Carbon Benefits Research Articles

Direct and indirect healthcare and carbon savings with ACTIVE Particle ControlTM air-purification.

Controlling airborne transmitted disease remains a challenge to clinicians, healthcare administrators, and engineers. Engineering measures are critical to any infection control program but can require extensive installation procedures, may be expensive to maintain, and may not always demonstrate clinical or financial benefit. We determined the financial and carbon benefits of an engineering solution to combat air pollutants and to control airborne transmitted disease. We determined the costs of healthcare associated infections (HAIs), and the costs of installation, maintenance, energy demands, and carbon impacts of an ACTIVE Particle ControlTM (APC) air-purification system. In a 20 month study with over 65,000 patient days the significant reductions in HAIs resulted in significant financial, energy, maintenance, and carbon savings from this engineering solution. Positive clinical and financial outcomes are possible with novel air-purification solutions such as APC.

A stand level scenario model for the Norwegian forestry – a case study on forest management under climate change

Carbon sequestration and income generation are competing objectives in modern forest management. The climate commitments of many countries depend on forests as carbon sinks which must be quantified, monitored, and projected into the future. For projections we need tools to model forest development and perform scenario analyses to assess future carbon sequestration potentials under different management regimes, the expected net present value of such regimes, and possible impacts of climate change. We propose a scenario analysis software tool (GAYA 2.0) that can assist in answering these types of questions using stand level simulations, detailed carbon flow models and an optimizer. This paper has two objectives: (1) to describe GAYA 2.0, and (2) demonstrate its potential in a case study where we analyze the forest carbon balance over a region in Norway based on national forest inventory sample plots. The tool was used to map the optimality front between the carbon benefit and net present value. We observed changes in net present value for different levels of carbon benefit as well as changes in optimal management strategies. We predicted future changes in several forest carbon pools as well as albedo and illustrated the impact of gradual increase in forest productivity (i.e., due to climate warming). Having been updated and modernized from its previous version with increased attention to forest carbon and energy fluxes, GAYA 2.0 is an effective tool that offers multiple opportunities to perform various types of scenario analyses in forest management.

Financial Analysis of Innovative Wood Products and Carbon Finance to Support Forest Restoration in California

Abstract Traditional funding strategies of grants, congressional appropriations, and income from timber sales are insufficient to complete the level of forest restoration necessary throughout California. Stimulating investment into markets for low-value biomass—such as tops and branches of trees, small trees, and dead trees—will add value to forest raw materials and provide additional revenue streams to pay for forest restoration. We evaluate the investment potential of products made from low-value biomass using a discounted cash-flow analysis of several possible forest products including fuels and nonfuels under various climate policy and market scenarios. We demonstrate the carbon benefits provided by these products, attributed to their substitution for fossil-fuel feedstocks and long-term carbon storage. Our work finds that there is an opportunity to develop several highly profitable products, most notably fuels, many of which are eligible for energy and climate policy programs such as California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. Nonfuel products have an average internal rate of return (IRR) of 13 percent, whereas fuels have an average IRR of 19 percent in our baseline scenario. Although products ineligible for government incentives are generally less profitable, income from the voluntary carbon market greatly increases the IRR. Fostering investment into these products can encourage critically needed funding for forest management while developing a high-impact carbon removal solution enabled by state, federal, and voluntary climate initiatives. On this basis, we conclude that climate policy can support forest restoration in California.

Impacts of trees-grass area ratio on thermal environment, energy saving, and carbon benefits

Rapid urbanization potentially increases the diversity of building morphological characteristics (e.g., heights), causing urban ecological environment problems, such as urban heat islands, energy loss, and carbon emissions. Greenery (e.g., trees and grasses) can alleviate urban environmental problems, further improving the benefits of cooling effect, energy saving, and carbon emission reduction. With limited land resources, it is significant to effectively combine multiple greeneries and quantitatively optimize the greenery design. This paper designed the trees-grass area ratio (TAR) and explored its effect on the benefits at the community scale. The ranges of 0–90% TARs were considered in the communities as well as three building heights. A low-cost computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method of volumetric source term (VST) was proposed to simulate the thermal environment. Energy performance simulation of buildings was performed. Results indicated that the VST method can reduce computing costs by up to 81% compared with the traditional simulation. Air temperature (T), energy consumption (E), and carbon emission (Ce) decreased with increasing TAR in three types of communities. Carbon sequestration (Cs) linearly increased with increasing TAR. When the TAR was 90%, the maximum reduction of T, E, and Ce were 6 °C, 17.3%, and 20%, respectively. Furthermore, the quantified relationships between TAR, building height, and benefits were proposed. This work can serve as a guideline for the optimal design of urban ecological environment.

