and policy interventions. Carbon neutrality is achieved through investments in renewable energy or carbon credits to mitigate emissions generated by NFT art transactions. Lazy minting reduces energy consumption by postponing the creation of NFT art until a buyer is secured. In the NFT art ecosystem, alternative consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Authority (PoA) and Proof of Spacetime (PoST) reduce energy consumption. By offloading transactions from the primary blockchain, Layer 2 solutions enhance scalability and reduce energy consumption. Carbon taxes and energy consumption levies are examples of policy interventions that promote cleaner energy sources in the NFT art market. This study will explore the role of artists, collectors, galleries, and other significant players in encouraging environmentally sustainable practices in the NFT art market. In addition, it will investigate the effect of prominent NFT art sales on carbon emissions and the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives. By integrating and optimizing current carbon reduction strategies, the NFT art market can continue to flourish while reducing its environmental impact. The study emphasizes the significance of implementing a comprehensive strategy that incorporates multiple solutions that are tailored to the specific challenges of the NFT art market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brownfields or objects of accumulated environmental damage are a complex object characterized by both the absorption and release of uncontrolled energy (for example, biogas or hydrothermal energy). The brownfield redevelopment process provides unique opportunities to ensure efficient energy transfer and maintain environmental stability. However, the implementation of these solutions depends on the quality of the assessment of the cumulative impact of unspent deposits, namely, the assessment of the damage caused to the environment, which, in turn, gives an understanding of how to ensure the elimination of damage to energy efficiency and environmental safety from uncontrolled carbon dioxide emissions. In this article, we consider the problems of assessing the cumulative effect of waste management activities, as a result of which abandoned deposits or objects of accumulated environmental damage appear. A cycle of measures to achieve socio-economic efficiency through the re-development of brownfields and their integration within energy-efficient systems and environmentally balanced systems is proposed, and a new concept of identifying the negative occurrence of brownfields under the influence of climate change is substantiated. Particularly, we assess the possibilities of integrating brownfields or objects of accumulated environmental damage into energy-efficient and environmentally balanced systems for goals of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutrality is a key human endeavor to deal with global climate while China is the country producing the most publications on carbon neutrality. However, what are the focuses of carbon-neutrality research in China? To answer such an important question, this study adopts a bibliometric approach to analyze carbon-neutrality journal publications from China-based researchers during the period of 2008–2022 using CNKI and Scopus. Results showed that carbon-neutrality publications in Chinese and English journals by Chinese-based researchers increased from 4 in 2008 to 2879 in 2022. In Chinese journals, X.D. Hao was the most productive author with 10 publications. In English journals, Y.K. Zhou was the most productive author with 14 publications. As a whole, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most productive institution with 376 publications. Co-occurrence of keywords analysis revealed seven themes in Chinese journal articles, namely, "carbon neutrality and climate change", "energy transformation", "peak carbon emission", "carbon emission and low carbon economy", "realization path in China", "hydrogen energy and clean energy", and "green finance and sustainable development". In English journals, three major clusters were formed—"carbon, carbon neutralities, emission control, and energy utilization", "carbon dioxide, carbon neutrals, biomass, and electrocatalysts", and "China, carbon neutrality, sustainable development, and economic development." Most extant publications focused on policy and technological development. Emphasis shall be paid to social change and changes in people's behavior, sectoral carbon emissions, and carbon leakage in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel multifactor algorithm is developed with the aim of estimating GHG emissions in the EU countries and forecasting different future scenarios. This is created starting from (1) GDP, (2) population and (3) renewable energy share (RES). The determination coefficient (R2) of the multiple regression adopted reaches a value of 0.96; thus, only 4% of the GHG variation cannot be explained by the combination of the three variables. Germany is removed from the model after analysing the statistical outliers, as it presents an unusual behaviour within the European context. Also, France, Italy and Ireland are removed in the forecast analysis since they are characterised by corrected weighting values above the threshold value of the algorithm (0.156). The results show that GHG emissions decrease 14% in a low-growth-rate