As a vital engine of economic growth, the digital economy can boost agricultural productivity while curbing carbon emissions from grain production, thereby facilitating the green transformation of traditional agriculture and the sustainable development of grain production systems. It serves as a pivotal anchor for achieving China’s dual-carbon strategic goals in the agricultural sector and supporting the long-term sustainability of national grain security. This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the carbon emission mitigation mechanisms of the digital economy for sustainable agricultural production. Using panel data covering 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2012 to 2021, this study employs and integrates panel regression estimation, mediating effect analysis, and the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) framework to identify the underlying pathways through which the digital economy affects carbon emissions from grain production and drives low-carbon sustainable transformation of agriculture. The findings reveal the following: (1) The digital economy exerts a significant negative effect on carbon emission intensity in grain production, laying an empirical foundation for digital-enabled sustainable grain production; (2) It indirectly reduces carbon emission intensity by promoting the development of green finance as a mediating channel, unlocking the sustainable empowerment mechanism of green finance for agricultural low-carbon transition; (3) The development of the digital economy presents pronounced spatial spillover effects: improved digital development in one region also lowers grain production carbon emission intensity in neighboring areas, supporting cross-regional coordinated sustainable development of grain production; (4) The carbon-reduction effects of the digital economy exhibit regional heterogeneity, with more significant emission-reduction outcomes observed in eastern and central regions, while such effects are less prominent in western regions, providing a basis for formulating differentiated regional agricultural sustainable development policies. Based on these findings, this paper puts forward a series of targeted policy recommendations, offering theoretical and practical references for the high-quality development of green and low-carbon agriculture and the overall advancement of sustainable agricultural and rural modernization.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), which enables the directional conversion of CO2 into high-value-added fuels and chemicals, has emerged as a highly promising cutting-edge approach to mitigating fossil fuel consumption and curbing carbon emissions. Copper (Cu)-based catalysts have been extensively studied in the CO2RR, yet the in situ reconstruction mechanism of the catalysts remains an overlooked critical aspect. In this study, we employed diverse metal salt precursors to synthesize CuO catalysts, aiming to investigate the influence of residual elements on the surface reconstruction of catalysts during the CO2RR. Furthermore, with the aid of in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, the key intermediates in the CH4 formation pathway (*CH2O) and the characteristic intermediate in the C2H4 generation pathway (*OCCHO) were successfully captured, thereby elucidating the impact of residual elements on the CO2RR pathways. This study provides in-depth insights into catalyst surface reconstruction and offers effective strategies for the design of CO2RR catalysts.

Integrating electric vehicle (EV)‐charging infrastructure presents environmental advantages, particularly in curbing carbon emissions within the transport sector and promoting sustainable energy solutions. However, the ascending adoption of EVs transforms the operational dynamics of low‐voltage distribution networks by introducing bidirectional power flows that challenge conventional overcurrent protection schemes. Traditional protection systems cannot effectively manage the complexities of variable load conditions and bidirectional energy transfers, specifically Grid‐to‐Vehicle (G2V) and Vehicle‐to‐Grid (V2G) operational modes. These scenarios require the development of advanced, dynamic, and real‐time protection mechanisms that are robust against challenging, faulty scenarios and cybersecurity threats. This study introduces an adaptive protection scheme that utilises digital overcurrent relays, LoRa‐enabled sensors, a battery management system (BMS) and a central protection unit (CPU). This integrated framework dynamically recalibrates relay settings based on real‐time grid conditions, ensuring optimal protection coordination during both G2V and V2G operations by employing a new optimisation algorithm called the transit search algorithm (TSA) and comparing the result to the water cycle algorithm (WCA). To assess the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive approach, simulations were performed on a 33‐bus IEEE benchmark network, investigating a variety of fault scenarios and operation grid scenarios. The results indicate that the proposed system significantly mitigates relay miscoordination and reduces fault clearance durations, thus enhancing reliable protection in distribution networks with high EV penetration.

