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Now, China has made it clear that it will strive to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 (the "dual carbon" goals), based on the logic that carbon peaking is a prerequisite for carbon neutrality. The year 2021 is the first year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period. As the main battlefields to achieve the "dual carbon" goals, cities are also required to build on their pathways towards such goals under new conditions. Based on the progress China has made with pilot cities for low-carbon development and the discussion on 60 cities by category, this paper identifies the commonalities and differences between Chinese cities' pathways towards carbon peaking, and concludes that Chinese cities need to peak their carbon emissions in an organized and step-wise way on the basis of classification and according to their own development level and emission characteristics. In light of the above conclusion, this paper provides feasible suggestions for Chinese cities' carbon peaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important tool to control CO2 emission, carbon emission trading (CET) has been highlighted in prior studies for its positive effects on firms. However, we are concerned about the role of the CET in corporate financing. Through a quasi-natural experiment from China's CET pilot, regarded as the start-up stage of China's emission trading system, we investigate the manufacturing corporate financing (i.e., debt and commercial credit financing). The results show that the firms in China's CET market have less debt financing. Additionally, in the heterogeneity analysis, we found that (1) the CET is negatively related to corporate financing when their financing constraints are weak, whereas it only reduces long-term debt for the firms with strong financing constraints. (2) The impact of the CET on corporate financing is not significant for the firms located in first-tier cities in China, but in other cities, the CET negatively influences firms' long-term debt and contributes to commercial credit financing. (3) The CET only plays a negative role in long-term debt and a positive role in commercial credit financing for firms in high energy-consuming industries. This study enlightens the government to improve the emission trading system and increase financing support to manufacturing firms in the CET market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This work meticulously details strategies for enhancing CO 2 mass transport in eCO 2 RR. • A comprehensive discussion on the effects of electrode are provided. • Effects of electrolyzer designs and electrolysis conditions are also discussed. • Potential solutions for CO 2 mass transfer in eCO 2 RR industrialization are summarized. The imperative to address climate change and CO 2 emissions has elicited substantial interest in the field of electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (eCO 2 RR) as an avenue to both environmental sustainability and the production of value-added fuels. However, the selectivity and efficiency of eCO 2 RR remain below the industrial requirement for its implementation at high current density. One pivotal strategy to ameliorate this deficiency involves augmenting the mass transport of CO 2 to electrode, thereby alleviating the competing hydrogen evolution reaction and consequently enhancing eCO 2 RR performance. Herein, we primarily discuss the CO 2 mass transport enhancement strategies through electrode and electrolyzer designs, as well as electrolysis conditions. The electrode designs are first presented, including wettability regulation, porous substrates construction, catalyst layer and gas diffusion layer designs. Then, we highlight state-of-the-art electrolyzer designs, including the bipolar membrane structure, interdigitated flow field and in-situ exsolution of CO 2 structure. The electrolyzer based gas–liquid Taylor flow is also introduced. Following this, we delve into the impact of various electrolysis conditions, encompassing the electrolyte, electrolysis potentials, CO 2 pressure, CO 2 flow rate and reaction temperature. Finally, we conclude this review by delineating persisting challenges and potential solutions aimed at advancing CO 2 mass transport for the industrial implementation of eCO 2 RR technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the carbon peaking and neutrality targets in China, carbon price and technological innovation will play increasingly important roles in recent future. It is widely-known that carbon price and technological innovation can contribute significantly to emission reduction, respectively; but it is still unclear whether the cooperation effects of carbon price and technological innovation would be positive or negative. In this paper, we assume that there are 3 types of emission reduction measures in China's industrial enterprises, which are improvement of energy efficiency, adjustment of energy structure, and substitution of pollution inputs and non-pollution inputs; then we introduce