Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Articles

Technological assessment of greenhouse gas reduction potential of power generation in Türkiye

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century and transformation of power generation infrastructure is essential to achieve the long-term temperature goals set by the Paris Agreement, given that it accounts approximately 34% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Türkiye, as a developing country, has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 41% from the business-as-usual level by 2030. To explore potential pathways for the mitigation of emissions from power generation in Türkiye, a model was developed using the TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System) modelling framework within this study. This model utilized national datasets to conduct a comprehensive assessment of current infrastructure of power generation in Türkiye, and emission trends were estimated under various scenarios. TIMES model allowed for an analysis of the energy, economy, and environment relationships based on technological development. Results were obtained for the reference scenario and three alternative scenarios for the period of 2020–2045. A mitigation potential of 18–50% from business as usual levels was obtained across scenarios. Total system costs were increased around 4%–24% as compared with reference scenario, which resulted in higher unit cost for electricity production.

Exploring Performance and Cost Trade-Offs in Electrochemical CO2 Separation Processes

Increasing global energy demand coupled with a continued reliance on carbon-intensive fuels has contributed to the rise in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions that are adversely impacting the global climate.1,2 While the expansion of low-cost renewable electricity (often coupled with energy storage) offsets fossil-fuel-based generation, complete mitigation of carbon emissions will likely require the capture, utilization, and/or storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) at scale. Today’s state-of-the-art separation technologies rely on thermochemical processes to extract CO2 from industrial waste streams, post-combustion flue gases, or directly from the atmosphere. Such approaches are energetically intensive and typically rely on fossil-fuel-derived heat to release CO2 and regenerate the sorbent, ultimately limiting process effectiveness.3 Electrochemical approaches to CO2 capture and concentration are increasingly seen as a viable pathway to reducing carbon emissions, as these processes enable several advantages including direct integration with renewables, modular deployment, operation near ambient conditions, and high energetic efficiencies.4 Despite this promise, these concepts are at an early-stage and the relationships between cost and performance are not well-understood at the molecular-, cell-, or system-level.In this presentation, we will discuss how techno-economic modeling can be used to inform design criteria for cost-competitive electrochemical CO2 separation systems. We will specifically focus on a 4-stage system with soluble redox-active species for direct binding / debinding with CO2. First, we describe and integrate all process units (i.e., electrochemical reactor, absorber, desorber) via thermodynamic, chemical, and electrochemical relationships and then estimate capital, fixed, and variable costs via a levelized cost of capture model. Second, we investigate key scaling correlations and cost sensitivities for the 4-stage system, including the role of resistive losses in the electrochemical reactor and binding affinity in the absorption column. Third and finally, we connect system-level performance and cost targets to molecular / system properties and operating envelopes. While our focus is on a particular system, the framework is generalizable and can be extended to different electrochemical and thermochemical approaches to CO2 separation, potentially enabling technology comparisons on a common basis. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. K.M.R. gratefully acknowledges the support of the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. References Ritchie, H., Roser, M. & Rosado, P. CO2 and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Our World in Data (2020). Annual Energy Outlook 2021. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2021).Khan, F. M., Krishnamoorthi, V. & Mahmud, T. Modelling reactive absorption of CO2 in packed columns for post-combustion carbon capture applications. Chemical Engineering Research and Design 89, 9, 1600–1608 (2011).Renfrew, S. E., Starr, D. E. & Strasser, P. Electrochemical Approaches toward CO2 Capture and Concentration. ACS Catal. 10, 21, 13058–13074 (2020).