Evaluation of the efficiency of state forestry investment in China from the perspective of carbon sequestration: A case study in 20 provinces

In this study, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is performed to evaluate the efficiency of governmental forest investment in carbon sequestration based on data from the seventh forest investigation and forest carbon storage estimated by Li & Lei for 2004–2008. Then, DEA is performed to evaluate comprehensive efficiency using data from areas of afforestation and natural reserves as indices of carbon benefit. For 20 provinces analysed in this study, employment in the forest industry is used as an index of social benefit, and forestry production is used as an index of economic benefit. These provinces include Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shanxi, Gansu, and Xinjiang. Next, the elements that influence the efficiencies in the spatial error model (SEM) and spatial lag model (SLM) are evaluated. The results show that carbon sequestration efficiency differs for different output indices. The comprehensive efficiencies of the provinces in East China and South-central China are superior to those of the provinces in Northeast, North, Southeast and Northwest China. Both efficiencies are affected by adjacent provinces, though comprehensive efficiency is influenced the most. The level of technique and management is the most important element influencing the carbon sequestration efficiency and comprehensive efficiency. The influencing elements of carbon sequestration show that workers who have been laid off negatively impact the efficiency of governmental investment. Afforestation investment and wildlife and natural reserve investment have the greatest influence on carbon sequestration efficiency. An evaluation of comprehensive influential elements shows that the primary industry of forestry has a greater influence on efficiency than revenue from forest parks, although the government advocates for industrial transformation. Social investment influences comprehensive efficiency. The lack of social investment in provinces with undeveloped economies reduces forestry development.

Analysis Method and Case Study of the Lightweight Design of Automotive Parts and Its Influence on Carbon Emissions

The automobile industry, as a representative in pursuing the goals of “emission peak” and “carbon neutrality”, has made low carbon a new industrial practice. With regard to low carbon, the lightweight design proves to be an effective approach to reducing carbon emissions from automobiles. Given the state of research, in which the existing lightweight design schemes of automobiles seldom consider the impact of the lightweight quality on carbon emissions during the whole life cycle of the automobiles, this paper proposes a more comprehensive lightweight design method for automobiles in regard to carbon emissions. First, the finite element method was adopted to analyze the stress, strain and safety factors of the automobile parts based on their stress, so as to identify the positions where the lightweight design was applicable. Subsequently, a lightweight scheme was designed accordingly. Next, the finite element method was re-applied to the parts whose weights had been reduced. In this way, the feasibility of the lightweight scheme was verified. In addition, a method of calculating the carbon emissions produced by changes in the mass, manufacturing processes, application and recycling of automobile parts after the application of the lightweight design was also presented. The method can be used for evaluating the low carbon benefits of the lightweight design scheme. To prove the feasibility of the method, the ZS061750-152101 wheel hub designed and manufactured by Anhui Axle Co., Ltd. was taken as an example for the case analysis. The lightweight design changes three structures of the wheel hub, reducing its weight by 1.4 kg in total. For a single wheel hub, the carbon emissions are reduced by 51.22 kg altogether. That is to say, if the lightweight scheme were to be applied to all the wheels produced by Anhui Axle Co., Ltd. (about 500,000 per year), the carbon emissions from the wheel production, application and recycling could be cut by 2.56 × 107 kg, marking a favorable emission reduction effect. The proposed method can not only provide insight into the lightweight design of automobiles and other equipment against the background of low carbon but also provide a channel for calculating the carbon emission changes in the whole process after the application of the lightweight design.

A system‐wide assessment of forest biomass production, markets, and carbon

AbstractThis study examines the effects of supplying forest biomass on forest ecosystem services and goods with a dynamic systems model. This unique analysis models dynamic trade and investments in forestry, thereby capturing price changes from increased forest biomass demand on current and future flows of forest ecosystem services and natural capital stocks. Forests across the globe are interconnected through timber and forest biomass markets, which influence forest management decisions, land rents, and policy responses. Results indicate that expanding forest biomass consumption, even at relatively low levels, will have important impacts on ecosystem services, particularly the benefits of terrestrial carbon sequestration and timber outputs. Increased forest biomass production can be achieved with smaller impacts on ecosystem services through policies targeting natural forest preservation. However, policies that encourage residual biomass use for energy or discourage forest plantation expansion could potentially compromise carbon benefits.

