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We employ field theory as an approach to analysing sustainable regional development by reconciling funding needs and funding procurement. Initial expectations that private capital would bridge the financial gap to decarbonize our economies and societies have not materialized. Instead, state‐led coalitions increasingly introduce spatialized decarbonization strategies in which public development banks are pivotal, yet underappreciated, actors. Field theory provides a fresh perspective for mapping the particular context in which regional industrial policies intersect with broader national and supra‐national investment programmes and funding needs for these long‐term initiatives. Transitions are typically directed but open‐ended social processes, necessitating agency to both alter context and institutions and stabilize the emerging new structures. Field theory can surpass limitations in approaches like transition studies and integrate change mechanisms across scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the coal phase-out is progressing in many countries, formerly fossil-dependent regions receive transition funding for substitute economic activities. This can steer these regions into a sustainable future, yet it is not clear from the outset whether governance conditions and actors' preferences are conducive to a genuinely sustainable transition. The present study examines to what extent sustainability goals shape the transition process following the coal phase-out in a German coal region (Lusatia), and the guiding logics observed therein. Three key aspects for regional transition processes are considered: enabling conditions for sustainability governance (policy coherence, participation, reflexivity, intergenerational equity); key actors and their sustainability conceptions; and the role of sustainability in selecting and funding transition projects. Based on expert interviews, policy documents, project lists, and sustainability declarations, our findings indicate that sustainability is a rather low priority for key actors. In combination with ambivalent governance conditions, this manifests as a weak sustainability focus among most resulting projects. Nevertheless, our analysis also reveals several projects focusing on selective aspects of sustainability. The phase-out therefore appears to follow the logic of signaling, and it remains unclear whether this might revert to mere energy system substitution or else aspire to comprehensive regional transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a significant threat to the sustainable development of all countries. The transition to low-carbon energy sources is a crucial strategy for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. We investigate the mediating role of clean energy consumption (EC) and fossil energy supply (ES) on the promoting of carbon emission intensity per unit of GDP (CO2/GDP) reduction by green bonds (GBs). We develop a mediating model to analyze how GB influences CO2/GDP reduction through EC and ES, utilizing panel data from 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu province spanning the years 2007 to 2021. Additionally, we assess the model's reliability through endogeneity and robustness tests. We find that GBs contribute to reducing CO2/GDP by facilitating the structural transition of energy supply and consumption. Furthermore, the development of GBs enhance the consumption of clean energy and plays a direct role in advancing the transition in structure of both energy supply and energy consumption. Notably, we observe heterogeneity in the effectiveness of GBs on CO2/GDP reduction across different regions. Therefore, it is imperative for the government to actively promote the development of GBs to achieve sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, both financial and energy policies should be tailored to align with the specific energy structures of various regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aspiration to reach the net zero carbon target has initiated new ideas for the sustainable development of the world economy. However, it has also accelerated the formation of stranded assets in high-carbon-emitting companies. Taking a Chinese thermal power company as an example, this paper proposes a model to estimate the degree of impairment loss for thermal power companies by integrating the net present value model with forward-looking carbon emission pathways under different policy intervention scenarios. The results show that under the low-carbon transition scenario with different policy interventions, the percentage of impairment loss of thermal power companies reaches up to 64.09%. Furthermore, impairment losses formed by stranded assets in the thermal power sector impose a severe shock on the national economy, as most of the impairment losses will ultimately be borne by the state treasury. Compared with conventional thermal power generation, new-energy power generation has a weak performance in delaying company bankruptcy caused by stranded assets. Therefore, in the process of a low-carbon transition, governmental departments should focus on the impairment loss of thermal power companies caused by stranded assets and should further integrate "green support" and "brown punishment" policies to effectively promote the low-carbon transition of thermal power companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a mathematical model for forecasting the development of Ukraine's Integrated Power System (IPS) until 2040, with a specific focus on the expansion of nuclear energy as a cornerstone of the nation's low-carbon transition. The model is an extension of Frank Bass's mixed influence diffusion model, incorporating both economic and technological factors. These factors are treated as stochastic variables essential for accurately predicting the evolution of an integrated energy system, particularly in the context of rapid renewable energy sources (RES) growth. The model employs regression techniques using generalized logistic curves, improving forecasting efficiency by aligning modeling parameters with experimental data. The study's results indicate the potential for optimizing IPS components, including nuclear and thermal power generation, through the model's application. The model is distinguished by its inclusion of economic and technological impacts, such as state matrices, control actions, and external influence matrices, which enhance the accuracy of simulations and predictions. The validation of the model, based on scenarios of electricity consumption and generation, shows significant alignment with observed trends, confirming the model's reliability. The findings suggest that this model is an effective tool for developing and refining energy system scenarios, with nuclear energy playing a pivotal role in Ukraine's sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government has adopted a significant low-carbon transition strategy aimed at enhancing resource efficiency, advancing ecological conservation, and augmenting societal well-being. This research employs the super efficiency SBM model to evaluate the ecological well-being performance (EWP) within the Huaihe River