Climate labels and the restaurant industry: a qualitative study

As the food industry accounts for more than one-third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the largest contributors to climate change. Strategies for reducing CO2e (equivalent) emissions must be implemented to regulate the impact the food systems have on the climate. Environmental communication using climate labels and sharing information on carbon footprints can help reduce GHGs emissions from restaurant purchases on a systemic scale. The aim is to gain insights and study how a carbon label influences the concept of a climate-friendly restaurant and its capacity to bridge the gap between knowledge, awareness, and action. What are the motivations for restaurant employees to adopt climate-friendly behavior? How does the label’s use influence restaurants’ decision to track their carbon footprint over time, communicate the carbon footprint of dishes, and adapt menus to be more climate-friendly? The data were collected with semi-structured interviews with video communication with three restaurant chains, all using labels. The data collected via the interviews were examined using an inductive thematic analysis to identify key themes. The transcending transmission approach to communication was used to gain insights into instrumental and constitutive communication dynamics. As the theoretical framework, ‘symbolic interactionism’ helps untangle constitutive aspects of environmental communication surrounding climate labels to analyze the process of conceptualization through usage, co-creation, and interpretation. The analysis brought forward three main themes: the interactions between the scientific data accessible in the tool and the restaurants. Second, the diverse implications of sustainability marketing for motivating climate actions and what they look like. And finally, climate actions and how they are being apprehended and implemented by the restaurants. The promise of climate labels was discussed by elaborating on socio-cultural dynamics, sustainability marketing, and activism forces and impulses influencing the motivations for restaurants. We then discussed the capacity to transcend information into action through collaboration and inclusiveness to avoid greenwashing. Restaurants have a commercial interest in implementing climate labels in their business and an intrinsic desire to be a company that takes action for the planet because of the restaurants ‘employees’ convictions. However, restaurants find themselves in a tricky situation where they can be criticized if they take ‘wrong’ actions that can be considered greenwashing and criticized if they do nothing. The software enables restaurants to legitimize their actions and communicate them, making them resilient and evolving.

Institutional Dimensions of the Just Energy Transition: Reflecting the Role of Energy Justice in Public Administration

Climate policy-driven transformation processes in the energy sector are accelerating changes to both national and international legal frameworks. However, no successful just energy transition is achievable without significant regulatory reforms. In this context, the article examines the possibility for modifying and introducing regulatory tools to guarantee that the just energy transition is conducted in order to accomplish climate goals and lower anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The analysis is based on the application of the theory of energy justice and its five principal pillars: recognition, procedural, distributive, restorative, and cosmopolitan justice. For each of these five domains, the paper proposed regulatory tools that can strengthen the energy policies, both pursued and planned, in terms of institutional and decision-making dimensions. The analysis’ key conclusion is that there is a need for a fundamental change in how energy policies are planned and conducted, and that its regulatory tools must be modified to meet the requirements of energy justice. As a result, proposed in this paper are universal measures to institutionalise energy justice in different legal regimes that should be viewed as advancements in the effort to make energy transition processes more just.

Carbon footprints in pork production and consumption in China from 2005 to 2020

Livestock farming accounts for 14.5% of global total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. China has been a major contributor to global GHG emissions from livestock and is the biggest pork producer and consumer worldwide. However, those factors driving GHG emissions from pork production and consumption in China have not been thoroughly assessed. Here, we used the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method to identify and assess the major drivers contributing to the life-cycle carbon emissions embodied in China's pork production and consumption from 2005 to 2020. Our results show that CO2 emissions accounted for 99% of the total GHG emissions in the pig industry, primarily released from the processing and transporting of pig feed. These two sectors contributed more than 90% to the total CO2 emission. CH4 was mainly emitted from enteric fermentation and manure management of pigs, which accounted for a tiny portion of total carbon emissions in the pork industry. Among the primary factors driving pork-induced carbon emissions in China, the reduction of pork emission intensity (PPE) significantly slowed down growing carbon emissions, attributed to the improvements in pork production technology and the promotion of green farming. Our finding reveals that the growing population primarily contributed to elevated carbon emissions before 2015 due to increasing demands for pork meat. Since 2015, the rapid growth of the aged population in China has decreased pork consumption capacity and carbon emissions from pork consumption. The result indicates, for the first time, that the population aging in China, the largest pork consumer in the world, would play a vital role in reducing pork consumption-induced carbon emissions. Such an effect would become more significant in the future, along with the growing aged population in China, favoring the country's GHG emission mitigation increasingly.

Sea level rise adaptation pushes an insular endemic rodent closer to extinction

Understanding how species will respond to a rapidly changing global climate is requisite to conserving biodiversity. Though habitat losses from human development and land use change remain the most critical threats to biodiversity globally, some regions, such as low-lying islands, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Despite this vulnerability, there may be opportunities for imperiled species on islands to adapt to the effects of climate-induced sea level rise. To understand how the response to rising seas may influence the amount of future habitat, we investigated shifts in the elevational range of the endangered silver rice rat (Oryzomys palustris natator; hereafter “rice rat”), a species endemic to tidal environments of the Lower Florida Keys, USA. We quantified fine-scale habitat use using radio telemetry of collared animals, first in 2004, and again in 2021, thus spanning a 17-year period during which the local sea level rose by 0.142 m. We observed a shift in the elevational range limits of rice rats which closely mirrored the rise in sea level, and that this apparent ability to adapt to rising sea level decreased the extent of habitat loss in subsequent decades. However, over longer time scales (~ 100 yrs), the extent of habitat loss from sea level rise outpaced rice rats’ ability to adapt. As such, the conservation of biodiversity on low-lying islands hinges on the ability of the global community to decrease anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the associated consequences for the global climate. Otherwise, conservation practitioners will be increasingly forced to make difficult decisions about how to conserve imperiled species on low-lying islands.