Mixed plantations have more soil carbon sequestration benefits than pure plantations in China

Mixed plantation and pure plantation are two afforestation modes in practice, which make great contributions to carbon sinks of forests ecosystem. However, the difference in SOC response to the two kinds of afforestation modes (mixed plantation and pure plantation) remained controversial at present. This study conducted a synthesis to estimate afforestation modes effect on SOC sequestrations based on 218 filed observations in China. The results showed that mixed plantations preserved more SOC sequestrations than pure plantations in China. The SOC sequestration rates (RS) in 0–20 cm layer of mixed and pure plantations were 0.89 and 0.32 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Particularly, the RS of arbor-shrub mixtures (0.97 Mg ha−1 yr−1) was the highest among all mixed plantations. Generally, the RS was increased first and then decreased since afforestation, with the peaking value of 1.20 Mg ha−1 yr−1 during 6–10 years. Moreover, afforestations on cropland had a higher RS compared to that on barren lands or woodlands, and reforestations on woodlands usually led to SOC loss. Compared with high-temperature and high-precipitation environments (C-rich regions), afforestation in low-temperature and low-precipitation environments (C-deficit regions) had the higher RS. Overall, conducting mixed plantations, especially arbor-shrub mixtures, was more beneficial to promote SOC sequestration than pure plantations. The findings suggest that mixed plantations should be taken into accounting in future afforestation projects in the view of improving the carbon benefits of the ecosystem.

Does biodiversity‐focused protection of the seabed deliver carbon benefits? A U.K. case study

AbstractSubtidal seabed sediments are one of the planet's biggest organic carbon stores, but have been poorly considered in nature‐based climate change mitigation. Protection of the seabed is predominantly through establishment of marine protected area (MPA) networks, but their emphasis on biodiversity may limit their carbon value. The United Kingdom has one of the most extensive networks of MPAs in the world, yet damaging human activities are excluded from only a small portion. We calculate that full protection of the MPA network would offer limited carbon benefit, due to below average organic carbon stocks and disturbance from mobile fishing gears when compared to the entire U.K. seabed. We find that inshore exclusion zones (where mobile gears are restricted from nearshore areas to benefit biodiversity and low‐impact fishers) could offer greater carbon benefits compared to MPAs. However, neither of these biodiversity‐focused protection strategies are as effective for seabed carbon as targeted protection.

Carbon asset remolding and potential benefit measurement of machinery products in the light of lean production and low-carbon investment

For machinery manufacturing firms, a rather concerned barrier to arrive at carbon neutrality is the uncertain benefit of carbon emission reduction. To control the increasing cost triggered by carbon pricing mechanism and transition of carbon emission pattern, this paper restructures the whole production process of machinery products from the perspectives of low-carbon management and revaluation of carbon assets of process-flow to unearth the potential of carbon benefit of machinery products. Our theoretical analysis and case study keeping an eye on engineering machinery and port machinery jointly draw following key findings: First, the process management can effectively reduce carbon emissions as similar as the role of green-tech investment, and can arrive at a rather impressive emission reduction performance with less upfront investment. Second, to enhance carbon benefits sustainably, machinery manufacturing firms should control carbon emissions in the whole life-cycle and integrate carbon assets into production costs. Third, both carbon emission reduction and waste recycling can argument the return on carbon assets. Hence one can see that to create the competitive edge in the low-carbon sphere of machinery products, machinery manufacturing firms should remold the value-added process of carbon emission reduction in products' whole-life at the peak of total costs.

