Carbon Reduction Commitment Research Articles

International Response to Urge United States’ Carbon Reduction Commitment on Willow Project

A large oil drilling project located in Alaska, United States, called Willow aims to explore significant oil reserves. Although the project is intended to increase fossil fuel production in the region, its impacts have raised concerns worldwide because of its potential to produce significant carbon emissions. These emissions could exacerbate climate change worldwide and threaten local Alaskan ecosystems, including flora and fauna that are vulnerable to noise and air pollution. These effects could also disrupt nearby communities that rely heavily on a clean and healthy environment. The Willow Project’s compliance with international environmental law—specifically the Paris Agreement—is evaluated through case study and normative juridical methods. One of the responsibilities of signatory countries to this agreement is to reduce carbon emissions that will limit global warming. The findings show that the Willow Project is in conflict with this commitment and shows that the United States is not on board with its efforts to combat climate change. In addition, the study examines how the Willow Project impacts human rights, particularly the right to a clean environment. Many issues relate to transparency and accountability because the public is not sufficiently involved in the decision-making process of the project. The results of this study confirm that stricter international regulations must be implemented and greater oversight is needed for high-risk energy projects. Therefore, the international community must push for decisive action to ensure environmental sustainability and human rights protection in the future.

How does urbanization impact China's carbon emissions: A regional heterogeneity perspective.

In the context of China's green development and "dual carbon" goal, urbanization, as a way to achieve Chinese modernization, has a particularly important effect on green and low-carbon economic development. Firstly, this paper empirically analyzed the influence of urbanization on per capita carbon emissions using Chinese city data and a panel fixed-effects model. Then, the impact mechanisms of urbanization on carbon emissions were examined from both the demand and supply sides. Finally, we analyzed the differences in the transmission mechanisms of urbanization affecting carbon emissions in the eastern, central, and western regions. The results show that (1) urbanization increases per capita carbon emissions. However, this effect shows inter-regional differences, with more significant promotion effects in the eastern and central regions; (2) on the demand side, the residents' consumption intensity can drive carbon emissions, while the rise of human capital agglomeration suppresses carbon emissions; on the supply side, industrial structure can drive carbon emissions, while the increase of green technological innovation suppresses carbon emissions; (3) the consumption effect and the industry effect play a major role in the eastern and central regions, while the intermediary effect is not obvious in the western region. This study can provide important insights for synergizing urbanization and achieving carbon reduction commitments.

Specialized, diversified agglomeration and CO2 emissions —An empirical study based on panel data of Chinese cities

Taking proactive steps to control carbon emissions (CO2) in the industrial sector is crucial for meeting the “30.60” carbon reduction commitment expediently. This study meticulously investigates the correlation and underlying mechanisms between industrial agglomeration and CO2 emissions, employing the fixed-effect model and regulatory-effect model across 283 cities from 2006 to 2019.The findings reveal the following: Firstly, specialized agglomeration exacerbates CO2 emissions, while diversified agglomeration substantially contributes to their reduction. Notably, the carbon reduction effect of industrial diversification is particularly pronounced in the southern region, carbon peak region, and industrial transfer region. Secondly, delving into mechanisms uncovers that specialized agglomeration's exacerbating effect stems from labor misallocation, whereas diversified agglomeration mitigates CO2 emissions by enhancing both labor and capital allocation. Thirdly, regarding spatial spillover effects, specialized agglomeration not only increases CO2 emissions locally but also elevates nearby emissions, whereas diverse agglomeration not only reduces local CO2 emissions but also radiates carbon reduction in adjacent areas. To fully realize the benefits of agglomeration in reducing carbon emissions and promoting regional development, the government should thus support diversified agglomeration, remove any barriers preventing the flow of production factors, and fortify interregional industrial division and cooperation.

Can the Energy Internet promote China's energy system to achieve carbon emission peak goal?

Energy Internet (EI) is typically characterized by digitalization and clean energy that seeks to revolutionize the energy system and reduce carbon emissions. Even though several scholars conclude that EI accelerates the clean energy transition of energy system, since the controversial relationship between digitalization and energy consumption in academia, current studies on the carbon emission reduction advantages of the EI are still in dispute. This paper employs the effect of EI's construction on the carbon emission peak goal of China's energy system based on the system dynamics model and different scenarios. The simulation results find that: (1) the construction of the EI could enable China's energy system to meet the carbon reduction commitment in 2028, with a carbon emission peak of 11.61 billion tons; (2) As digitalization and clean energy become more extensively employed, rising energy demand is satisfied by the manner of consuming low-carbon electricity energy. This is thought to be the primary factor that could promote China to achieve the carbon peak goal earlier than expected; (3) The advancement of digitalization has further promoted the decoupling of China's economic growth from carbon emissions. It is projected that China's energy system will still achieve the carbon peak goal by 2030 when the expected annual GDP growth rate is increased to 6.32%, 5.75%, and 4.6% for the years 2020–2025, 2026–2030, and 2031–2035, respectively. These findings might provide a new perspective for quantitative research on the environmental outcomes of the EI and the relationship between environmental improvement and economic growth.