Reaching IMO 2050 GHG Targets Exclusively Through Energy Efficiency Measures

_ Maritime transport accounts for around 3% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Well-to-Wake). These GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 50% in absolute values by 2050 to contribute to the ambitions of the Paris Agreement signed in 2015. Switching to zero-carbon fuels made from renewable sources (hydro, wind, or solar) is seen by many as the most promising option to deliver the desired GHG reductions. However, renewable energy is a scarce resource that gives a much larger GHG reduction spent within other sectors. This study explores how to reach the IMO 2050 GHG targets exclusively through energy efficiency measures. The results indicate that by combining wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP) with a slender hull form, fuel consumption and GHG emissions can be reduced by 30–35%, at a negative abatement cost for speeds exceeding 8 knots. Where the cost saving increases with the speed because at higher speeds, the fuel accounts for a higher share of the total cost, which implies that the cost saving goes from zero at 8 knots, to 5% reduction at 11 knots average speed to 14% reduction of total cost with 15 knots average speed. In comparison, GHG reductions through zero-carbon fuels will increase transport costs by 50–200%. Introduction From the first days of our civilization, sea transport has enabled regional and global trades. Today, sea transport accounts for 80% of the global trade measured in ton-miles (UNCTAD 2021) and 3% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measured Well-to-Wake (Lindstad et al. 2021). More than 40% of this sea trade is performed by dry bulkers, making them the real workhorses of the sea. Even though sea transport is energy efficient compared to other transport modes, all sectors need to reduce their GHG emissions by at least 50% in absolute values by 2050 to contribute to the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC 2015). According to Bouman et al. (2017), the desired energy and GHG reductions can be achieved through: Design and other technical improvements of ships; Operational improvements; Fuels with zero or low GHG footprints; or a combination of these.

Explaining Global Trends in Cattle Population Changes between 1961 and 2020 Directly Affecting Methane Emissions

Methane (CH4) emissions from agricultural sources contribute significantly to the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change. According to the guidelines of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for calculating greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture is responsible for approximately 10% of total CH4 emissions from anthropogenic sources. CH4 is primarily emitted from livestock farming, particularly from cattle production during enteric fermentation and from manure. This article describes the results of multivariate statistical analyses carried out on data collected from 1961 to 2020 for thirty countries with the largest cattle populations. The study evaluated the trends in temporal changes in cattle populations and identified groups of countries with similar patterns during the study period. The global cattle population was highly correlated with CH4 emissions from the enteric fermentation of cattle and their manure. The countries experiencing the largest increase in cattle population were primarily developing countries located in South America, Africa and Southeastern Asia. The cattle population in these countries showed a strong correlation with the human population. On the other hand, the countries where the cattle population remained stable during the study period were mainly highly developed countries. The correlations between most of the examined variables associated with cattle production and the cattle population in these countries were inconsistent and relatively weak. In the near future, further increase in the cattle population and the associated CH4 emissions are expected, mainly in developing countries with high population growth.

CARBON-FREE RUSSIA: IS THERE A CHANCE TO ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2060?

The prospects for reducing the carbon intensity of the Russian economy and the possibility of achieving climate neutrality of the national economy by 2060 are studied On the basis of a historical-extrapolation approach to the study of the development of various sociotechnical systems by comparing with the dynamics of carbon indicators of the economies of the leading countries of the world, it is shown that full compensation for anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by absorption by the biosphere (primarily forests) is theoretically possible with implementation of difficult-to-implement large-scale reform programs in all sectors of the country’s economy – from energy to forestry. Thus, in an optimistic scenario, the rate of decline in specific GHG emissions per capita should be the maximum value achieved in the world over the past 50 years at 1% per year, and forest management should include full compensation for growing deforestation and a 50% reduction in forest losses from fires, which are currently the second (after energy) sources of GHG emissions into the atmosphere. The most likely scenario is one with a rate of reduction in specific GHG emissions per capita of 0.5% / year, and a moderate increase of the absorbing capacity of forests mainly due to the implementation of forest-climate projects and fire emission reduction. Under the latter scenario, net GHG emissions by 2060 could reach 0.7 Gt CO2eq, which would require the creation of a national industry for large-scale carbon capture and storage in order to achieve climate neutrality of the Russian economy.

