Carbon Reduction Research Articles

Promoting Sustainable Transportation: Factors Influencing Battery Electric Vehicle Adoption Across Age Groups in Thailand

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are a crucial innovation for achieving sustainable transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which are major contributors to global warming and climate change. While previous studies have explored attitudes towards BEV technology acceptance, few have examined the interplay of external factors such as government measures and adoption barriers in promoting sustainable mobility. This study addresses this gap by investigating the roles of government policies, usage obstacles and innovation diffusion in stimulating BEV purchase intentions, while applying the Innovative Diffusion Theory (IDT). Data from 3632 respondents in Thailand were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine causal relationships between factors. The results indicate that government policies supporting BEV users enhance innovation diffusion in society, leading to increased adoption intentions. Furthermore, effective policies help mitigate barriers to BEV usage, further encouraging adoption. The study also reveals that causal relationships of BEV usage intentions vary across age groups, highlighting the need for targeted approaches in promoting sustainable transportation. These findings contribute to the development of evidence-based policy recommendations to accelerate BEV adoption, supporting Thailand’s Carbon Neutrality goals and broader sustainable development objectives. By elucidating the complex dynamics of BEV adoption, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders working towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation sector.

Design and Site Selection of Reverse Logistics Network for Iron and Steel Enterprises from the Perspective of Green Supply Chain

The iron and steel industry is not only one of the most important components of China's national economy, but also a typical resource-and-energy-intensive industry. Under the background of "Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals", it is of great significance for the iron and steel industry to improve the green closed-loop supply chain and develop circular economy. From the perspective of green supply chain, this paper puts forward the three-level network structure of waste steel reverse logistics based on the present situation of waste steel recycling in China, and uses k-means clustering algorithm and accurate center of gravity method to select locations for the primary and secondary nodes. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for iron and steel enterprises to carry out network optimization of reverse logistics.

Pathways to Net-Zero—Innovations and Challenges in Achieving Carbon Neutrality

The global pursuit of net-zero carbon emissions has become one of the most critical challenges of the 21st century, as extreme climate events, rising temperatures, and environmental degradation force a reckoning with the carbon-intensive practices that define many of our industrial, agricultural, and energy systems [...]

A low-carbon supply chain pricing mechanism considering CSR under carbon cap-and-trade policy.

In the context of environmental deterioration and people's growing environmental protection awareness, governments or regions have put forward corresponding carbon emission reduction policies. Among them, the carbon trading mechanism, as an effective means to promote enterprises to implement emission reduction measures, plays a crucial role in regulating enterprise behavior and promoting social sustainable development. Since various industries and sectors support each other in social and economic development, it is more reasonable to study the carbon emission reduction optimization decisions of society and enterprises from the perspective of the supply chain. To achieve the carbon reduction target of the supply chain system, manufacturing enterprises usually need to incur additional costs to invest in emission reduction technologies, and retail enterprises also need to conduct low-carbon publicity to increase product market share. On one hand, considering the impact of the government's emission reduction constraints and consumers' low-carbon preferences, manufacturers will take corporate social responsibility (CSR) into consideration to enhance product competitiveness. On the other hand, smaller retailers are more concerned about being treated fairly than about their own profits due to the extra cost of low-carbon advertising. In this paper, considering the background of carbon trading, the manufacturer's CSR and retailer's fairness concern behavior are introduced into the decision-making process of the low-carbon supply chain (LCSC), and the relevant emission reduction decision-making model is constructed by using Stackelberg game theory and backward derivation method. Through comparative analysis of relevant parameters, members' profits and utilities, this paper focuses on the influence of CSR and fairness concerns on system decision-making. The results show that the optimal way for LCSC decision-making is to cooperate with fair-concerned retailers and manufacturers with CSR. When manufacturers consider social responsibility within a certain range and retailers bear part of the cost of social responsibility as followers, it can not only effectively improve the emission reduction level of the supply chain and the profits of each entity, but also help to increase the enthusiasm of each entity for carbon emission reduction and the overall social welfare.