carbon price and technological innovation respectively and simultaneously, and establish 12 scenarios based on the Data Envelopment Analysis models combined with material balance principal (DEA-MBP), and estimate the additional emission reductions and additional production costs of China's industrial enterprises when carbon price and technological innovation exist respectively or simultaneously. The counterfactually estimating results show that there would be significant regional and sectorial heterogeneities in carbon emission reduction characteristics for China's industrial enterprises. If low-carbon technologies in some sectors have the ability to reduce carbon emissions at the expense of high additional production cost, carbon pricing policies would encourage enterprises to adopt new mitigation technologies and increase additional emission reduction by more than 20%, especially technologies focusing on the adjustment of energy structure and the substitution of pollution inputs by non-pollution inputs. However, in some sectors which have already been covered by carbon pricing policies, the additional carbon pricing policy may not have a significant effect on emission reduction, and the emission reduction would decrease by 10%. [Display omitted] • Cooperation effects of carbon price and technological innovation are estimated. • DEA-MBP models and multiple emission reduction measures/scenarios are applied. • Introduction of carbon price would encourage the adopting of new mitigation technologies. • Carbon price and technological innovation would have overlapping effects. • Significant regional and sectorial heterogeneities exist in emission reduction features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effective dual-emission CDs were synthesized via reasonable surface regulation. • The ratiometric sensing system for TNP was constructed based on DE-CDs. • Successfully realized the detection of TNP in tap and pond water samples. • The feasibility of biological application was verified by cell imaging experiment. Carbon dots (CDs) with dual emission property can provide a convenient way to construct a ratiometric fluorescent sensor, which contributes to accurate determination of the target analytes. In this work, we present a simple and effective route to prepare dual emission CDs (DE-CDs) through the solvothermal reaction of o-phenylenediamine and ethanolamine. Under the excitation of UV light, DE-CDs not only show two distinguishable fluorescent emission peaks (430 nm, 550 nm), but also exhibit good water solubility and ratio fluorescence stability. The synthesized DE-CDs were employed as a ratiometric fluorescent sensor for the sensitive and selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP). Under optimal analysis conditions, a good linear relationship was obtained with the TNP concentration range from 0.2 to 50 µM and the limit of detection can reach 50 nM. The proposed method was applied successfully for the TNP detection in real water samples with recoveries of 86.8–116.3%. Furthermore, cell imaging experiments confirm the feasibility of visualizing intracellular TNP in live HeLa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-carbon is a part of China's efforts to pursue the national strategy of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality." Meanwhile, the path of low-carbon transformation of logistics has become a topic of global concern. This study constructs a technical framework of logistics carbon emissions (LCE), which is composed of carbon emission evaluation, carbon emission prediction and low-carbon strategy. All 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu, China, are the application objects in empirical research. Then, the influence analysis of the LCE efficiency based on the panel Tobit model and the evolution of LCE under different scenarios are explored. The results show that: (ⅰ) during the study period (2013–2020), the LCE in Jiangsu showed an overall upward trend, with Xuzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing being the cities with the highest carbon emissions; (ⅱ) the static efficiency of LCE in Jiangsu is at a medium level, with fluctuations in Suzhou, Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Nantong, and Suqian caused by the technical change index; (ⅲ) economic level, industrial structure, fixed asset utilization rate, and ecological environment in Jiangsu are significantly positively correlated with LCE efficiency, while education popularization and energy intensity are negative; (ⅳ) LCE in Jiangsu has been drastically reduced in the low-carbon scenario compared to the baseline scenario. On the above basis, this study proposes suggestions for the low-carbon development strategies of logistics in Jiangsu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to China's escalating demand for renewable energy and carbon emissions reduction, and given its prominent position as one of the fastest-growing nations in photovoltaic (PV) development, a comprehensive assessment of the potential of both centralized and distributed