Decision-Making Model of Mechanical Components in a Lean–Green Manufacturing System Based on Carbon Benefit and Its Application

The key to achieving low-carbon manufacturing is to effectively reduce the carbon emissions of production systems and improve carbon benefits. The use of lean and green tools aids in measuring the added value of products, and increases the efficiency and sustainability of production systems. To address this problem and verify that the synergetic relationship between lean and green innovation increases the efficiency and sustainability in production systems, a new low-carbon manufacturing evaluation indicator—carbon benefit—in lean manufacturing systems was discussed. A low-carbon decision-making model of multiple processes aiming at carbon benefit maximization, as well as the dynamic characteristics of carbon benefit and sustainable process improvements in a lean production system, was established. A case study of a certain satellite dish parts manufacturing line was introduced to analyze and verify the feasibility of the proposed model. After improvement, the processing time of unit parts was reduced from 63 s to 54 s. The workstations were optimized again according to the lean–green manufacturing concept, and the number was reduced by 37.5%. The process was recombined and reduced from 8 to 5 to achieve continuous-flow processing. This reduced the distance by 77 m, and at the same time, the number of operating personnel was reduced, and the after-improvement carbon efficiency increased from 12.98 s/kg CO2e to 36.33 s/kg CO2e in comparison with that before the improvement. The carbon benefit after improvement was 193.92% higher than that before the improvement.

The potential for carbon sequestration by afforestation can be limited in dryland river basins under the pressure of high human activity

Dryland regions cover >40 % of the Earth's land surface. Both human activities and climate change have driven forest expansion in parts of dryland regions. Afforestation has been implemented widely to enhance carbon sequestration and benefit the ecological environment of many global drylands. However, the potential and available afforestation space in drylands is uncertain due to the conflicts between additional forest areas and available water. How afforestation will affect the potential for forest carbon stock is also unclear. This paper assessed the future spatial distribution of afforestation and potential forest carbon stock in a typical dryland region, the Yellow River Basin (YRB), which has experienced rapid afforestation and high human activity pressure over the past several decades. Combining the future land use change model (FLUS) and local important development planning, we simulated future afforestation distributions and estimated potential forest carbon stock under the ecological restoration, urban expansion, and cultivated land protection scenarios. The afforestation carbon stock was predicted by considering the dynamic change trends of the mature forest, the immature forest, and new afforestation. The results demonstrated that the potential afforestation area would be limited to 4000 km2 in the YRB accounting for less than one-twentieth of the total forest area. Accordingly, the maximum potential forest carbon stock would increase only 59.5 × 106 t. These findings implies that afforestation programs in drylands should further consider the optimum allocation of afforestation space and the balance between carbon and water in drylands, especially under a changing climate with increasing human activities.

Recovery of carbon benefits by overharvested baleen whale populations is threatened by climate change

Despite the importance of marine megafauna on ecosystem functioning, their contribution to the oceanic carbon cycle is still poorly known. Here, we explored the role of baleen whales in the biological carbon pump across the southern hemisphere based on the historical and forecasted abundance of five baleen whale species. We modelled whale-mediated carbon sequestration through the sinking of their carcasses after natural death. We provide the first temporal dynamics of this carbon pump from 1890 to 2100, considering both the effects of exploitation and climate change on whale populations. We reveal that at their pre-exploitation abundance, the five species of southern whales could sequester 4.0 × 105 tonnes of carbon per year (tC yr-1). This estimate dropped to 0.6 × 105 tC yr-1 by 1972 following commercial whaling. However, with the projected restoration of whale populations under a RCP8.5 climate scenario, the sequestration would reach 1.7 × 105 tC yr-1 by 2100, while without climate change, recovered whale populations could sequester nearly twice as much (3.2 × 105 tC yr-1) by 2100. This highlights the persistence of whaling damages on whale populations and associated services as well as the predicted harmful impacts of climate change on whale ecosystem services.

Macro-site selection and obstacle factor extraction of biomass cogeneration based on comprehensive weight method of Game theory

Biomass energy can reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and reduce environmental pollution. The project site selection affects the production efficiency and economic benefits. Firstly, this study proposes a macro-site selection decision framework for biomass cogeneration considering carbon emission reduction. Secondly, this paper innovatively uses Nash equilibrium as the coordination goal, and introduces Game Theory to determine the optimal combination weight of Best-Worst Method (BWM) and Criteria Importance Though Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC). Further thinking is needed to improve the comprehensive closeness measurement method, establish a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution and Grey Relational Analysis (TOPSIS-GRA) site selection model that reflects distance and curve shape, and sort the plans. And then explore the barriers to improving the site selection environment. Finally take five cities in China as an example. The feasibility and the stability of the site selection decision-making framework in practical applications are verified by comparative analysis and weight sensitivity analysis. The results show that carbon emission is the primary barrier factor in the criterion layer. In the sub-criterion layer, transportation costs, carbon emission pressure, carbon benefits, industrial policies, and heating rate are the common obstacle factors in each region. To promote the long-term healthy development of the project, this study provides a theoretical reference for the new construction and expansion of biomass cogeneration projects, and has guiding significance for improving the location suitability of the project.