Regional variations in energy efficiency: Modifying China's industrial approaches to meet sustainability goals

China has devoted much attention to the “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” objectives, the related research focuses on renewable energy, carbon removal, electrification, and hydrogen technologies. Yet, energy efficiency, especially in resource-based and older industrial cities continue to be a research gap in this regard. This study fills this research gap by assessing the role of China's national Industrial Transformation and Upgrade Demonstration Zones (ITUDZ) in energy conservation from 2010 to 2021. In this paper, applying the time-varying Difference-in-Differences (DID) method, we confirm that ITUDZ effectively decreases the energy utilization of these cities. These tests are reliable based on the results obtained above. Mechanism assessments show that the ITUDZ does so through enhancing green innovation and adjusting industrial patterns and that marketization enhances the energy-saving impacts. Geographical heteroscedasticity tests also show that the effects are significant for multi-urban areas and eastern China but weaker for central-western and single-urban city areas. Therefore, this study serves to add to the existing knowledge regarding place-based industrial policies and their contribution towards the realization of China's sustainable development agenda.

Digital agriculture’s impact on carbon dioxide emissions varies with the economic development of Chinese provinces

Digital empowerment is a dynamic process of complementary digital technology and production factors and plays a critical role in achieving the dual carbon objectives of the carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Here, we use the input-output method, employing panel data on environmental and social factors from 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2012 to 2021. We explore the impact of digital empowerment development on agricultural carbon dioxide emissions and underlying mechanisms. We found that the relationship between digital empowerment and carbon dioxide emissions is nonlinear and follows an inverted U-curve. The carbon dioxide emissions increase as digital empowerment increases and decrease when digital empowerment crosses the inflection point of 0.0862. Digital empowerment reduces agricultural carbon emissions by optimizing carbon-intensive factor inputs such as fertilizers and improving factor allocation efficiency. Our research provides evidence for policymakers to enable the promotion of digital empowerment of farmers across Chinese provinces.

Carbon trading pilot and low-carbon development of China’s textile industry

To explore whether a carbon trading pilot (CTP) can promote the low-carbon development of China's textile industry (CTI), this paper used a difference-in-difference model to study the impact of CTP on the carbon emissions in CTI and further analysed its regional heterogeneity. The research results showed that the impact coefficient of CTP on the carbon emissions in CTI was significantly negative, indicating that CTP could reduce the carbon emissions in CTI. Robustness tests such as the Placebo test, replacing the explained variable and the estimation method and excluding the interference of other policies verified the robustness of the research results. The dynamic regression results revealed the carbon reduction effect of CTP became stronger as the time of its implementation increased. At the regional level, CTP could also significantly lower the carbon emissions in the textile industry both in the eastern and western regions, and the reduction effect in the western region was greater than that in the eastern.

Investigating the impediments to carbon emission mitigation in prefabricated construction: a stakeholder perspective

ABSTRACT Prefabricated construction is a promising global technology for reducing carbon emissions (CEs) in the construction sector. This study aims to identify critical factors affecting the life cycle of prefabricated buildings, understand their interrelationships, and develop targeted carbon reduction measures. A mixed-methods approach is employed, incorporating bibliometric analysis to identify key factors and the Delphi method to refine these factors through iterative surveys with diverse stakeholders. A 24-member scoring panel and a 3-member review panel consisting of experienced corporate practitioners were selected for the study. The DEMATEL-ISM approach was utilized to analyze causal and hierarchical relationships, revealing both direct and indirect impacts on CEs. The findings indicate that factors such as energy efficiency and behavior change significantly affect CEs in prefabricated buildings. The study categorizes 15 key factors, including energy efficiency, environmental properties, behavioral change, and water and solid waste management. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of building design, energy-saving awareness and habits, and policies and regulations in reducing carbon emissions in prefabricated construction. These insights are valuable for advancing sustainable building research, analyzing stakeholder attitudes, and informing engineering project studies.

Integrated energy services in parks: Analyzing stakeholder dynamics and innovation under the REITs model through 23 policy documents

Industrial parks are significant consumers of energy, contributing to global carbon emissions and intensifying the need for strategic interventions to meet carbon reduction and energy efficiency goals. In China, the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) model has been adopted to advance the development of Integrated Energy Services (IESs) within these parks. This paper analyzes 23 Chinese government policy documents to explore the key stakeholders in park-based IESs, particularly the central role of energy companies in shaping collective decision-making processes. The study highlights how business models, including financial investment, offline and digital services, and innovative practices, have evolved under the REITs framework to drive the development of IESs and foster collaboration among stakeholders.

