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Resource-based cities are important strategic bases for securing resources in China and have made great contributions to the country's economic development. Long-term extensive resource development has made resource-based cities an important region constraining China from achieving comprehensive low-carbon development. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the low-carbon transition path of resource-based cities for their energy greening, industrial transformation, and high-quality economic development. This study compiled the CO2 emission inventory of resource-based cities in China from 2005 to 2017, explored the contribution to CO2 emissions from three perspectives (driver, industry, and city), and predicted the peak of CO2 emissions in resource-based cities. The results show that resource-based cities contribute 18.4% of the country's GDP and emit 44.4% of the country's CO2 and that economic growth and CO2 emissions have not yet been decoupled. The per capita CO2 emissions and emission intensity of resource-based cities are 1.8 times and 2.4 times higher than the national average, respectively. Economic growth and energy intensity are the biggest drivers and main inhibitors of CO2 emissions growth. Industrial restructuring has become the biggest inhibitor of CO2 emissions growth. Based on the different resource endowments, industrial structures, and socio-economic development levels of resource-based cities, we propose differentiated low-carbon transition pathways. This study can provide references for cities to develop differentiated low-carbon development paths under the "double carbon" target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world's largest CO2 emitter, China's emission reduction is the key to mitigating global climate change. Global investment capital, as a significant influencing factor of emissions, greatly contributes to China's economic growth and stimulates frequent interprovincial trade since the reform and opening. However, the spatial correlation of foreign investment and CO2 emissions across Chinese provinces is rarely considered. This paper explores the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in emission reduction in China during 2004–2015 using the spatial Durbin economic models with two‐way fixed effects. Then, the partial differential equations decomposition of the local and spatial spillover effects is conducted for capturing the marginal effects of influencing factors. Results show that FDI contributes to emission reduction for the whole country, whereas interprovincial transmission and intra‐provincial transmission show significant heterogeneity. Specifically, FDI increases emissions in host areas, while FDI provides positive environmental externalities to adjacent areas through spatial spillovers. Our findings provide a new perspective to explain the coexistence of the "Pollution Haven" and "Pollution Halo" theories in a country. Also, the exploration of spatial spillover effects of FDI on emissions can provide a reference for other countries with rising trade and investment flows to promote collaborative emission reduction. Key Points: Local effects of foreign direct investment on emissions are positive, while spatial spillover effects are negativeThe coexistence of the "Pollution Haven" and "Pollution Halo" theories in a country is examinedResults help promote collaborative emission reduction across regions with trade [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is prevalent in Yanting (YT) country located in southwestern China. Residents in the YT region have an unusual diet pattern and the role of the YT diet on the risk of ESCC is still uncertain. The present study was to examine the possible effects of sera from rats fed with the YT diet on proliferation of human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109 by means of a sero-physiology approach. Firstly, two feasibilities were assessed to set up the sero-physiology method. We found that rats fed with a human adult diet in Chengdu region (ESCC-low-risk-area) for 30d had very close body weight gains in comparison with the control rats fed with the conventional diet, confirming the feasibility of feeding rats with a human diet without affecting their normal growth. Cell growth results showed that 5% non-deactivated rat serum had exactly the same effect on the proliferation of Eca-109 cells compared with the fetal bovine sera (FBS) control, confirming the feasibility of cultivating Eca-109 cells with the rat serum instead of FBS. Subsequently, cell proliferation results indicated that rats' sera fed with the YT diet significantly promoted Eca-109 cells proliferation but inhibited human normal liver epithelial cell line control HL7702 proliferation, whereas rats' sera fed with the Chengdu diet didn't have these effects on the two cell lines. The different effects of the two human diets on proliferation of Eca-109 cells demonstrated that the sero-physiology method is effective in studying the relationship between diet and cancer, and there maybe exist cancer-promoting factors in the YT diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A scenario framework is proposed to explore combined effects of economic structure adjustment and emission efficiency improvement. • The proposed indicator can measure the technical feasibility of achieving the reduction potential. • China's emission intensity can be reduced by 81.39% compared with 2005 levels. • The scenario analysis helps achieve 2030 mitigation pledges and 2060 carbon neutrality. China has committed to decreasing its emission intensity by 60% to 65% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. It is of great importance to evaluate the CO 2 emission