Curb Carbon Emissions Research Articles

Do foreign institutional investors curb carbon emissions? Evidence from an emerging economy

This study examines the effect of foreign institutional investors on corporate carbon emissions of Chinese listed firms from 2010 to 2019. Our findings support the monitoring view of foreign institutional ownership and find that foreign institutional investors have a negative effect on corporate carbon emissions. Our results remain robust to a battery of endogeneity tests, including the instrumental regression model, the Heckman selection model, and the PSM-DID (propensity score matching and difference-in-differences) method. Moreover, we find that foreign institutional investors from regions with strong green innovation exert a more substantial negative impact. Further analyses show that the negative effects are more significant for firms with agency problems and information asymmetry. Our research highlights the critical role that foreign institutional investors play in addressing environmental issues in emerging economies and provides valuable insights into this phenomenon.

The BRICS Nations Framework for Curbing Carbon Emissions: Evidence From Energy Intensity, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Policy

The BRICS Nations Framework for Curbing Carbon Emissions: Evidence From Energy Intensity, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Policy

Revesting the spatial spillover effects of renewable energy in curbing carbon emissions: Evidence from China

Renewable energy is fundamental to achieving China's peak carbon and carbon neutrality targets. Despite the extremely rapid growth in the share of renewable energy generation in terms of provincial-level regions, the impact of renewable energy generation on carbon emission reduction and whether this association is spatially correlated have not been fully recognized. To address this issue, this paper explores the spatial impact effect of renewable energy applications on carbon emissions using Chinese provincial panel data from 1990 to 2020 and a multi-panel spatial econometric model. The results show that the contribution of emission reduction mainly comes from the provincial clean energy mix, while the exclusion of out-of-province power plants also helps to curb their carbon emissions. In addition, in the context of large-scale penetration of renewable energy, grid infrastructure for cross-provincial power trading will contribute to cross-provincial emission reduction. Regulators should take measures to promote coordination of emission reduction policies among provinces in a unified national carbon market, rather than simplifying the allocation of responsibilities in provincial markets. Based on the findings of this paper, there is a need to rationalize and optimize the geospatial distribution of renewable energy projects in the future, so as to maximize the potential of renewable energy to contribute to carbon emission reduction.

Carbon Emission from Transportation in Higher Learning Institutions: A Case Study at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia

The carbon emissions stemming from transportation within the campus environment pose a significant challenge to mitigating climate change and environmental degradation. At Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), transportation, particularly by staff and students, has been identified as the primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims to assess the total carbon emissions from transportation at UTHM and analyze trends over three consecutive years (2021 to 2023). Data were obtained from the Traffic Unit of the Security Department, encompassing vehicle counts and traffic surveys conducted across five roads within the UTHM Campus. The findings revealed a concerning escalation in carbon emissions over the study period. In 2021, transportation activities accounted for 947.64 tCO<sub>2</sub>e, which surged to 1568.42 tCO<sub>2</sub>e in 2022 and further increased to 1679.88 tCO2e in 2023. Notably, Persiaran Tun Ghazali Shafie emerged as a hotspot area for carbon emissions in 2023, experiencing a staggering 95.76% rise compared to 2021, with recorded emissions of 610 tCO<sub>2</sub>e. The average carbon emissions across the five surveyed roads in 2023 soared by 73.84% compared to 2021, indicating a persistent upward trajectory in emissions. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustained carbon emissions monitoring and mitigation efforts at UTHM. Continuous assessment by UTHM authorities is imperative to identify and implement effective strategies for curbing carbon emissions within the campus environment. UTHM can be pivotal in fostering a more sustainable and environmentally responsible campus community by prioritizing emission reduction initiatives.

Deciphering the complex interplay: Heterogeneous, threshold, and mediation effects of trade openness on CO2 emissions in Africa.