photovoltaic systems in China is crucial. However, current research on PV potential assessment presents several challenges. Therefore, this study presents a five-dimensional assessment model, encompassing geographical, technical, economic, CO 2 mitigation, and realizable potential, to systematically map China's centralized photovoltaic (CPV) and distributed photovoltaic (DPV) potential. The findings underscore the vast PV potential across the country, with areas of 3.11 million km2 and 252.72 thousand km2 deemed suitable for CPV and DPV development, respectively. This corresponds to a technical potential of 416,383.27 and 28,261.53 TWh/yr for CPV and DPV, respectively. Furthermore, this study explored the economic potential of CPV and DPV, revealing that the generation costs of both CPV and DPV in China are in proximity to the feed-in tariffs. With technological advancements and economies of scale, a broader PV potential is projected to be economically feasible by 2030. Full implementation of the current economic potential can yield an annual CO 2 mitigation of 54.20 and 8.39 gigatonnes (Gt) using CPV and DPV, respectively. Notably, China's PV potential exhibits distinct regional heterogeneity, with CPV potential concentrated primarily in the western region and DPV potential distributed predominantly across the eastern provinces. This study identified the most resource-intensive areas in the western region of Inner Mongolia for CPV and in the coastal regions of Guangdong and Shandong provinces for DPV. Considering policy imperatives and the development status, China's PV sector holds tremendous potential to significantly contribute to carbon reduction targets. Based on the findings, policy recommendations are proposed, emphasizing the imperative of jointly developing CPV and DPV systems, as well as implementing phased and planned growth strategies for PV growth. • A five-dimensional assessment estimated China's PV feasibility and CO 2 mitigation. • China has 416,383.27 TWh/yr CPV potential and 28,261.53 TWh/yr DPV potential. • China's CPV and DPV are at a critical point: the LCOE is close to the feed-in tariff. • Photovoltaic development can contribute to China's carbon reduction goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compilation of technology lists of addressing climate change has guiding effect on promoting technological research and development, demonstration and popularization. It is also crucial for China to strengthen ecological civilization construction, achieve the carbon emission peak and carbon neutral target, and enhance global climate governance capabilities. This study first proposes the existing classification outline of the technology promotion lists, technology demand lists and future technology lists. Then, different methodologies are integrated on the basis of the existing outline of four technology lists: China's existing technological promotion list for addressing climate change, China's demand list for climate change mitigation technology, China's key technology list for addressing climate change, and China's future technology list for addressing climate change. What's more, core technologies are analyzed in the aspects of technology maturity, carbon reduction cost, carbon reduction potential, economic benefits, social influence, uncertainty, etc. The results show that: key industries and sectors in China already have relatively mature mitigation/adaptation technologies to support the achievement of climate change targets. The multi-sectoral system of promoting climate-friendly technologies has been established, which has played an active role in tackling climate change. Currently, climate technology needs are concentrated in the traditional technology and equipment upgrading, renewable energy technology and management decision-making support technology. The key technologies are concentrated in 3 major areas and 12 technological directions that urgently need a breakthrough. For carbon emmission peak and carbon nentrality, carbon depth reduction/zero carbon emissions and geoengineering technology ( CDR and SRM) have played an important role in forming the structure of global emissions and achieving carbon neutrality in the future. Thus, the uncertainty assessment for the comprehensive technology cost-effectiveness, technology integration direction, technical maturity, ethics and ecological impacts is supportive to the national technology strategy. Finally, the presented study proposes several policy suggestions for medium-and long-term technology deployment, improving technology conversion rate, promoting the research and development of key core technologies, and forming a technology list collaborative update and release mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate the marginal abatement cost (MAC) curve of carbon emissions for China's glass production firms through combining the top-down economic method and the bottom-up engineering method. An economic model based on parametric directional distance function is first used to estimate the least MAC, and then, from the