Stakeholders’ perceptions of and willingness to pay for circular economy in the construction sector

Adopting Circular Economy practices in the construction industry can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, many barriers exist to adoption, and current perceptions of and willingness to pay for circularity have yet to be quantified. This study seeks to understand the various perceptions of circularity in the construction industry, characterize uncertainties and risks, and identify economic incentives and opportunities that could accelerate circular adoption via an industry survey of three stakeholder groups. 58 stakeholders filled out part of the survey, and 42 stakeholders completed the majority of questions. Real estate developers are willing to pay an average premium of 10% for construction costs if there’s a minimum embodied carbon reduction of 53%. Design and construction professionals and material suppliers were also surveyed. Reasons for adopting circular practices were primarily driven by client, design team, and net zero goals. The results of this survey begin to characterize the economic landscape of what is needed for a circular transition in the built environment.

Financing Sustainability: Unveiling the Role of Government Debt in Carbon Reduction Performance

The existing literature on government debt has predominantly focused on its influence on economic growth, with relatively limited attention paid to its ecological implications. Government debt, as an important financial tool, plays an essential role in improving the quality of economic development, yet its impact on sustainable governance remains underexplored. Against this backdrop, this paper investigates the relationship between government debt and carbon reduction using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2010 to 2023. After excluding missing and financial firm data, our final sample includes 26,535 observations. We obtained these data from the China Security Market Accounting Research (CSMAR) database and the Wind database. This study utilizes ordinary least squares (OLS) as the baseline regression and identifies a significant positive impact of government debt on carbon emissions. Further, the moderating analysis suggests that the positive impact of government debt on carbon reduction is particularly stronger in state-owned (SOEs) and heavily polluting enterprises. To ensure the robustness of these findings, we also use fixed-effects models and the generalized method of moments (GMM), validating the consistency of the findings. This research provides critical practical and theoretical insights for regulators and adds to the prevailing body of literature on emissions reduction.

Net‐Zero Transition Pathways in Belt and Road Economies: Insights From Threshold Effects and Heterogeneous Analysis

ABSTRACTGiven the pressing need for economies to mitigate climate change and champion carbon neutrality, this study investigates the threshold effects of financial development and foreign direct investment (FDI) on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) bloc, taking into account the moderating role of the regulatory environment. Drawing on the environmental Kuznets curve and the pollution haven hypothesis, the study utilizes the dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) modeling, proposed by Arellano and Bover, to analyze panel data from 37 SSA countries spanning 1990–2022. The findings reveal that financial development in the banking, financial, and private sectors, along with FDI outflows, is associated with a reduction in CO₂ emissions. Conversely, FDI inflows are linked to increased CO₂ emissions. A curvilinear relationship is observed, where initial increases in financial development and FDI correlate with higher emissions, which decline beyond a certain threshold. Stronger regulations enhance the positive impact of financial development on reducing CO₂ emissions. Finally, the findings show a significant heterogeneous effect across the SSA regional blocs. These findings underscore the critical need for implementing stringent environmental regulations and promoting sustainable financial practices to mitigate negative environmental impact. This research provides both theoretical and practical insights into fostering a carbon neutrality agenda and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 13.

Support Carbon Neutral Goal with a High-resolution Carbon Monitoring System in Beijing

Abstract China has committed to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, known as the Dual Carbon Goals (DCG). To support the DCG, monitoring and assessment of progresses in emissions reduction have become a central research focus. Here we describe the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (JJJ) Carbon Monitoring System, established over the last six years through a collaborative effort of 16 research institutions and universities. The monitoring capability includes ground-based high-precision reference stations, a dense network of medium-accuracy low-cost sensors, carbon satellites, vertical profile samplers, and mobile platforms. Observations using the network have shown CO2 variations from diurnal, synoptic to seasonal-interannual timescales, as well as dramatic on-road changes during the COVID-19 lockdown. High-resolution modeling and data assimilation at km-scale reveal major deficiencies in global carbon emissions datasets at regional/city scale. The inversion found the total fossil fuel CO2 emissions of the City of Beijing to be 117 megatonne (Mt), but much lower than the national-data-based inventories (152 MtCO2). The results have been used in emissions assessment by national and local environmental protection agencies. Similar systems are now being developed in other Chinese cities.