scenario, increase 24% in an average-growth scenario and increase 104% in a high-growth-rate scenario. Countries that improve the most are the ones that are currently underdeveloped in RES and are expected to decrease their population in the future (Croatia, Latvia, Cyprus and Greece). Other countries currently well positioned but with expected population growth (Sweden, Luxemburg and Denmark) or with expected intense GDP growth (Estonia and Malta) may lack decarbonisation levers. Therefore, policy makers should introduce additional subsidy schemes and tax exemptions in both developed and less developed countries to meet EU decarbonisation targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, the green transition, by promoting carbon neutrality, has become highly imperative to meet environmental challenges. The present literature review study seeks to explore the intersecting role of greener innovations in facilitating financial inclusion for a sustainable future. Within the global agenda is the goal of carbon neutrality, with the aim of reducing environmental impact and mitigating climate change. Aim: The present study aims to investigate the role that technological innovations play in the financial inclusion of achieving climate neutrality. Method: Through a systematic literature review, we investigate how new innovations generate new investment opportunities and promote sustainable development. However, fair, accessible, and inclusive financing is crucial. Findings: the analyzed documents in this study shows that technological innovations can play an important role in financial inclusion for carbon neutrality and provide some important policy implications. Indeed, a favorable regulatory environment could generate positive effects already in the short term, with important environmental, economic, and social repercussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article provides a comprehensive scenario analysis of key structural changes in Kazakhstan's fuel and energy complex subsectors until 2060, focusing on decarbonization efforts. The background places the issue of decarbonization in a broader context, considering the country's vast size and sparse population. The study's purpose involves analyzing the development of the climate agenda by comparing two scenarios: a "reference" scenario without decarbonization measures and a carbon neutrality scenario until 2060 (CN2060). A mathematical technical-economic model based on the TIMES paradigm (The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System) serves as the method to optimize and simulate Kazakhstan's energy system. The main findings reveal sets of policies, standards, and legislative, economic, and political decisions that are required to achieve CN2060. Additionally, the integration of a low-carbon policy, sectoral and cross-cutting approaches, the impact of the coronavirus crisis, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and energy security issues receive a discussion. The article concludes with projected shares of generation and investment in renewable energy sources (RES) necessary for attaining CN2060. This work offers novel insights into challenges and opportunities for Kazakhstan's transition to a low-carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition towards sustainable development is a significant propeller to achieving carbon neutrality and reducing the further impact of human-induced climate change through decarbonizing the energy sector. Yet, the discussion often neglects individual engagement and participation. Emerging studies and research focus on energy transition readiness and the attitude–behavior gap on both (inter-) national and public participation levels. Still, similar bottom-up research and studies on individual engagement in energy transition are rare in the context of Asia. Based on an online questionnaire (N = 150) conducted in Hong Kong from February to March 2022, this study followed the Attitude-Behavior-Context (A-B-C) Model to investigate whether individual pro-energy transition behavior was affected by both internal socio-psychological variables and the external socio-economic context. The data collected was analyzed by Cronbach's alpha and multiple regression analysis. Statistical results show that individuals' internal socio-psychological variables significantly contributed to the pro-energy transition behavior of Hong Kong citizens in terms of their pro-energy transition practices and other engagements in energy transition-related activities. In contrast, pro-energy transition behavior was less explained by the socio-economic context perceived by the respondents, and the explained behavior was limited to the respondents' other engagements in energy-transition-related activities. The above findings suggest that citizens are in line with the related policies or more readily equipped for energy transition than the government. Government bodies are encouraged to set more ambitious targets and actions to achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality goal. The conceptualization of energy behavior and habit formation may help reduce the disparity of transition readiness among different stakeholders in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored buildings for carbon neutrality to solve the global warming problem in the Third Solar Decathlon China (SDC). The methods were derived from