City Level Research Articles

Allocation of carbon emission responsibility among Chinese cities guided by economic welfare gains: Case study based on multi-regional input-output analysis

Ensuring equitable allocation of carbon emission responsibilities at the city level is crucial for effectively mitigating climate change. However, traditional allocation methods like production-based accounting (PBA) and consumption-based accounting (CBA) encounter double-counting problems at this scale. This study for the first time addressed the ignored externality of carbon emissions among bilateral trading partners at city scale, achieving equitable carbon emission responsibility reallocations using the economic welfare gain-based (EWG) method. Examining 313 cities in China using a multi-regional input-output model, the highest carbon emission responsibilities are identified in Baotou at 400.7 Mt., followed by Yunnan (189.9 Mt) and Dalian (166.7 Mt). In this case, the EWG method reallocates producer and consumer responsibilities in bilateral trades. Among the 313 cities, emission responsibilities from 198 are situated between PBA and CBA, avoiding one-sided assignment of emissions based solely on either principle. A comparative analysis of allocation methods in China further indicates a predominance of production responsibility, mirroring a similar trend between EWG and PBA; a significant portion of producer responsibilities are identified within EWG. The results of this work may offer a fairer and economically sound basis for allocating emission responsibilities among cities, thereby facilitating more effective emission reduction strategies.

Towards sustainable development: Can green digital finance become an accelerator for reducing pollution and carbon emissions in China?

As a fusion of financial ''digitalization'' and ''greening'', green digital finance is crucial for ecological quality enhancement. Based on panel data from 285 cities in China spanning 2011 to 2021, this study aims to examine the synergistic impact of Green Digital Finance (GDFO) on Pollution and Carbon Reduction (PCR). The two-way fixed effect model, moderated effect model, and threshold model are employed to study the direct, transmission, and non-linear effects of GDFO on PCR. Results indicate that GDFO significantly enhances PCR in urban areas, and this conclusion remains valid after several robustness tests. Mechanically, encouraging green technology innovation, promoting industrial structure upgrading, and enhancing financial supervision are effective channels for strengthening the impact of GDFO on PCR. At varying levels of green digital finance and financial supervision, the marginal impact of GDFO on PCR exhibits double threshold characteristics in the form of "U-shaped" and "inverted U-shaped". Furthermore, the impact of GDFO on PCR is more pronounced in the eastern and western regions, resource cities, and cities with a high level of financial development, excellent digital infrastructure, and robust environmental regulation. This study offers theoretical support and empirical evidence for deepening the GDFO to promote PCR at the city level.

Green Roof Systems within the Framework of a Circular Economy: A Scoping Review

Green roofs are nature-based solutions with multiple benefits for the urban environment, but they have specific polymeric components in their structure that cause a carbon footprint. This scoping review highlights the technological advance in reusing or recycling alternative materials in green roof structures worldwide, making them a part of the circular economy (CE), and the search strategies to promote them to find whether there is a relation between them. The data were collected using the Web of Science from 2012 to 2022; we also used the Bibliometrix package to analyse research development by country and the development of the topic by author’s keywords. We selected 68 open-access articles from twenty-four countries and reviewed the grey literature from the top five productive countries on this topic. Our findings show that CE strategies are performed nationally, while the green roof promotion ones are concentrated at the city level. The theme co-occurrence analysis showed that the substrate is the primary layer used with alternative materials, and the three materials most applied for it are rubber, biochar, and hydrogel. It was found that the primary purpose of optimising green roofs with alternative materials is to increase the ecosystem services they provide and indirectly function within the circular economy; still, there is a gap in estimating the environmental impact of doing this as a potential CE activity.

Government Commitment to Responsive Budgeting to Improve Gender Equality in City Government

This study aims to analyse the government's commitment to gender-responsive budgeting to improve gender equality in three cities governments. The method used is qualitative with a literature review approach and secondary data. Data were collected from various sources, including scientific journals, government reports, and policy documents related to gender-responsive budgeting. The results indicate that despite supporting local regulations, the implementation of gender-responsive budgeting varies across the three cities. In two cities, regulations exist, but the implementation is suboptimal; the allocated budget does not fully reflect a commitment to gender equality, and obstacles remain in transforming this commitment into local fiscal innovation. In the third city, the government's commitment is evident through various programs and training to enhance understanding and skills in preparing gender-responsive budgets. However, challenges like the lack of gender-disaggregated data and low political support persist. This research implies that improving gender equality requires greater commitment and understanding from all parties, as well as stronger gender-responsive budgeting policies and mechanisms. It also highlights the importance of cooperation between the government, civil society, and international institutions to overcome existing obstacles This research is novel in its comparative analysis of gender-responsive budgeting implementation across three cities and the identification of strategies to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency at the city level in Indonesia. It aims to significantly contribute to developing more inclusive and gender-equitable budgeting policies in the country.

