Whether used as an alternative fuel or a clean feedstock, renewable hydrogen (H2) could facilitate the deep decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors, which is essential to meet China's carbon neutrality target. Nevertheless, the nationwide H2 backbone networks required have not yet been fully investigated. Employing a techno-economic analysis of solar photovoltaic and wind power on a scale of 1 km combined with source-sink matching among potential multisectoral H2 hubs, this study develops a decision support system (dubbed China Shared Hydrogen Infrastructure Network Enabler (SHINE)) to explore renewable H2 layouts commensurate with China's climate ambition, accounting for varying degrees of H2 demand and reuse of oil and gas pipeline corridors. Given total H2 demand scenarios of 54, 77, and 100 Mt/yr in 2060, the total length of the proposed trunkline networks will reach roughly 11,700, 18,300, and 29,900 km, with a levelized cost of production and transport of 1.55, 1.62, and 1.72 USD/kg, respectively. Additionally, by incorporating the spatial heterogeneities and sectoral disparities of H2 deployment expansion into the model, distinct policy instruments can be crafted for the shared nationwide H2 network.

The reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction is crucial for CO2 utilization toward carbon neutrality. However, its efficiency under mild conditions is limited by low-temperature activity and rapid deactivation from metal sintering in conventional catalysts, including the cost-effective but thermally unstable Cu-based systems. In this work, the introduction of Mn into CuZnAl catalysts was demonstrated to significantly enhance their performance in the low-temperature RWGS reaction by promoting more oxygen vacancy formation. MnCuZnAl-Red catalysts achieve superior 26% CO2 conversion and 98% CO selectivity at 400 °C, with a CO formation rate of 422 mmol gcat-1 h-1. Characterization confirms that Mn enhances CO2 adsorption and activation by generating abundant oxygen vacancies. In-situ Fourier infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy reveals a surface associative pathway. This work highlights Mn's role in enhancing RWGS activity through tailored oxygen chemistry.

Understanding the spatiotemporal impacts of land use transition on carbon emissions is crucial for achieving regional carbon neutrality. This study presents an integrated analytical framework that combines dynamic land use modeling, the Geo-detector method (GDM), and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) to analyze land use transition and carbon emission dynamics in China's Pearl River Delta (PRD) from 2000 to 2020. Key findings include: (1) Construction land expansion was the dominant explicit transition, with land conversion sources shifting from cropland-centric patterns to diverse transfers involving woodland and water bodies. (2) The implicit land use transition index exhibited an annual growth rate of 15.6%, progressing through three phases-rapid development (2000-2010), structural adjustment (2010-2015), and high-quality transition (2015-2020). (3) Regional carbon emissions increased by 186.96%, exhibiting spatial disparities between core and peripheral regions. Construction land expansion and GDP density were primary drivers. This research advances the theoretical integration of land system science and low-carbon governance, offering actionable insights for spatially differentiated emission reduction strategies in megacity clusters.

Coastal salt marshes (CSMs) are vital blue carbon (BC) reservoirs, yet accurately quantifying their gross primary productivity (GPP) remains challenging due to limitations in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs), which often overlook coastal-specific processes. Here, we present SAL-GPP, a process-based model that incorporates coastal-specific modules to capture the effects of salinity and temperature stress on photosynthesis, as well as light-use efficiency across salinity gradients in diverse CSM plant species. Model validation showed strong agreement with observations, with R2 of 0.82 and model efficiencies of 0.82 and 0.74 for daily and seasonal GPP, respectively. Driven with global inputs, SAL-GPP produced high-resolution global simulations, yielding a mean annual GPP of 66.89 ± 11.68 TgC yr-1 (2011-2020), with 64% concentrated in key hotspots across the southeastern United States, western Europe, southeastern China, and Australia. From 2011 to 2016, global CSM GPP increased by 1.56 TgC yr-1, then declined, rebounded after 2018, and peaked at 71.45 ± 12.02 TgC yr-1 in 2020. Model evaluation showed that SAL-GPP outperformed existing remote sensing-based GPP products and TBMs at both site and grid levels. By explicitly incorporating coastal ecosystem dynamics, SAL-GPP supports global BC accounting and climate mitigation strategies aligned with nature-based solutions for carbon neutrality.

