Climate Change Targets Research Articles

Life cycle optimization of BECCS supply chains in the European Union

Carbon dioxide removal options have been identified as key to achieving the climate change target laid out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is particularly attractive because it is capable of providing negative emissions and a reliable energy source. We here explore the complexity of the infrastructures involved in realizing a large-scale system and the sequestration potential of bioenergy in Europe. Starting from a minimum cost scenario, we develop cost-optimal solutions that minimize the environmental impact of the overall BECCS supply chain according to the life cycle impact assessment methodology. Our analysis is based on cooperation among the 28 countries of the European Union (as of 2018) to achieve a global carbon removal target. Given regional biomass and marginal land availability inputs and a carbon removal target of 0.61 GtCO2/year, the minimum-cost scenario provides negative emissions, with an overall cost of 140 Eur/MWh of bioelectricity generated or 117 Eur/tCO2 removed, without considering revenues from selling the electricity produced. On the other hand, minimizing environmental impacts increased costs by 45% relative to the first scenario, but further improved the environmental performance by 23%.

A generic algebraic targeting approach for integration of renewable energy sources, CO2 capture and storage and negative emission technologies in carbon-constrained energy planning

Renewable energy sources, CO2capture and storage (CCS) and negative emission technologies (NETs) are important elements to incorporate during energy planning to achieve climate change targets by the end of this century. This paper develops a generic algebraic targeting approach based on carbon emissions pinch analysis (CEPA), for the integration of renewable energy sources, CCS and NETs during CO2-constrained energy planning. Since the recently established graphical targeting approach is both time-consuming and cumbersome, the algebraic targeting approach developed in this work eliminates the iterative procedure and provides rigorous targets that overcome the limitations of the previous approach. The algebraic targeting approach is demonstrated with a literature case study. Results show that the integration of energy-producing NETs (EP-NETs) reduces energy generation from fossil-based sectors, which leads to CO2 removal. By contrast, despite the removal of CO2 load, the integration of energy-consuming NETs (EC-NETs) demanded further utilisation of renewable energy sources as compensatory energy. Finally, CCS deployment aided in CO2 load removal, thus reducing the necessary integration of NETs during energy planning.

Impact assessment of the reduction or removal of ionophores used for controlling coccidiosis in the UK broiler industry.

Coccidiosis is a complex parasitic disease ubiquitous in all types of poultry production. It can have both a direct effect on bird health and welfare with significant negative impacts on the production parameters and indirect effect as it predisposes to other pathogens. Ionophore coccidiostats have been used safely for over 45 years by poultry producers. Concerns have been raised that their use in livestock production could promote the development of antibiotic resistance, but their unique mode of action makes it unlikely. Conversely their removal can result in increased use of therapeutic antibiotics to treat disease posing a greater risk of antibiotic resistance development. Economic and environmental models examining the impact of the removal of ionophore coccidiostats from UK production suggest the annual cost to the broiler sector would be between £68.02-£109.95 million and result in an additional 84,000 tonnes CO2 e being produced per annum. Any cost increase would make this wholesome and affordable animal protein less affordable to poorer sectors of society. Increased greenhouse gas production, demand for water and land as a result of less efficient production will impact on climate change targets.

Carbon Footprint of Canadian Self-Selected Diets: Trade-Offs With Nutrient Intakes and Diet Quality