Atmospheric observation and emission estimation of HFC-125 and HFC-32 in China from four representative cities

HFC-125 and HFC-32 are fluorinated greenhouse gases of great concern due to their high GWPs and increasing background atmospheric concentrations. Long-term atmospheric observations of HFC-125 and HFC-32 were carried out in four representative cities of China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Lanzhou) from January 2012 to October 2019. Overall, the annual mean atmospheric concentrations of HFC-125 and HFC-32 both showed increasing trends, with average rates of 4.8 ppt yr−1 and 7.9 ppt yr−1. The average concentrations of HFC-125 and HFC-32 in urban areas were significantly higher than those in suburban areas. Significant differences in atmospheric concentrations of the two HFCs were observed among the four cities. HFC-125 and HFC-32 emissions were estimated accordingly, averaging 6.2 Gg yr−1 (23.6 Mt. CO2-eq) and 5.7 Gg yr−1 (4.3 Mt. CO2-eq) during 2012 and 2019 and growing at rates of 0.8 Gg yr−1 (3.1 Mt. CO2-eq) and 0.8 Gg yr−1 (0.6 Mt. CO2-eq), respectively, with an increasing contribution to global radiative forcing. The bottom-up inventories of HFC-125 and HFC-32 in the four cities increased annually from 2012 to 2019, with the highest emissions in Beijing, while the top-down emissions fluctuated during the research period. SynopsisThe atmospheric concentrations of HFC-125 and HFC-32 were measured from 2012 to 2019 in four representative cities of China. Both HFC emissions at national and city levels were estimated using observation-based and inventory methods.

Co-abatement of greenhouse gas and air pollutants in Shanghai, China: Spatial hotspots identification, effects assessment and policy implication

Driving co-abatement of Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) and Air Pollutants (APs) in the city level is crucial for fostering societal green and low-carbon transitions, yet comprehensive and refined researches at this level remain limited. To facilitate urban fine management of GHGs control and APs reduction, this study targeted nine categories of anthropogenic emission sources in Shanghai, a typical megacity of China, analyzing the co-benefits of three types of GHGs (CO2, CH4, N2O) and seven types of APs (SO2, NOx, CO, VOCs, NH3, PM2.5, PM10) via emissions flow, spatial distribution, hotspot regions identification, and scenario prediction. Results highlighted the source heterogeneity of different types and significant contributions of energy consumption. CO2 emissions showed a strong spatial correlation with SO2, NOx, and CO, followed by VOCs and PM. Hotspot regions for CO2-VOCs, CO2-NOx and CO2-SO2 co-abatement included power plants, petrochemical enterprises and chemical industrial parks in the southern coastal areas, iron and steel enterprises and power plants in the northern coastal areas, and airport areas in the central and eastern coastal areas, presenting great potential maximum reduction benefits. Achieving positive co-benefits in industrial sector would depend on the steady decline of CO2 emissions in power generation and steel industries. Introducing carbon capture devices and improving energy efficiency would be more beneficial to CO2 emission reduction, while increasing the share of clean energy and phasing out outdated vehicles, machinery, or production capacities are more effective in reducing APs. These mitigation measures could achieve 68.8 % and 47.6 % reduction for CO2 and APs by 2050, respectively, and the co-effect of CO2 and APs emission reduction would gradually increase with the continuous implementation of these measures.