ABSTRACT Electrocatalysis powered by renewable electricity is a promising strategy for clean energy transformation and achieving carbon neutrality goals. In resource molecules conversion (e.g., CO 2 and NO 3 − ), electrolytes serve multiple roles as reaction media, proton donors, and mass‐transport carriers, with their composition and physicochemical properties exerting a significant influence on reaction pathways, intermediate stability, and product selectivity. Most research endeavors have predominantly concentrated on catalyst design, often oversimplifying electrolytes as inert backgrounds. This minireview proposes a classification framework for electrolyte effects into short‐, medium‐, and long‐range interactions, highlighting their active regulatory roles at electrified interfaces. A comprehensive overview is provided of recent advancements in methodologies for investigating solvent effects, accompanied by an in‐depth analysis of representative electrocatalytic systems. This analysis elucidates how the composition of electrolytes influences molecular‐level elementary reaction steps, the dynamic reorganization and equilibrium of the interfacial microenvironment, as well as macroscopic catalytic performance, through a variety of distinct mechanisms. Finally, the key challenges and opportunities are also discussed, emphasizing electrolyte engineering as a strategic tool to reshape reaction environments and accelerate the practical deployment of electrocatalytic technologies.

Electrocatalysis powered by renewable electricity is a promising strategy for clean energy transformation and achieving carbon neutrality goals. In resource molecules conversion (e.g., CO2 and NO3 -), electrolytes serve multiple roles as reaction media, proton donors, and mass-transport carriers, with their composition and physicochemical properties exerting a significant influence on reaction pathways, intermediate stability, and product selectivity. Most research endeavors have predominantly concentrated on catalyst design, often oversimplifying electrolytes as inert backgrounds. This minireview proposes a classification framework for electrolyte effects into short-, medium-, and long-range interactions, highlighting their active regulatory roles at electrified interfaces. A comprehensive overview is provided of recent advancements in methodologies for investigating solvent effects, accompanied by an in-depth analysis of representative electrocatalytic systems. This analysis elucidates how the composition of electrolytes influences molecular-level elementary reaction steps, the dynamic reorganization and equilibrium of the interfacial microenvironment, as well as macroscopic catalytic performance, through a variety of distinct mechanisms. Finally, the key challenges and opportunities are also discussed, emphasizing electrolyte engineering as a strategic tool to reshape reaction environments and accelerate the practical deployment of electrocatalytic technologies.

Tourism's link to the Sustainable Development Goals has been a continuing emphasis, adding momentum to long-standing efforts to ensure tourism's sustainability. Tourism transport is one of the largest sources of anthropogenic carbon emissions, driving global ecological change with profound consequences for ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Large-scale infrastructure projects such as railway expansion are increasingly promoted for their potential to reduce tourism-related carbon dioxide emissions, yet their spatial ecological impacts on regional carbon cycles and ecosystem services remain poorly understood. This study introduces the concept of Tourism Transport Ecological Efficiency (TTEE) to assess the relationship between human infrastructure, carbon emissions, and ecological sustainability. Using panel data from China's railway expansion between 2011 and 2018, the study provides spatially explicit evidence of how transport infrastructure shapes tourism's ecological footprint. Results show that non-Eastern regions experienced a greater increase in TTEE (8.7%) compared to Eastern regions (5.5%), highlighting regional disparities in tourism transport ecological sustainability. Railway density had a significant positive direct effect on TTEE, particularly pronounced in non-Eastern regions. Additionally, a significant indirect effect of railway density in nearby regions was identified. These findings reveal the interconnected ecological impacts of transport systems and underscore the importance of regionally targeted railway investment strategies. By bridging infrastructure development with ecological processes, this study advances understanding of how tourism transport can be aligned with global carbon reduction goals and ecosystem protection.

In the context of globalization, variations in carbon emission intensity and economic growth rates exhibit not only direct, reciprocal effects within individual countries but also indirect transmission mechanisms across regions and nations. Employing the Global Vector Autoregressive (GVAR) model and utilizing quarterly data from 33 countries—including 8 Eurozone members—spanning from the first quarter of 1990 to the fourth quarter of 2019, this paper demonstrates that major global economies continue to exhibit salient features of low-carbon economic development. Specifically, reductions in carbon emission intensity in developed countries frequently exert adverse spillover effects on the economic growth rates of other nations. In response to negative economic shocks, numerous countries increase their carbon emission intensity as a countercyclical measure, while others reduce emissions—potentially reflecting that they have surpassed the turning point posited by the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). These findings highlight that advancing low-carbon economic development requires sustained improvements in production technologies and energy efficiency, alongside strengthened international cooperation in carbon emissions management, in order to alleviate the additional costs arising from the asynchronous progression of global carbon reduction efforts.