Ecological Economic Belt. Subsequently, it employs the Sys-GMM model and conducts a threshold effect analysis to regressively examine the impact of the low-carbon transition on EWP. The key findings are as follows. The EWP in the Huaihe River Ecological Economic Belt is relatively low; cities with higher economic development levels tend to exhibit lower EWP scores. The impact of the low-carbon transition on EWP is contingent upon the level of regional economic development and exhibits a singular threshold effect predicated on the economic development level as the threshold variable. Specifically, when economic development is at a low level, an intensification of the low-carbon transition results in a decline in EWP within the Huaihe River Ecological Economic Belt. Conversely, when the economic development level surpasses the threshold, the low-carbon transition facilitates the enhancement of EWP. This study's principal contribution lies in elucidating the intricate relationship between the low-carbon transition and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's coal-based energy structure and its large proportion of the manufacturing industry have resulted in China having the highest CO2 emissions in the world, accounting for about one-third of the world's total emissions. Achieving the carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, while maintaining economic development, presents a significant challenge. Industrial parks, as core units of industrial clusters, are major sites for energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Thus, industry parks with great carbon reduction potential are crucial for China's carbon reduction efforts. This review systematically examines the current state of the carbon emissions of industrial parks in China and analyzes the situation and challenges faced in the low-carbon transition of these parks. Then, the major pathways, technologies, and key policies for the low-carbon transition are summarized based on the current situation. This paper assists in the low-carbon development of industrial parks and promotes the proposal and implementation of carbon emission reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To meet the goals set in the Paris Agreement, the transport sector requires transformative changes, not only in terms of prevailing technologies but also with regards to reducing the need for fossil-based transport and increasing the share of public and active transport modes. Policies to enable this transformation are likely to have differentiated impacts on quality of life across society and have the potential to reproduce or deepen existing inequalities. When identifying potential losers from the low-carbon transition, it is important to consider a diverse set of loss categories, including social support networks and attachments a person has to particular people, material things, places and traditions. A key assumption here is that individuals’ perceptions of loss derive from their lived values, i.e., what they consider important in their life. Through a mixed-method approach consisting of a literature review and a survey, this study explores modal choices for realizing activities central to quality of life in Sweden, with a particular focus on societal groups at disadvantage in the transport transition. This article provides new insights on potential losses associated with the low-carbon transition in the transport sector and their distribution across society and reflects on the implications for transitional assistance policy.

Innovations around electric vehicle (EV) technology are viewed as a promising pathway to rapidly decarbonise transport systems in transition studies. However, the mobility histories and path dependencies that shape these transitions are spatially uneven both horizontally across different geographies and vertically between different scales of authority and responsibility. As such, they are rooted in the assumptions and power relations that underlay the policy processes of city and metropolitan governance. This study takes the novel approach of comparing these processes both horizontally between cities and vertically between levels of government. The analysis is based on 50 expert interviews with local and national actors involved in delivering policy related to electric mobility in four European cities: Bristol, United Kingdom; Oslo, Norway; Poznań, Poland, and Utrecht, Netherlands. In all four cities, national, inter- and supra-national pressures generate a perception among some interviewees that the transition to electric mobility, and particularly the electrification of private cars, is inevitable. Yet because modal thinking permeates urban transport policymaking, the majority of our experts define sustainable and just urban mobility as that involving modes other than the private car. A key contribution of this study is revealing this tension between national EV priorities and urban aims to reduce car traffic, which subconsciously influences local policymakers' perceptions of the transition to electric mobility. The study also offers new insights into how city and metropolitan policymakers can be more inclusive, innovative, and locally-responsive in shaping policies for accommodating both EVs and new modes like e-scooters. • The processes for making urban electric mobility policy are contextual and uneven. • National governments prioritise the low-carbon transition to electric vehicles. • This transition to electric mobility is seen as inevitable, but inequitable. • Modal thinking conditions perceptions of sustainable, just urban mobility policy. • Cities take various approaches to make electric mobility policy more inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Introduction] In the face of energy scarcity and carbon reduction imperatives, the transition to clean energy centered on electricity is crucial. To achieve this, power system development must prioritize stability, automation and intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is a key means to realize this goal. [Method] This paper introduced the carbon emissions of domestic and foreign power systems at first, and pointed out the difficulties and feasible solutions for low-carbon development of the power system in China on this basis. Then, the application and prospect of AI technology in power system development were discussed. [Result] In response to the transition to low-carbon and low-energy power systems, a series of low-carbon development routes, such as integration of capital and resources in the thermal power industry, low-carbon transition (such as the application of carbon capture technology), and promoting the consumption of and smooth replacement by clean energy, were proposed in this paper. It was also noted that AI technology will play a crucial role in automating, intelligentizing and optimizing power systems, with wide-ranging applications in power dispatching, relay protection, power equipment management, power system stability evaluation, and decision-making processes. [Conclusion] As third-generation AI technology continues to evolve and fourth-generation AI technology emerges, the application of AI technology in the power system will become increasingly widespread.

