Carbon Reduction Research Articles

How does green fiscal policy promote the synergy of pollution mitigation and carbon reduction? Evidence from China

How does green fiscal policy promote the synergy of pollution mitigation and carbon reduction? Evidence from China

Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Emerging Markets: The Dual Impact of Energy Transition Investments on Economic Growth and Carbon Emissions.

This study investigates the effectiveness of energy transition investments (ETIs) in achieving net-zero emissions. Specifically, it revaluates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) by analysing whether ETIs can simultaneously stimulate economic activity and reduce carbon emissions (CE) using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The analysis focuses on a sample of emerging countries. In contrast to previous research, the study expands the EKC model by incorporating the ETIs variable, which encompasses a broader and more comprehensive range of investments that contribute to climate change mitigation, beyond just renewable energy. Additionally, the study employs total factor productivity (TFP) as a measure of economic activity, instead of GDP, considering the efficiency of technology, energy, and other resources. Key findings indicate that the TFP coefficient is higher in the short term compared to the long-term supporting the validity of the EKC hypothesis. This suggest that emerging countries have reached a TFP level of that helps reduce their CE, aiding climate change adaptation and mitigation. The study also reveals a negative effect of ETIs on CE and shows that an increase in TFP significantly enhances ETIs, suggesting that higher TFP levels attract more investment in energy transitions. These findings provide insights for policymakers on the impact of ETIs on CE and aid in formulating effective policies to achieve net-zero emissions.

Pathways to innovation: How city pilots leverage digital technology to reduce carbon emissions

Technological innovation through various pathways is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality and peak carbon emissions. The Innovative City Pilot (ICP) initiative, a key effort to promote national innovation, has garnered increasing attention. However, most studies have not examined the effects of ICP on carbon emissions through diverse digital technologies. Using city-level data from 2000 to 2022, we constructed a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) model to analyze changes in carbon emissions before and after the ICP period in both ICP and non-ICP areas. The carbon emission reduction pathway of the ICP influences various forms of digital technology, which then empower local green product innovation, market-oriented innovation, and industrial innovation. The impact of ICP emission reduction through digital technology is more significant in western, first- and second-tier, sub-provincial, populous, and coastal cities. In conclusion, policymakers should tailor policies according to the action pathways of digital technology and specific city characteristics. We outline the specific pathways of green product innovation, market-oriented innovation, and industrial innovation enabled by digital technologies and provide policy recommendations for the sustainable development of China.

Enhancing water quality prediction with advanced machine learning techniques: An extreme gradient boosting model based on long short-term memory and autoencoder

Achieving carbon neutrality in the pulp and paper industry necessitates effectively recycling pulp and papermaking wastewater, where continuous monitoring of effluent quality indices is crucial. This study suggests a novel machine learning-based model named LSTMAE-XGBOOST that integrates the feature extraction capabilities of autoencoder, the sequential feature learning capabilities of LSTM, and the high prediction accuracy of XGBOOST. This model is capable of extracting the complex relationships, non-Gaussian characteristics, and time series features from the papermaking wastewater data, and it demonstrates superior predictive performance. Compared to traditional machine learning models, the proposed model exhibits higher prediction accuracy. Specifically, when contrasted with partial least squares regression, LSTMAE-XGBOOST achieves a 40% increase in R2 and a 35% reduction in RMSE. Further comparative assessments against other machine learning-based hybrid models with similar structures confirm the superiority of integrating LSTM and XGBOOST within the hybrid model approach. This study contributes a compelling methodology for modeling effluent quality indices, offering significant implications for environmental management in the pulp and paper industry.

Exploring carbon neutrality scenarios through the life cycle assessment lens: a review of literature and methodological challenges

Exploring carbon neutrality scenarios through the life cycle assessment lens: a review of literature and methodological challenges

Altering preferential product selectivity in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction over fluorine-modified CuIn bimetallic materials

Integrating carbon dioxide (CO2)-derived renewable technologies into the petrochemical industry presents a promising avenue for carbon neutrality. The renewable-energy-powered electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) process, particularly over Cu-based electrocatalysts, is a valuable asset for our decarbonization efforts to avoid climate consequences. Intending to enhance process efficiency, this work is a distinctive case study emphasizing the need to develop electrocatalysts in conjunction with adjusting operating conditions. A representative case is presented using fluorine-modified CuIn bimetallic electrocatalysts with tunable In/Cu ratios, demonstrating how to alter selectivity preferences based on reactor configuration: Our optimized catalyst system led to the highest faradaic efficiency (FE) for C2+ products of 68 % and the highest C1 FE of 80 % using gas diffusion electrodes (GDE)- and H-cell-type based electrolyzer, respectively. Moreover, the controllable In/Cu ratio and the degree of fluoride doping played a pivotal role in governing the physicochemical properties of the bimetallic electrocatalysts and their eCO2R performance. Diverse characterization tools offered systematic insights into the relationships between catalyst structure and properties, reactor configuration, electrolyte, and performance, aiming to enhance the Technology Readiness Level of the eCO2R process.