An Overview of Carbon Emission Mitigation in the Food Industry: Efforts, Challenges, and Opportunities

The food system plays a significant role in anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to over one-third of these emissions. However, there has been limited attention given in the literature on how the food industry can effectively address the carbon issue. This review aims to bridge this research gap through providing a comprehensive overview of anthropogenic GHG emissions and exploring the role of carbon markets in mitigating climate change, with a specific emphasis on the food industry. It delves into the introduction of emission hotspots within the food industry, examines ongoing efforts in GHG emissions mitigation, and addresses the challenges associated with GHG verification and offsetting. Notably, emission hotspots are primarily found in the farm, manufacturing, and post-production stages of the food industry. The emissions from the farm stage, which are often overlooked, make a significant contribution to overall emissions. Carbon verification encounters limitations due to a lack of standardized methodologies, inaccurate data, and insufficient reporting of emissions. Currently, achieving carbon neutrality without relying on carbon offsets presents a significant challenge for the entire food industry. Comprehensive mitigation strategies and collaboration across agricultural producers and the food manufacturing industry are considered potential solutions to achieve genuine sustainability.

Economy-energy-environment nexus: The role of information and communication technology towards green development in Malaysia

Global warming and climate change are caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rising energy consumption due to population and economic growth. Over the past decade, information and communication technology (ICT) usage has increased which may increase energy utilization and GHG emissions. Conversely, ICT's clean technologies can minimize pollution. Therefore, this study investigated the dynamic influences of ICT, economic growth, population, and energy use on GHG emissions in Malaysia by employing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach using data from 1990 to 2021. The results of the ARDL bounds test indicated the existence of a long-run link between the variables. The results revealed that a 1% increase in the number of Internet users could increase GHG emissions by 0.013% in the short run but cut GHG emissions by 0.077% in the long run. Additionally, economic growth, population, and energy usage have a positive association with GHG emissions. The robustness of the ARDL outcomes has been checked by using the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and Canonical Cointegration Regression (CCR) methods. This article offers additional policy proposals for emission reduction and sustainable development by promoting renewable energy use and financing green ICT.

Mitigation of soil nitrous oxide emissions during maize production with basalt amendments

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent and long-lived greenhouse gas that accounts for roughly 6% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and it has risen from its preindustrial concentration of 270 ppb N2O to 332 ppb N2O as a result of human activities. The majority of anthropogenic N2O emissions (52–80%) come from agricultural settings due to high rates of reactive nitrogen fertilizer application. Amending soils with fine-grained basalt is gaining traction as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pathway, and model simulations suggest that this process may also significantly decrease soil N2O emissions. Here, we continuously measure N2O fluxes from large-scale maize mesocosms in a greenhouse setting and use a machine learning framework to assess the relative importance of the levers on N2O fluxes. We observe significant decreases in cumulative N2O emissions (between 29–32%) from mesocosm systems with basalt addition. We find that basalt application rate, soil pH, and surface soil moisture are the strongest levers on N2O emissions depending on the system settings. These results provide empirical support for a potentially significant co-benefit of deploying enhanced rock weathering of silicates (ERW) on managed lands, particularly those subject to elevated rates of reactive nitrogen input.

Changes in global food consumption increase GHG emissions despite efficiency gains along global supply chains.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to food consumption complement production-based or territorial accounts by capturing carbon leaked through trade. Here we evaluate global consumption-based food emissions between 2000 and 2019 and underlying drivers using a physical trade flow approach and structural decomposition analysis. In 2019, emissions throughout global food supply chains reached 30 ±9% of anthropogenic GHG emissions, largely triggered by beef and dairy consumption in rapidly developing countries-while per capita emissions in developed countries with a high percentage of animal-based food declined. Emissions outsourced through international food trade dominated by beef and oil crops increased by ~1 Gt CO2 equivalent, mainly driven by increased imports by developing countries. Population growth and per capita demand increase were key drivers to the global emissions increase (+30% and +19%, respectively) while decreasing emissions intensity from land-use activities was the major factor to offset emissions growth (-39%). Climate change mitigation may depend on incentivizing consumer and producer choices to reduce emissions-intensive food products.