Greenhouse gas mitigation potential in smallholder agroecosystem of southern Ethiopia

In developing countries, it is critical that novel and swift strategies are devised to help direct and prioritize potential greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation activities. The Carbon Benefit Project (CBP) analysis tool is a modular, web-based system that allows a consistent comparison of various projects by providing a standardized GHG benefits protocol. In this study, we used the CBP tool to estimate the GHG mitigation potential of the agriculture, forestry, and other land uses (AFOLU) sector and prioritize components for their GHG benefits in three districts of Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. The study area is 90,731 ha of which about 2% was covered by forest, 7% by grassland, 78% by annual crops, 12% by home garden and 1% by settlements. The livestock population in the study area was 512,622 heads. Using the CBP's Detailed Assessment, we estimated mitigation potential in the AFOLU consisting of different managements strategies for a period between 2016 and 2030 in the smallholder agricultural landscape. The results showed an overall GHG benefit of 1,725,052 (±5%) Mg CO2e from the projected scenario in the study area. The GHG benefit was in the order of biomass C (683,757 Mg CO2e) > soil C (619,210 Mg CO2e) > livestock (408,981 Mg CO2e) illustrating the greater mitigation potential of trees in different systems. The soil C plus biomass C was high in agroforestry systems, and this component had the highest priority for GHG mitigation. This was followed by high enteric methane emission reduction in the livestock category. The GHG emission from manure increased by 71,633 Mg CO2e in the project because manure was not managed. The surprisingly low GHG benefit of the forest was primarily because of its low land cover (i.e., about 2%) in the agroecosystem. Despite the low GHG benefit in the cropland from best management practices, the improved soil quality in it can affect GHG benefits from other land uses by contributing to their conservation through food security. Thus, a comprehensive project may be a viable strategy in a mitigation effort at the agroecosystem level because of the interactions amongst the components. The CBP analysis tool is useful in prioritizing mitigation activities and may be an option to quantify GHG benefits if studies collate Teir 2 factors in data scarce areas.

Optimal rotation period ofPopulusplantations considering multiple carbon pools and carbon cap policies in Jiangsu, East China

AbstractForests provide wood biomass to produce various wood products while sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere. The joint benefits of wood production and carbon sequestration should be considered when making forest management decisions such as those related to optimal rotation periods. In this study, we extend the Faustmann model to consider the effects of timber value and the dynamics of forests’ multiple carbon pools (biomass, dead organic matter and long-period forest products) on the optimal rotation and the corresponding net present value (NPV). The theoretical framework also takes account of dynamic carbon prices and potential effects of carbon cap policies. We showcase our approach using Populus × euramericana “Nanlin895” as an example. This tree species is an important species for the planted forests in East China. The results show that: (1) multiple carbon pools increase the optimal rotation period by 4.76 per cent and the NPV by 45.66 per cent under the static carbon price scenario, (2) the tightening carbon cap facilitates carbon price variation and results in a significant increase in the NPV, while the optimal rotation period fluctuates between 8 and 10 years and (3) frequent cap policy adjustments shorten the optimal rotation period and lower the NPV even if the cap reduction target is achieved. Although the effect of carbon benefits on the optimal rotation period is small, the forest carbon trade mechanism could effectively enhance landowners’ income through the tightening carbon cap. These findings have significant policy implications for forest management.Highlights • We analyze the effects of multiple carbon pools on the optimal rotation period and the net present value.• We examine how carbon trade affects the management decision of Populus plantations.• Tightening the carbon cap promotes dynamic carbon price variation, benefiting landowners.

Towards carbon neutrality: How much do forest carbon sinks cost in China?

With the implementation of carbon neutrality strategies in China, both carbon emissions reduction and carbon sequestration should be considered. In order to exert the carbon neutrality potential of forest carbon sinks, it is necessary to calculate the cost of them in China. Based on the basic principles of land use opportunity cost and net present value from previous research, this paper constructs a forest carbon sink cost estimation model based on the afforestation cost method. Empirical analysis of the carbon sequestration cost is explored at the city level in China. According to the results, the regional distribution of carbon sink costs varies greatly. On the whole, Southwest China is suitable for afforestation to create carbon sinks since its cost is relatively low. It can obtain carbon benefits from forest carbon sinks projects, while there are higher carbon sink costs in the eastern coastal areas. Furthermore, it dynamically analyzes the impact of the rotation period, timber price, discount rate and afforestation cost on the cost of carbon sinks. The rotation period and afforestation cost have more sensitivity for the forest carbon sink cost. Therefore, it should implement different low-carbon policies in different regions, and encourage forest management to create carbon sinks in areas rich in forest resources. In addition, an inter-regional carbon sink trading mechanism can play the economic value of forest carbon sinks effectively and achieve win-win cooperation between regions.

