Carbon Emission Policies Research Articles

중국 자동차 산업의 역물류 네트워크 최적화에 관한 연구

Reverse logistics network design is a strategic level of decision-making, and the recovery process of abandoned vehicles is inseparable from the support of a complete reverse logistics network. Against the backdrop of the green economy and the circular economy, this study designed a waste vehicle reverse logistics network under two constraints: carbon tax policy and carbon transaction market policy, respectively, and established a multi-purpose mixed integer linear plan model to minimize carbon emissions and costs. In addition, using a Chinese automobile manufacturer as an example, the results of the model of maximizing economic effects (i.e., minimizing costs) and maximizing environmental effects by conducting case verification and using lingo 11.0 are as follows. First, the cost of transportation using pure electric vehicles under the same carbon emission policy is lower than using fuel cars. Second, under the two carbon policies, carbon trading policies have a better emission reduction effect and lower network operating costs. Third, we found that transactional carbon constraints help companies reduce costs and reduce carbon emissions, and help shape long-term, even image-oriented, corporate behavior. By analyzing the optimization of China's waste vehicle reverse logistics network, this study promotes the sustainable and sound development of Chinese waste vehicle recovery companies and realizes the double benefits of the economic environment. There is a certain significance in the research and practice of developing reverse logistics activities in academia

Production Strategy and Technology Innovation under Different Carbon Emission Polices

Given that the production process in the manufacturing industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, many governments have implemented carbon emission-related policies to incentivize manufacturers to optimize their production process or invest in green production technology, with the aim of reducing their carbon footprint. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the effectiveness of carbon policies considering manufacturers always tend to prioritize economic profits in their actual operations. We compare the effects of three different carbon emission policies—carbon tax, cap-and-trade, and intensity target—on manufacturers’ production strategies and technology innovation investments, which include production and carbon emission quantities, price of goods and emission permit, and technological innovation of the production improvement and the emission abatement. The study results show that the intensity target policy increases the carbon market price and decreases the carbon emission rate. For the manufacturers with higher (lower) initial emission intensity, intensity target policy induces them to decrease (increase) production quantities and carbon emission quantities. For the technology innovation choice, cap-and-trade induces more incentive on production improvement technology innovation for manufacturers with lower initial emission intensity and carbon emission abatement technology innovation for manufacturers with higher level initial emission intensity.

The Policy Impact of Carbon Emission Trading on Building Enterprises’ Total Factor Productivity in China

Nearly 40 percent of worldwide energy and process-related CO2 emissions are produced by the construction sector. China’s construction industry is the largest in the world, with Chinese construction enterprises completing a total output value of RMB 26.39 trillion in 2020; these buildings contribute to about 20 percent of China’s overall carbon emissions and 20 percent of the global total emissions. There is an urgent need to prove whether construction enterprises are benefiting from the carbon trading policy. Compared to the traditional method, a double difference model can be used to highlight the consequences of different states of construction enterprises’ responses to carbon trading regimes. In this study, we examine the following results based on cross-sectional data collected from 2006 to 2021, from listed construction enterprises: (1) Existing carbon emission policies have had a significant impact on the improvement of construction enterprises’ total factor productivity. This improvement is more pronounced in large state-owned enterprises in particular. (2) Construction enterprises’ greater involvement in carbon trading income is most strongly influenced by their green innovation level. (3) Construction enterprises located in eastern and central China benefit significantly from carbon trading, but construction enterprises based in the west do not. The research result indicates that future incentive initiatives should pay more attention to western regions and privately owned building enterprises. The leading role of large state-owned building enterprises should be reinforced.

Data‐driven distributionally robust supplier selection and order allocation problems considering carbon emissions

AbstractUnder the constraints of uncertainty and carbon emission policies, reasonable and flexible supplier selection and order allocation can minimize the total cost, which is of great significance to the supply chain. We study sustainable supplier selection and order allocation problems with multiple periods, multiple suppliers, and multiple products under a carbon cap‐and‐trade policy. We exploit distributionally robust versions of supplier selection and order allocation problems with an explicit distributional uncertainty set and derive computationally tractable reformulations of the distributionally robust optimization model with chance constraints by cone duality theory and conditional value‐at‐risk measure. Numerical experiments show that the proposed distributionally robust optimization models with nice computational tractability and probability guarantees are superior to the existing distributionally robust chance‐constrained optimization models in terms of cost and risk aversion. Relevant management insights on different carbon emission regulations and the application of distributionally robust optimization models are provided for policymakers and enterprises' decision‐makers based on the derived results.