As cities continue to expand, the role of forests in mitigating carbon emissions during urban growth has become a critical concern for both researchers and policymakers. This study constructs a comprehensive framework to assess new-type urbanization and forest health, calculates relevant metrics, and applies the Environmental Kuznets Curve model to examine how contemporary urbanization affects carbon emissions while accounting for the moderating role of forest quality. The results indicate that the impact of urbanization on carbon emissions generally follows an inverted U-shaped pattern, although significant regional variations exist. Forest quality has not yet fully realized its potential in reducing carbon footprints, largely due to the need for overall improvement in the forestry sector. In terms of how urbanization affects forest quality, traditional factors such as population migration and industrial restructuring remain the primary drivers. There is a discernible tension between conventional urban expansion and sustainable forestry development. Although modern urbanization and forest quality show promising synergies, both are constrained by their current developmental stages, which limits their effectiveness in substantially curbing carbon emissions.

The rising concerns of soil erosion, organic waste generation and global warming have shown the need to address them through multifaceted methods that transcend conventional linear models of resource utilization. Circular economy is a regenerative model that is anchored on caring about waste valorisation, resource effectiveness and environmental fortitude. In this paradigm, biochar has been developed as a multifunctional compound capable of integrating waste management, soil rehabilitation, climate control and renewable energy infrastructure. Manufactured through thermochemical treatment of biomass, biochar uses, organic waste into a stable, carbon rich resource material with a long term environmental capacity. This editorial expounds on the application of biochar in promoting circular-economy thinking on environmental sustainability and its role in sustaining the environment by curbing carbon emissions, fostering civilisation, and enabling agro-industrial symbiosis. Through linking the dots in the relationships between scientific data, policy application and practice, this editorial illustrates the opportunities of biochar as a tactical tool in transitioning to circular, low-carbon, and regenerative environmental frameworks.

With an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, growing challenges are faced in meeting the ever-increasing energy demands, both economically and environmentally. Many countries, including Nepal, rely heavily on imported fossil fuels to meet their energy demand. For example, Nepal spends more than 6% of its gross domestic product on petroleum imports, with liquefied petroleum gas comprising 20-25% of such imports. Although electricity is generated from renewable sources, its supply is not dependable to make electricity a primary source of cooking energy. Nepal is rich in forest resources, but they are vastly underutilized. While Nepal imports approximately 0.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) of LPG gas annually, Nepal’s wood resources have an estimated annual theoretical potential of 7.1 Mtoe of energy. This review paper presents the current status of energy production and consumption in Nepal, along with the status of forest resources, with a focus on utilizing the abundant wood resources. A novel approach is presented to tackle Nepal’s energy deficit by supplementing through underutilized forest resources, encouraging the use of cleaner firewood, reducing imports of liquefied petroleum gas, and ultimately curbing carbon emissions. This review demonstrates that forest rich countries like Nepal can devise improved technology by utilizing forest-based sources while their population is transitioning from conventional sources to industrial products. A pilot project is proposed to produce seasoned firewood equivalent to 334 toe of energy annually, which may substitute 304 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas imports, thus lowering the emissions by 882 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between the digital economy and urban carbon emission intensity using panel data from 274 Chinese cities (2011–2020). Spatial analysis via the Durbin model and mechanism analysis via benchmark regression reveal these key findings: (1) The digital economy significantly reduces carbon emission intensity, even after controlling for other variables; (2) No matter which spatial matrix is used, the spatial effect model shows that the digital economy has a significant negative impact on local carbon emissions; (3) Technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading act as significant mediators, whereas digital infrastructure construction serves as a moderator; (4) There are varying degrees of threshold characteristics between the digital economy and carbon emission intensity. HIGHLIGHTS The digital economy has a significant impact on curbing carbon emission intensity. Spatial spillovers exist in the carbon reduction effects of adjacent regions' digital economy. Digital infrastructure acts as a catalyst that intensifies the carbon emission reduction potential of the digital economy. Threshold effects of varying magnitudes exist in the relationship between the digital economy and carbon emission intensity.