perspective of the engineering method, the emission abatement level is further incorporated to identify the MAC curve of carbon emissions. In addition, this study takes multiple abatement measures into account by either downscaling the production activity or enlarging the inputs use. The results show that: (i) The average MAC of carbon emissions for China's glass production firms ranges from 552 to 6571 CNY/t CO 2 operating in 2008–2015. (ii) The firms with higher main business income are usually associated with lower MAC of carbon emissions. (iii) Increasing the intermediate input is considered as the least-cost abatement measure for the large and medium sized firms, while downscaling the production activity is the optimal one for small sized firms. (iv) The regional carbon emission permit trading scheme would help China's glass manufacturing industry save 42–62% abatement costs for achieving the emission reduction targets of 5–30%, while nationwide scheme would help save additional 8% abatement costs. • We estimate marginal abatement cost of CO 2 using an integrated model. • Multiple emission abatement measures are considered in the estimation. • We incorporate all feasible directions in directional distance function approach. • The model generates an abatement cost curve with continuously changing estimates. • The least cost of CO 2 reduction in China's glass production firms is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of trade-embodied carbon emissions has frequently been a contestation in international climate negotiations. The proposed shared responsibility approach developed by Jakob et al. (2021) is based on economic benefits derived from generating emissions without paying for associated social costs, which are represented by the carbon price. The impacts of the real tariffs on economic benefits were not considered. Here, we improve the proposed approach by introducing the real import and export tariffs and using tariff and elasticity data specified at both country- and sector-level. We re-investigate the responsibility for trade-embodied carbon emissions sharing between 141 economies for 2017. Results show that the improved shared responsibility approach leads to a less extreme distribution of responsibility among countries. The top three emitters, China, the EU27, and the USA, were allocated 939, 761, and 702 million tons of trade-embodied carbon emissions that are 32% below, 39% above, and 50% above production-based emissions and 62% above, 17% below, and 33% below consumption-based emissions, respectively. Furthermore, we investigate the impacts of introducing tariffs and raising carbon prices on responsibility distribution and find that both will increase import-embodied responsibility and decrease export-embodied responsibility and thus favor net exporters of carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although central to the promotion of regional economic development, industrial parks discharge large quantities of air pollutants and CO2, counter to the goals of air quality improvement and CO2 reductions in China. In this study, 13 industrial parks in seven cities in Henan Province were chosen to evaluate their emission of air pollutants and CO2 in 2017, their reduction potential under different green measures, and their air quality improvements under a Green Upgrade scenario. The results show that: (1) The total emissions of SO2, NOx, CO, PM10, PM2.5, VOCs and CO2 in the 13 industrial parks were 43, 39, 351, 19, 7, 18, 2 kt and 36 Mt, and would decrease by 72, 56, 19, 30, 26, 77 and 30%, respectively, under the Green Upgrade scenario. (2) The industrial process was the major source of CO, PM2.5, VOCs and NH3, whereas power plants were the largest source of SO2 and NOx, and they would be reduced by 93, 59, 94, 91, 23 and 28%, respectively, under the Green Upgrade scenario. (3) The terminal energy use sector (including industrial boilers and industrial process sources) was the main source of CO2, accounting for 75% of total CO2 emissions, and would be reduced by 76% under the Green Upgrade scenario. (4) WRF-CMAQ simulation results show that, under the Green Upgrade scenario, the concentration of PM2.5 in a transmission channel city would be improved by 1–36 μg/m3, with an annual average value of 9 μg/m3. Our results demonstrate the significant effect of the synergistic reduction in air pollutants and CO2 emissions using Green Technologies in industrial parks and the subsequent improvement in regional air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power sector significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, making its transition to low-carbon energy crucial for achieving carbon neutrality. Zhengzhou, recognized as one of the China's "National Central Cities", has a high energy demand. Its power sector, which is primarily reliant on coal, is responsible for half of the city's CO 2 emissions. The low emissions analysis platform (LEAP) model serves as an effective tool for exploring the power sector's transition to low-carbon sources. However, studies on the combined