ABSTRACT The ‘promotion tournament’ constitutes a hierarchical incentive mechanism wherein superior governments incentivize subordinate officials by conditioning career advancement on demonstrably outperforming their peers, thereby securing recognition and upward mobility within the administrative hierarchy. This study introduces the novel theoretical construct of ‘climate promotion tournaments’ – a conceptual innovation examining whether competitive intergovernmental dynamics can be harnessed to foster collaborative governance between central and local governments. Employing a mixed-methods approach that synthesizes empirical extensive field studies with systematic documentary analysis, we formulate an evolutionary game model to rigorously analyze strategic interactions, behavioral dynamics, and equilibrium stability under China’s carbon neutrality policy implementation. Results indicate that an ideal equilibrium involves the central government effectively advancing the climate promotion tournaments, while local governments actively engage in these tournaments. Economic capacity and promotion prospects are two key factors in central-local dynamics within climate promotion tournaments. As the economy grows faster and promotion prospects increase, the central and local governments become more active in advancing climate promotion tournaments, which in turn makes it easier to form collaborative governance. The findings validate the efficacy of climate promotion tournaments in fostering central-local collaborative governance, while also extending theoretical frameworks and practical insights to improve carbon neutrality policy implementation.

ABSTRACT Balancing ecosystem‐service supply and demand is central to understanding both the natural and social dimensions of ecosystem services and to enhancing human well‐beings. Concurrently, collaborative efforts are underway to improve multiple ecosystem services, including the promotion of carbon neutrality and water purification (WP) within basin regions. Here, we quantified the WP and carbon sequestration (CS) of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) and explored the driving mechanism of two ecosystem services from the perspective of supply and demand. The results reveal that CS and WP of TGRA have generally achieved a balance between supply and demand over the past 30 years. WP‐supply showed a significant decline (−6.25 × 10 2 t/year), while CS‐supply exhibited steady growth (20.27 × 10 4 tC/year). WP‐demand experienced a slight reduction (−8.42 × 10 2 t/year), whereas CS‐demand increased sharply (73.7 × 10 4 tC/year). Spatial analysis indicated that both CS and WP supply–demand reachability peaked in regions exceeding 1000 m in elevation and 25° in slope. WP exhibited strong spatial clustering, with high–high agglomerations predominantly located in the central Yangtze and southwestern areas, and low–low clusters concentrated in northern and southern zones. However, CS exhibited distinct spatial variation, featuring high–low zones in the east and low–high zones in the southwest. Climate factors significantly enhanced WP‐supply (0.41) and WP‐demand (0.54) but inhibited both CS‐supply (−0.11) and CS‐demand (−0.05). Socioeconomic factors are positively related to CS‐demand (0.94) while negatively impacting CS‐supply (−0.38). Soil factors exerted a positive influence on CS‐supply (0.35) but a negative effect on WP‐supply (−0.37). Moreover, management strategies in the TGRA should integrate spatially targeted measures for WP to address local supply–demand gaps, along with a spatially regulated regional “cap and trade” mechanism to sustain CS surplus. Supported by vegetation restoration and coordinated water–carbon governance, this approach can strengthen WP–CS synergies.

Data centers have become a core contributor to global digital carbon emissions, with their carbon footprint growing 19% annually alongside the expansion of AI and cloud services. Traditional carbon accounting methods are either trapped in macro-level rough calculation based on Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) or limited to micro-level hardware power consumption measurement, failing to establish a traceable correlation between chip-level energy behavior and datacenter-wide carbon emissions. To address this gap, this study proposes a Hierarchical Coupling Carbon Emission Estimation Model (HCCEEM) that integrates physical modeling and graph neural network (GNN)-based statistical aggregation. The model constructs a four-level traceability chain spanning board (chip), server node, rack cluster, and campus datacenter, and introduces a real-time load adaptation module to capture dynamic workload impacts. Validated on a 14-month dataset from a heterogeneous cloud datacenter, HCCEEM achieves an estimation accuracy of 95.7%, reducing mean absolute error (MAE) by 27.1% and 19.3% compared to PUE-based models and single-level machine learning models respectively. Moreover, the model realizes fine-grained attribution of carbon contributions across levels, revealing that chip-level dynamic power consumption drives 65.2% of server emissions, and rack-level cooling losses account for 33.8% of datacenter emissions. This research provides an interpretable, scalable tool for targeted carbon reduction, bridging the gap between hardware-level optimization and datacenter-wide carbon management. Specifically, HCCEEM exhibits remarkable applicability in high-load scenarios such as large language model (LLM) training and inference, where it can reduce carbon accounting errors by over 30% compared to conventional methods. For small and medium-sized datacenters with limited monitoring resources, the model’s modular design allows lightweight deployment by simplifying partial hierarchical modules without significant accuracy loss. Additionally, the hierarchical contribution quantification function of HCCEEM can directly support enterprises’ carbon disclosure and compliance reporting, aligning with the carbon neutrality requirements of the digital industry in various regions.