A Relationship between Changes of Surface Air and Sea Floor Temperatures at the Arctic Shelf from the Coupled Models Intercomparison Project, Phase 6 Data

The sensitivity of seafloor temperature TB to the warming of surface air temperature Ta is examined for 1850–2300, based on simulations with five models from the Coupled Models Intercomparison Project phase 6 ensemble and driven by a scenario with high anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. In this historical period (until 2015), sensitivity coefficients α=ΔTB/ΔTa (Δ indicates changes relative to the pre-industrial period) were typically ≤0.12 for annual means and up to 0.43 in summer. However, during the same period in the Barents Sea sector, the sensitivity coefficients were as large as 0.6 in summer. For summer, the obtained results are consistent with the limited measurements available for the Siberian shelf. In future, sensitivity coefficients will increase markedly, and α≥0.7 will become common for the part of the Arctic shelf that becomes ice-free in summer. Our results have implications for estimating the future thermal state of subsea sediments, as well as for oceanic biota.

Potential Use of Water Treatment Sludge as Partial Replacement for Clay in Eco-Friendly Fired Clay Bricks

The traditional production process of clay bricks involves the extraction of significant amounts of raw materials and consumes considerable energy, leading to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Using environmentally friendly materials in the construction industry has become an attractive alternative for mitigating sustainability issues. One such alternative is incorporating waste materials, such as water treatment sludge (WTS), into clay brick production. This research aims to assess the viability of using WTS as a replacement for conventional clay in fired clay brick production, thereby mitigating environmental pollution. Five distinct mixtures were created, with WTS replacing clay at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80% ratios. The mechanical properties and durability of the produced bricks were analyzed through various tests, such as Atterberg limits, optimum water content, unconfined compression, apparent porosity, compressive strength, flexural strength, density, water absorption, and efflorescence. The results demonstrated that as WTS content increased, Atterberg limits and apparent porosity increased. The bulk density, compressive strength, and bending capacity of the specimens were found to decrease as the WTS replacement ratio increased. Additionally, moderate efflorescence was observed in samples with higher sludge ratios.

Threshold effects of population aging on carbon emissions: From the perspective of industrial structure and residential consumption

Population aging and climate change caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are two of the major challenges facing contemporary humanity. Based on panel data for 63 countries from 2000 to 2020, this paper empirically identifies and explores the threshold effects of population aging on carbon emissions, and tests in a causal inference framework the mediating effect mechanism of aging on carbon emissions through two pathways: industrial structure and consumption. Results show that generally when the percentage of the elderly population is higher than 14.5 %, carbon emissions related to industrial structure and residential consumption are significantly reduced although the threshold effects differ across countries. Particularly for lower-middle-income countries, the direction of the threshold effect is uncertain, which indicates the less importance of population aging for carbon emissions in these countries.

Enhancing the CO2 trapping capacity of Saudi Arabian basalt via nanofluid treatment: Implications for CO2 geo-storage

Mineralization reactions in basaltic formations have gained recent interest as an effective method for CO2 geo-storage in order to mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The CO2/rock interactions, including interfacial tension and wettability, are crucial factors in determining the CO2 trapping capacity and the feasibility of CO2 geological storage in these formations. The Red Sea geological coast in Saudi Arabia has many basaltic formations, and their wetting characteristics are rarely reported in the literature. Moreover, organic acid contamination is inherent in geo-storage formations and significantly impacts their CO2 geo-storage capacities. Hence, to reverse the organic effect, the influence of various SiO2 nanofluid concentrations (0.05–0.75 wt%) on the CO2-wettability of organic-acid aged Saudi Arabian (SA) basalt is evaluated herein at 323 K and various pressures (0.1–20 MPa) via contact angle measurements. The SA basalt substrates are characterized via various techniques, including atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and others. In addition, the CO2 column heights that correspond to the capillary entry pressure before and after nanofluid treatment are calculated. The results show that the organic acid-aged SA basalt substrates become intermediate-wet to CO2-wet under reservoir pressure and temperature conditions. When treated with SiO2 nanofluids, however, the SA basalt substrates become weakly water-wet, and the optimum performance is observed at an SiO2 nanofluid concentration of 0.1 wt%. At 323 K and 20 MPa, the CO2 column height corresponding to the capillary entry pressure increases from −957 m for the organic-aged SA basalt to 6253 m for the 0.1 wt% nano-treated SA basalt. The results suggest that the CO2 containment security of organic-acid-contaminated SA basalt can be enhanced by SiO2 nanofluid treatment. Thus, the results of this study may play a significant role in assessing the trapping of CO2 in SA basaltic formations.