Energy decarbonization is essential for achieving carbon neutrality. To facilitate the low-carbon transition of the energy system, extensive utilization of low-carbon energy technologies is crucial across various sectors, including primary energy supply, energy processing and conversion, and end-use consumption. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and future trends of key energy utilization technologies from the perspective of low-carbon energy system analysis and optimization. We analyze the application prospects and layout challenges of energy utilization technologies in China’s path toward carbon neutrality from multiple dimensions. Our study highlights the following points: Wind and solar energy, as the fastest-growing renewable energy sources, will continue to play a crucial role in energy supply. The utilization of biomass resources requires systematic evaluation of different conversion technologies, optimizing the allocation of biomass resources across industries. Utilization technologies of secondary energies such as hydrogen and energy storage face challenges related to materials, performance, and lifespan. Overcoming these technical bottlenecks is necessary to achieve low-cost and scalable system applications. Future end-use energy utilization technologies will focus on electrification, which depends on the secure and stable transformation and expansion of electricity distribution systems. Achieving low-carbon transformation in the energy system requires balancing the coordinated development of different energy technologies while addressing non-technical factors such as market dynamics, institutional frameworks, and societal acceptance, ultimately accelerating the decarbonization process.

Abstract Green finance (GF) has emerged as a promising tool to promote low-carbon development, while knowledge is rather limited regarding the underlying mechanism. This article aims to address this void by constructing a city-level GF index covering seven dimensions and identifying the main pathways through which GF can facilitate the low-carbon development of cities. Using a balanced panel data covering 277 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2020, the results show that: (1) China’s GF development exhibits an overall spatial differentiation of ‘high in the east and low in the west’, while the distribution of carbon intensity (CI) displays an overall spatial differentiation of ‘high in the north and low in the south’; (2) GF significantly decreases CI of cities, which is robust to employing DID strategies and IV estimations; (3) The role of GF on CI varies with the level of CI whereas not with the level of GF. Specifically, the mitigating effect of GF on CI is significant in both high GF and low GF groups, but only in high CI group; and (4) GF promotes low-carbon transition of cities through mainly on adjusting industrial structure rather than stimulating technological innovation. Despite we also demonstrate green finance enhances green innovation, due to multi-factors, such technology progress it brings may not always translate into a tangible improvement in green productivity. For most developing countries including China, the future policy objective of green finance should focus on enhancing sustainable technological progress.

This study investigates the impact of regional digital economy development on firms’ Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP), aiming to understand its role in enhancing green governance efficiency. Using panel data from Chinese listed firms and cities from 2011 to 2019, we empirically analyse the impact. Our findings reveal that regional digital economy development significantly improves firm GTFP by enhancing technical efficiency, fostering ICT agglomeration, and advancing industrial structure. Additionally, the impact varies based on city traits (e.g. fossil-fuel reliance, low-carbon focus, and Yangtze River Economic Belt location) and firm specifics (e.g. state-owned enterprises and financially constrained firms), as well as market competition. These results highlight the importance of tailored strategies to leverage digitalisation for firm-level green transition, and infer promoting the digital economy, fostering ICT agglomeration, and developing region-specific strategies considering diverse contexts (i.e. city traits, firm specifics and market) to enhance firm GTFP and support sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Exploring the low-carbon transition in China can offer profound guidance for governments to develop relevant environmental policies and regulations within the context of the 2060 carbon neutrality target. Previous studies have extensively explored the promotion of low-carbon development in China, yet no studies have completely explained the mechanisms of the low-carbon transition in China from the perspective of per capita carbon emissions (PCEs). Based on the statistics and carbon emissions data of 367 prefecture level cities in China from 2000 to 2020, this study employed markov chain, kernel density analysis, hotspots analysis, and spatial regression models to reveal the spatiotemporal distribution patterns, future trends, and driving factors of PCEs in China. The results showed that China's PCEs in 2000, 2010, and 2020 were 0.72 ton/persons, 1.72 ton/persons, and 1.91 ton/persons, respectively, exhibiting a continuous upward trend, with evident regional heterogeneity. PCEs in northern China and the eastern coastal region were higher than those of southern China and the central and southwestern regions. The PCEs in China showed obvious spatial clustering, with hot spots mainly concentrated in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, while cold spots were mainly in some provinces in southern China. The transition of PCEs in China exhibited a strong stability and a 'club convergence' phenomenon. A regression analysis revealed that the urbanization level and latitude had negative effects on PCEs, while the regional economic development level, average elevation, average slope, and longitude showed positive effects on PCEs. These findings have important implications for the promotion of the low-carbon transition and the effective achievement of the "dual carbon" goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting the low-carbon transition of Sichuan's energy system is not only a strategic need of the high-quality development of whole nation, but is helpful to alleviate the pressure of reducing carbon emissions. Based on the decoupling index which involves the chain expansion and effective combination, and the decoupling stability index, this paper empirically studies the dynamic equilibrium relationship among carbon emissions, energy consumption and economic growth in Sichuan Province from 2000 to 2021, aiming to identify the acting point that can promote the low-carbon transition of Sichuan's energy system. The results show that from the view of the decoupling effect, the situation in terms of decoupling of carbon emissions from economic growth is the best, while the decoupling of carbon emission and energy consumption is the worst; and the perspective of time, there exist the dynamically developing decoupling effect and cor-relationship among carbon emission, energy consumption and economic development in Sichuan. Moreover, the dynamic development outcome of decoupling effect and cor-relativity is mainly influenced by energy production and consumption