Corporate Sustainable Growth, Carbon Performance, and Voluntary Carbon Information Disclosure: New Panel Data Evidence for Chinese Listed Companies

At present, to comply with carbon reduction commitments, China has only required energy-intensive enterprises to report their carbon information to regulators, aside from mandatory public disclosures. Although some enterprises have been disclosing their own carbon information voluntarily by means of corporate reports in order to shape their green image, their carbon information disclosures (CID) still need to be improved. This study attempts to systematically investigate links between corporate growth, carbon emission (CEP) or reduction performance (CRP) in two forms (intensity and amount), and CID in industries with different carbon intensities on the basis of stakeholder theory as well as legitimacy theory. This study took Chinese companies listed on the main board market from 2009 to 2021 as samples. The Arellano–Bover/Blundell–Bond dynamic panel data model was used for regression analysis. Results showed that sustainable growth enhanced the promotion effect of CEP (both in terms of intensity and amount) on CID in carbon-intensive industries, while sustainable growth enhanced the inhibition effect of CEP measured in terms of amount, rather than intensity, on CID in low-carbon industries. This revealed that CEP, not CRP, had a significant influence on CID, and uncovered the influence mechanism between carbon performance and CID from the perspective of sustainable enterprise growth. The carbon information disclosure of high-carbon industries is closely and positively related to carbon performance, indicating that the interaction between high-carbon industries and capital markets will be more affected by the mitigation of carbon information asymmetry. Further, circulating A-shares are moderators for better CID in both carbon-intensive industries and low-carbon industries, which fits the expectation of stakeholder theory as well as legitimacy theory. Additionally, measurement habits or preference for carbon emissions performance (in the form of amount or intensity) in different industries should be brought to the forefront to enhance investors’ confidence in CID. This study has certain guiding value for the formulation of CID standards and contributes to the process of mandatory CID.

Ecological value of mariculture shellfish resources in China: Assessment and management

Under the background of global climate change and carbon reduction commitment, it is of great significance to study the ecological value of mariculture shellfish resources. China is the largest country in terms of mariculture shellfish. In this study, the ecological value of mariculture shellfish in China was dynamically evaluated after determining the shellfish ecological value composition and the value calculation coefficients. On this basis, the dynamic characteristics of the mariculture shellfish ecological values during 2010–2019 were revealed, as well as the economic problems and reasons behind. The study results indicated that the average ecological value of mariculture shellfish in China showed an overall upward trend. The core values of mariculture shellfish are carbon sequestration and water purification, which displayed an increasing trend. The habitat value of mariculture shellfish showed a significant downward trend because of the reduction of aquaculture area and the increase of aquaculture density. Additionally, the increase in the heavy metal enrichment value was due to the rising production of mariculture shellfish and the rising price of processing heavy metals in China. Therefore, innovative management policies were proposed including introducing a third-party independent consultant, building a carbon-sink shellfish demonstration zone, improving a carbon-sink market transaction mechanism, establishing a nitrogen credit market, and controlling the full-cycle management of mariculture shellfish based on biotechnology and blockchain technology. It was hoped to promote the healthy development of the mariculture shellfish industry and make China's contribution to the world's carbon emission reduction.

Unveiling China’s Overseas Photovoltaic Power Stations in Pakistan under Low-Carbon Transition

Under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, renewable energy projects gradually receive due attention, among which the photovoltaic power stations in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park represents the most typical power stations in Pakistan. The construction and development processes of the photovoltaic power stations are divided into three stages, with enterprises involved including TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis Co., Ltd., Urumqi, China and Zonergy Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Zigong, China. The development model of the photovoltaic power stations changed from engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) plus operation and maintenance (O&M) mode to the Build–Own–Operate (BOO) mode. Through solar power generation and marginal emission factors of photovoltaic power stations, the cumulative electricity generation during the operation period can reach nearly 40.09 billion kWh, and the cumulative emission reduction potential of photovoltaic power stations can reach 23.82 Mt CO2-eq. Based on the multi-stage construction of photovoltaic power stations in the solar park, the land, infrastructure, and transmission facilities could be arranged to simplify the procedures and attract overseas investment. The construction and development model of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park could provide a reference for the promotion of low-carbon transition, the adjustment of traditional energy structures, the fulfillment of carbon reduction commitments, and the mitigation of climate change, which could provide policy implications for renewable energy development and low-carbon transition in Pakistan.