Despite having barely anything to do with the issue of CO2 emissions, Africa has been experiencing more severe climate change and its adverse effects than most other regions of the globe. However, the issue of CO2 emissions and its adverse effects has received relatively little attention in the African research arena. To this end, the present research assesses the effect of trade openness on the CO2 emissions utilizing panel data from 46 African countries spanning 2000 through 2022. To account for the possible heterogeneity and nonlinearity, the panel quantile regression and threshold methods were employed. Moreover, this study investigates the key mediating effects of the channel. The empirical findings show that greater trade openness is associated with significantly higher CO2 emission, additionally; it demonstrates that the influence is heterogeneous across different CO2 emission quantiles in African countries. Besides the result from the double threshold model reveals a complex, nonlinear relationship between trade openness and CO2 emissions in Africa. Moreover, the findings divulge that openness to trade indirectly reduces CO2 emissions through the substitution and technology channels whereas it indirectly increases carbon dioxide production via the economic track. Therefore, it is vital to promote the use of renewable energy, effectively leverage the knowledge spillover effects of trade to decrease energy intensity and formulate pertinent policies aimed at curbing carbon emissions and addressing the imminent threat of climate change in Africa. Besides, the nonlinear and heterogeneous effects of trade openness on CO2 emissions suggest that policies and interventions related to the impact of trade openness on CO2 emissions should consider the current level of carbon dioxide emissions.

Low-cost flash graphene from carbon black to reinforce cementitious composites for carbon footprint reduction

With the merits of high quality, cost-effectiveness, and high yield efficiency, flash Joule heating (FJH) emerges as an efficient means for mass production of flash graphene (FG). It creates prerequisites for the large-scale application of graphene in reinforcing cementitious composites, thus opening innovative possibilities for curbing carbon emissions and fostering the sustainable evolution of cementitious composites. In this study, two types of FGs, including high-purity FG (FG-G) and conductive FG (FG-D), are successfully synthesized via FJH process using carbon black as the carbon source. FG-G features a low ID/IG of 0.52, and exhibits higher graphitization and structural orderliness with fewer defects compared to the FG-D. The addition of 0.25 wt% FG-D increases the compressive strength, flexural strength, and flexural ultimate strain of cementitious composites by 16.48 MPa/16.8%, 1.43 MPa/37.2%, and nearly 2600 με/550%, respectively. The microstructure characterization results reveal that FG reduces the matrix defects, enhances both the matrix microstructure and calcium silicate hydrate gel nanostructure, which is advantageous for matrix refinement, inhibition of microcrack aggregation and propagation, and load transfer efficiency. Its disorderly stacked turbine structure also contributes to robust interface bonding and friction with cement matrix, thus facilitating the strengthening and toughening of cementitious composites. This study introduces a potential avenue to develop widely applicable and versatile silicon-based cementitious composites with high performance and low CO2 emission by using small carbon-based graphene as reinforcement.

Impact of Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions and Its Mechanism: Evidence from China

Advancing the digital economy while curbing carbon emissions is essential for fostering high-quality economic growth. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2011 to 2021, this study adopts an empirical model to investigate the direct influence of digital economic development on carbon emissions and utilizes both a mediating effects model and a moderating effects model to explore the transmission mechanism of green technological innovation and the moderating effect of R&D investment. The research results indicate that the following: (1) The digital economy contributes to carbon emissions reduction. (2) The analysis of heterogeneity demonstrates that the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions is pronounced in the eastern and central regions of China but is insignificant in the western provinces. Furthermore, the carbon mitigation effect of the digital economy is more potent in regions with high marketization compared to those with low marketization. (3) The mediation effect analysis shows that green technology innovation plays a transmitting role between the digital economy and carbon emissions reduction. (4) The moderating effect test reveals that R&D investment enhances the digital economy’s ability to reduce carbon emissions. The conclusions highlight the need to optimize digital economy development and strengthen green technology innovation to achieve carbon emissions reduction.