structure, technological innovation level and policy mechanism system. To conclude, the study put forward relative suggestions about adjusting energy structure and increasing scientific research input as a effective measure to realize the energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In the context of urbanization and climate change, optimizing land use patterns is fundamental for sustainable regional development and low-carbon transition. However, achieving sustainable land use patterns that support a low-carbon transition while maintaining economic prosperity remains challenging. Objectives: Our goals are to develop a model for low-carbon transition and explore strategies for optimizing land use given future land use constraints. Methods: We propose a multi-objective optimization approach to explore land use transitions towards low carbon by considering emissions reduction, ecological protection, and economic development, taking Yangtze River Economic Belt of China was selected as a case study area for empirical research. Results: Our research on Yangtze River Economic Belt of China from 2000 to 2020 reveals that the refined land use strategies, aiming at achieving a low-carbon transition by 2035, have the capacity to substantially reduce carbon emissions. Simultaneously, these strategies ensure the preservation of a higher ecosystem service value and enhance economic advantages. Our multi-objective optimized land use patterns reduce the emission growth by nearly 5% compared to the baseline. Meanwhile, our multi-objective optimized land use patterns demonstrate a nearly 7% growth rate in economic benefits and the ecosystem service value also shows slight improvement. Recognizing regional variations in sustainable land use patterns, we recommend customized local guidance towards aligning with these optimal outcomes. Conclusion: Our study offers valuable policy insights for regional land use to facilitate a low-carbon transition, which can contribute to navigating the trade-offs between carbon reduction, ecological protection, and economic prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green finance (GF) has emerged as a promising tool to promote low-carbon development, while knowledge is rather limited regarding the underlying mechanism. This article aims to address this void by constructing a city-level GF index covering seven dimensions and identifying the main pathways through which GF can facilitate the low-carbon development of cities. Using a balanced panel data covering 277 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2020, the results show that: (1) China's GF development exhibits an overall spatial differentiation of 'high in the east and low in the west', while the distribution of carbon intensity (CI) displays an overall spatial differentiation of 'high in the north and low in the south'; (2) GF significantly decreases CI of cities, which is robust to employing DID strategies and IV estimations; (3) The role of GF on CI varies with the level of CI whereas not with the level of GF. Specifically, the mitigating effect of GF on CI is significant in both high GF and low GF groups, but only in high CI group; and (4) GF promotes low-carbon transition of cities through mainly on adjusting industrial structure rather than stimulating technological innovation. Despite we also demonstrate green finance enhances green innovation, due to multi-factors, such technology progress it brings may not always translate into a tangible improvement in green productivity. For most developing countries including China, the future policy objective of green finance should focus on enhancing sustainable technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main contributor of carbon emissions, the low-carbon transition of the industrial sector is important for achieving the goal of carbon dioxide peaking. Hydrogen-enabled industrial energy systems (HIESs) are a promising way to achieve the low-carbon transition of industrial energy systems, since the hydrogen can be well coordinated with renewable energy sources and satisfy the high and continuous industrial energy demand. In this paper, the long-term capacity expansion planning problem of the HIES is formulated from the perspective of industrial parks, and the targets of carbon dioxide peaking and the gradual decommissioning of existing equipment are considered as constraints. The results show that the targets of carbon dioxide peaking before different years or with different emission reduction targets can be achieved through the developed method, while the economic performance is ensured to some extent. Meanwhile, the overall cost of the strategy based on purchasing emission allowance is three times more than the cost of the strategy obtained by the developed method, while the emissions of the two strategies are same. In addition, long-term carbon reduction policies and optimistic expectations for new energy technologies will help industrial parks build more new energy equipment for clean transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research lacks a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the digital economy (DE)'s impact on the low-carbon transformation of resource-based cities. This study utilizes panel data from 114 of these cities in China from 2006 to 2019 to construct a DE measurement system. Based on the global SBM directional distance function and the Malmquist–Luenberger index (SBM-DDF-GML), we calculated the total factor carbon productivity (TFCP), decomposed the carbon inefficiency value (CIV), and examined DE's impact, mechanism, and heterogeneity on low-carbon transition development (LCTD) during distinct growth phases of resource-based cities. Based on this examination, we found the following: (1) The DE effectively reduced carbon intensity and inefficiency and improved the total factor carbon productivity in resource-based cities. These findings remained robust after a series of robustness tests. (2) The DE empowered LCTD by improving energy efficiency, upgrading industrial structure, and optimizing innovation factor allocation. Finally, (3) this effect varied across the different city stages, being most significant in mature cities and weakest in declining ones. The research findings provide empirical evidence for the LCTD of resource-based cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundation industries in the UK were responsible for emitting 42 Mt CO2eq in 2020, which is approximately 10% of the yearly territorial greenhouse gas emissions. The UK government decarbonisation roadmap issued in 2015 predicted that high-tech strategies such as carbon capture and utilisation, hydrogen and biofuels, as well as electrification of processes are key for achieving the climate mitigating targets by 2050. In this study, a critical assessment was performed on the limitations to achieve these high-tech strategies such as biomass availability, capital investment, and technology readiness. The study is the first to use the UK carbon budget values as the resource limit for the high-tech decarbonisation strategies. The findings show that the significant uncertainty associated with the high-tech scenarios limits their decarbonisation potential by 2050. More importantly, to stay within the mid-century carbon budget for the foundation industries, 20–40% reduction in production, through circular economic strategies such as material efficiency and/or changes in product