Regional differential decomposition and the formation mechanism of the dynamic carbon emissions efficiency of industrial energy in China

Industrial carbon emissions efficiency requires a balance between economic development and carbon reduction to be achieved through structural adjustment and technological change, which is the key to low-carbon economic development and the essence of China’s carbon reduction commitment. Existing research has focused more on static carbon emission efficiency and provides insufficient analysis of the internal causes of inter-regional differences in carbon emission efficiency. This paper aims to fill this gap in the existing research. The data of 30 provinces in China, obtained from the Chinese Official Statistical Yearbook, were taken as the sample. We accurately measured the dynamic carbon emission efficiency of industrial energy (DCEEIE) in China by combining the three-stage slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis (SBM-DEA) model and the Malmquist-Luenberger model. This study further uses Dagum’s Gini coefficient decomposition and the panel vector auto regression (PVAR) model to empirically estimate regional differences in DCEEIE and the effects of its internal structure. The results show, first, that DCEEIE in China is increasing, and that overall energy efficiency is at a high level. Although both efficiency change and technological change are fundamental to efficiency, an attenuation of efficiency and a diffusion of technology are evident. Second, the total Gini coefficients of dynamic efficiency, efficiency change (EC), and technological change (TC) are all decreasing; regional differences and transvariation intensity are the main reasons for long-term gaps. Third, TC improves dynamic efficiency in the initial stages, but the main driving force in the long run is EC. The limitation of this paper is that we do not fully discuss the external factors which might impact TC and EC, nor do we continue the discussion on how to transform the energy mix by improving carbon efficiency, which is the future direction for green development. These issues represent avenues for future research.

Using Virtual Choreographies to Identify Office Users’ Behaviors to Target Behavior Change Based on Their Potential to Impact Energy Consumption

Reducing office buildings’ energy consumption can contribute significantly towards carbon reduction commitments since it represents ∼40% of total energy consumption. Major components of this are lighting, electrical equipment, heating, and central cooling systems. Solid evidence demonstrates that individual occupants’ behaviors impact these energy consumption components. In this work, we propose the methodology of using virtual choreographies to identify and prioritize behavior-change interventions for office users based on the potential impact of specific behaviors on energy consumption. We studied the energy-related office behaviors of individuals by combining three sources of data: direct observations, electricity meters, and computer logs. Data show that there are behaviors with significant consumption impact but with little potential for behavioral change, while other behaviors have substantial potential for lowering energy consumption via behavioral change.

Optimizing future electric power sector considering water-carbon policies in the water-scarce North China Grid

The North China Grid has the highest proportion of fossil fuel-based electricity generation in China and also suffers from severe water scarcity issues. This study uses a multi-objective optimization model to explore future configurations of generating and cooling technologies of the electric power sector in the North China Grid subject to constraints imposed by existing policies on water conservation and carbon reduction in 2030. Our findings highlight that the current carbon reduction commitments of China do not have significant impacts on the North China Grid's electric power sector development while policies in the water sector generate much larger impacts. Imposing water constraint according to the ‘Three Red Line’ Policy requires increasing utilization of wind power and air cooling systems, which simultaneously increases economic cost and carbon emissions compared to the business as usual scenario. Imposing enhanced carbon emission and water consumption constraints reap the co-benefits of carbon reduction and water conservation by increasing the proportion of solar PV generation to 8.21%, which increases the unit electricity cost from RMB 0.82 per kWh to RMB 1.37 per kWh. In 2030, electricity generation in the North China Grid generates 1599.88 to 1690.89 million tons (Mt) of carbon emissions under different scenarios whereas imposing water constraint reduces water consumption from 3.34 billion m3 to 1.94 billion m3.

Stylized agent-based modeling on linking emission trading systems and its implications for China's practice