subjective and objective evaluation aspects based on the competition rules. Then, the results of the concepts, technologies, and prospects of 15 buildings were output. The conclusion was summarized after a discussion as follows: (1) Solving global warming through carbon neutrality is widely required and research into this issue is required now. (2) Research methods were determined via five subjective and five objective contests with multiple sub-contests. (3) Fifteen buildings' concepts, technologies, and prospects were determined regarding the carbon neutrality aspect. (4) A good architectural design concept was needed before building for carbon neutrality. (5) This research summarized the current development of architecture concepts and technologies in academia and industry. (6) Thirty-five kinds of active and passive technologies were determined, where PV as an active method and modular assembly as a passive method were the most used in this competition. (7) The technologies used with a low frequency, such as wind turbine, Stirling engine, hydrogen fuel cell, UHPC, PCM, and SST walls technologies, also need further attention. (8) The prospect of carbon neutrality, especially for energy production in residential buildings, may shift people's passive acceptance of carbon neutrality to active energy production. (9) Using ANP to produce the SDC ranking may be considered for more scientific investigations to demonstrate the carbon neutrality effect. (10) The limitations will continue to be researched in the future. Finally, this research aimed to make a contribution to solving the global warming for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring a scientific and reasonable cross-regional carbon emission reduction path in China is essential to achieving sustainable development and the carbon neutrality target. This study constructs a simulation model of China's cross-regional carbon emission reduction (CER) system and adopts a multi-agent approach to simulate cross-regional CER scenarios to predict the pathway. The conclusions are as follows: (1) under the national unified CER policy scenarios, carbon emissions are on a continuous growth trend with fast economic growth not matching emission reduction efforts in Scenario I. Scenario II has a lower economic scale, and carbon emissions peak in 2029. Scenario III has smooth economy and reaches the carbon emission peak in 2026. The economy of Scenario IV grows fast, carbon emissions grow slowly, and the peak does not appear in 2030. (2) In three scenarios with provinces as the main agent for CER, if provinces sacrifice the economy to strengthen CER, the peak of carbon emissions will appear in 2020. While the economy of non-synergistic and synergistic CER scenarios in each province is growing steadily, the peak in two modes is reached in 2026 and 2032. The peak is reached four years earlier in 2026 in the synergistic model and 2032 in the non-synergistic model, and the economic growth of some energy-intensive provinces slows down. (3) The synergistic low-carbon model is best for balancing economic development and carbon emission control. Policy recommendations are presented based on the above findings for China's CER and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of practical significance to evaluate whether enhancing outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) can promote carbon mitigation under the new urbanization background toward China's sustainable development and carbon neutrality. The impact of OFDI on carbon emissions is investigated from the dual perspectives of the urbanization threshold and the mediating path by using panel data from China's 30 provinces during the period of 2003–2015 and considering both population and land. The results show that there is a significant impact from interprovincial OFDI on CO2 emissions with the double threshold effect of urbanization, and that OFDI expansion will increase CO2 emissions with urbanization; however, the different stages of urbanization show inverted U-shaped characteristics that first rise and then fall. The optimization of industrial structures has not passed the mediating effects test during the sample period, while the rationalization of the industrial structure provides a mediating effect in the primary stage of urbanization and a suppressing effect in the high level stage of urbanization. Import dependence only shows a masking effect in the intermediate stage of urbanization, while the technical level shows an intermediary effect in the primary stage of urbanization and a masking effect in the intermediate stage. The intensification of OFDI has brought different effects on economic and social production in various regions of China under urbanization, which has further affected regional carbon emissions. Discussing these effects would help to provide constructive suggestions for the regional coordination of development, new urbanization construction and urban low carbon transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/land cover (LULC) change driven by land use policy always leads to dramatic change in carbon storage and sequestration, especially in a rapidly urbanizing region. However, few studies explored the influences of land use polices on carbon storage and sequestration in a rapidly urbanizing region. Through Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, the spatial-temporal pattern of