specifications, is required in order to achieve the decarbonisation targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of carbon neutrality, the low-carbon transition in agriculture is crucial to achieving carbon mitigation through clean production. The provision of agricultural productive services (APS) is pivotal for modernizing farming practices in China. However, the impact of this on the low-carbon transformation has received limited attention. This research examined the non-linear relationship between agricultural productive services and low-carbon development, including verifying a threshold effect with APS as the threshold variable, employing panel data for 31 provinces in China from 2010 to 2021. The results of the study suggested that the effect of services associated with agricultural productivity on the transition of the agricultural sector to low-carbon practices varied across threshold ranges. Specifically, when the APS exceeded the threshold of 2.4396, a significant suppressive effect was observed on carbon emission intensity. Further analysis revealed that APS indirectly influenced the farmland scale and agricultural technological advancements, thereby promoting the low-carbon transition of China's agriculture. Based on these results, it is recommended to intensify the development of APS in key cereal-producing regions, while emphasizing the harmonious progress of these services in conjunction with large-scale farmland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The transport sector in South Africa is responsible for around 11% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, with road transport contributing an overwhelming 90% of this total, as noted by the South African Green Transport Energy of South Africa. As part of its commitment to global climate pacts, South Africa aims to reduce emissions from its road transport sector. Yet, studies focused on reducing energy consumption and related emissions in this sector have been sparse. Results Utilizing a bottom-up accounting modelling framework Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP), this research investigated five low-carbon transition scenarios alongside a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario for road transport. These scenarios comprised Fuel and Technology Switching (FTS), Modal Shift (MS), Logistics Improvement (LI), Energy Efficient (EEF), and a Combined Mitigation (CMT). The BAU scenario was established as a benchmark to demonstrate energy demand and emissions in the absence of changes to current practices or policies. According to our model, under the BAU scenario, there will be a 61% surge in final energy demand, from 769 petajoules (PJ) in 2020 to 1240 PJ by 2050, accompanied by a proportional increase in emissions. The study revealed that the implementation of any of the alternative low-carbon scenarios could yield a reduced energy demand by 2050. LI 21%, MS 33%, FTS 40%, EEF 48%, CMT 77%, Significantly, a combined approach, integrating multiple low-carbon policies, can achieve more substantial reductions in energy demand and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions than applying single policies separately. Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of crafting province-specific solutions, acknowledging that challenges and contexts vary between provinces. Furthermore, lessening energy reliance not only diminishes the nation's fuel import bills but also improves air quality and aids in achieving low emission targets.

This document is a compilation of research articles and reports that explore the topics of green consumption, aging populations, and climate change. The articles discuss various aspects of these topics, including the relationship between green consumption and loyalty to hybrid cars among elderly consumers, the influence of green finance on green innovation in China, the effects of climate change on older adults, and the impact of population aging on carbon emissions. The document also includes studies on the potential of the sharing economy to support aging in place, the energy use of elderly households, and the drivers of environmental sustainability in BRICS economies. These articles provide valuable insights into the intersection of green consumption, aging populations, and climate change, and their implications for society and the environment. [Extracted from the article]

With the reduction in fossil fuels and growing concerns about global warming, energy has become one of the most important issues facing humanity. It is crucial to improve energy utilization efficiency and promote a low-carbon transition. In comparison with traditional heat exchangers, heat pipe heat exchangers indicate high compactness, a flexible arrangement, complete separation of hot and cold fluids, good isothermal operations, etc. As a result, heat pipe heat exchangers have attracted wide attention and application in various fields in recent years. This paper provides an overview of the application of heat pipe heat exchangers, with a focus on the application in waste heat recovery, and analyzes the opportunities and challenges of heat pipe heat exchanger applications based on existing publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The booming development of the digital economy has provided robust technical, management, and institutional means for the in-depth promotion of low-carbon transition. However, at present, there are still problems, such as the limited level of digital technological innovation, the insufficient supply of digital talents, and the urgent need for a sound digital governance system, which constrains the empowering effect of the digital economy on the development of China's low-carbon transition. Based on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, this study discusses the technology iteration, management transform, and system optimization of the influence of digital economy on the development of low carbon transformation. It also elaborates on the critical role of the digital economy in developing a low-carbon transition. Policy suggestions are put forward for promoting the development of the digital economy in China to help realize the "dual carbon" goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the complexities of transitioning to a sustainable bioeconomy, this paper presents a novel approach for developing regional transformation pathways (RTPs) based on narratives derived from the shared socioeconomic pathways. The methodology emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of underlying perspectives and perceptions, incorporating socio‐economic, environmental, and political dimensions. The developed indicator framework captures a balanced representation of diverse interests by integrating insights from stakeholder analyses. The case study in the Rheinisches Revier region, Germany, exemplifies the approach's applicability, providing valuable insights for decision‐making processes in the context of regional transitions toward a low‐carbon economy. The results consist of five developed RTPs, offering a multitude of potential future trajectories of possible directions for regional transformations. Understanding potential pathways and related consequences is crucial for informed decision‐making concerning resource use optimization since transformations of that scale influence the composition of supply chains and resource networks. This informed approach contributes to strategic