Economic analysis of uneven-aged forest management in the southeastern United States

We determine the economic revenues and optimal forest management of uneven-aged loblolly pine, longleaf pine, and slash pine forests considering timber and carbon benefits in the southeastern United States. Our results show that uneven-aged management of southern pines generates positive total revenues, with the exception of those stands managed with high residual basal areas and long cutting cycles. The uneven-aged management of pine forests is economically more attractive with loblolly pine stands than with longleaf pine or slash pine for all cutting cycles and residual basal areas; on average, loblolly pine returns $1389.60·ha−1 more than slash pine and $1500.70·ha−1 more than longleaf pine for all cutting cycles. For uneven-aged loblolly pine forests, our results suggest that landowners should experience highest profits with the shortest viable cutting cycle (10 years) and a medium-high residual basal area (11.5 m2·ha−1). For uneven-aged longleaf pine forests, landowners would be economically better off with a longer cutting cycle (20 years) and a lower residual basal area (6.9 m2·ha−1). Notably, uneven-aged management of longleaf pine and slash pine for timber production becomes unprofitable with low-medium or high residual basal areas (9.2–11.5 m2·ha−1).

Coordination mechanism of wooden furniture supply chains with consideration of carbon footprint

This study emphasizes a three-level wooden furniture supply chain, which involves one supplier, one manufacturer, and one retailer. Focusing on maximizing the profit of the supply chain while adhering to low-carbon principles, the Three-level Leader-follower Game (TLG) model, Stackelberg Game Model I (SGI model), Stackelberg Game Model II (SGlI model), and Cooperative Decision-making (CD) model were established by using game theory. The carbon emission reduction cost and benefit sharing contract was introduced into the model with the maximum profit, and the ranges of sharing coefficients for a solid wood bed supply chain and the optimal decision-making process for each supply chain member were discussed. Results showed that the profit for the solid wood bed supply chain reached maximum under the CD model, followed by the SGII model, and then the SGI model, and the TLG model showed the lowest profit. A higher preference for low-carbon products can lead to lower demand for products and higher retail prices. Through introducing the cost and benefit-sharing contract into the CD model, the profit of the supply chain can be guaranteed with different sharing coefficients, and the profit of each member was improved compared to the TLG model.

Relationships between urbanization, tree morphology, and carbon density: An integration of remote sensing, allometric models, and field survey

Urban trees store and sequester large amounts of carbon and are a vital component of natural climate solutions. Despite the well-recognized carbon benefits of urban trees, there is limited effort to examine how spatial distribution of carbon density varies across distinctive social, demographic, and built dimensions of urban landscapes. Moreover, it is unclear whether specific aspects of landscape structure and design could help increase carbon densities in urban trees. Here, we produced a fine-resolution carbon density map of urban trees in New York City (NYC) by integrating high-resolution land cover map, LiDAR-derived tree metrics, i-Tree Eco, and field survey data. We then explored spatial variations of carbon density across the gradients of urban development intensity, social deprivation index, and neighborhood age, and we examined the relationships between carbon density, and fragmentation, aggregation, size, and shape of tree canopy cover. We find that carbon stored in urban trees in NYC is estimated as 1078 Gg, with an average density of 13.8 Mg/ha. This large amount of carbon is unevenly distributed, with carbon densities being highest in Bronx and in open parks and street trees. Furthermore, carbon densities are negatively associated with urban development intensity and the social gradient of deprivation. Regarding the impacts of tree morphology on carbon density, our results show that while the amount of tree cover is the most influential factor in determining carbon density, small-sized forest patches and moderate levels of forest edges are also conductive to increasing carbon densities of urban trees. To incorporate urban forestry into developing innovative, effective, and equitable climate mitigation strategies, planners and decision makers need to identify the optimal spatial configuration of urban forests and invest in tree planting programs in marginalized communities.