Fluorine-regulated Cu catalyst boosts electrochemical reduction of CO2 towards ethylene production

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) into value-added multi-carbon (C2) products utilizing renewable energy is a promising way to reduce carbon emission and achieve carbon neutrality. However, rational design of catalysts towards high C2 products selectivity remains a formidable task. Herein, fluorine modified copper catalyst was synthesised by thermal anneal in the presence of ammonium fluoride and sequential annealing in argon atmosphere. The charge distribution and coordination environment on copper surface were adjusted by doped fluorine atoms, which enables the formation of key intermediates and their sequential evolution into ethylene. The catalyst achieves a remarkable Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 40.6 % for eCO2RR to ethylene and remains stable over 13 hours. Density functional theory calculations indicates that the excellent CO2RR performance can be attributed to the suppressed hydrogen evolution on fluorine-doped copper catalyst. Our work brings a potential modification strategy of Cu-based catalyst for electrolytic CO2-to-C2 pathway.

Spectrally selective and thermally insulating hybrid nanofiber aerogel coolers for building energy conservation

With the advancement of worldwide carbon neutralization, passive radiative cooling (PRC) has attracted tremendous interest in energy conservation by dissipating heat into the ultracold outer space without any electricity consumption. Despite some progress has been made in tailoring spectral properties for PRC, it still remains a crucial challenge in fabricating efficient and low-cost coolers for building energy saving. Herein, hierarchical cellulose-based aerogel coolers consisting of beads-on-string structural electrospun nanofibers are manufactured for all-day and all-region energy saving by combining radiative cooling and thermal insulation in one design. The hierarchically porous architectures and well-designed chemical compositions endow the aerogels with strong solar reflectance (∼0.974), high mid-infrared emittance (∼0.985), and ultra-low thermal conductivity (0.0285 W (m K)−1), achieving a sub-ambient cooling of ∼8.24 °C during the daytime and ∼7.41 °C during the nighttime. The aerogels also exhibit exceptional compressive resiliency, anti-aging, and self-cleaning properties, promising for durable cooling under harsh conditions. The building energy simulations show that about 23.1 kWh m−2 of the total energy consumption per year can be saved if the aerogel coolers are widely deployed as building envelopes in China. This work provides new perspectives for the development of advanced aerogel coolers for future energy saving applications.

Enhancing CO2 electroreduction to formate on bismuth catalyst via sulfur doping

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate is an effective approach to achieving carbon neutrality. However, the instability of catalyst remains a significant limitation. Doping heteroatoms is a recognized method for tuning the coordination environment to enhance both electrochemical performance and stability. Herein, we report a facile and mild hydrothermal method employing sulfur doping to tune the coordination environment of bismuth active sites. Sulfur doping modifies the coordination environment of active sites by partially substituting O atoms bonded with bismuth active sites and simultaneously creating an abundance of oxygen vacancies, which effectively stabilize the active sites. This results in notably improved stability, reaching 110 h with a significant FEHCOOH (around 100 %). The bismuth-based catalyst modified with sulfur exhibits an impressive FEHCOOH over 95 % across a wide applied potential range of −0.7 to −1.4 VRHE. The flower-like structure increases the electrochemical surface area, promoting greater exposure of bismuth active sites. This leads to a high formate production rate of 1248 mmol∙h-1∙cm-2 for the Cu-BiS catalyst, which is 1.7 times that of the Cu-Bi catalyst. This strategy provides an effective way to tune the coordination environment of active sites and stabilize them.