Informed decisions to reduce deforestation, protect biodiversity, and curb carbon emissions require not just knowing where forests are, but understanding their composition. Identifying natural forests, which serve as critical biodiversity hotspots and major carbon sinks, is particularly valuable. We developed a novel global natural forest map for 2020 at 10 m resolution. This map can support initiatives like the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and other forest monitoring or conservation efforts that require a comprehensive baseline for monitoring deforestation and degradation. The globally consistent map represents the probability of natural forest presence, enabling nuanced analysis and regional adaptation for decision-making. Evaluation using a global independent validation dataset demonstrated an overall accuracy of about 92%.

Exploring the carbon rebound effect of agriculture and policy response: Lessons from zero growth of fertiliser action.

Within the context of global climate change and China’s commitment to the “Dual Carbon” goals (carbon peak and carbon neutrality), this study proposes a novel taxonomy of market-based environmental regulations, dividing them into investment-driven and tax-based supervisory mechanisms. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2010 and 2023, we empirically investigate their differential effects on carbon emissions. Results indicate that both regulatory approaches significantly curb carbon emissions, each exhibiting distinct nonlinear patterns: an inverted-U curve for investment-oriented measures and a U-shaped trajectory for tax-oriented policies, implying that excessively stringent tax supervision may lead to a rebound in emissions due to effects such as the “resource curse” and “innovation crowding-out.” Industrial structure transformation functions as a common mediating channel, while green innovation efficiency exerts a distinct moderating influence. Both policy types demonstrate adverse spatial spillover effects, with no support found for the “pollution haven” or “race to the bottom” hypotheses. This study offers new empirical insights into how environmental regulations facilitate green and low-carbon transition through market mechanisms, providing valuable implications for designing ecological policy systems that harmonize emission reduction efficiency with sustainability in China and other emerging economies.

Climate change is bringing unpredictable risks to human beings. Green finance will strongly promote economic transformation. Drawing on a 2006 to 2021 provincial panel and guided by a multi-channel theoretical framework, this study econometrically evaluates how green finance affects regional carbon abatement. The results show that green finance significantly promotes the total amount of carbon emissions abatement by playing the functions of resource allocation and risk management, and this conclusion passes the robustness test. The mediating effect between them mainly includes energy structure adjustment, industrial structure optimization, and technological innovation. The interaction test reveals that green finance interacts with (i) energy-structure adjustment, (ii) industrial-structure optimization, and (iii) technological innovation; these three pairwise interactions are mutually reinforcing and, through their coordinated development, jointly curbing carbon emissions. Furthermore, there is regional heterogeneity in this kind of influence. Due to the large space of industrial low-carbon transformation, this effect is more pronounced in the central and western regions. Further tests show that green finance can simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and control air pollutants, which means the significant “from pollution to carbon” synergistic effect of green finance. This study provides valuable insights into how China can promote its dual carbon goals through green financial tools from the perspective of regional heterogeneity.

Purpose This research paper seeks to present a holistic, analytics-driven strategy for making integrated planning decisions regarding the Berth Allocation Problem (BAP) and the Quay Crane Assignment Problem (QCAP) while simultaneously curbing carbon emissions. Design/methodology/approach The study developed a mathematical model aimed at reducing costs associated with vessel waiting times at anchorage, handling operations and carbon emissions from vessels and quay cranes. To achieve this, two approaches have been employed, namely: Gurobi and Elite Genetic Algorithms. Findings The performed numerical study highlighted the optimization solver GUROBI excelled in achieving optimal values with higher computational time, while Elite GA demonstrated superior computational efficiency, providing near-optimal solutions. Notably, Elite Genetic Algorithms offer near-optimal solutions with considerably reduced computation times compared to the Exact Solution Approach, highlighting the trade-off between solution quality and computational efficiency. Research limitations/implications The current study centred around berth allocation and quay crane allocation, while further studies can include other complex maritime processes like storage allocation and yard crane scheduling. Practical implications Managers could benefit from utilizing Elite GA as an efficient optimization technique to achieve cost-effective solutions for berth and quay crane allocation problems while ensuring reasonable computational times. Originality/value This work examines in detail the complexities of the berth allocation problem and the quay crane assignment problem, the main objectives of which are to minimise the time of a ship’s return to the port, known as turnaround time. Additionally, it aims to reduce emissions generated by quay cranes and ships while they remain idle.