Scope of the Literature on Efforts to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Seaports

Seaport activities account for 3% of global carbon emissions, and as an important industrialised economic centre, ports engage in numerous industrial and financial activities that could increase their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon footprints (CF). The 13th sustainable development goal (SDG) states that these activities must be balanced with environmental considerations. Therefore, as critical marine infrastructure, seaports need CF reduction initiatives. This scoping review covers important ideas and ways to reduce the CF in seaports to simplify future policymaking. These approaches include energy management systems, equipment and infrastructures, and carbon emission policies and laws specific to ports. Relevant literature is classified, evaluated, and discussed. The findings are interpreted and discussed based on the current state of ports around the world, using statistical data to demonstrate that there are sufficient regulations and standards in place, but that more work is needed to replace conventional systems with intelligent ones and fossil fuels with renewable energy. Finally, the scoping review results, and scientific interpretations, thoughts, proposals, and recommendations are presented as references for related studies in the future.

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Carbon Sink Indicators—NPP and Its Driving Analysis in Ordos City, China

Ordos City is an important energy supply city for Chinese provinces and cities, providing a secure energy supply for China while also generating corresponding environmental pollution. Examining the spatiotemporal patterns of net primary productivity (NPP) in Ordos City and its driving factors is relevant to the realization of the carbon emission policy in Inner Mongolia. This study was undertaken to analyze NPP and its driving factors in Ordos City from 2000 to 2019 using NPP data, CO2 spatial grid data, meteorological data and statistical yearbook data accordingly. The NPP in Ordos City increased significantly from 2000 to 2019, mainly showing low values of NPP in the northwest and high values in the southeast. The usable grassland area and annual mean precipitation had a significant positive correlation with NPP, whereas the other factors had a more significant negative correlation. The usable grassland area had the largest influence on NPP, and fixed asset investment had the smallest influence on NPP. The total NPP–anthropogenic factor regression model and the mean NPP–natural factor regression model constructed allow for the prediction of NPP. Anthropogenic carbon emissions, population growth and usable grassland area were the main causes of NPP changes. Planting and protecting green plants and scientific and effective energy extraction plans are measures that enhance the degree of carbon sequestration in Ordos City.

Container Shipping Optimization under Different Carbon Emission Policies: A Case Study

Climate change is a major environmental issue facing humanity today, and the International Maritime Organization has accelerated the formulation of greenhouse gas emission policies. This study considers different carbon emission policies to construct an optimization model for container shipping, design an improved Whale Swarm Algorithm to solve related issues, and use the marginal carbon abatement cost method to analyze the deep-seated reasons for the optimization of liner shipping according to different carbon emission policies, thereby revealing the underlying reasons of emission-reduction decisions. The conclusions reveal that both kinds of carbon emission policies will reduce the profits of companies, the average speed of shipping, and carbon emissions. The carbon tax model has the greatest impact on the profits of shipping companies, and carbon cap-and-trade is easier to obtain support from enterprises. Sensitivity analysis shows that the implementation of carbon cap-and-trade or a carbon tax policy is closely and complexly related to the carbon trading price, carbon tax rate, fuel price, and ship size, and there is uncertainty.

Can ocean carbon sink trading achieve economic and environmental benefits? Simulation based on DICE-DSGE model.

Low-carbon development requires joint efforts in terms of "carbon reduction" and "carbon sink increase." This study thus proposes a DICE-DSGE model for exploring the environmental and economic benefits of ocean carbon sinks and provides policy suggestions for marine economic development and carbon emission policy choices. The results are as follows: (1) while the economic benefits of heterogeneous technological shocks are apparent, the environmental benefits of carbon tax and carbon quota shocks are significant; (2) increasing the efficiency of ocean carbon sinks improves the environmental benefits of technological shocks as well as the output benefits of emission reduction tools, while increasing the share of marine output can improve both the economic benefits of technological shocks and the environmental benefits of emission reduction tools; and (3) ocean output proportion has the most considerable positive effect on social welfare, followed by marine total factor productivity (TFP). The correlation effect of ocean carbon sink efficiency is negative.