Enhancing Sustainable Development Competence in Undergraduates: Key Determinants in the Context of “Dual-Carbon” Targets

Sustainable development is vital for achieving balanced progress across the economic, environmental, and health domains, and it is closely tied to the global drive for addressing climate change and environmental challenges. In this context, reaching the “Dual-Carbon” targets—carbon peaking and carbon neutrality—have become critical priorities both domestically and internationally. As a result, the cultivation of Dual-Carbon professionals is essential for driving sustainable development. This paper investigates the sustainable development capacity of Dual-Carbon professionals through an empirical study of 613 undergraduates in China utilizing Astin’s I-E-O theoretical model. This research examines the impact of course experience, self-efficacy, and learning engagement on sustainable development capacity. The results demonstrate that the course experience has a significant positive direct effect on sustainable development capacity. Moreover, self-efficacy mediates the relationship between the course experience and sustainable development capacity, while both self-efficacy and learning engagement serve as chain mediators. Based on these findings, this paper offers practical strategies to enhance the sustainable development capacity of Dual-Carbon undergraduates, providing valuable insights for the education and training of future Dual-Carbon professionals.

Mathematical Modeling and Indirect Carbon Emission Reduction Analysis of Urban Wastewater Treatment Systems Under Different Temperature Conditions

In the context of achieving the two-carbon target, this study utilized a wastewater treatment plant in Shenyang City as a case study to accurately calculate indirect emissions related to energy and chemical consumption within the energy-intensive wastewater treatment industry. Sumo software was employed for precise mathematical modeling. Considering the operational characteristics of wastewater treatment plants in cold regions, this study innovatively divided the annual operation cycle into two periods, namely normal temperature and low temperature, and determined the optimal operational parameters under a low-carbon mode. The results indicate that precise regulation of dissolved oxygen concentration to 0.5–1.5 mg/L (normal temperature period) and 1–2 mg/L (low temperature period) can significantly reduce carbon emissions related to electricity consumption by 13,781.9 t CO2-eq. From the perspective of chemical consumption, adjusting the dosage of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) to 75% and sodium acetate to 70% during the normal temperature period can lead to a reduction in indirect carbon emissions of 1614.4 t CO2-eq compared to the same period last year. During the low-temperature period, by reducing the dosage of polyaluminum chloride to 80% and sodium acetate to 75%, the indirect carbon emissions can be reduced by 1557.3 t CO2-eq compared to the corresponding period last year. After optimization, USD 1.49 million can be saved. This study simulated the operation conditions of cold-region urban wastewater treatment plants at different times to effectively control carbon emissions resulting from energy and chemical consumption in wastewater treatment. This result can provide innovative ideas for energy saving and carbon reduction in cold-region wastewater treatment plants.

Carbon dioxide capture from open air using covalent organic frameworks.

Capture of CO2 from the air offers a promising approach to addressing climate change and achieving carbon neutrality goals1,2. However, the development of a durable material with high capacity, fast kinetics and low regeneration temperature for CO2 capture, especially from the intricate and dynamic atmosphere, is still lacking. Here a porous, crystalline covalent organic framework (COF) with olefin linkages has been synthesized, structurally characterized and post-synthetically modified by the covalent attachment of amine initiators for producing polyamines within the pores. This COF (termed COF-999) can capture CO2 from open air. COF-999 has a capacity of 0.96 mmol g-1 under dry conditions and 2.05 mmol g-1 under 50% relative humidity, both from 400 ppm CO2. This COF was tested for more than 100 adsorption-desorption cycles in the open air of Berkeley, California, and found to fully retain its performance. COF-999 is an exceptional material for the capture of CO2 from open air as evidenced by its cycling stability, facile uptake of CO2 (reaches half capacity in 18.8 min) and low regeneration temperature (60 °C).