Abstract Objectives Individuals' dietary choices are critical determinants of human and planetary health. Although the environmental impact of animal-based foods typically exceeds that of plants, trade-offs among nutritional outcomes and environmental sustainability in the context of self-selected diets are less understood. The objectives were to estimate the carbon footprint of Canadian self-selected diets and to compare low- and high-GHGE diets in terms of intake of food groups, nutrients, and diet quality. Methods Twenty-four-hour recalls from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) – Nutrition were used to determine dietary intake among adults ≥19 y (n = 13,612). Estimates from the database of Food Impacts on the Environment for Linking to Diets were used to link foods and beverages reported in the CCHS to their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). Intake of food groups, nutrients, and diet quality based on the Alternative Healthy Eating Index – 2010 were compared between low- and high-GHGE diets (lowest and highest quintiles of dietary GHGE expressed per 1,000 kcal). Results Dietary GHGE (mean ± SE) was 3.98 ± 0.06 kg CO2-equivalents (eq) per person per d or 2.15 ± 0.03 kg CO2-eq per person per 1,000 kcal. Animal-based foods contributed three-quarters of Canadians' total dietary GHGE, with red and processed meat alone accounting for 47.05 ± 0.82%. High-GHGE diets contained more animal-based foods, but also more vegetables and fruits and miscellaneous foods and beverages; low-GHGE diets contained more cereals, grains, and breads. High-GHGE diet respondents had higher intakes of nutrients of public health concern (iron, potassium, calcium, and vitamin D), but also higher intakes of nutrients to limit (saturated fat and sodium). Moreover, low-GHGE diets had higher diet quality scores compared to high-GHGE diets (55.31 ± 0.49 vs. 47.27 ± 0.46 points; p < 0.0001). Conclusions Self-selected Canadian diets with the highest GHGE contained more animal-based foods and were characterized by higher intakes of nutrients of concern but a lower overall diet quality. These trade-offs warrant attention in shaping future food policy and dietary guidance in Canada aimed at meeting global targets for climate change. Funding Sources None.

Research on China’s technology lists for addressing climate change

The compilation of technology lists addressing climate change has a guiding effect on promoting technological research and development, demonstration, and popularization. It is also crucial for China to strengthen ecological civilization construction, achieve the carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality target, and enhance global climate governance capabilities. This study first proposes the existing classification outline of the technology promotion lists, technology demand lists, and future technology lists. Then, different methodologies are integrated on the basis of the existing outline of four technology lists: China’s existing technological promotion list for addressing climate change, China’s demand list for climate change mitigation technology, China’s key technology list for addressing climate change, and China’s future technology list for addressing climate change. What’s more, core technologies are analyzed in the aspects of technology maturity, carbon reduction cost, carbon reduction potential, economic benefits, social influence, uncertainty, etc. The results show that: key industries and sectors in China already have relatively mature mitigation/adaptation technologies to support the achievement of climate change targets. The multi-sectoral system of promoting climate-friendly technologies has been established, which has played an active role in tackling climate change. Currently, climate technology needs are concentrated in the traditional technology and equipment upgrading, renewable energy technology, and management decision-making support technology. The key technologies are concentrated in 3 major areas and 12 technological directions that urgently need a breakthrough. For carbon emmission peak and nentrality, carbon depth reduction and zero carbon emissions and geoengineering technology (CDR and SRM) have played an important role in forming the structure of global emissions and achieving carbon neutrality in the future. Thus, the uncertainty assessment for the comprehensive technology cost-effectiveness, technology integration direction, technical maturity, ethics and ecological impacts is supportive to the national technology strategy. Finally, the presented study proposes several policy implications for medium- and long-term technology deployment, improving technology conversion rate, promoting the research and development of core technologies, and forming a technology list collaborative update and release mechanism.

A Case Study of Thermal Evolution in the Vicinity of Geothermal Probes Following a Distributed TRT Method

To meet the stated climate change targets and to ensure the capability of meeting the current and future energy demands, there is an urgent need to develop renewable energy sources, such as geothermal systems. If geothermal systems are to be cost-efficient and are to enjoy public confidence, it is essential that they are designed and installed in accordance with the prevailing site-specific conditions. A thorough understanding of the thermal behaviour of the surrounding ground is, therefore, critical. In this work, we investigated temperature and its evolution in the vicinity of a shallow geothermal helix-shaped borehole heat exchanger (BHE). To measure the temperature close to the actual geothermal system, an additional U-tube probe was installed at the edge of the same borehole. A thermal load was then applied to the BHE, and the temperature was detected in the nearby U-tube. The temperature measurements were made with a GEOSniff monitoring device. To understand these localised temperature measurements in the context of the Valencia test site, ERT measurements were also performed. The GEOSniff device permits measurements to be made with very high depth resolution, which allows the thermal properties of the surrounding ground to be derived precisely, thus, enabling the identification of the different textural domains.