The potential of individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through their own actions: a case of a suburb in Finland

Household consumption accounts for 65–72% of total greenhouse gas emissions globally, and therefore, a change in current consumption patterns has the potential to mitigate climate change and provide emission reductions. There is knowledge on the consumption options with a high mitigation potential, but this information has not been combined with a consumer behavior information. This study examines the emission-reduction potential of suburban residents in Finland through a survey that assesses their willingness to adopt climate actions, and by calculating the potential impact of various actions. Finnish suburban households have already implemented low-impact climate actions (recycling, reducing food waste), but the implementation of high-impact actions in households could also be increased. Transitioning to a vegetarian diet, reducing air travel and limiting consumption are identified as the most effective mitigation actions when the potential increase in the implementation rate and impact on greenhouse gas emissions are considered. However, the results suggest that voluntary individual efforts alone are not sufficient to achieve the 1.5 °C carbon budget. Thus, alongside behavioural changes, strong policy measures and technological advancements are necessary. These findings emphasise the specific individual actions that should be prioritised when formulating climate policies at the national or city levels.

Supporting the Living Laboratory: A Literature Review of Montreal Sound-Related Research

Sound and noise play a critical role in the experience of urban environments. We review the literature on sound environments in Montreal and their effects on city users, including public sector reports from the City of Montreal and Montreal’s public health agency in addition to academic research, published between 2010 and 2020. 73 studies were analyzed according to scale, methodologies, methods, settings, sound sources covered, and domains of findings. This review summarizes the main findings at city level, paving the way for more integrated urban sound and noise policies tailored to local realities while staying informed of international best practices.

Evaluating the impact of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on air quality management in smart cities: A comprehensive analysis of transportation-related pollution

Urban environments face significant air pollution challenges affecting health and sustainability. Using unmanned aerial vehicles for air quality monitoring offers a promising solution. This research aims to improve these vehicles' ability to identify pollution sources and develop strategies, with a focus on transportation-related pollution. Detailed air pollution tests revealed that pollutant concentrations surged during morning rush hours, especially in high-traffic coastal areas, while areas away from traffic had much lower levels. Evening tests showed that pollutants from daytime traffic had dispersed throughout the urban area. The consistent northward shift in pollutant concentrations underscored the link between traffic patterns and pollutant distribution. Quantitative analyses and the resulting air pollutant maps showed average increases in pollutant concentrations between morning and evening hours in high-traffic areas: 12.1% for NO2, 5.3% for CO, 9.8% for PM10, and 11.4% for PM2.5. In contrast, the increases in pollutant concentrations in less trafficked urban regions were 45.9%, 48.2%, 32.7%, and 29.5%, respectively. This demonstrates how air pollution originating from areas with heavy traffic impacts other regions through environmental and geographical factors. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive air quality management strategies at the city level, targeting emissions in high-traffic areas and adapting to temporal fluctuations in pollutant levels.

Assessing Patterns and Trends in Urbanization and Land Use Efficiency Across the Philippines: A Comprehensive Analysis Using Global Earth Observation Data and SDG 11.3.1 Indicators

Urbanization, a global phenomenon with profound implications for sustainable development, is a focal point of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11). Aimed at fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urbanization by 2030, SDG 11 emphasizes the importance of monitoring land use efficiency (LUE) through indicator 11.3.1. In the Philippines, urbanization has surged over recent decades. Despite its importance, research on urbanization and LUE has predominantly focused on the country’s national capital region (Metro Manila), while little to no attention is given to comprehensive investigations across different regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities of the country. Additionally, challenges in acquiring consistent spatial data, especially due to the Philippines’ archipelagic nature, have hindered comprehensive analysis. To address these gaps, this study conducts a thorough examination of urbanization patterns and LUE dynamics in the Philippines from 1975 to 2020, leveraging Global Human Settlement Layers (GHSL) data and secondary indicators associated with SDG 11.3.1. Our study examines spatial patterns and temporal trends in built-up area expansion, population growth, and LUE characteristics at both city and municipal levels. Among the major findings are the substantial growth in built-up areas and population across the country. We also found a shift in urban growth dynamics, with Metro Manila showing limited expansion in recent years while new urban growth emerges in other regions of the country. Our analysis of the spatiotemporal patterns of Land Consumption Rate (LCR) revealed three distinct evolutional phases: a growth phase between 1975–1990, followed by a decline phase between 1990–2005, and a resurgence phase from 2005–2020. Generally declining trends in LCR and Population Growth Rate (PGR) were evident, demonstrating the country’s direction towards efficient built-up land utilization. However, this efficiency coincides with overcrowding issues as revealed by additional indicators such as the Achieved Population Density in Expansion Areas (AAPDEA) and Marginal Land Consumption per New Inhabitant (MLCNI). We also analyzed the spatial patterns and temporal trends of LUE across the country and found distinct clusters of transitioning urban centers, densely inhabited metropolises, expanding metropolitan regions, and rapidly growing urban hubs. The study’s findings suggest the need for policy interventions that promote compact and sustainable urban development, equitable regional development, and measures to address overcrowding in urban areas. By aligning policies with the observed spatial and temporal trends, decision-makers can work towards achieving SDG 11, fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urbanization in the Philippines.