Abstract China established a national emission trading system (ETS) to peak its carbon emission around 2030, building on the experience of pilot ETSs that are planned to be linked. Firms are the main entities that conduct carbon reduction and allowance trading. Due to the heterogeneity in the initial stock of technologies, firms' abatement costs differ, resulting in different abatement activities and the dynamics of the carbon price. Most of the studies on linking ETSs pay little attention to firms' behaviors, especially the interactions among firms' technology adoption strategies and their allowance trading strategies. In addition, whether linking ETSs can reduce carbon emission with lower system costs remains insufficiently explored. This study develops a stylized agent-based model (ABM) to explore the impact of linking two ETSs considering firms' heterogeneities and the interactions between their technology adoption strategies and allowance trading strategies. The model considers two ETSs, each of which includes energy-service-providing agents who are heterogeneous in the production scale and initial stock of technologies (and thus with different abatement costs), and attempts to minimize the total cost for a given output by adopting different technologies and trading emission allowances. The carbon price is dynamically affected by agents' willingness to pay, and a Walrasian auction is introduced to obtain the equilibrium. The results show that linking ETSs could be cost-effective to achieve carbon reduction commitment and creates a larger and more liquid carbon market; however, it also provides agents the opportunity to purchase more allowances rather than adopt low-emission technologies, which may result in more carbon emission. Adding restrictions on the linkage could somehow mediate this negative effect. Imposing strict exchange rate restrictions to the system with more balanced market shares of agents or quantitative restrictions would result in desirable results at the expense of increasing system costs. Moreover, restricted linkages could help alleviate the difficulties in initialing a linkage. The stylized ABM is mainly used for exploratory modeling purposes as a heuristic research device to examine in depth the effectiveness of unrestricted linkages and restricted linkages on adopting low-emission technologies at firms' level and the resulting carbon reduction. On the basis of the main findings of the ABM, we discuss the case if the Hubei pilot ETS links with the Guangdong pilot ETS, which could improve the understanding of the potential impact of linking ETSs on technology adoption and carbon reduction and provide policy implications for linking different ETSs.

Economic Effects of a Tax Policy to Reduce Greenhouse-Gas Emissions in Brazil

Brazil has proposed to reduce emissions by 37% below 2005 levels in 2025, and for indicative purposes, to further reduce it by 43% in 2030, following the agreement of COP-21 in Paris. This study seeks to investigate the macroeconomic effects if Brazil adopts a GHG emissions tax to meet the carbon reduction commitment and to simulate the thesis of "double dividend". A neoclassical growth model with the introduction of environment and fiscal policy was used. A tax rate on CO2 emissions of US$ 100.00/tCO2e would be enough to meet Brazil´s target of emission reduction. The double dividend hypothesis was observed in Brazil’s case and the best results occur when capital income tax is reduced.

A Predictive Analysis of China’s CO2 Emissions and OFDI with a Nonlinear Fractional-Order Grey Multivariable Model

Since the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s total amount of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has increased each year and this has caused its relationship with carbon emissions (CO2e) to receive great attention recently. Forecasting China’s CO2e accurately by considering the impact of OFDI is important since the government can use it to formulate an appropriate emissions plan to fulfill its carbon reduction commitments. Because the relationship between OFDI and CO2e has nonlinear characteristics, a nonlinear grey multivariable model with fractional-order accumulation (NFGM(1,N)) was proposed in this study. To enhance the prediction accuracy, an optimization process was used to determine the parameters. The outcomes of the variable fractional order showed that fractional-order accumulation can better extract the grey information hidden in the original data, which confirmed the principle of new information priority. The result of the power coefficient indicated a nonlinear relationship between the CO2e and OFDI. Based on the prediction performance, the prediction accuracy of the NFGM(1,N) model was proven to be superior to those of the ARMA model, linear regression model, the GM(1,1), GM(1,N), and FGM(1,N) models. The empirical results also revealed that OFDI increased the CO2e in China. The relationship between the CO2e and OFDI exhibits a U-shaped development based on further predictions for the 2018–2030 period. Finally, some suggestions for long-term CO2e reduction plans were provided in this paper.

A relational approach to understanding inhabitants’ engagement with Photovoltaic (PV) technology in homes

Photovoltaic (PV) systems have been promoted in the UK housing sector as a key strategy for meeting carbon reduction commitments by offsetting the use of the non-renewable grid energy with renewable energy. However, inhabitants are not changing their routine energy consumption practices to take advantage of off-grid day time solar energy and, in some cases, even shifting practices away from the initial intentions underlying the technology. This means that the necessary energy savings from new housing are not being achieved. In this paper, this is attributed to the variation in the provisioning of PV technology in new homes, as well as inhabitants’ engagement with and know-how of PV technologies, subject to explicit rules and policies. The key contribution of this paper is to reveal how PV technologies and inhabitants interact within different socio-technological home contexts drawing on Practice theory and ethnographic methods applied to four housing developments in England.

Nudging the Powerful: Reflecting on How to Make Organisations Comply with Environmental Regulation

Abstract This article argues that there is a role for nudging the powerful in the environmental sphere. Like humans, businesses and organisations are not rational. Like humans, this could be exploited using choice architecture (more commonly known as ‘nudging’). Drawing on an empirical study of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), this article will explore how social norms can be used to shape organisational behaviour, with a view towards ‘nudging’ them towards more environmentally friendly behaviour. More specifically, social norms can be used to encourage collaboration or competition between regulatees, provided a connection to reputation can be made.