Estimation of primary forest harvest residues and potential bioenergy production from fast-growing tree species in NW Spain

Around 50% of the wood harvested annually in Spain for industrial purposes is produced in the north-western region of Galicia. In this study, species-specific equations were developed for estimating dry harvest residues (kg) from stem volume (m3) in the fast-growing Pinus pinaster Ait., Pinus radiata D. Don and Eucalyptus spp., which generate around 95% of harvested wood. The presence of heteroscedasticity was taken into account in model fitting. Regional dry harvest residues were estimated using the equations and regional harvested volume records (m3), by assuming a mean harvested tree of diameter at breast height of 45 cm for pines and 25 cm for eucalyptus. A moisture content (M) of 25% was assumed for direct combustion of harvest residues; therefore, wet values were calculated from dry estimates, and a lower heating value (M = 25%) was used. The bioenergy potentially produced from the estimated harvest residues (M = 25%) was 377 ktoe year−1 in the period 2018–2019, equivalent to 4.7% of the total primary energy consumption in Galicia in 2018. Currently 70% of potential bioenergy production is concentrated in a sub-region representing 40% of the whole region. The approach used provides a direct link between regional or local harvested volume (registered or simulated) and accurate estimation of potential bioenergy from direct combustion of harvest residues, thus supporting decision-making related to climate change targets and to decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. However, further research that takes into account environmental, economical and social constraints in removing harvest residues is required.

De-Risking the Hydrogen-CCS Value Chain Through Law

The integration of hydrogen (H2) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies within common value chains can contribute to the effective decarbonization of the energy system and hard-toabate sectors where electrification may not be possible or cost-effective. The H2-CCS chain is taken as an example of strategic value chains in the process towards a low carbon and increasingly integrated energy system. The successful realization of H2-CCS integrated chains requires the mobilization of vast quantities of domestic and international private capital. This article looks at how legislation and contracts, separately and in combination, can be used to manage and mitigate risks and incentivise private sector investment along the H2-CCS value chain in Europe. First, it discusses the role of national governments and the EU in developing legislative measures such as climate change targets, market design, liability regimes and how those could remove some of the risks preventing private sector investments. Second, it considers how the design and standardization of contracts can mitigate risks faced by the private sector by allocating, transferring and sharing risks between private and public parties. The article concludes that the law has an important role in de-risking investments and that further policy steps are necessary to refine the legislative and contractual regimes needed for the successful deployment of such strategic value chains. CCS, climate change, hydrogen, de-risking, legislation, contract, risk mitigation, risk allocation, risk transfer, public-private partnerships.

Post COVID-19 Recovery and 2050 Climate Change Targets: Changing the Emphasis from Promotion of Renewables to Mandated Curtailment of Fossil Fuels in the EU Policies

The present work considers the dramatic changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the global economy, with particular emphasis on energy. Focusing on the European Union, the article discusses the opportunities policy makers can implement to reduce the climate impacts and achieve the Paris Agreement 2050 targets. The analysis specifically looks at the fossil fuels industry and the future of the fossil sector post COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis first revises the fossil fuel sector, and then considers the need for a shift of the global climate change policy from promoting the deployment of renewable energy sources to curtailing the use of fossil fuels. This will be a change to the current global approach, from a relative passive one to a strategically dynamic and proactive one. Such a curtailment should be based on actual volumes of fossil fuels used and not on percentages. Finally, conclusions are preliminary applied to the European Union policies for net zero by 2050 based on a two-fold strategy: continuing and reinforcing the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive to 2035, while adopting a new directive for fixed and over time increasing curtailment of fossils as of 2025 until 2050.