Spatial distribution of old neighborhoods based on heat-related health risks assessment: A case study of Changsha City, China

Assessing the heat-related health risks is crucial for promoting the sustainable development of cities, particularly in the face of extreme climates and urban human settlement governance. Heat health risk assessment serves as a foundational element within the risk governance framework, serving to mitigate heat-related morbidity and mortality rates. The revitalization of old neighborhoods, especially those situated in city centers with deficient facilities, emerges as a critical imperative within this context. This study chose Changsha, a city in Central China that is severely affected by high temperatures and has numerous old neighborhoods, as a case study. We developed a heat risk framework that incorporates city level risk, exposure, vulnerability, and the adaptation of old neighborhoods. Validated through data accessed from medical facilities visit, the framework effectively reflects the distribution of heat risks. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods, we investigated the correlation between heat health risk levels and the behaviors of residents in old neighborhoods. The results indicate that urban planners should prioritize comprehensive renovations in medium-risk neighborhoods, resident behavior management in low-risk neighborhoods, and the indoor thermal environment in high-risk neighborhoods. This framework plays an important role in the assessment of future spatial risk for old neighborhoods renewal.

The making of government-business relationships through state rescaling: a policy analysis of China’s artificial intelligence industry

ABSTRACT Developing artificial intelligence (AI) is a priority on China’s state agenda, yet the constitutive state roles in AI development are understudied. Against the background of the coexistence of authoritarianism and market liberalism in the governance of the Chinese economy, state rescaling is a useful lens to understand how China is developing this new strategic sector. This paper proposes an analytical framework reifying vertical and horizontal scalar relations via the rescaling lens and three state roles (owner, promoter, and supervisor) to explore how government-business relationships are made. More than 100 Chinese AI policy documents have been collected from central, provincial, and city levels for a systematic multi-scalar policy analysis. As a result, this paper captures both downscaling/upscaling within the state hierarchy and statization/destatization between state and non-state actors in China’s AI development. A series of intertwined state rescaling practices manifest themselves in the state roles figuring in three functionalities of government-business relationships (sponsorship, cultivation, and disciplining). It is argued that the state roles are not pre-given modalities in a setting of a specific industry. The restructuring and even revolutionizing effects of AI in the socio-economic systems prompt non-state actors to respond proactively, which shapes the variegated functionalities of government-business relationships.

How does FinTech empower China’s rural revitalization? The role of entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability and industrial structure advancement

PurposeFinancial technology (FinTech) has enhanced the inclusivity and accessibility of traditional finance, offering a novel pathway for rural revitalization and development. The paper aims to assess the rural revitalization development level in prefecture-level cities in China and investigate the potential impact mechanism of FinTech.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops an index system to evaluate the rural revitalization level across 279 cities in China from 2011 to 2021. In addition, multi-mediation and threshold models are employed to analyze how FinTech influences rural revitalization.FindingsThe results reveal that, first, FinTech has significantly promoted rural revitalization. Second, entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability, and industrial structure advancement are intermediary factors within the benchmark path. Third, FinTech exhibits varied threshold effects in entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability, and industrial structure advancement, influencing rural revitalization with diverse impacts.Originality/valueFirst, this paper expands the rural revitalization evaluation to include 30 indexes, enhancing overall measurement comprehensiveness. Second, in contrast to previous research concentrating on provincial-level assessments, this paper explores rural revitalization across 279 cities in China from 2011 to 2021, broadening the study’s scope and timeline. Third, this paper delves into empirical evidence illustrating how FinTech contributes to rural revitalization through entrepreneurial activeness, urban innovation capability, and industrial structure advancement, thereby deepening research in this domain.

Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics of Ground-level-ozone and Its Relationship with Meteorological Conditions in a Representative City in the Bohai Rim from 2017 to 2022

In recent years, ground-level-ozone（O3） pollution in urban areas in the Bohai Rim has attracted wide attention. Based on the analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of O3 concentration in Dongying, a representative city in the Bohai Rim from 2017 to 2022, the effects of meteorological factors and sea-land breeze circulation on O3 concentration were evaluated. The results showed that： ① From 2017 to 2022, the annual assessment value of O3 concentration in Dongying showed a fluctuating upward trend, and the pollution days with O3 as the primary pollutant increased. O3 pollution mainly occurred in spring, summer, and autumn, with the most severe O3 pollution episodes typically occurring in May and June, and the duration of O3 pollution season tended to be longer. The monthly variation in the daily maximum 8-h average ozone （MDA8 O3） presented a bimodal distribution, with significant increases in the 5th and 25th percentiles, and the spatial distribution was "high in the north and south, low in the middle." In addition, the nocturnal O3 concentration in recent years in Dongying also showed a significant increase trend. ② Meteorological factors greatly influenced O3 concentration in Dongying. When the temperature was greater than 30℃, the relative humidity was less than 50%, and the wind direction was south-southwest or east-northeast, a high O3 value was more likely to occur. Meteorological factors contributed 30% of the MDA8 O3 variation in Dongying during the study period. In the case of moderate and severe O3 pollution, the contribution of meteorological factors to the change in MDA8 O3 could be as high as 40%. ③ To some extent, sea-land breeze contributed to the occurrence of MDA8 O3 exceeding the secondary standard limit value of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. In the afternoon, the hourly concentration of O3 during the sea-land breeze days was approximately 20 μg·m-3 higher than that during the non-sea-land breeze days. On the days of moderate and severe O3 pollution, the O3 concentration during the sea-land breeze days from 10：00 to 16：00 was higher than that during non-sea-land breeze days, and the O3 concentration was also at a high level from 20：00 to 23：00 on sea-land breeze days. In the O3 pollution season, the sea-land breeze could significantly affect the O3 level in coastal cities, which could bring significant challenges for O3 pollution prevention and control in this region. In the future, cities in the Bohai Rim need to further strengthen regional joint prevention and control of O3 pollution and increase emission reduction efforts of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. This strategy could effectively lower pollutant concentrations within the land breeze air mass, consequently reducing the impact of the sea breeze air mass on air quality in cities in the Bohai Rim.

Spatial Correlation Structure and Influencing Mechanism of Development Level of Zero-waste Cities in China

Based on the entropy weight TOPSIS method to measure the development level of "zero-waste cities" in China from 2004 to 2021, the social network analysis method and spatial Durbin model were used to explore the spatial correlation network structure and impact mechanism of the development level of "zero-waste cities." The results showed that： ① The development level of "zero-waste cities" was generally on the decline in the whole country and the eastern and central regions. However, it was on the rise in the western regions. ② The spatial correlation of the development level of "zero-waste cities" presented a core-edge structure, with an overall upward trend in network density and a stable state in the overall network. ③ Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong were at the center and dominant position of the network. ④ Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Jiangsu belonged to the "net benefit" sector； Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong belonged to the "broker" sector； and the other provinces belonged to the "net overflow" sectors. ⑤ The level of urbanization, economic development, technological innovation, foreign investment, environmental regulations, government intervention, and population size had a significant impact on the development level of "zero-waste cities" in local or neighboring provinces, respectively. The research results can provide a reference for the proposal of policies for constructing and coordinating the development of "zero-waste cities" in various regions.

Research on Innovative Development of Urban Low-carbon Technology and Green Economy

This paper focuses on analyzing the effects and mechanisms of green fiscal expenditure policies on low-carbon technology innovation. This section selects pilot cities with comprehensive demonstration of energy conservation and emission reduction fiscal policies as typical green fiscal expenditure policies from the city level, focusing on green fiscal expenditure.On this basis, this paper conducts econometric model analysis on the estimated coefficients of the benchmark regression, confirms the robustness of the benchmark regression results, and finds through heterogeneity analysis that the effect of the demonstration policy in promoting low-carbon technology innovation is more significant in non-resource-based cities and non-old industrial base cities.