Hydrogen is a key energy carrier for achieving carbon neutrality, yet its widespread deployment is hindered by challenges associated with efficient hydrogen production, safe and reversible hydrogen storage, and hydrogen-induced embrittlement. Severe plastic deformation processes, particularly high-pressure torsion (HPT), have emerged as a powerful approach capable of addressing these challenges through extreme grain refinement, defect engineering, phase stabilization far from equilibrium, and synthesis of novel materials. This article reviews the impact of HPT on hydrogen-related materials, covering hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen embrittlement resistance. For hydrogen production, HPT enables the synthesis of nanostructured, defect-rich, and compositionally complex compounds, including high-entropy oxides and oxynitrides, which exhibit enhanced hydrolytic, electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, photoelectrocatalytic, and photoreforming performance. For hydrogen storage, HPT fundamentally modifies hydrogenation activation and kinetics, and modifies thermodynamics by hydrogen binding energy engineering, enabling reversible hydrogen storage at room temperature in systems such as Mg-based and high-entropy alloys. For hydrogen embrittlement resistance, HPT under optimized conditions suppresses hydrogen-assisted fracture by engineering ultrafine grains and defects (vacancies, dislocations, Lomer–Cottrell locks, D-Frank partial dislocations, stacking faults, twins, and grain boundaries) that control hydrogen diffusion, trapping, and strain localization. By integrating insights across these three domains, this article highlights HPT as a transformative strategy for developing next-generation hydrogen materials and identifies key opportunities for future research at the intersection of severe plastic deformation and hydrogen technologies.

The transportation sector, as a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions, demands urgent attention to align its decarbonization with national carbon neutrality agendas. Existing research disproportionately focuses on quantifying TCE (transportation CO2 emissions) and mapping their spatio-temporal distributions. However, the evolutionary trajectories and sequential peaking dynamics of TCE across different national contexts remain unclear. To address this question, this study was conducted. A global comparative analysis of 115 countries was conducted, establishing a four-stage TCE development typology through three metrics: TCE intensity (A), per capita TCE (B), and total TCE (C). The analysis revealed a universal A → B → C peaking sequence, with Stage II (A to B transition) exhibiting a significantly prolonged duration (mean = 8.37years) compared to Stage III (B to C transition; mean = 2.12years). Developed economies predominantly occupy Stage IV, while developing countries cluster in Stage II and Stage III. Regionally, North American countries demonstrated extended durations in both stages, exceeding global averages. Regression analysis indicated that socioeconomic indicators have limited explanatory power in predicting stage durations, underscoring the individualized nature of TCE progression across nations. This study contributes by revealing the unified and diverse peak patterns of three core TCE indicators at national levels, while addressing a critical gap in global emission reduction strategies through cross-economy analysis. The findings confirm a predictable evolution in TCE across most nations but highlight significant variations between developed and developing economies. The prolonged duration of Stage II compared to Stage III suggests a more challenging transition phase for many countries. Moreover, the limited influence of standard socioeconomic metrics on stage durations emphasizes the need for nuanced, country-specific approaches to emissions transitions. The study proposes targeted TCE reduction measures differentiated by development stage and transportation sub-sector, providing scientific guidance for policy formulations.