planning and helps ensure resources are utilized efficiently and sustainably. By emphasizing the crucial role of transparency and reflection of assumptions in addressing the complexities of societal transformation processes, our approach seeks to support the implementation of a sustainable and inclusive bioeconomy at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, such as direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), will be critical in limiting the rise of the average global temperature over the next century. Scaling up DACCS technologies requires the support of a complex array of policies and infrastructure across multiple overlapping policy areas, such as climate, energy, technology innovation and resource management. While the literature on DACCS and other CDR technologies acknowledges the path-dependent nature of policy development, it has tended to focus on abstract policy prescriptions that are not rooted in the specific political, social and physical (infrastructural) context of the implementing state. To address this gap, this paper provides a country-level study of the emerging DACCS policy regime in Canada. Drawing on the existing literature that identifies idealized (acontextual) policy objectives that support DACCS development and effective regulation, we identify the actionable policy objectives across six issue domains: general climate mitigation strategies; energy and resource constraints; carbon storage and transport regulation and infrastructure; financing scale-up and supporting innovation; removal and capture technology availability and regulation; and addressing social acceptability and public interest. Using a database of Canadian climate policies (n = 457), we identify policies within the Canadian (federal and provincial) policy environment that map to the idealized policy objectives within each of these domains. This exercise allows us to analyze how key policy objectives for DACCS development are represented within the Canadian system, and enables us to identify potential niches, and landscape influences within the system, as well as gaps and potential barriers to the system transition process. This paper contributes to our understanding of national DACCS policy development by providing a framework for identifying components of the DAC system and linking those components to desired policy outcomes and may provide a basis for future cross-country comparisons of national-level DACCS policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of chief executive officer (CEO) green experience, this paper delves into the catalysts propelling corporate transitions toward lower carbon footprints, empirically evaluating these factors using listed company data from 2011 to 2020. The study reveals that CEO green experience contributes to diminishing corporate carbon intensity, thereby fostering the shift towards lower carbon operations. Notably, this finding persists even after subjecting the analysis to robustness tests. However, the impact of CEO green experience, while promoting corporate low-carbon transitions, is comparatively lesser than other influential factors. This discrepancy exhibits distinct variations within the ownership structure and pollution attributes of companies. Specifically, the significance of CEO green experience is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises and heavily polluting firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs a dynamic multi-sector growth model with changing technology to study the relevance of the price and quantity dimensions involved in the technical substitution of carbon-intensive technology, that is, the low-carbon transition. For the framing of the transition, the stylized market dynamics by Flaschel and Semmler (1987. "Classical and Neoclassical Competitive Adjustment Processes." The Manchester School 55 (1): 13–37) are used, who propose a cross-dual out-of-equilibrium adjustment process. The major empirical challenge to identify the adjustment speed for quantities and prices is to empirically estimate sector-specific adjustment coefficients. The transition speed is estimated for seven carbon-intensive sectors in six high-income economies (Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, and the US) using a mixed-effects varying-slopes model on EU KLEMS data. Directed technical change is enforced by a revenue-neutral, pro-active fiscal policy of a tax–subsidy form, which has the effect to greatly accelerate the phase-out of carbon-intensive technology and the phase-in of green technology. The speed of green substitution that allows decarbonization is then evaluated analytically and computationally along four policy and time dimensions: cost advantage, a percentage tax on carbon-intensive output, a green subsidy rate, and initial investment ratios. Though the tax itself has an impact on the speed of decarbonization, it is significantly improved by green subsidies and green investments. The cost advantage of the green over the carbon technology is shown to have a negligible impact on decarbonization speed by itself. Without ambitious fiscal policy, especially in the form of green investment support, this substitution process appears to be too slow to reach decarbonization in a timely manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" goals in China, the park-level integrated energy system is a significant approach to meeting the energy consumption demand of users and improving the utilization rate of new energy. To take into account both the interests of integrated energy services (IES) providers and the current power market rules in China, targeting at low-carbon energy consumption, a balancing service mode for integrated energy services providers is created herein based on the idea of balancing multiple interests of regional integrated energy services providers. It aims to break down the market barriers and address the tricky problem that the integrated energy services industry fails to establish a sophisticated industrial system under the original mode. Combining the integrated energy services with the auxiliary market of power balance, the paper analyzes the characteristics of energy flow within the system, and puts forward the optimization scheme of regional integrated energy balancing services under the low-carbon background. The objective is solved by Mayfly algorithm and compared for analysis, and the results show that the optimal daily operating cost is 2632.59 yuan and the daily carbon emission is 3869.90 kg under the typical industrial scenario. The examples provided here show that the optimization plan for integrated energy balancing services can reduce carbon emissions from the park-level integrated energy system and boost the revenue for integrated energy service providers. It provides theoretical support for the green transformation of energy enterprises and promotes the healthy development of the global integrated energy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa possesses extremely rich renewable energy resources, including solar energy and wind energy, in spite of this, South Africa traditionally relies on coal as its primary energy source. Recently, South Africa confronted with severe electricity shortage. With pressure of power shortage and the transition to low- carbon energy, South Africa has been actively promoting the development of renewable energy, aiming to diversify its energy structure. China, as the world's leading