The effect of carbon emission policy on financial performance of target companies in China

Carbon emission policy aims to restrict carbon emissions from energy-intensive companies. It encourages target companies to take green innovation but brings fulfillment pressure. Policy prospects for a low-carbon economy are widely discussed in current studies while insufficient attention has been paid to the effect of the policy on the operating activities of target companies. Using the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2020, this paper explores the effect of carbon emission policy on the financial performance of target companies. The main empirical results prove the significant positive effect of the policy on the financial performance of target companies and reject the interference of earnings management and survivor bias. Further analysis indicates that target companies significantly reduce the selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses and non-operating expenses. The trade of carbon quotas between target companies is allowed and it is regarded as non-operating activity. Results of non-operating revenues and expenses prove that target companies tend to actively reduce carbon emissions but the action does not exceed the policy expectation. The increasing efficiency of asset utilization represents that target companies have taken relevant measures to deal with overcapacity. This paper confirms the positive policy responses of target companies. Policy implications are proposed from the perspective of coverage expansion and market incentive mechanisms to realize the full potential of target companies for carbon emission reduction.

Does carbon emission trading policy promote the corporate technological innovation? Empirical evidence from China's high-carbon industries

Global warming can be solved with carbon trading. When carbon emissions become a commodity, it can be a powerful motivator for companies to optimize production capacity and innovate technologically. The goal of this paper is to examine the way in which China's carbon emissions trading policy (CET) influences firm technological innovation in seven pilot regions, using a sample of firms in eight high-carbon industries. We employ difference-in-difference (DID) as well as DID-based propensity score matching (PSM-DID) models to investigate the influence of China's carbon emission policy on firms' technological innovation by using 4745 observations of 749 A-share listed firms in eight high-carbon industries in mainland China from 2007 to 2021. According to the findings, China's CET policy significantly boosts firms' technological innovation, and this beneficial effect persists even after a series of robustness tests that change the policy's implementation year and the technological innovation measure. Further analysis shows that this positive effect is heterogeneous across high-carbon industries and firms with different ownership. In addition, based on the external governance perspective, we find that CET policy performs better in firms in high-carbon industries with a sizable portion of ownership held by institutional investors. This study suggests the effectiveness of CET policy in promoting firms' technological innovation, confirms empirical evidence for Porter's hypothesis, and provides a basis for Chinese firms to achieve their emission reduction targets by improving technological innovation.

Industrial growth, health care policy uncertainty and carbon emissions: Do trade and tax policy uncertainties matter for sustainable development in the USA?

With the increasing policy uncertainties and the need for shielding environmental degradation among countries, understanding the connection between policy uncertainty and carbon emissions becomes necessary. This study aims to explore impacts of policy uncertainties (health care uncertainty, tax and trade policy uncertainties and others) on environmental sustainability. This objective is realized by exploring the symmetric and asymmetric impacts of industrialization and nine types of policy uncertainties on CO2 emissions in the United States of America by using augmented STIRPAT model on monthly data spanning between January 2000 and October 2021. The nature of short-term and long-term effects are explored by using ARDL model along with NARDL and MTNARDL models. The findings reveal that policy uncertainty variables have asymmetric short term and long-term impact on carbon emissions. Furthermore, industrialization reveal negative, while energy consumption shows significant positive impact on CO2 emissions. This study's outcome demands dynamic approaches in carbon emissions policies to incorporate tax, health care, trade, and government policy uncertainties. Policymakers should pay cautious attention to the growing instabilities of different policies irrespective of the economic condition for sustainable development.

Dynamic Scenario Predictions of Peak Carbon Emissions in China’s Construction Industry

As the largest carbon emitter in the world, China aims to reach its peak carbon emissions goal by the year 2030, while the construction industry makes a significant contribution to carbon emissions, directly affecting the country’s commitment to meet its target. The present paper investigates the dynamic characteristics of carbon emissions released by China’s construction industry under single- and multiple-scenario settings with altering economic growth rates, optimizing energy structures, adjusting industrial structures, and modifying carbon emission policy factors. The research results show that the total carbon emissions generally present a steady increase from the year 2000 and will reach 12,880.40 million tons (MT) by 2030 under a scenario without any intervention. Indirect carbon emissions released from associated industries account for over 96% of the total carbon emissions, while direct carbon emissions make a minor contribution to the total. Single and comprehensive scenarios have positive effects on reducing emissions; it was also observed that only under energy structure scenario III and comprehensive scenario III could carbon emissions released from the construction sector reach a peak value by 2030. The effects of emissions reductions as a result of single policies can be presented in the following order: energy structure, economic growth, carbon emissions policy factor, and industrial structure. All of the emissions reduction effects of multiple scenarios are superior to the single scenarios. The research results provide a basis and guidance for policymakers to adopt the correct steps to fulfill China’s aim of achieving peak carbon emissions by the projected date.