Abstract: The digital economy has emerged as a crucial driver of economic growth and transformation in recent years. This paper aims to investigate the impact of the digital economy on carbon emission reduction in the Yangtze River Delta region. Based on the measurement of the digital economy index, this study investigates the impact of the digital economy on carbon emission reduction in 41 cities of the Yangtze River Delta region from 2011 to 2021 using the two-way fixed effects model and the mediating effect model. The study finds that: (1) The digital economy can promote carbon emission reduction in the Yangtze River Delta region, and the results are robust. (2) The digital economy can reduce carbon emissions through the mediating effect of reducing energy intensity. (3) The impact of the digital economy on carbon emission reduction in the Yangtze River Delta region has dual threshold effects of environmental regulation and capital misallocation, and the role of environmental regulation and capital misallocation in curbing carbon emissions shows a trend of first strengthening and then weakening.

Indonesia's significant potential in new and renewable energy (NRE), combined with the pressing need to curb carbon emissions, underscores the vital role of effective financing models and regulatory systems. Despite this, the country's transition toward cleaner energy is challenged by limited financial resources and inefficient policies. This study examines the interaction between financial mechanisms such as green bonds and tax incentives—and government policies, including NRE-based electricity tariffs and simplified licensing procedures, in encouraging investment across six major regions: Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Banjarmasin, and Papua. It evaluates how these policies influence the implementation of renewable energy projects, explores the synergies between innovative financing and public policy at the regional level, and proposes strategic directions for designing more efficient, market-oriented financial tools and policy frameworks. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study reveals that a coordinated approach integrating financial and policy instruments significantly enhances NRE investment realization. The findings highlight the need for joint efforts between financial sectors and policymakers to meet Indonesia’s renewable energy target of 23% by 2025.

Cities serve as the primary arenas for achieving the strategic objectives of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality”. This study employed the LMDI method to systematically analyze the evolution trend of energy-related carbon emissions in Hong Kong and their influencing factors from 1980 to 2023. The main findings are as follows: (1) Hong Kong’s energy consumption structure remains dominated by coal and oil. Influenced by energy prices, significant shifts in this structure occurred across different periods. Imported electricity from mainland China, in particular, has exerted a promoting effect on the optimization of its energy consumption mix. (2) Economic output and population concentration are the primary drivers of increased carbon emissions. However, the contribution of economic growth to carbon emissions has gradually weakened in recent years due to a lack of new growth drivers. (3) Energy consumption intensity, energy consumption structure, and carbon intensity are the primary influencing factors in curbing carbon emissions. Among these, the carbon reduction impact of energy consumption intensity is the most significant. Hong Kong should continue to adopt a robust strategy for controlling total energy consumption to effectively mitigate carbon emissions. Additionally, it should remain vigilant regarding the potential implications of future energy price fluctuations. It is also essential to sustain cross-border energy cooperation, primarily based on electricity imports from the Pearl River Delta, while simultaneously expanding international and domestic supply channels for natural gas.

Supply chain decarbonisation effects of artificial Intelligence: Evidence from China

The international community has been experiencing global warming and climate change, such had a widespread impact on human and natural systems. The global carbon emission has exhibited a rapid increase over the years. Some of the BRICS plus countries are attempting to curb carbon emission, while conserving electricity and preserving economic growth. Hence, sustainable low-carbon economies are being developed by many countries especially as environmental pollution becomes increasingly severe. The study examines the nexus between foreign direct investment (FDI), trade openness, and carbon emissions in BRICS plus countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Egypt. Panel econometric methods such as the panel autoregressive distributed lag was conducted on yearly data spanning from 2001 to 2020. FDI and trade openness were found to be positive and significant contributors to carbon emission in the BRICS plus countries in the long run. Based on the outcomes of this study, FDI and trade openness play a significant role in the BRICS plus countries. It is recommended that before the introduction of foreign investors, the environmental impact of FDI should be assessed first.