reduction potential to quantify the amount of CO 2 emissions that can be less generated and the amount that should be balanced out. Economic structure adjustment and CO 2 emission efficiency improvement will contribute to mitigating CO 2 emissions, which always happen simultaneously in the real world. However, few studies consider these issues simultaneously, which can lead to inaccurate estimation. A scenario analysis framework is proposed to estimate their combined effects, and an indicator is proposed to measure the technical feasibility of achieving the reduction potential. A set of scenarios are designed based on this framework and we find that: (1) to achieve carbon neutrality, 6161.16 Mt of CO 2 emissions of China can be less generated compared to 2017 levels by significantly increasing its tertiary industry share to high-income entities' level and adopting the most advanced technology to improve emission efficiency; the remaining 2732.40 Mt of CO 2 emissions should be removed by carbon offsetting. Regarding emission intensity, 81.39% can be reduced compared with the 2005 level; and (2) Technical feasibility analysis shows Sichuan, Chongqing, and Anhui have the largest technical barriers in achieving the reduction potential. The proposed scenario analysis framework can provide a reference not only for China to achieve the emission mitigation pledges, but for countries with significant technological differences and structure adjustment to formulate mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To put the brakes on global climate change, China, the world's top emitter, has established ambitious CO 2 emissions reduction targets. Industry-level emissions analysis can help policymakers determine better ways to achieve mitigation targets. This study is the first to target the total-factor carbon emission performance (TCPI) of secondary and service industries. We first compile industry-level CO 2 emission inventories of 25 Yangtze River Delta cities during 2007–2016. The TCPI of secondary and service industries is then estimated by the non-radial directional distance function. We then compare the TCPI of the two industries across levels, dynamics, and inequalities using a global metafrontier approach. The results show the TCPI of the service industry (0.563 in 2016) was significantly higher than that of secondary industry (0.256 in 2016), suggesting that the service industry was more carbon-friendly. The TCPI gap between the secondary and service industries narrowed over the study period. The TCPI of secondary industry showed a promising increase during 2007–2016 with an annual growth rate of 2.30%, reflecting the positive effects of the government's reforms and environmental regulations. By contrast, the service industry saw a downward trend in TCPI, decreasing by 1.68% annually, primarily because it is a newcomer to low-carbon development. TCPI inequality in secondary industry was much larger than in the service industry, suggesting that significant heterogeneity exists in secondary industry. Therefore, policymakers should implement targeted mitigation policies for secondary industry, and place decarbonising the service industry on the agenda to reverse its decreasing TCPI. Image 1 • Carbon emission performance of secondary and service industries is investigated. • Service industry is more carbon-friendly than secondary industry. • The gap in carbon emission performance between secondary and service industries narrows. • Secondary industry has greater heterogeneity of carbon emission performance than service industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CO 2 emission inventories of shrinking and growing cities are compiled. • Emission patterns of various shrinking and growing cities are investigated. • CO 2 emission mitigation of shrinking cities occurred with the decline of secondary industry. • Growing cities can achieve emissions mitigation with economic growth. • Results are helpful for shrinking and growing cities' sustainable development. The implementation of CO 2 emission mitigation policies in cities is the key to China achieving its national emission mitigation targets. China is experiencing rapid urbanization and facing huge inequality in regional development and then shrinking cities generate. This study, for the first time, discusses long-term CO 2 emission patterns of shrinking cities with comparisons of growing cities. 55 cities in Northeast China and the Yangtze River Delta are selected as cases. We first categorize these cities into three groups of shrinking cities and three groups of growing cities with a population index. Each group's emission patterns in terms of energy, employment and industry structures are then examined. We find that CO 2 emissions in the rapidly shrinking group presented a continuously increasing trend, while the other five groups reached their emission peaks in 2011–2013. For slightly and moderately shrinking groups, CO 2 emission mitigation was a positive sign but occurred with the decline of secondary industry, especially for resource-based or heavy manufacturing cities, such as Daqing and Anshan in Northeast China. In the case of three types of growing cities, cities were capable of mitigating CO 2 emissions and maintaining economic growth. The slightly growing group was the optimal type among these six groups. Its CO 2 emissions experienced a decline with an annual rate of −1.47% during 2013–2015, while the economy still soared (increased by 7.27% annually). New economic growth points should be fostered to mitigate further shrinkage and achieve sustainable development for shrinking cities. The cities' categorization rules, research thinking, and results offered in this study could provide a reference for other cities or developing