Research on the Effect of Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions under the Background of “Double Carbon”

(1) Background: In light of the global economy's digitalization and the "double carbon" target constraint, the digital economy is essential to fostering scientific and technological innovation, green growth, and lowering energy emissions. (2) Methods: This paper measures the digital economic index and carbon emission intensity and analyzes their characteristics in spatial and temporal dimensions using 282 Chinese urban panel data by improving various statistical methods of panel data, such as the entropy method, fixed effect model, multi-period DID model, moderating effect model and intermediary effect model. This paper examines the extent and mechanism of the digital economy's impact on urban carbon emissions. (3) Results: During the sample period, the overall trend of the digital economy in China was one of constant growth, showing an unbalanced distribution pattern of "high in the eastern regions, lower in the central regions and lowest in the western regions" in the spatial dimension. Carbon emissions can be significantly decreased by the digital economy, which has a dynamic effect and an inverted U-shaped trend in its influence. The digital economy plays a significant role in reducing carbon emissions through the rational layout of industrial structures. The transmission mechanisms for the digital economy's goal of reducing carbon emissions include environmental regulation and green technology innovation. (4) Conclusion: The research findings provide a reference for multiple decision makers to better formulate carbon emission policies and realize carbon emission decrease in the digital economy.

Prediction of China’s Carbon Peak Attainment Pathway from Both Production-Side and Consumption-Side Perspectives

To achieve global sustainable development and actively respond to climate change, China, as the world’s largest energy consumer and carbon emitter, needs to save energy and reduce emissions without delay. By constructing LEAP-China production-side and LEAP-China consumption-side models, we predict the carbon emissions of China’s production side and consumption side in different scenarios from 2020 to 2050, respectively. The results show that under the current policies, neither the production side nor consumption side can achieve targeted peak carbon emissions by 2030, which is contrary to China’s current carbon emission policy. Under the sustainable development scenario, China’s production-side CO2 emissions would peak at 10,462.2 Mt in 2029, and China’s consumption-side CO2 emissions would peak 3 years later compared to the production side at 9904.3 Mt in 2032. Therefore, to achieve the peak for both the production and consumption side, we need to coordinate various policies and actively promote industrial restructuring and energy structure optimization. In terms of trade structure, China’s existing import and export trade structure should be adjusted to reduce the export of industrially manufactured goods and increase the proportion of technology-intensive products in foreign trade to realize the transformation from a high-carbon trade structure to a low-carbon trade structure.

Optimizing the operation strategy of a combined cooling, heating and power system based on energy storage technology

Energy storage technology is the key to achieving a carbon emission policy. The purpose of the paper is to improve the overall performance of the combined cooling, heating and power-ground source heat pump (CCHP-GSHP) system by the battery. A new operation strategy (the two-point operation) is proposed by controlling the power generation unit work. The power generation unit has two operation modes of non-operation and rated efficiency operation by the storage electricity battery. The new operation strategy is compared with the traditional CCHP-GSHP that without a battery. The optimization goals include the primary energy saving ratio, the reduction ratio of carbon dioxide emissions, and the annual total cost saving ratio. The independent GSHP system is used as a reference system. Multipopulation genetic algorithms are selected to achieve the problem of optimization. A hotel building is selected for a case study. The optimal configuration of the coupling system is computed following the electric load strategy. Finally, the results show that the CCHP-GSHP system has a better performance under the new operation strategy compared with the traditional CCHP-GSHP (the primary energy saving ratio increases by 5.5%; the annual carbon dioxide emission reduction ratio increases by 1%; the annual total cost reduction ratio increases by 5.1%). This paper provides reference and suggestions for the integration and operation strategy of CCHP-GSHP in the future.

Pipeline sharing: Potential capacity analysis of biofuel transportation through existing pipelines

In response to resource depletion and tightening carbon emissions policies, the product oil is gradually being substituted by biofuels and faced with falling demand. A large number of studies have been done on the optimization of the biofuel supply chain, but few of them have considered the existing petroleum pipelines for policy reasons. Market-based reforms in the oil and gas industry have provided the possibility of pipeline sharing, whereby pipeline owners can use the remaining delivery capacity to transport other liquid fuels that are allowed into the pipeline, such as biofuels, thereby increasing pipeline benefits and reducing biofuel logistics costs. This paper develops a logistics optimization model considering multi-product pipeline scheduling from the perspective of biofuel suppliers and proposes a pipe-rail transportation mode to assess the optimization potential of logistics costs. Finally, this paper verifies the feasibility of the proposed approach using a logistics system in a region of China as a practical case study and conducts a sensitivity analysis on whether changes in the demand for product oil and biofuels affect the choice of pipeline opening location, concluding that there is no effect within a 4-fold increase in biofuel production and a 0.78-fold decrease in product oil demand.