Can China achieve its 2030 energy development targets by fulfilling carbon intensity reduction commitments?

China has proposed carbon intensity targets and energy development targets for 2030. This study investigates the linkages between these targets and assesses if China can achieve its energy development targets by fulfilling its carbon reduction commitments. To this end, it quantitatively evaluates the impact of carbon emission controls on the Chinese economy using a dynamic computable general equilibrium model. The results show that China's carbon abatement pledge cannot guarantee achievement of all energy objectives. China is likely to reach the upper limit of its carbon intensity target in 2020 and the lower limit in 2030 if current abatement efforts are maintained. To achieve the upper limit in 2030, the carbon price will be CNY 83/tCO2. The energy consumption target for 2020 is likely to be realized but the 2030 target is not. A more stringent price constraint on carbon emissions would be helpful to the achievement of the non-fossil energy target in 2030, but would have a limited promoting effect on natural gas development. Our results reveal the linkages between China's energy targets and carbon emission targets, which is valuable to the cost-effective dual control of energy consumption and carbon emission.

Analysis of electricity investment strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina

This Case Study considers generation capacity expansion planning in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) including a range of issues related to renewable, energy efficiency, local emission and carbon reduction commitment policies. In addition, our analysis considers an outlook of wholesale electricity prices in the region. We have also compared our findings with the country's current official plan (“Indicative Plan”), which includes development of as many as four additional lignite-based plants. Our findings suggest that BiH, as a low-cost producer in the region, has significant opportunities to modernize and expand its current generation system with nearly €3 billion in new investments. This investment level is much lower than the €5 billion investment program promulgated in the Indicative Plan. These differences primarily have to do with the treatment of lignite plants. Since the end of the war roughly twenty years ago, the country has progressed quickly. Aspirations to join the EU compose a significant part of the authorizing environment for the power sector.

Do we need a replacement for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme?

This opinion discusses whether the proposed Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (‘SECR’) framework produced by government for businesses should replace the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (‘CRC’) which closes at the end of the 2018 to 2019 compliance year, especially in light of the fact that other reporting schemes such as the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (‘ESOS’) already exist.

A benchmark city-level carbon dioxide emission inventory for China in 2005

Year 2005 is important because it is the base year for the international carbon reduction commitment and national development plans for China. However, accurate and robust CO2 emission data for 2005 remain limited, particularly for city-level emissions. To address these gaps, we established a uniform city-level CO2 emission inventory for all the 287 prefecture-level cities in China for 2005, combining the High-Resolution Emission Gridded Database (CHRED) 2.0, statistical data and onsite survey. The results showed that Shanghai, Tangshan, Beijing, Tianjin, Jining, Handan, Chongqing, Suzhou, Shijiazhuang and Wuhan were the ten cities with greatest CO2 emissions in 2005, with total CO2 emissions of 205, 184, 145, 126, 116, 103, 96, 93, 90 and 81 Mt, respectively. These cities were either megacities or those dominated by coal, iron or steel production. However, the three cities with the highest CO2 emissions per GDP and CO2 emissions per capita were Jiayuguan, Wuhai and Shizuishan, which were dominated by industry, small- or medium-sized, and exhibited a high demand for heat and cooling. Cluster analysis revealed that industrial energy consumption was the dominant emission source for most cities, except Haikou and Lhasa, for which indirect CO2 emissions were dominant. This study will greatly contribute to the city level CO2 emission inventory and research on China.

Green taxation theory in practice

In light of the increasing focus on Greenhouse Gases (GHG), this article seeks to put green tax theory into practice by analysing the 2012 reforms of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). It is a scheme that targets high carbon-emitting organisations which do not fall within either the European Emissions Trading Scheme or the Climate Change Agreements. It is a scheme, therefore, that fills an important lacuna in the emissions reducing toolbox. Little academic attention has been spent considering the CRC, which started in 2010 and which has been accused of being an administrative burden on both participants and the regulator. The CRC has received extensive scrutiny from industry following a consultation in 2012 which proposed the simplifying reforms. The article considers both the principles of effective taxation, alongside a narrower study of effective green taxation and in doing so outlines four factors of an effective emissions tax: comprehensiveness, certainty of emissions reduction, flexibility and administrative costs. It is using these four factors that the author conducts a deep and thick analysis of the reforms, using a cost-benefit analysis approach, in order to determine whether the CRC has become a more efficient environmental tax.