country in the development and utilization of renewable energy, has long been committed to helping South Africa achieve renewable energy development. This article reviews the cooperation progress between China and South Africa in renewable energy, and provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges currently faced by both sides. To address such challenges, it is suggested to strengthen the design of top-level cooperation mechanisms, create diverse collaboration platforms, prioritize the exchange and collaboration of scientific talents. This paper aims to provide a typical reference for deepening renewable energy cooperation between China and South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thermal grids are key to decarbonizing heating and cooling. However, their development is a complex socio-technical process. This study aims to (1) understand the thermal grid ecosystem’s development under changing political, economic and cultural frame conditions, (2) elicit actors’ perception of options for future development, and (3) identify concrete problem situations for the future development of thermal grids and describe how to address them. Methods: We draw on 18 semi-structured interviews with decision-makers in utilities, municipal administrations, planning and engineering companies and intermediary organizations. Results: With increased strategic importance of thermal grids, the ecosystem has been in a phase of rapid growth and professionalization in the last 10–15 years. This is reflected in a rapid increase in the number of grids, but also in capability and capacity building and greater quality standards. This transformation has been supported by a resource pool (e.g., knowledge base, capacities and capabilities, networks or decision-support tools), built partly through the value network’s activities and partly through purposeful orchestration by associations, authorities, utilities and other actors. While policy developments, energy price fluctuations and changes in customer perceptions spurred demand, thermal grid development is limited by supply-side constraints, especially a skill shortage. Four interrelated problem situations were identified: (1) Municipalities lack the resources to manage the implementation of their energy strategies. (2) The modernization of thermal grids and integration of low-carbon heat sources entails high transaction costs. (3) The implementation of thermal grids is subject to delays and quality risks, with consequences for the timely achievement of decarbonization goals. (4) Customers face uncertainty on available options, as well as on the systemic impacts of their decisions. Discussion: Based on current practices, suggestions by the interviewees, as well as a comparison with the international literature, we identify four development areas to address these problem situations: (1) Empower and support municipalities. (2) Manage the scarcity of qualified workforce. (3) Leverage digital technology for the planning, realization and operation of thermal grids. (4) Pilot technological and organizational innovations together. This complements the set of previously suggested measures to support the development of thermal grids, which focused strongly on technical and regulatory aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As a major carbon emitter, the power sector plays a crucial role in realizing the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study constructed a low-carbon power system based on the LEAP model (LEAP-GBA) with 2020 as a statistic base aiming of exploring the low-carbon transformation pathway of the power sector in the Guangdong–Hong Kong, and Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Five scenarios are set up to simulate the demand, power generation structure, carbon emissions, and power generation costs in the power sector under different scenarios. The results indicate that total electricity demand will peak after 2050, with 80% of it coming from industry, buildings and residential use. To achieve net-zero emissions from the power sector in the GBA, a future power generation mix dominated by nuclear and renewable energy generation and supplemented by fossil energy generation equipped with CCUS technologies. BECCS technology and nuclear power are the key to realize zero carbon emissions from the power sector in the GBA, so it should be the first to promote BECCS technology testing and commercial application, improve the deployment of nuclear power sites, and push forward the construction of nuclear power and technology improvement in the next 40 years.

The nuclear event risk (NER) is an important and disputed factor that should be reasonably considered when planning the pathway of nuclear power development (NPD) to assess the benefits and risks of developing nuclear power more objectively. This paper aims to explore the impact of nuclear events on NPD pathway planning. The influence of nuclear events is quantified as a monetary risk component, and an optimization model that incorporates the NER in the objective function is proposed. To optimize the pathway of NPD in the lowcarbon transition course of power supply structure evolution, a simulation model is built to deduce alternative NPD pathways and corresponding power supply evolution scenarios under the constraint of an exogenously assigned carbon emission pathway (CEP); moreover, a method is proposed to describe the CEP by superimposing the maximum carbon emission space and each carbon emission reduction (CER) component, and various CER components are clustered considering the emission reduction characteristics and resource endowments of different power generation technologies. A case study is conducted to explore the impact of NER and its risk valuation uncertainty on NPD pathway planning. The method presented in this paper allows the impact of nuclear events on NPD pathway planning to be quantified and improves the level of coordinated optimization of benefits and risks.

This study presents a mathematical model for forecasting the development of Ukraine’s Integrated Power System (IPS) until 2040, with a specific focus on the expansion of nuclear energy as a cornerstone of the nation’s low-carbon transition. The model is an extension of Frank Bass’s mixed influence diffusion model, incorporating both economic and technological factors. These factors are treated as stochastic variables essential for accurately predicting the evolution of an integrated energy system, particularly in the context of rapid renewable energy sources (RES) growth. The model employs regression techniques using generalized logistic curves, improving forecasting efficiency by aligning modeling parameters with experimental data. The study’s results indicate the potential for optimizing IPS components, including nuclear and thermal power generation, through the model’s application. The model is distinguished by its inclusion of economic and technological impacts, such as state matrices, control actions, and external influence matrices, which enhance the accuracy of simulations and predictions. The validation of the model, based on scenarios of electricity consumption and generation, shows significant alignment with observed trends, confirming the model’s reliability. The findings suggest that this model is an effective tool for developing and refining energy system scenarios, with nuclear energy playing a pivotal role in Ukraine’s sustainable energy future.