reduction in air pollutants and CO 2 at the city level are scarce. This study focuses on Zhengzhou's power sector, examining the power composition, coal usage, CO 2 and air pollutant emissions, social costs, and employment effects across five scenarios using LEAP. The five scenarios are the business-as-usual scenario, the reference scenario, the carbon neutrality scenario, and two optimization scenarios with different carbon peak and carbon neutrality time. CO 2 emissions will peak in 2030 at 34.6 Mt in the reference scenario, and in 2022 at 32.4 Mt in the carbon neutrality scenario. Emissions in the reference and carbon neutrality scenarios will decrease by 64.8% and 75.2%, respectively, from those in the business-as-usual scenario due to emission reduction strategies. In the carbon neutrality scenario, coal power reformation is the most significant measure, accounting for 45.7% of the total CO 2 reduction compared to that in the business-as-usual scenario, followed by the integration of external electricity (17.8%) and solar energy (13.6%). This scenario also demonstrated a strong synergistic effect on reducing air pollutants and CO 2 emissions. Although the carbon neutrality scenario incurs costs 60.4 billion yuan higher than those of the reference scenario, its CO 2 mitigation cost is 66.1 yuan/t lower. This indicated that more rapid CO 2 reduction, despite higher economic inputs, is justified by ambitious CO 2 reduction goals and environmental benefits. Enhancing the use of renewable energy technologies for research and development to lower costs could increase the economic feasibility of the carbon neutrality scenario. In the two optimization scenarios, complete elimination of CO 2 and air pollutant emissions is achieved by 2060, with all the electricity generated from renewable sources, although issues of uncertainty and stability need to be addressed. The study also highlights that renewable energy development will significantly boost employment, with an estimated 1.19 million jobs in 2060 in the carbon neutrality scenario. Finally, the paper concludes with a sensitivity analysis and offers policy recommendations for the power sector's low-carbon transition. [Display omitted] • Low-carbon transition paths of Zhengzhou power sector are investigated by scenario analysis. • Coal power reformation and external electricity are effective measures for CO 2 reduction. • Synergistic reduction of air pollutants and CO 2 is achieved in the CAN scenario. • The CAN scenario has a good cost-effectiveness of CO 2 mitigation. • Policy recommendations for Zhengzhou power sector are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's manufacturing sector faces pressure to reduce its carbon emissions embodied in foreign trade, yet the influence of the sector's structural and path characteristics on reducing embodied carbon emission (ECE) remains unclear. We developed a research framework to analyze the trade-embodied carbon transfer networks of China's 11 manufacturing industries with 48 economies from 2000 to 2019, identifying the key carbon transfer-in industries and paths. By integrating network characteristics, we assessed the ECE reduction pressure on key manufacturing industries and identified factors hindering its decline. ECE in China's manufacturing foreign trade increased by 273.1% from 2000 to 2019, with the ECE in exports to developing countries since 2012 (255.58 Mt) surpassing exports to developed countries (228.31 Mt). China's medium-low and medium-high technology manufacturing are key carbon transfer-in industries, observed large decreases in the importance of the carbon transfer-in paths from Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea, versus notable increases from the Row Asia and Pacific region. Metal manufacturing, non-metallic mineral manufacturing, and chemical manufacturing were the top three industries facing ECE reduction pressure. The network structure indicators obstruct the ECE reduction pressure in metal manufacturing, whereas the network path indicators obstruct the pressure in the other key manufacturing industries. To alleviate the ECE reduction pressure within China's manufacturing foreign trade, China's manufacturing sector should enhance trade cooperation with Asia–Pacific countries. The study's insights offer valuable references for China's formulation of domestic manufacturing emission reduction policies and its participation in international climate negotiations. • A novel framework lets us assess the embodied CO 2 reduction pressure. • China's manufacturing sector embodied CO 2 increased by 273.1% from 2000 to 2019. • China's medium technology manufacturing are key carbon transfer-in industries. • Metal manufacturing faced the highest embodied CO 2 reduction pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need for innovative low-carbon technologies in the chemical industry in China. Currently, most chemical processes rely on fossil fuels, resulting in significant CO2 emissions. The article highlights the potential of green electricity and green hydrogen as clean energy sources that can be coupled with various processes to achieve a low-carbon chemical industry. It provides examples of how these technologies can be applied to ammonia synthesis, syngas production, and CO2 reduction to produce ethylene. The article also mentions the challenges and future prospects of developing these low-carbon technologies. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources in the chemical industry to achieve carbon neutrality. [Extracted from the article]

