Reduce Carbon Emissions Research Articles

Gansu Province, as a core region for the development of renewables in China, has significant research value in the synergistic pathway of its power supply–demand structure and pollution and carbon emission reduction goals. This study focuses on the pollution and carbon reduction challenges faced by Gansu Province and the current situation of power supply and demand. Based on scenario-setting methods, it couples the GCAM-China model with the DPEC model to construct a pathway for pollution reduction and carbon emission reduction in Gansu’s power system and predicts the future change in pollution and carbon emission reduction. It provides important support for the sustainable development of Gansu Province. Research indicates that by significantly increasing the share of renewable energy in the short term (2025–2040)—with installed capacity growing by 1–2 times and electricity generation reaching 148.6 billion kWh—the power sector can achieve carbon neutrality and near-zero pollution emissions by 2060. And the provincial carbon emissions will be 92.8% lower than in 2020, SO2 emissions will be 93.9% lower, and NOx emissions will be 92.3% lower, thus the synergistic benefits of pollution reduction and carbon reduction will be significantly enhanced. Additionally, the lower costs of production, energy dispatch, and renewable energy storage will increase industrial electrification rates by about 40% between 2020 and 2040. Gansu Province should vigorously promote the transformation of its energy structure while improving the flexibility of the power system to facilitate the integration and absorption of renewable energy. Promoting the development of clean and low-carbon technologies from both supply and demand sides, facilitating the substitution of traditional fossil fuels, and providing clean, reliable, and economical power assurance for the sustainable development of Gansu Province.

The United Nations has set a global vision towards emissions reduction and green growth through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Towards the realisation of SDGS 7, 9, and 13, we focus on green hydrogen production as a potential pathway to achievement. Green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, represents a pivotal solution towards climate change mitigation. Energy access in West Africa remains a challenge, and dependency on fossil fuels persists. So, green hydrogen offers an opportunity to harness abundant solar resources, reduce carbon emissions, and foster economic development. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of green hydrogen production in five West African countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. The analyses cover the solar energy potential, hydrogen production capacities, and economic viability using the Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and Net Present Value (NPV). Results indicate substantial annual hydrogen production potential with LCOH values competitive with global benchmarks amidst the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Despite this potential, several barriers exist, including high initial capital costs, policy and regulatory gaps, limited technical capacity, and water resource constraints. We recommend targeted strategies for strengthening policy frameworks, fostering international partnerships, enhancing regional infrastructure integration, and investing in capacity-building initiatives. By addressing these barriers, West Africa can be a key player in the global green hydrogen market.

This study explores the urgency of enacting a specific Electronic Waste Management Law in Indonesia as a legal foundation to support the achievement of net zero emissions. Using a normative juridical approach, the research analyzes existing legal shortcomings, the application of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle, and comparative insights from international e-waste regulatory frameworks. The findings indicate that current environmental regulations, such as Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management and Government Regulation No. 101 of 2014 on Hazardous Waste Management, do not explicitly regulate electronic waste. As a result, e-waste management remains fragmented and largely handled by the informal sector without adequate supervision or accountability mechanisms. Therefore, the establishment of a comprehensive E-Waste Law is crucial to enhance Indonesia’s legal structure, substantive norms, and legal culture in supporting a sustainable circular economy. Through the implementation of EPR and shared responsibility among producers, consumers, and government institutions, the law can function as a strategic tool to minimize electronic waste generation, improve recycling efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. Such legal innovation would reinforce Indonesia’s environmental governance and accelerate progress toward its national goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2060.

A central sustainability question is how the digital economy helps societies decarbonize at lower cost. We develop a carbon-market-consistent framework to show how digitalization can strengthen market governance, reduce regional carbon-abatement costs, and accelerate green transformation. Using data for 30 Chinese provinces from 2011–2022, we estimate panel fixed-effects models and conduct numerical simulations to test the digital economy’s dynamic, inverted-U-shaped effect on abatement costs, accounting for internal and external drivers. The digital development shifts the abatement–cost curve downward and leftward by speeding the transition from internal mitigation costs to external trading costs, enabling regions to reach the cost-reduction stage earlier and at lower overall cost. Mechanism evidence indicates two channels: externally, digitalization enhances carbon-market sophistication (liquidity, price discovery, and compliance efficiency); internally, it promotes technological progress and energy-efficiency improvements that raise emission-reduction productivity. In the short run, emissions trading provides external incentives that buffer production-cost pressures from digital-capital investment; in the long run, digital growth accelerates the energy transition and structurally increases abatement efficiency. Heterogeneity analysis shows a more pronounced inverted-U in central and western provinces, while eastern provinces have largely entered a sustained cost-decline phase. By lowering the social cost of achieving emissions targets, the digital economy directly supports sustainable development and China’s green, low-carbon transition.