The circular economy is a decisive strategy for reconciling economic development and the environment. In France, the CE was introduced into the law in 2015 with the objective of closing the loop. The legislation also delegates energy policy towards the French regions by granting them the jurisdiction to directly plan the energy–climate issues on their territory and to develop local energy resources. Thereby, the SUD PACA region has redefined its objectives and targeted carbon neutrality and the transition to a CE by 2050. To study this transition, we developed a TIMESPACA optimization model. The results show that following a CE perspective to develop a local energy system could contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by 50% in final energy consumption and reaching almost free electricity production. To obtain greater reductions, the development of the regional energy systems should follow a careful policy design favoring the transition to low energy-consuming behavior and the strategical allocation of resources across the different sectors. Biomethane should be allocated to the buildings and industrial sector, while hydrogen should be deployed for buses and freight transport vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the impact of the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on European Union (EU) trade partners, focusing especially on its potential socio-economic and external consequences for developing and emerging economies (EMDEs). It uses trade data and Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) matrices to investigate the geographically and sectorally uneven distribution of CBAM's potential impacts. The introduction of the CBAM by the EU is still under discussion. This mechanism, which seeks to reduce the incentives for firms to outsource their carbon emissions and promote a more generalised low-carbon transition, might disproportionally expose some non-EU economies. In absolute terms, Russia, China, Turkey, and Ukraine are the main EU trade partners in CBAM products, and hence the most exposed countries in external and socio-economic dimensions. In relative terms, the degree of exposure of economies that export CBAM products to Europe varies substantially, with many developing economies having more than 2% of their exports and 1% of their production impacted by this measure. East European economies, mainly in the Balkans, as well as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon in Africa, are the most exposed as far as the external dimension is concerned. In socio-economic terms, we can also include Morocco and Tajikistan to the group of most exposed economies. In the end, promoting the substitution of highly polluting technologies with green technologies seems notably easier in Europe than in EMDEs. Many jobs, tax revenues, and export revenues will be lost if the CBAM is implemented without taking into account the specificities of the EU's trading partners. We discuss options to mitigate adverse consequences on EMDEs. The CBAM is a logical complementary policy to the EU-ETS, which aims to avoid EU industries outsourcing their production to countries that do not adopt similar levels of carbon pricing. Although most macroeconomic models generally assume that all countries have a relatively high capacity to migrate from one industry to another, evidence shows otherwise. Previous results analysing the impacts of the CBAM might hence have underestimated the consequences for developing and emerging economies. Accounting for rigidities in the production structure, we show that the CBAM may have a regressive impact, therefore requiring careful attention to its institutional design, especially if the objective is to reinforce global climate ambitions in line with the EU's own decarbonisation strategy. Promoting the substitution of highly polluting technologies with green technologies seems notably easier in Europe than in EMDEs. Many jobs, tax revenues, and export revenues will be lost if the CBAM is implemented without taking into account the specificities of the EU's trading partners. One possible way to minimise its side effects is to exempt the so-called least developed countries from the CBAM. Rather than an exemption, these countries could also receive targeted support from the EU to reduce their dependence on highly emitting industries, via transfer of technologies, climate subsidies, or concessional lending. The adoption of CBAM-like measures in other developed economies, such as Japan and North America, as well as in wealthier developing countries with the capacity to decarbonise their industries, such as China, would exacerbate the fragilities of emerging and developing economies unless counter-measures are taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the impact of "double-carbon" target, transition finance has an important impact on green innovation of Chinese double-high enterprises. Using a sample of 4270 high-polluting and high-energy-consumption listed enterprises (referred to as double-high enterprises) in China from 2012 to 2021, this paper empirically examines the impact of transition finance on the green innovation of China's double-high enterprises by using a fixed-effects model. The study finds that transition finance can have a facilitating effect on green innovation in double-high enterprises. The intermediary mechanism test shows that transition finance can promote green innovation of double-high enterprises through alleviating financing constraints, increasing the level of green management, and enhancing the policy orientation effect. The heterogeneity test finds that transition finance promotes green innovation more significantly for the double-high enterprises that are state-owned, large-scale, and located in regions with high levels of intellectual property protection. Further research finds that the role of transition finance in promoting green innovation in double-high enterprises helps to promote the achievement of green development of double-high enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving carbon emission efficiency (CEE) is a necessary consideration in response to economic downturn and climate change. In this case, industrial symbiosis paves the way for cities to conserve energy, reduce carbon emissions, and upgrade economic development patterns. This paper verifies the influence of industrial symbiosis policies on CEE, represented by National Demonstration Eco-industrial Parks (NDEPs). The difference-in-differences (DID) and spatial DID (SDID) models, as well as panel data of 282 Chinese cities during 2003–2019, were used to complete this argumentation process. The results show that NDEP policy dramatically increases the CEE of pilot cities. Compared with cities without NDEP, pilot cities climb by 3.49% on CEE, mainly due to industrial structure upgrading and green technological innovation. Moreover, eastern, non-resource-based, and multi-NDEP cities experience a noticeable increase in CEE. NDEP increases not only the CEE of pilot cities but also that of their neighboring cities within 450 km through diffusion and demonstration effects. All these findings help promote China's NDEP construction and offer decision-making guidance for climate governance and low-carbon transition in China and others following a similar pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]