Integrating active demand into the distribution system using metaheuristic techniques

AbstractIntegrating non‐conventional renewable energy sources into distribution systems, alongside data science and enabling technological infrastructures, presents significant challenges, particularly in managing active demand. The rapid evolution of the electric energy system and increasing electricity demand highlight the need for reliable tracking and predictive methods to manage Distributed Energy Resources and digital infrastructure. These methods are essential for advancing carbon neutrality, democratizing environmental sustainability, and improving energy efficiency. Effective active demand monitoring requires understanding the transactional system concept, including digital infrastructure and decentralized demand. Although metaheuristic techniques are increasingly important in demand response integration, much research focuses on specific techniques rather than providing a comprehensive view of dynamic transaction integration for active demand. Technological advancements, like smart meters and communication systems, are shifting from basic consumption measurement to active customer participation. This article reviews key concepts in electrical distribution systems, such as active demand, DERs, and transactive systems. It examines prevalent metaheuristic techniques, emphasizing their role in integrating and predicting active demand and DER behaviors. Additionally, the study presents a methodology serving as a roadmap for efficient DER integration and the transition to active demand and transactive electricity systems, addressing gaps in the current literature.

Optimal Strategies for E-Commerce Platform Supply Chain: Carbon Emission Reduction and Financing

In the context of global carbon emission reduction (CER) targets and slowing economic growth, it is imperative for suppliers to make informed choices regarding CER and financing strategies. However, limited research has explored the impact of financing strategies on CER. This paper develops a supply chain model that includes a supplier, a manufacturer, an E-commerce platform (E-C platform), and consumers with a preference for low-carbon products. The supplier sets the wholesale price, while the manufacturer controls both the production quantity and the unit amount of CER. We examine whether the manufacturer will invest in CER with sufficient capital or under various financing scenarios, namely (1) traditional production with sufficient capital (Scenario ST); (2) CER implementation with sufficient capital (Scenario SG); (3) CER implementation with E-C platform financing (Scenario EG); (4) CER implementation with bank financing (Scenario BG). Through comparative analysis, the analysis reveals that, regardless of the financing method chosen, the supplier’s profit and the manufacturer’s production quantity increase when the manufacturer invests in CER technology innovation compared to the traditional scenario. Furthermore, in terms of the manufacturer’s profit, if the service cost of bank financing exceeds a certain threshold, the manufacturer should either seek financing from the E-C platform or abandon the CER investment. Additionally, with respect to CER outcomes, Scenario BG outperforms Scenario EG. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and decision-making support for supply chain participants when addressing carbon reduction and financing strategy decisions.

Examining the challenges impeding the utilization of construction materials with lower embodied carbon in the construction sector

ABSTRACT This paper aimed at determining the barriers preventing the extensive utilization of innovative materials in the construction sector. As a way of providing clear understanding of the complex interrelationship between the barriers, the literature review was supplemented by an expert-based survey to determine the barriers, whereas the hierarchical structure between the barriers was analyzed using the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach. Based on the outcome of the level partitioning of the ISM approach, it was found out that “reluctance to take responsibility for embodied carbon reduction (B14) was partitioned at the 8th level indicating that it is the most highly prioritized barrier considered to be the most crucial in preventing the use of low-carbon building materials in the construction industry. The paper produces vital knowledge and evidence that could be applied to encourage more sustainable construction practices by the wide adoption of alternative construction materials with lower embodied carbon in the construction sector. The implications inferred based on the findings of this paper seek to suggest remedies, strategies, and actions that could help to overcome the undesirable impact of the barriers that affect the utilization of low-carbon building materials, particularly amongst prominent stakeholders of construction projects.

Green energy meets urban agriculture: Unveiling the carbon reduction potential of Rooftop Agrivoltaics

Green energy meets urban agriculture: Unveiling the carbon reduction potential of Rooftop Agrivoltaics

Differences in willingness to pay for various types of carbon-labeled products: A dynamic perspective

Carbon labeling (CL) is a carbon reduction policy with development potential that has not yet been widely promoted worldwide. This study explores the trend of consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for different types of carbon-labeled products from a dynamic perspective, to provide a reference for future pilot projects. The research team collected 3788 valid questionnaires from China's first-tier cities spanning a five-year period and used interval regression to analyze the impact and change of consumer traits on WTP for the four types of carbon-labeled products in 2019 and 2024. The bootstrap method was further used to examine the impact mechanisms to explore ways to improve the current situation. This study found that (1) WTP for food, textiles, electronics, and other household products with CL generally decreased from 2019 to 2024. Textiles and electronics experienced a smaller decline, while food and other household products witnessed larger decreases. (2) The effect of consumer characteristics on WTP changes from 2019 to 2024. Consumers' frequency of low-carbon behaviors no longer significantly affects WTP across all product categories, while attitudes toward CL only affect textiles and electronics. (3) Consumers' perceived environmental value is the mechanism by which personal traits affect WTP. Finally, based on the findings, this study suggests that the selection of textiles and electronics as a pilot product is more likely to be accepted by consumers and that emphasis should be placed on the promotion of the environmental values of CL.