countries at similar industrialization/urbanization phases to abbreviate their path towards a low-carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As energy security has been an increasingly hot topic in research, a reliable and sound framework for allaying energy security is necessary. In this paper, it establishes a methodological framework based on quantitative and qualitative approaches for measuring and improving energy security from a broad sense. Firstly, it interprets the conceptual framework of energy security composed by seven dimensions, and 28 indicators are designed for its assessment. Then, Fuzzy AHP is used to indicate the importance of the dimensions and indicators, and the hybrid model of GRA-TOPSIS is introduced to evaluate energy security performance. Further, a qualitative root cause analysis is conducted with Why-Why Diagram to identify the possible causes affecting energy security. After that, a case study is conducted to investigate energy security of Henan province in China within the period of 2005–2017. The results indicate that, energy security is no longer a single-dimensional concept, but a synthetic term, and the technological, environmental, social, even political aspects can be improved to enhance energy security. The methodological framework with quantitative and qualitative techniques can help achieve an all-around understanding of energy security. • Comprehensive criteria for assessing reginal energy security were developed. • Both quantitative and qualitative analysis for regional energy security were carried out. • Fuzzy AHP was employed to determine the weights of the criteria for energy security. • GRA-TOPSIS was used for security quantitative assessment. • Why-Why Diagram was used to identify the critical factors affecting regional energy security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the basis of urban social-economic development, water and energy resources are indivisible and interrelated in the production and consumption activities of cities. The frequent intercity trade of energy-related goods aggravates water withdrawal in neighboring cities and causes the spatial transfer of resources. The spatial correlation of water withdrawal and energy consumption is rarely considered in the city-level water-energy nexus. As one of China's most serious water shortage regions, Hebei Province is the third-largest energy consumer in China and is a major supplier of mineral resources, industrial raw materials, water resources, electricity, and agricultural products to Beijing and Tianjin. The spatial Durbin model with the two-way fixed effects is applied to explore spatial effects of water-energy nexus in cities of Heibei province. Seven influencing factors, including energy consumption, energy structure, population, GDP, water withdrawal intensity, urbanization, and agriculture structure were considered. Results showed that all factors had positive impacts on water withdrawal except energy structure. Water withdrawal intensity made the most considerable contribution to water withdrawal, followed by urbanization, energy consumption, GDP, industrial structure, and population. The urbanization level of neighboring cities exerted the most significant positive spatial spillover impact on local water withdrawal, whereas the energy consumption showed a negative impact. The exploration of city-level spatial correlation regarding water withdrawal and energy consumption provides a reference for regional cooperation to improve resource utilization efficiency, establishing sustainable energy and water systems, and promoting sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer constitutes a serious burden of disease worldwide and has become the second leading cause of death in China. Alcohol consumption is causally associated with the increased risk of certain cancers. Due to the current lack of data and the imperative need to guide policymakers on issues of cancer prevention and control, we aim to estimate the role of alcohol on the cancer burden in China in 2005., Methods: We calculated the proportion of cancers attributable to alcohol use to estimate the burden of alcohol-related cancer. The population attributable fraction was calculated based on the assumption of no alcohol drinking. Data on alcohol drinking prevalence were from two large-scale national surveys of representative samples of the Chinese population. Data on relative risk were obtained from meta-analyses and large-scale studies., Results: We found that a total of 78,881 cancer deaths were attributable to alcohol drinking in China in 2005, representing 4.40% of all cancers (6.69% in men, 0.42% in women). The corresponding figure for cancer incidence was 93,596 cases (3.63% of all cancer cases). Liver cancer was the main alcohol-related cancer, contributing more than 60% of alcohol-related cancers., Conclusions: Particular attention needs to be paid to the harm of alcohol as well as its potential benefits when making public health recommendations on alcohol drinking.

Objective: To investigate the possible effects of long-term exposure to dust containing thorium and thoron progeny on dust-exposed miners., Methods: A negative, high voltage, exhaled thoron progeny measurement system was used to estimate the miners' thorium lung burden., Results: The highest thorium lung burden of 638 miners was 11.11 Bq. The incidence of stage 0(+) pneumoconiosis was higher among dust-exposed miners. Lung cancer mortality of the dust-exposed miners was significantly higher than that of controls (P < 0.005)., Conclusion: There is a difference in cancer rates between those who have long-term exposure to dust containing thorium (in which carcinogenic ThO(2) and SiO(2) exist) and thoron progeny and those who have not.