Collaborative resource recovery and carbon emission reduction from municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash through semi-dry carbon sequestration

Carbon emissions reduction in maritime supply chain under cap-and-trade and carbon tax policies

The reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction efficiently converts CO2 to CO, with vital applications in carbon emission reduction and Fischer-Tropsch chemical production. This study used density functional theory (DFT) to investigate CO2 adsorption and activation on CeO2, oxygen-vacancy CeO2 (CeO2−x), and single-atom Ni-loaded CeO2 (Ni/CeO2). Adsorption energy analysis indicates that CO2 preferentially adsorbs at the intermediate oxygen sites on CeO2 and Ni/CeO2, but on CeO2−x, it preferentially adsorbs at the oxygen vacancies. Mulliken charge and band gap results indicate that CeO2−x and Ni/CeO2 exhibit higher activity than pure CeO2. Density of states studies indicate that CeO2, CeO2−x, and Ni/CeO2 can activate CO2 to varying degrees; strong hybridization between Ni’s d-orbitals and CO2’s O p-orbitals is key to Ni/CeO2’s high activity. Mechanistically, CeO2−x follows the RWGS redox mechanism, while Ni/CeO2 follows the formate-associated mechanism. This work innovatively clarifies differential CO2 adsorption-activation by vacancies and Ni in CeO2-based catalysts, providing a theoretical basis for RWGS catalyst design and supporting low-energy carbon conversion development.

Solar panel deployment is vital to generate clean energy and reduce carbon emissions, but sustaining energy output requires regular monitoring and maintenance. This is particularly critical in countries with harsh environmental conditions, such as Qatar, where high dust density reduces solar radiation reaching panels, thereby lowering generating efficiency and increasing maintenance costs. This paper introduces a data-driven model that uses the relationship between generated and consumed energy to track changes in solar panel performance. By applying statistical analysis to real and simulated data, the model identifies when efficiency losses are within the parameters of normal variation (e.g., daily fluctuations) and when they are likely caused by dust accumulation or system ageing. The findings demonstrate that the model provides a reliable and cost-effective way to support timely cleaning and maintenance decisions. It offers decision-makers a practical tool to improve residential solar panel management, reducing unnecessary costs, and ensuring more consistent renewable energy generation.

Sustainable strategies for marine plastic waste remanufacturing systems under diverse carbon reduction policies.

Multi-energy synergy and deep carbon emission reduction mechanism for steel enterprises based on deep learning and dynamic computable general equilibrium model

2050 UK shipping emissions of NOx, SOx, PM10, and PM2.5: What are the determining factors, is the zero pollution by 2050 feasible, and will the reduction rate for these pollutants be at the same pace?

Decarbonizing global value chains: The mediating role of economic upgrading in renewable energy transitions.

Carbon footprint of agricultural pesticides on main crops in China from 2011 to 2023.

Functionalizations of viscose fiber via RAFT mechanism and metal ions complexation for antibacteria and chemical removal of formaldehyde with reduced carbon emission effect

The construction industry’s reliance on Portland cement (PC) significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions, driving the search for sustainable binder alternatives. This study develops and evaluates novel mineral binder systems for wood wool acoustic panels with a reduced carbon footprint. Alternative binders, including calcium aluminate cement (CAC), magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC), and gypsum–cement–pozzolan (GCP) hybrids, were combined with additives such as metakaolin and liquid glass. Mechanical testing demonstrated that 20–30% metakaolin and liquid glass composites achieved flexural strengths of up to 2.65 MPa and densities above 490 kg/m3. The GCP system showed synergistic improvements in flexural and compressive strengths by nearly 50%, along with enhanced dimensional stability and water resistance. Life cycle assessment indicated substantial CO2 emission increases, particularly for the MOC and CAC formulations, compared to conventional Portland cement-based panels. The carbon footprint of the binder system consisting of GCP is approximately 5.644 kg of CO2 equivalent per functional unit compared to magnesium chloride binder systems, which reach up to 10.84 kg CO2 eq., and white Portland cement systems, which are around 6.19 kg CO2 eq. The three-component GCP binder system offers the best balance of mechanical performance and minimised environmental impact. Key raw material contributors to the ecological load are cement (various types), MgO, MgCl2, and metakaolin, highlighting the importance of optimising binder formulations to reduce carbon emissions. The GCP system, in particular, demonstrates unprecedented synergistic improvements in flexural and compressive strengths, dimensional stability, and water resistance while minimising CO2 emissions. Current work sets a new benchmark for sustainable building materials by offering an eco-innovative pathway towards low-carbon, high-performance wood wool acoustic panels, aligning with global decarbonisation goals.

Role of green finance in accelerating the transition towards solar energy: Does it really help to achieve COP 29 agenda?

China's electricity transmission reduces carbon emissions but causes water resource depletion

Decarbonization in complex supply chains: Insights from environmental absorptive capacity in China's E&E industry.

Evaluating the carbon-emission reduction potential of employing low-carbon demand response to guide electric-vehicle charging: A Chinese case study

Cutting carbon emissions is one of the most important steps in fighting climate change, and the United Statesbeing one of the largest pollutershas a big responsibility. This study looks at how business and data analytics can help reduce carbon emissions. Analytics tools allow companies and governments to track energy use in real-time, predict future trends, and run operations more efficiently. We used data from 2022 to 2024, including carbon emissions levels, how much analytics was being used in energy systems, and how many smart buildings were in use. Our analysis shows a strong negative link (r = -0.96, p < 0.01) between the use of analytics and the amount of carbon emissions. This means that as more organizations used analytics, carbon emissions went down. These results show that using data and technology can make a real difference in protecting the environment. It also highlights the importance of including analytics in climate policies and sustainability planning (U.S. EPA, 2024; DOE, 2023).