Circular economy efficiency improvements contribute to achieving Net-Zero: Empirical evidence from China

In response to the pressing challenges of climate change and resource scarcity, the circular economy (CE) has gained recognition as a vital strategy for reducing carbon emissions while sustaining economic growth. Despite its potential existing studies often lack clarity in measuring Circular Economy Efficiency (CEE) and in elucidating the mechanisms by which CE drives carbon reduction and contributes to Net-Zero. This study employs the Epsilon-Based Measure (EBM) to assess CEE and uses a two-way fixed effects model to evaluate its impact on carbon emission reduction across 285 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2020. Our findings indicate that improvements in the CE significantly reduce both carbon emissions and carbon intensity. Notably, the CE effectively reduces emissions in cities in eastern and western China, whereas central cities experience an increase in emissions, reflecting spatial disparities in CE practices. The mechanism analysis identifies green technology innovation, production structure rationalisation, and reduced resource dependence as critical pathways driving these reductions. The robustness checks confirm that the results are consistent and reliable. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing the CE to decrease carbon emission and emphasise the need for targeted CE strategies tailored to the specific characteristics of urban areas to effectively decarbonise cities and support Net-Zero.

National goal, local resistance: How institutional gaps hinder local renewable energy development in Taiwan

In most countries, energy transitions are well supported by the public; however, the implementation of renewable energy policies at the local level is often beset with resistance. Previous research has mainly focused on factors influencing community acceptance and strategies to improve social acceptance. Meanwhile, there has been limited analysis of the institutional gaps that lead to local resistance and the dynamic effects of institutional factors on renewable energy implementation at the local level. This paper thus investigates Taiwan's regulations for renewable energy development, presenting a detailed case study from a local context. It examines the factors contributing to local resistance to the implementation of national renewable energy policy targets and explores the dynamics of these resistance actions. Furthermore, through the lens of multi-level governance, the study reveals the institutional gaps and interactions that influence the execution of national policy at the local level. Six major institutional gaps in Taiwan's renewable energy governance were identified, including the lack of energy governance authorizations for local governments, a lack of superordinate site selection criteria and evaluation mechanisms for development zones, lack of governance systems that can address multiple issues, lack of scientific and academic information, lack of information disclosure and public participation mechanisms, and the burden of carbon reduction responsibilities and costs on local communities with few or no benefits. Compounded together, these six institutional gaps lead to the buildup of negative experiences interacting with the government and the renewable energy industry and feelings of worry, panic, distrust, and injustice among the local populace. These ultimately trigger resistance attitudes and the adoption of protest actions, hindering solar farm developments from reaching national policy targets. This study highlights the critical role of multi-level governance in facilitating the energy transition, emphasizing that the successful development of renewable energy requires a robust institutional framework. Such a framework is essential for addressing the complex governance challenges that arise during this transition, particularly aspects supporting local engagement. The six institutional gaps identified from the Taiwan case can serve as policy references for countries or cities intending to promote ground-mounted solar power.

Dynamic performance analysis and optimization research on solar dual-stage evaporation multigeneration system

A novel solar dual-stage evaporation multigeneration system is proposed, with analysis on the impact of the parabolic trough collector area (APTC) and the volume of the heat storage tank (VHST) on performance under dynamic conditions. The particle swarm optimization- genetic algorithm and the minimum path method optimized the system’s overall performance. Results show that reducing APTC and increasing VHST can enhance energy performance within a certain range, but beyond specific thresholds, changes in APTC and VHST no longer affect it. As APTC and VHST increase, economic performance initially improves but then declines. The particle swarm optimization- genetic algorithm increased optimization efficiency and avoided local optima. When using the minimum path method, the dimensionless cumulative error was 0.63, balancing thermal and economic performance. Using toluene as the working fluid, the optimized system achieved thermal and exergy efficiencies of 56.06 % and 9.15 %, respectively, with a net present value of 58.12 M$, a payback period of 5.23 years, and an equivalent CO2 reduction of 24.8 kt, outperforming the solar organic Rankine cycle system in energy efficiency, economic performance, and carbon reduction potential. The solar dual-stage evaporation multigeneration system achieved the best performance with toluene as the working fluid, while heptane provided longer running time and greater carbon reduction potential. At low rated power generation, performance differences between toluene and heptane were minimal, while as the rated power generation increased, toluene showed significant advantages in thermal and economic performance.