The research and development (R&D) of climate change technology lists (or climate technology lists) is a foundation of the national climate governance system. By identifying and analyzing the technology demands, stocks and strategic direction of climate technology, technology lists can provide information guidance for technological research, development, promotion, transfer and investment. Based on status of technology ownership in this field and research objectives of list development, this study proposed three categories of technology lists: technology demand lists, existing technology lists and future technology lists. An analysis framework was established to compare different methodologies of developing technology lists, based on their information sources, classifications, identifying and sorting methods and ways of presenting. By applying the proposed framework, 10 representative methodologies for technology lists were systematically compared. The homogeneity and heterogeneity of the three categories of technology lists were identified, and an optimization framework of the methodologies was proposed. The results showed that: (1) Various types of climate technology lists have been completed in China, laying good foundations for continued domestic R&D, promotion and international cooperation on climate change technologies. (2) In terms of resource investment, rigor of technology selection process, energy conservation and emission reduction potential, synergistic effect and other indicators, there are similarities in the methodologies for the development of the three climate technology lists. The differences are mainly reflected in the sources of technological information, the selection of technological evaluation indicators and ways of presenting. (3) China's climate technology list research is still relatively defective; systematic and consistent assessment paradigms and the development of technology lists in some key areas are still lacking; and dynamic updating of technology lists is insufficient. On the basis of these findings, this article suggests that China should optimize the technology list development system and enhance the R&D of future technology lists which address carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality targets, key technology lists and international cooperation technology lists based on the third-party technology demand assessment. In addition, promoting the marketization of technology list R&D and application should also be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Models of CTM with different CO 2 capture technologies are built and validated. • Techno-economic and environmental performances of CTM under different CO 2 capture technologies are analyzed and compared. • Low-carbon, efficient, and economically optimal carbon capture technology for green methanol synthesis is explored. • Improvement measures for sustainable development of CTM are proposed. CO 2 -to-methanol can realize the emissions reduction and resource utilization of CO 2. However, CO 2 capture technology will lead to energy and economic penalties of the whole methanol production process. Thus, the effect of different CO 2 capture technologies on the performance of the whole methanol production process is analyzed and compared in this study. A rigorous steady-state modeling and simulation of the four different CO 2 capture technologies (monoethanolamine (MEA), phase-change separation (PCS), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and gas membrane separation (GMS)) are conducted, and the results are validated with literature data. Accordingly, the technical, economic, and environmental performances of the CO 2 -to-methanol process under different CO 2 capture technologies are analyzed to explore the low-carbon, efficient, and economically optimal carbon capture technology for green methanol synthesis. The results showed that the energy efficiency of the GMS case was the highest (68.4%), followed by PCS (66.2%), DMC (64.3%), and MEA (61.3%). The total production cost of the GMS case was the highest (4367 CNY/t-CH 3 OH), followed by MEA (4314 CNY/t-CH 3 OH), DMC (4279 CNY/t-CH 3 OH), and PCS (4204 CNY/t-CH 3 OH). All four cases achieved CO 2 emissions reductions. With the development of the third generation of biphasic absorbents, the PCS case improved the energy efficiency by 78.6%–83.8%. Thus, the PCS case was the optimal technology choice for achieving low-carbon, efficient, economic trade-offs in the commercial methanol production based on CO 2 capture and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]