carbon storage altered by LULC transformation and its linkage with land use policies were analyzed in five periods (1990-1995, 1995-2000, 2000-2005, 2000-2010, 2010-2015) in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) Region. The results indicated that: (1) the carbon storage in the YRD was substantially altered by continuous LULC transformation, totally decreased by 1.49 x 107 Mg during 1990-2015. (2) The total amount of carbon storage increased from 2.91 109 Mg in 1990 to 2.95 x 109 Mg in 1995, and then decreased to 2.90 x 109 Mg in 1995-2015. Thus, the total economic value of carbon storage increased approximately from 467.42 million dollars in 1990 to 472.99 million dollars in 1995, and then decreased to 465.01 million dollars in 2015. (3) The carbon storage and sequestration were influenced by LULC transformation driven by land use policies in five periods: large areas of grassland converted to woodland in 1990-1995 led by Forest Law, then clustered areas of cropland converted to built-up land in 1995-2015 around large cities of YRD Region led by Land Management Law and Development Plans, and finally, the conversion of cropland to built-up land was decreased and scattered in the entire region influenced by land use polices led by early stage of ecocivilization construction. The study can facilitate to develop regional land use policy for carbon storage conservation and carbon neutrality in a rapidly urbanizing region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand green finance's impact on fertilizer use and agricultural carbon emissions. We selected the macro panel data of 30 provinces (cities) in China from 2000 to 2019. The main research methods are standardized test framework (cross-sectional dependence, unit root and cointegration test), the latest causal test, impulse response, and variance decomposition analysis. Examined the long-term equilibrium relationship between green finance, fertilizer use, and agricultural carbon emissions. The results show: fertilizer consumption and agricultural carbon emissions have a positive correlation. However, green finance can significantly reduce agricultural carbon emissions. The causal test confirmed the bidirectional causal relationship between agricultural carbon emissions and fertilizer use. At the same time, verified one-way causality from green finance to both of them. Interpret the results of impulse response and variance decomposition analysis: among the changes in agricultural carbon emissions, chemical fertilizers contributed 2.45%, green finance contributed 4.34%. In addition, the contribution rate of green finance to chemical fertilizer changes reached 11.37%. Green finance will make a huge contribution to reducing fertilizer use and agricultural carbon emissions within a decade. The research conclusions provide an important scientific basis for China's provinces (cities) to formulate carbon emission reduction policies. China has initially formed a policy system and market environment to support the development of green finance, in 2020, the "dual carbon" goal was formally proposed. In 2021, the national "14th Five-Year Plan" and the 2035 Vision Goals emphasized the importance of green finance. It plays an important supporting role in carbon emission reduction goals, and green finance has become an important pillar of national strategic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy is considered the one of the most promising solutions to meet sustainable development goals in terms of climate change mitigation. Today, we face the problem of further scaling up renewable energy infrastructure, which requires the creation of reliable energy storages, environmentally friendly carriers, like hydrogen, and competitive international markets. These issues provoke the involvement of resource-based countries in the energy transition, which is questionable in terms of economic efficiency, compared to conventional hydrocarbon resources. To shed a light on the possible efficiency of green hydrogen production in such countries, this study is aimed at: (1) comparing key Russian trends of green hydrogen development with global trends, (2) presenting strategic scenarios for the Russian energy sector development, (3) presenting a case study of Russian hydrogen energy project «Dyakov Ust-Srednekanskaya HPP» in Magadan region. We argue that without significant changes in strategic planning and without focus on sustainable solutions support, the further development of Russian power industry will be halted in a conservative scenario with the limited presence of innovative solutions in renewable energy industries. Our case study showed that despite the closeness to Japan hydrogen market, economic efficiency is on the edge of zero, with payback period around 17 years. The decrease in project capacity below 543.6 MW will immediately lead to a negative NPV. The key reason for that is the low average market price of hydrogen ($14/kg), which is only a bit higher than its production cost ($12.5/kg), while transportation requires about $0.96/kg more. Despite the discouraging results, it should be taken into account that such strategic projects are at the edge of energy development. We see them as an opportunity to lead transnational energy trade of green hydrogen, which could be competitive in the medium term, especially with state support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]