The glass industry faces significant challenges in achieving carbon neutrality due to its reliance on fossil fuels and process-related CO2 emissions from raw material decomposition. While most defossilization efforts focus on CO2-neutral heating, batch-related emissions remain largely unaddressed. This study investigates a closed carbon cycle approach for glass manufacturing by integrating carbon capture and utilization (CCU) with power-to-gas technologies. The proposed process captures both combustion- and batch-related CO2 emissions and converts them into synthetic natural gas using renewable hydrogen. The techno-economic model, based on a typical oxy-fuel container glass furnace (300 t per day) and current (2022) German market conditions, covers all key process steps: flue gas cleaning, CO2 separation, hydrogen production via electrolysis, and methanation. Results show that more than 99 % of scope 1 emissions and about 62% of scope 1+2 emissions can be abated. However, the process is associated with high energy demand and costs, with energy supply alone amounting to €559 (2022) per metric ton glass at an electricity price of €60 per MWh. The cost of CO2 abatement is estimated at €1132 (2022) per metric ton. While all process steps are based on established industrial technologies, the overall economic viability remains highly sensitive to electricity prices and further technological improvements. The approach is especially relevant for high-quality glass production with low cullet content and in regions with abundant renewable electricity.

Achieving net-zero emissions requires not only technological transitions but also changes in everyday lifestyle choices. Although many governments promote green lifestyle behaviors, few studies quantify how much carbon reduction different behaviors can realistically achieve. This study develops the Green Lifestyle Economic Behavior (GLEB) Model, a consumption-based framework that uses Taiwan’s data to estimate carbon emissions associated with dietary consumption. By decomposing emissions into two components – consumption quantity and carbon intensity – we evaluate multiple dietary behavioral scenarios. The results show that, when accounting for both per-capita carbon reduction and the likelihood of widespread adoption, eating locally and seasonally and choosing unprocessed foods offer the highest aggregate reduction potential. The GLEB Model provides a systematic method for governments to prioritize lifestyle-based mitigation policies and identify high-impact behavioral interventions. The findings demonstrate that individual actions matter; targeted behavioral changes can unlock meaningful carbon reductions with minimal disruption to daily life.

The widespread presence of pharmaceuticals and antibiotics in aquatic environments poses a serious ecological and public health risk, necessitating effective removal strategies. This study investigates a Z-scheme Ag/Ag₃PO₄/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst for the simultaneous photodegradation of sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, naproxen, and diclofenac under visible light, a topic that has not been previously reported. The photocatalyst was comprehensively characterized using XRD, XPS, FTIR, BET, FESEM-EDX, TEM, EIS, PL, and DRS. Among the synthesized variants, Ag/Ag₃PO₄/g-C₃N₄ (80%) exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency. Optimal operational parameters (pH 6, 30min irradiation, and 1.170g L⁻¹ catalyst dosage) were established using response surface methodology based on a central composite design. Under these conditions, complete pollutant removal was achieved, with a total organic carbon (TOC) reduction of 88.62% after 180min. Kinetic studies followed a pseudo-first-order model, and scavenger tests identified photogenerated holes (h⁺) as the dominant reactive species. Transformation products were identified using LC/MS. The photocatalyst retained high activity after five reuse cycles, confirming its stability and reusability. The superior performance is attributed to the Z-scheme mechanism and silver-induced surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The integration of advanced nanostructuring, heterojunction interface engineering, and statistical optimization enables efficient degradation of pharmaceutical mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations in real water samples, highlighting its strong potential for sustainable water purification applications.

Sustainable N, P co-doped hierarchical porous carbon via coupling phytic acid-melamine assisted hydrothermal carbonization with high temperature activation.

Cities are among the major consumers of environmental resources and contribute significantly to the degradation of many ecosystems. For this reason, the European Union is prioritising the transformation of the role of European cities to become key actors in enabling sustainable and efficient urban systems. Part of this effort is enacted through the Mission “Cities,” that guides cities in developing Climate City Contracts (CCC), which are innovative governance instruments that outline municipalities’ collaborative and systemic plans to reach climate neutrality. This article examines how 102 Mission Cities across Europe plan to reach climate neutrality by 2030, by analysing the selection of typologies of actions included in their CCCs. Results reveal distinct regional patterns in how municipalities design their portfolios of climate actions in key topics: an integrated and diversified combination of sectoral measures and governance innovations in Northern and Western Europe, a focus on upgrading core infrastructures in Central and Eastern Europe, and prioritisation of interventions in mobility and the Built Environment in Southern Europe. These findings provide insights for policy and planning strategies, and highlight countries that progress faster in specific topics and those that still face relevant barriers.

A novel slurry co-pyrolysis process for hydrogen production from polypropylene and waste motor oil based on a synergistic mechanism.

Insights into the environmental performance of nature-based wastewater technologies towards water and carbon neutrality.