Identification of Factors Influencing Development of Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation in Singapore

Despite the steady growth of grid-connected installed capacity in Singapore in the last decade and intensive government effort towards “solarization”, implementation of photovoltaics (PV) and especially building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) into the built environment has not gathered as much momentum as would have been expected given the country’s ample solar energy resource potential, strong economic fundamentals and the robust real estate sector. Based on a conducted web-survey and qualitative interviews among local professionals, this paper examines the obstacles, potentials and drivers that could facilitate and accelerate BIPV and PV façade integration, as well as needs that could encourage wider PV use. In order to define a unified strategy, aligning the stakeholders’ views, the following disputable factors are pointed out and discussed: (1) incomplete understanding of BIPV and building-applied photovoltaics (BAPV) among stakeholders, (2) costs of BIPV systems, (3) low awareness of and confidence in “integrability” of PV modules, (4) incomplete knowledge about and insufficiently investigated PV performance and (5) potential of PV façade and roof integration. Since the costs are the key identified factor for BIPV implementation, life-cycle cost (LCC) assessments of PV façade and roof integrations have been performed, which supported the search for solutions to identified problems. The performed analysis and findings present the basis for the development of a long-term holistic strategy for PV implementation in Singapore that could help the highly-urbanized, tropical resource- and land-constrained island city-state reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and achieve the climate change targets, thus promoting a more sustainable built environment.

Who wants North Sea CCS, and why? Assessing differences in opinion between oil and gas industry respondents and wider energy and environmental stakeholders

Although Scotland and the wider UK is making good progress with research and development towards deployment of offshore carbon capture and storage, there is increasing divergence in opinion on the necessity of CCS for meeting climate change targets. Oil and gas operators appear optimistic about the technical feasibility of CCS; whereas civil society and NGOs are increasingly vocal in their scepticism towards the necessity of CCS in a net-zero society. Given that operators’ expertise may be required to support offshore CO2 storage given their subsea experience, and that civil society is important in shaping government and public opinion, this divergence may be a challenge to offshore CCS deployment in the UK and elsewhere. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the grounds on which oil and gas operators’ views on CCS differ from a wider range of stakeholders, through a survey and in-depth interviews. Our results show that people with more knowledge of CCS are more likely to support its deployment, and that strong belief in anthropogenic climate change is lower – albeit rising – among oil and gas respondents. Our results also show concern that the net-zero transition may have negative effects for carbon-intensive regions, and that storage expertise is the UK’s strongest skill set for CCS deployment. We suggest that across a range of stakeholders, the value of CCS is thus most likely to lie in specific applications (e.g. hydrogen) and/or very specific localities (e.g. places with existing subsurface knowledge and skills), rather than widespread deployment as a mitigation technology.

Invasive Plants Are a Valuable Alternate Protein Source and Can Contribute to Meeting Climate Change Targets

Agriculture has come under pressure to meet global food demands, whilst having to meet economic and ecological targets. This has opened newer avenues for investigation in unconventional protein sources. Current agricultural practises manage marginal lands mostly through animal husbandry, which; although effective in land utilisation for food production, largely contributes to global green-house gas (GHG) emissions. Assessing the revalorisation potential of invasive plant species growing on these lands may help encourage their utilisation as an alternate protein source and partially shift the burden from livestock production; the current dominant source of dietary protein, and offer alternate means of income from such lands. Six globally recognised invasive plant species found extensively on marginal lands; Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Vetch (Vicia sativa), Broom (Cytisus scoparius), Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium), Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), and Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) were collected and characterised to assess their potential as alternate protein sources. Amino acid profiling revealed appreciable levels of essential amino acids totalling 33.05 ± 0.04 41.43 ± 0.05, 33.05 ± 0.11, 32.63 ± 0.04, 48.71 ± 0.02 and 21.48 ± 0.05 mg/g dry plant mass for Gorse, Vetch, Broom Fireweed, Bracken, and Buddleia, respectively. The availability of essential amino acids was limited by protein solubility, and Gorse was found to have the highest soluble protein content. It was also high in bioactive phenolic compounds including cinnamic- phenyl-, pyruvic-, and benzoic acid derivatives. Databases generated using satellite imagery were used to locate the spread of invasive plants. Total biomass was estimated to be roughly 52 Tg with a protein content of 5.2 Tg with a total essential amino acid content of 1.25 Tg (~24%). Globally, Fabaceae was the second most abundant family of invasive plants. Much of the spread was found within marginal lands and shrublands. Analysis of intrinsic agricultural factors revealed economic status as the emergent factor, driven predominantly by land use allocation, with shrublands playing a pivotal role in the model. Diverting resources from invasive plant removal through herbicides and burning to leaf protein extraction may contribute toward sustainable protein, effective land use, and achieving emission targets, while simultaneously maintaining conservation of native plant species.