Utilizing Remote Sensing and Data Analytics Techniques to Detect Methane Emissions from the Oil and Gas Industry and Assist with Sustainability Metrics

SummaryThe purpose of this paper is to provide additional information and insights gained on manuscript SPE-209980-MS, accepted for presentation at the 2022 Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (Esparza et al. 2022).The energy sector has been identified as one of the main contributors to emissions of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Therefore, sustainability in the sector is mainly associated with the advancement in environmental and social performance across multiple industries. Individual firms, particularly those belonging to the oil and gas (O&G) industry, are now assessed for their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and their impact on climate change. To meet the different key performance indicators (KPIs) for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ESG, the planning, development, and operation of O&G infrastructure must be conducted in an environmentally responsible way.Today, operators calculate their own emissions, which are typically self-reported annually, usually relying on emission factors to complement the lack of emission measurement data. This paper discusses how methane detection of O&G infrastructure using remote sensing technologies enables operators to detect, quantify, and minimize methane emissions while gaining insights and understanding of their operations via data analytics products. The remote sensing technologies accounted for in this paper are satellite and aerial platforms operating in tandem with data analytics, providing a scheme to support sustainability initiatives through the quantification of some ESG metrics associated with methane emissions. This paper presents examples of measurements at O&G sites taken with satellites and aircraft platforms, providing evidence of methane emissions at the facility level. A discussion of each platform and how they work together is also presented. Additionally, this paper discusses how these data insights can be used to achieve sustainability goals, functioning as a tool for ESG initiatives through the incorporation of analytical models.

Carbon Footprint offset of a managed Bamboo plantation in temperate regions

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant potentially deployable to offset anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, when properly managed. This study focuses on Phyllostachys edulis (commonly known as Moso) cultivation managed in a temperate region (Italy) with the aim to assess the Carbon Footprint offset by comparing carbon storage capability with GHG emissions of its cultivation.On one side, a dynamic model based on the allometric equations of International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) and the parameters of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is developed and validated, using primary data to estimate the direct carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake in biomass. On the other side, GHG emissions produced by the management of the plantation are quantified through the Life Cycle Assessment (i.e., Carbon Footprint) over a period of 100 years.The Carbon Footprint offset is −26,628 t CO2eq (ha)−1 over the specified time frame. It is “net negative” considering an overall Carbon Footprint of 259 t CO2eq (ha)−1 and a cumulative uptake of −26,888 t CO2 (ha)−1. In particular, the CO2 annually removed is 275 t (ha)−1 from the eighth year onwards; this is embedded as carbon in the harvested above-ground biomass and regenerated in the same year (1/3 of culms annually collected). The potential CO2 sequestration per land unit (1 ha) is about 36 times that of a mixed Italian forest.The carbon model is tested to shed light on the dependance on initial conditions (i.e., the life span and the efficient use of the harvested biomass), showing a reduction of the Carbon Footprint offset (from −10 % to −77 %).This study supports the idea of bamboo plantations as a valuable solution for climate change mitigation as long as they are properly managed and the harvested biomass is transformed in durable goods (e.g., construction materials, furniture, fiber, and art), thus generating a semi-permanent carbon storage.

Greenhouse gas emissions from extractive industries in a globalized era

The extractive industry consumes vast amounts of energy and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, its climatic impacts have not yet been fully accounted for. In this study, we estimated the GHG emissions from extractive activities globally with a focus on China, and assessed the main emission drivers. In addition, we predicted the Chinese extractive industry emissions in the context of global mineral demand and cycling. As of 2020, GHG emissions from the global extractive industry had reached 7.7 billion tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e), accounting for approximately 15.0% of the global anthropogenic GHG emissions (excluding GHG emissions from land use, land-use change, and forestry activities (LULUCF), with China being the largest emitter, accounting for 3.5% of global emissions. Extractive industry GHG emissions are projected to peak by 2030 or even earlier to achieve low-carbon peak targets. The most critical pathway for reducing GHG emissions in the extractive industry is to control emissions from coal mining. Therefore, reducing methane emissions from mining and washing coal (MWC) should be prioritized.