Uncertainty in Future Projections of Precipitation Decline over Mesopotamia

Abstract For millennia, Mesopotamia was blessed by enough water supplied by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. However, the dwindling freshwater resource is no longer enough. In the future, climate change coupled with a growing population could considerably exacerbate the current water deficit. Based on simulations by carefully selected global and regional climate models, we conclude that these river basins may possibly face further water shortages (mainly due to a reduction in spring-season precipitation) in the next few decades (2021–50) under a scenario of high emissions of greenhouse gases. However, there is no consensus among models regarding these near-term (2021–50) projections of change in precipitation, and society is likely to face the challenge of how to prepare for this uncertain future. The story is different for the late decades of this century: we project, with significantly more confidence, a robust decrease in wet-season (winter to spring) precipitation over the headwaters of these river basins, worsening future water deficits and implying a century-long drying trend over Mesopotamia. Possible physical mechanisms are proposed and discussed. As global warming progresses, higher sea level pressure, centered on the Mediterranean Sea, will likely make upstream storms less frequent and weaker, leading to drying over Mesopotamia. Further, projections show a poleward migration of the fewer Mediterranean storm tracks, decreasing the frequency of storms that penetrate into Mesopotamia. Implementing a global net-zero carbon emissions policy by midcentury could mitigate the severity of the projected droughts in this region.

Carbon emission reduction policy with privatization in an oligopoly model.

This study constructs a mixed oligopoly model that includes a public enterprise and two private enterprises. Game theory was adopted to explore the effects of carbon emission reduction policies. In addition, this study analyzes the optimal carbon emission trading prices and privatization decisions. The results show that the proportion of state-owned shares and the equity efficiency gap affect the equilibrium results for different carbon emission policies. Privatization increases the profits of public firms but does not necessarily increase social welfare. Different carbon emission reduction policies have different effects on the equilibrium results. Moreover, the emission reduction target is not completely consistent with the maximum social welfare target and should be comprehensively considered. The government can intervene by setting carbon emission trading prices and making privatization decisions. Full and partial privatization may be optimal decisions.

Study on Summer Overheating of Residential Buildings in the Severe Cold Region of China in View of Climate Change

Due to global warming, the overheating risk in the severe cold region of China has attracted attention, but so far, no studies have examined summer overheating in this region. This paper aims to reveal the overheating risk in recent and future climates in the severe cold region of China. An 18-storey residential building in the severe cold region of China was monitored from May to September 2021 to validate the simulation data of the indoor temperature. Weather files of the typical meteorological year (TMY) from 2007 to 2020, observations in 2021, and forecasts for the climate in different carbon emission scenarios (2030, 2060) were used to simulate the indoor temperature and assess the overheating risk. The results revealed the severity of the overheating risk; the overheating hours in the south-facing bedroom were recorded as 884 h (24.07%) with the TMY weather data and 1043 h (28.40%) in 2030 and 1719 h (46.81%) in 2060 under the RCP8.5 carbon emission scenario. Thus, the low carbon emissions policy may significantly alleviate overheating. Moreover, to cope with climate change, it is suggested that the Chinese local design standards should consider the summer overheating risk and make the necessary adjustments.

Inventory models for deteriorating items with fixed lifetime, partial backordering and carbon emissions policies

In this study, a sustainable inventory model is devised to obtain the retailer’s optimal pricing and replenishment policies for degrading items having a certain lifetime incorporating partial back order as a shortage and dynamic demand under two different scenarios (a) carbon cap and trade policy (b) carbon tax policy. The primary objective of this study is to maximize the retailer’s annual total profit. The retailer’s profit function has been optimized with the help of convexity/concavity criteria employing classical optimization techniques. Based on a real case study, two different numerical examples and corresponding optimal solutions have been shown for both models with the help of Lingo 17 software. Moreover, the impact of the major inventory parameters and prominent managerial insights are presented for the robustness of the proposed model that can cooperate with industrial managers/decision-makers for the overall improvement of his/her industry to take effective and qualitative decisions.