Industrial Agglomeration, Land Consolidation, and Agricultural Energy Inefficiency in China: An Analysis Using By-Production Technology and Simultaneous Equations Model

Improving agricultural energy inefficiency is essential for achieving sustainable agricultural development and promoting major agricultural countries to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. This paper analyzes agricultural energy inefficiency in China, using panel data from 30 provinces between 2000 and 2021. The by-production technology model is employed to measure and decompose inefficiency, and the simultaneous equations model and moderating effect model are utilized to study the impact mechanism of industrial agglomeration, land consolidation, and agricultural energy inefficiency. The findings reveal several key points: First, the average inefficiency of agricultural energy in China increased from 0.370 to 0.514, with economic inefficiency rising at a faster rate than environmental inefficiency. Second, agricultural industrial agglomeration serves to inhibit both agricultural energy economic inefficiency and environmental inefficiency, which, in turn, hampers the development of industrial agglomeration. This relationship shows heterogeneity across the eastern, central, and western regions, as well as between major and non-major grain production areas. Third, land consolidation—both nationally and specifically in the central, major grain-producing, and non-major grain-producing areas—effectively mitigates the deterioration of agricultural energy inefficiency caused by industrial agglomeration. In the eastern region, land consolidation can enhance the inhibitory effect of industrial agglomeration on energy inefficiency. This paper highlights the interconnections between industrial agglomeration, land consolidation, and agricultural energy inefficiency, providing valuable policy references for the development of sustainable agriculture and the proactive and steady advancement of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

Green Technology Innovation and Carbon Emission Performance of the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomeration: Mechanism and Spatio-Temporal Evolution

Amid the increasingly severe global climate change situation, green technology innovation has become an important means to promote carbon reduction and achieve the transition to a low-carbon economy. This study aims to systematically analyze the relationship between green technology innovation and carbon emission performance in the urban agglomeration of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, exploring the degree of coupling and coordination between different cities. Utilizing data from 2011 to 2021, we employ methods such as the Coupling Coordination Degree Model and fixed effects model to achieve our objectives. Our findings reveal that both green technology innovation and carbon emission performance in this region are on an upward trend; however, the growth rate of green technology innovation showed a slowdown in 2021. Notably, there are disparities in the coupling coordination degree among cities, with economically developed areas exhibiting a faster growth rate. Moreover, green technology innovation significantly enhances carbon emission performance, and heterogeneity tests indicate that this impact is even more pronounced in cities with weaker environmental regulations. Despite regional differences, the overall trend remains positive.

Integrating carbon reduction and ecological resilience strategies in the silk road economic corridor

The Silk Road Economic Belt has become a pivotal region for China's sustainable development, focusing on the balance between carbon emissions and ecological resilience. Understanding the coordination between these factors is crucial for advancing China's westward economic shift and optimizing urban and demographic structures. This study investigates the coupling and coordination dynamics between carbon emissions and ecological resilience across 15 key cities in the Silk Road Economic Belt, using data from 2008 to 2018. By applying a "pressure-state-response" framework, the ecological resilience of the region is quantitatively assessed. Spatial disparities and the dynamic evolution of coupling coordination are analyzed through the Gini coefficient and kernel density estimation. The findings reveal significant regional variations in ecological resilience and a decline in coupling coordination over time. Shifts in the patterns of coordination indicate opportunities for enhancing resource utilization and environmental management. This research provides theoretical insights for policymakers to improve green development strategies, optimize industrial structures, and plan urban green spaces more effectively within the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Digital Economy and Urban Carbon Emissions: A Quasi-Natural Experiment of the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone in China

In this study, we assess the impact of digital economy development on urban carbon emissions using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach based on the quasi-natural experiment of the national big data comprehensive pilot zone (NBDCPZ) policy and panel data from 168 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2019. We find that the establishment of NBDCPZ has a significant carbon emission reduction effect. This finding is robust to various sensitivity tests. Further mechanism validation illustrates that the construction of NBDCPZ promotes the regional digital development level and reduces urban carbon emissions through three channels: improving energy efficiency to optimize energy consumption, increasing green total factor productivity, and promoting the clustering of high-tech industries. The heterogeneity analysis concludes that the carbon emission reduction effect of NBDCPZ policy varies with different regional locations and different city characteristics. Moreover, using spatial models, we find that the positive impact is characterized by spatial spillover effect. The findings provide detailed empirical evidence to formulate urban development strategies for enabling carbon reduction of the digital economy. JEL Classification: O30, Q53, Q55, Q58, R10