Urban Agriculture’s ‘Invisible’ Short Food Value Chain: How Small-scale Farming Contributes to Johannesburg Food Security

AbstractUrbanisation into poverty in cities of the global South gives impetus to urban agriculture (UA) as a strategy to improve food security for low-income residents. This study disputes that UA is a trivial sector by arguing through the invisible short food value chain lens that it contributes to food security in local communities. The study adopted the extended case method that immersed researchers for more than a year to understand the practices of 11 farming entities and 20 of their customers in Johannesburg. Open-ended interview guides were administered to key informants from the city, provincial government, and non-governmental organisations. Findings show that UA increases food availability in local communities through the short food value chain. However, the local economy is undocumented and invisible to city stakeholders, negatively affecting their land use planning decisions for the sector. Though stakeholder consensus on UA is still lacking, the City of Johannesburg recognised UA’s potential and allocated both temporary and permanent land access arrangements for farming. Small-scale farmers lack the capacity to supply formal institutions, which can be overcome by intermediaries, such as civil society facilitation. The limitations of UA manifest in its inability to attract labour and keep records which inhibits its potential and support at the city level.

Wildfires impact on PM2.5 concentration in galicia Spain

Wildfire intensity and severity have been increasing in the Iberian Peninsula in recent years, particularly in the Galicia region, due to rising temperatures and accumulating drier combustible vegetation in unmanaged lands. This leads to substantial emissions of air pollutants, notably fine particles (PM2.5), posing a risk to public health. This study aims to assess the impact of local and regional wildfires on PM2.5 levels in Galicia's main cities and their implications for air quality and public health. Over a decade (2013–2022), PM2.5 data during wildfire seasons were analyzed using statistical methods and Lagrangian tracking to monitor smoke plume evolution. The results reveal a notable increase in PM2.5 concentration during the wildfire season (June–November) in Galicia, surpassing health guidelines during extreme events and posing a significant health risk to the population. Regional wildfire analyses indicate that smoke plumes from Northern Portugal contribute to pollution in Galician cities, influencing the seasonality of heightened PM2.5 levels. During extensive wildfires, elevated PM2.5 concentration values persisted for several days, potentially exacerbating health concerns in Galicia. These findings underscore the urgency of implementing air pollution prevention and management measures in the region, including developing effective alerts for large-scale events and improved wildfire management strategies to mitigate their impact on air quality in Galician cities.

The gap dynamics in the U.S. between urban areas in the current trend and in sustainable scenario

The gap between the projected urban areas in the current trend (UAC) and those in the sustainable scenario (UAS) is a critical factor in understanding whether cities can fulfill the requirements of sustainable development. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on this cutting-edge topic. Given the extensive and rapid urbanization in the United States (U.S.) over the past two centuries, accurately measuring this gap between UAS and UAC is of critical importance for advancing future sustainable urban development, as well as having significant global implications. This study finds that although the 740 U.S. cities have a large UAC in 2100, these cities will encompass a significant gap from UAC to UAS (approximately 165000 km²), accounting for 30% UAC at that time. The study also reveals the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the gap. The gap initially increases before reaching a inflection point in 2090, and it disparates greatly from -100% to 240% at city level. While cities in the Northwestern U.S. maintain UAC that exceeds UAS from 2020 to 2100, cities in other regions shift from UAC that exceeds UAS to UAC that falls short of UAS. Filling the gap without additional urban growth planning could lead to a reduction of crop production ranging from 0.3% to 3% and a 0.68% loss of biomass. Hence, dynamic and forward-looking urban planning is essential for addressing the challenges of sustainable development posed by urbanization, both within the U.S. and globally.

Air pollution emission inventory in Hanoi City, Vietnam

Abstract Hanoi is an economic-society centre of Vietnam but also faces the problem of air pollution with diverse sources including points, areas, and mobility sources. The emission inventory is a big project at the city level which determines a tabulation of compounds released into the atmosphere. The objectives of the study are to determine the status of air pollutant emissions and which activities are the main contributors to emissions in the sources in Hanoi city. By the combined methods, findings revealed that air pollution emitted from the sources in Hanoi included 10,570 tons SO2 per year, 65,963 tons NOx, 1,815,670 tons CO, 32,640 tons PM2.5 and 42,492 tons PM10 per year, respectively. Determined transport is an important source with accounted for over 90 per cent of the total NOx and CO emissions, and 66 per cent of the total PM. With SO2, point sources accounted for 57 per cent of total emissions in Hanoi. This research showed priority sources to manage and contribute the data for following the effort to reduce emissions.