Patterns and Drivers of CO2 and CH4 Fluxes in an Urbanized River Network and Their Response to Restoration

AbstractCarbon evasion from urban river networks becomes increasingly significant as urbanization accelerates. However, there remains a limited understanding of the overall carbon emission impact integrating CO2 and CH4 dynamics, particularly in response to ecological restoration efforts. In this study, we investigated patterns of fluvial CO2 and CH4 diffusive fluxes across an urban river network in Wuxi, China. Our results reveal that water quality variables, especially dissolved oxygen (DO) and phosphorus content, predominantly influence the variability of carbon emissions. These factors exhibit a stronger correlation with CO2 emissions compared to CH4, indicating a net increase in carbon emissions as water quality deteriorates. Seasonally, higher water temperatures, phosphate levels, and lower DO concentrations lead to increased carbon emissions during summer months. Spatially, areas with lower carbon emissions (averaged 86 mmol m−2 d−1 CO2 and 0.13 mmol m−2 d−1 CH4) are primarily situated near the lake and in river sections where significant water quality improvements have been achieved through ecological restoration efforts. Cluster analysis shows that over 60% of high‐carbon emission (averaged 162 mmol m−2 d−1 CO2 and 1.21 mmol m−2 d−1 CH4) sites in the study area have undergone ecological restoration, suggesting potential for further carbon emission reduction through enhanced restoration practices. Our findings underscore the importance of implementing carbon reduction strategies such as nutrient removal and aeration for oxygenation within water ecological restoration initiatives. Effective matching of restoration strategies holds further potential for mitigating carbon emissions from urban river networks.

Transnational experience exchange between countries towards speeding up EU renewable transition: example of Norway-Croatia

Abstract The RePowerEU plan aims to increase wind energy capacity to 480 GW by 2030, with 300 GW coming from offshore wind farms, to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Due to Croatia’s substantial dependence on nautical and coastal tourism, along with significant concerns regarding negative environmental impacts, the installation of offshore wind farms has not been previously considered. However, due to increased demand for renewables, the offshore energy potential resurfaced. The recent Action Plan for the Uptake of Offshore Renewable Energy Sources in Croatia (May 2023) estimated offshore wind potential at 25 GW and identified more than 29 000 km2 of area available for offshore renewables. Norway, with its extensive experience in offshore engineering and pioneering developments in offshore wind, is a suitable partner in joint innovation and a resource for tried and tested best practices. In this collaborative research, a review of relevant documents, research articles, and interviews with industry experts from both from Croatia and Norway was conducted to obtain a broader perspective of the implications of offshore development in Croatia. As an outcome of this preliminary research, the paper outlines the required evaluations in the Croatian context, in terms of the social, environmental, legislative, and technical aspects that are to be considered for large-scale integration of wind energy into the Croatian grid. It also identifies the necessary grid improvements to achieve a reliable and sustainable grid of the future.

음악교과 플라스틱 재질의 악기 사용에 대한 초등교사의 인식 연구

The purpose of this study is to investigate elementary school teachers' perception of plastic musical instruments used in music classes in a situation where the need for carbon neutrality is emerging as part of global efforts to respond to environmental pollution and the climate crisis through education for sustainable development. For this purpose, 111 teachers working in elementary schools were surveyed on their concepts and practice of sustainable development and carbon neutrality, as well as their perception of plastic musical instruments used in music classes. As a result of the analysis, First, 88.2% (98 teachers) of elementary school teachers understood the concepts of sustainable development, climate/ecological environment, and carbon neutrality, and 70.3% (78 teachers) of teachers responded that they reflected related content in class. Additionally, 91.0% (101 teachers) of teachers responded that they were well aware of microplastics, which are becoming a major issue in the environmental field, and that 90.0% (100 teachers) had a high correlation with plastic products. Second, 89.2% (99 teachers) of teachers responded that there were plastic musical instruments at school, and 86.5% (96 teachers) of teachers responded that they had experience using plastic instruments during music classes. Third, recorders, melodeons, and dansowere found to be the most commonly used plastic musical instruments during music classes. Fourth, in response to the use of plastic musical instruments during music classes, 73.0% (81 teachers) of teachers said they were concerned, and 72.0% (80 teachers) of teachers responded that there was a high possibility of inhaling microplastics when holding plastic instruments such as recorders or danso in the mouth. Fifth, the reasons for using a lot of plastic musical instruments were economic feasibility, portability, and ease of storage, and respondents answered that the most necessary things when using instruments made of eco-friendly materials are financial support and the development of eco-friendly instruments. Lastly, the personal opinions of elementary school teachers can be divided into finance, teaching, and research, and there were responses that above all, a change in teachers' perception was needed.