IntroductionThe tourism industry significantly contributes to China’s economic growth, yet its high energy consumption poses substantial carbon emission challenges. Addressing these issues is essential to align the sector with national low-carbon development goals and ensure environmental sustainability.MethodsThis study develops a system dynamics model to evaluate carbon emission reduction pathways for the tourism sector under a low-carbon policy framework. Based on macroeconomic and tourism industry data from Hubei Province spanning 2013 to 2023, the model incorporates four subsystems: economic, energy, policy, and environmental. Comparative scenario simulations were conducted, including a baseline and a joint policy scenario integrating carbon taxation, technological subsidies, and green standard enforcement. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the emission control strategies.ResultsUnder the baseline scenario, carbon emissions from the tourism industry are projected to rise from 1 million tons in 2013 to 1.8229 million tons by 2033, reflecting a 3.36% average annual increase. However, the joint policy scenario limits emissions to 1.412 million tons in 2033—a 22.5% reduction compared to the baseline—while maintaining tourism revenue at 742 billion yuan, only 0.4% below the baseline. Sensitivity analysis reveals that policy intensity and technological progress are critical factors in moderating emissions. Under the joint policy scenario, the 95% confidence interval for emissions narrows to between 1.387 and 1.439 million tons, with a fluctuation of less than 50,000 tons.DiscussionThe findings demonstrate that integrated low-carbon policy mixes can effectively curb carbon emissions in the tourism sector without significantly compromising economic output. This study not only provides empirical support for policy optimization but also uncovers the underlying drivers of tourism-related emissions, offering theoretical and practical guidance for advancing sustainable tourism and green economic transformation.

Intensifying challenges posed by global warming have elevated the urgency of improving corporate carbon performance and curbing carbon emissions. Green financial instruments serve a vital function in advancing corporate transitions toward environmentally responsible and low-carbon operational models. This research explores the influence of green funds on carbon performance at the firm level, aiming to clarify the micro-level mechanisms through which green financial instruments promote low-carbon development. The study utilizes data from Chinese listed companies spanning 2012 to 2021 and employs a TWFE regression model to empirically assess the effects. The findings indicate that green funds contribute to improved carbon performance. Furthermore, this effect is positively moderated by executive green awareness and financial background, indicating that managerial cognition and experience play a vital role in amplifying the benefits of green finance. Notably, green funds exert a stronger positive effect in highly polluting industries, suggesting that green financial resources should be directed not only to low-emission sectors but also to high-emission ones to improve their carbon efficiency. These findings extend existing literature by offering firm-level evidence on the effectiveness of green financial instruments and underscore the importance of targeted policy support to encourage green upgrading across all industry types.

As global climate change accelerates, countries worldwide are adopting measures to curb carbon emissions and promote sustainable development. China, a major emitter, has actively implemented carbon reduction policies, with carbon tax and carbon trading markets as key mechanisms. The carbon tax raises the cost of emissions, encouraging enterprises to reduce their emissions, while the carbon trading market enhances the allocation of emission resources through market-driven pricing mechanisms, thereby improving overall reduction efficiency. This study aims to explore the synergistic effect between Chinas carbon tax and carbon trading market, analyzing their interaction in promoting carbon emission reduction and assessing their influence across different industries and regions. Based on a review of relevant literature and data from government carbon emissions statistics, the study examines the synergy between carbon tax and the carbon trading market. The results indicate that the implementation of the carbon tax increases the cost of carbon emissions for enterprises, thus prompting them to adopt more proactive reduction measures while providing stable demand for the carbon trading market. Besides, the carbon trading market improves overall emission reduction efficiency by optimizing the market-driven allocation of carbon allowances. After the carbon tax was implemented, corporate emissions dropped, market activity increased, and price fluctuations signaled emission reduction. In addition, it reveals that the synergistic effect of carbon tax and carbon trading market varies across different industries and regions, suggesting that policy adjustments should be tailored to specific circumstances.