Ten steps to net zero [energy decarbonisation

THE RACE TO reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 has begun. From China to the US, governments are heeding scientists' warnings that decisions and actions – or lack of both – taken this decade will heavily affect the chances of meeting the internationally agreed Paris Climate Change target. Yet, despite having decades to figure it out, nobody really knows what a clear pathway to net zero looks like; not all the technology is commercially developed and, as governments are all too aware, some policy changes will be politically tricky. Nevertheless, time is of the essence, and after a string of delays, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in November finally presented his government's opening gambit in the decarbonisation race: a £12bn-backed 10-point plan for a 'green industrial revolution'.

A tool for first order estimates and optimisation of dynamic storage resource capacity in saline aquifers

The importance of carbon capture and storage in mitigating climate change has emerged from the results of techno-economic or integrated assessment modeling, in which scenarios of future energy systems are developed subject to constraints from economic growth and climate change targets. These models rarely include limits imposed by injectivity, ultimate amounts, or the geographic distribution of storage resources. However, they could if a sufficiently simple model were available. We develop a methodology for the fast assessment of the dynamic storage resource of a reservoir under different scenarios of well numbers and interwell distance. The approach combines the use of a single-well multiphase analytical solution and the superposition of pressure responses to evaluate the pressure buildup in a multiwell scenario. The injectivity is directly estimated by means of a nonlinear relationship between flow-rate and overpressure and by imposing a limiting overpressure, which is evaluated on the basis of the mechanical parameters for failure. The methodology is implemented within a tool, named CO2BLOCK, which can optimise site design for the numbers of wells and spacing between wells. Given its small computational expense, the methodology can be applied to a large number of sites within a region. We apply this to analyse the storage potential in the offshore of the UK. We estimate that 25–250 GtCO2 can be safely stored over an injection time interval of 30 years. We also demonstrate the use of the tool in evaluating tradeoffs between infrastructure costs and maximising injectivity at two specific sites in the offshore UK.

When opportunity backfires: exploring the implementation of urban climate governance alternatives in three major US cities

ABSTRACT Around the world, cities have committed themselves to urban climate action strategies with targets that go beyond those of their national governments. To implement their strategies, cities have embraced a range of alternative governance instruments and approaches (‘governance alternatives’). While they have long been lauded by academics, policymakers, and practitioners for doing so, these ‘frontrunner’ cities are now being seen to struggle to achieve their ambitious targets when using governance alternatives. This article seeks to unpack and better understand this struggle by zooming in on the progress made in reducing (non-renewable) energy consumption in the built environment of three major cities in the United States (Chicago, New York, and San Francisco) over the last decade. Informed by interviews and supplementary data, the article uncovers a pattern across these three cities. In the early 2000s, they all set ambitious urban climate change targets, but lacked the power and capacity to achieve these. They all used a largely uncoordinated ‘scattergun approach’, embracing a broad set of (at best) modestly ambitious and (regularly) opportunistic governance alternatives to achieve the aims of their ambitious strategies. Whilst this approach allowed the cities to obtain quick initial results, the resulting fragmented configuration of traditional and alternative governance instruments and approaches now hinders them from meeting their targets.

Transition of the Chinese Economy in the Face of Deep Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cuts in the Future

AbstractChina joined the Paris Agreement, and the global 2°C and 1.5°C warming targets will be supported by China. In order to achieve these targets, China's CO2 emissions need to be cut deeply by 2050. The present paper presents studies from the integrated policy assessment model for China (IPAC) team about the impact on China's economic development of deep cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in order to realize the Paris climate change targets. With the requirement of deep cuts in GHG emissions in China, China's economic development will also be impacted in moving toward a low‐carbon or zero‐carbon emission‐based economy by 2050. This means the Chinese economy needs a strong transition over the next three decades, a relatively short time. All sectors in the economy need to seek ways to reduce GHG emissions, and this could change activities, industry processes and technologies in order to make the deep cuts in GHG emissions happen. This is the meaning of the economic transition toward to a low‐carbon economy. The findings of the present paper include: a significant transition in the energy supply sector; a high rate of electrification in all end‐use sectors; and a technology transition in the transport sector. Transitions will also occur in the traditional industrial sectors, including steel making, cement manufacture, and the chemical sector. The availability of low‐cost renewable energy could change the allocation of industries, which could potentially have a strong impact on regional economic development. Deep cuts in CO2 emissions in China need not be a burden for economic development, as the IPAC results show there will be a more than 1.5% increase of gross domestic product by 2050 in the deep cut scenario compared with the baseline scenario.

Climate Change Transition Risk on Sovereign Bond Markets

We challenge the narrative that climate change transition risk is not being priced into sovereign bond markets. As measured by carbon dioxide emissions, natural resources rents and renewable energy consumption, climate change transition risk is factored into sovereign bond yields (and spreads) by investors. Using a sample of data from 23 advanced and 16 developing markets from 2000-2019, we show that countries with lower carbon emissions incur a lower risk premium on sovereign borrowing costs. Moreover, advanced countries willing to reduce their earnings from natural resources rents and, to some extent, increase renewable energy consumption are associated with lower sovereign borrowing costs. In contrast, developing countries with a strong dependence on natural resources or restricted renewable energy consumption incur lower sovereign borrowing costs. Thus, advanced economies that perform poorly in managing their climate transition may encounter increased sovereign borrowing costs, liquidity constraints, reduced capacity to effectively manage climate transition and the inability to finance economic recovery from severe climate shocks or natural disasters. The necessity to support developing countries to meet climate change targets also emerges. Given the threat climate change poses to the global economy and the fact that transition risk is materialized much faster than physical risk, we advocate an increase in the significance of climate transition risk factors as determinants of sovereign bond markets.

How psychology can help limit climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has encouraged psychologists to become part of the integrated scientific effort to support the achievement of climate change targets such as keeping within 1.5°C or 2°C of global warming. To date, the typical psychological approach has been to demonstrate that specific concepts and theories can predict behaviors that contribute to or mitigate climate change. Psychologists need to go further and, in particular, show that integrating psychological concepts into feasible interventions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions far more than would be achieved without such integration. While critiquing some aspects of current approaches, we describe psychological research that is pointing the way by distinguishing different types of behavior, acknowledging sociocultural context, and collaborating with other disciplines. Engaging this challenge offers psychologists new opportunities for promoting mitigation, advancing psychological understanding, and developing better interdisciplinary interactions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Biochar Application in Agricultural Fields may be Fatal for Solar Energy Mission and Climate Change Targets

I hope you are safe and doing well during COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of challenges, the authors have very enthusiastically contributed highly relevant papers as included in this issue of Current World Environment.

Building and Calibrating a Country-Level Detailed Global Electricity Model Based on Public Data

Deep decarbonization of the global electricity sector is required to meet ambitious climate change targets. This underlines the need for improved models to facilitate an understanding of the global challenges ahead, particularly on the concept of large-scale interconnection of power systems. Developments in recent years regarding availability of open data as well as improvements in hardware and software has stimulated the use of more advanced and detailed electricity system models. In this paper we explain the process of developing a first-of-its-kind reference global electricity system model with over 30,000 individual power plants representing 164 countries spread out over 265 nodes. We describe the steps in the model development, assess the limitations and existing data gaps and we furthermore showcase the robustness of the model by benchmarking calibrated hourly simulation results with historical emission and generation data on a country level. The model can be used to evaluate the operation of today's power systems or can be applied for scenario studies assessing a range of global decarbonization pathways. Comprehensive global power system datasets are provided as part of the model input data, with all data being openly available under the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship allowing users to modify or recreate the model in other simulation environments. The software used for this study (PLEXOS) is freely available for academic use.