Impact Study of Environment Public Interests Litigation on Carbon Emissions: Taking Pilot Policy of Procuratorial Public Interest Litigation as a Quasi-Natural Experiment

The environmental problems caused by carbon emission have become the focus of worldwide attention. Effective control of carbon emissions cannot be achieved without the protection of the rule of law. Environment public interests litigation is a prominent innovation in the judicial system, and its role in supervising the government to perform its regulatory duties on carbon reduction and regulating the carbon emission behaviors of enterprises and the public deserves discussion. The paper selected the panel data from 274 prefecture-level cities from 2013 to 2021 and analyzed the impact of a procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policy on carbon emission control by using the double difference method. The research found that the procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policy can effectively curb carbon emissions. Heterogeneity analysis showed that in cities with relatively low level of green innovation, the negative correlation between procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policies and carbon emissions is more significant. Compared with the eastern region, in the central and western regions, especially in the central region, where the concept, policy, and funding of carbon emission governance are relatively weak, the implementation of the pilot policy of procuratorial public interest litigation had a more obvious effect on carbon emission governance. Mechanism tests showed that procuratorial public interest litigation policies reduce carbon emissions by reducing energy consumption and increasing public participation in environmental protection. The study will provide an empirical basis for the carbon emission reduction effect on pilot policy of procuratorial public interest litigation and will offer certain theoretical recommendations for improving the procuratorial public interest litigation system in the ecological environment field.

3D-Printed Carbon Scaffold for Structural Lithium Metal Batteries.

Focus on advancement of energy storage has now turned to curbing carbon emissions in the transportation sector by adopting electric vehicles (EVs). Technological advancements in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), valued for their lightweight and high capacity, are critical to making this switch a reality. Integrating structurally enhanced LIBs directly into vehicular design tackles two EV limitations: vehicle range and weight. In this study, 3D-carbon (3D-C) lattices, prepared with an inexpensive stereolithography-type 3D printer followed by carbonization, are proposed as scaffolds for Li metal anodes for structural LIBs. Mechanical stability tests revealed that the 3D-C lattice can withstand a maximum stress of 5.15 ± 0.15MPa, which makes 3D-C lattices an ideal candidate for structural battery electrodes. Symmetric cell tests show the superior cycling stability of 3D-C scaffolds compared to conventional bare Cu foil current collectors. When 3D-C scaffolds are used, a small overpotential (≈0.075V) is retained over 100 cycles at 1mA cm-2 for 3 mAh cm-2, while the overpotential of a bare Cu symmetric cell is unstable and increased to 0.74V at the 96th cycle. The precisely oriented internal pores of the 3D-C lattice confine lithium metal deposits within the 3D scaffold, effectively preventing short circuits.

Bayesian Vector Autoregression Analysis of Chinese Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plants

Considering the dataset of information related to Chinese coal-fired thermal power plants during the 2005–2017 period, we initially investigated the orthogonalized response of the carbon emission to energy consumption and power generation by using Bayesian vector autoregressions and feedback solutions for impulse control technology. The results showed that the effects of energy consumption and power generation on carbon emissions were significant. The Chinese government has launched a program aimed at curbing carbon emission peaks and neutralizing or decreasing carbon emissions. The causal relationship concludes that China still needs further investment in emission abatement, improvement related to the level of openness to the outside world, and the strengthening of the construction of green zones for industrial transfer to mitigate carbon emissions.

High-temperature resistant SnSe/MSN film for thermal runaway prevention in lithium-ion batteries

Recent years have witnessed an accelerated development of electric vehicles (EVs) driven by the pressing need to curb carbon emissions. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) stand out as preferred energy storage solutions owing to their high energy density and extended cycle life. Nonetheless, the persistent threat of thermal runaway (TR) remains a critical safety concern. This study endeavors to tackle this issue by introducing a novel composite insulating film tailored to function as a thermal barrier within LIBs. Comprising exfoliated SnSe (tin selenide) and mesoporous silica bonded via Zn ion gelation, the composite showcases a low thermal conductivity of 0.131 W/mK alongside a robust tensile strength of 52.7 MPa. These attributes stem from the distinctive amalgamation of materials and the robust interfacial interactions facilitated by Zn ion gelation, thus enhancing thermal stability and mechanical resilience. The devised DGEBA/SnSe-MSN composite exhibits notable flame retardant properties and superior thermal management capabilities, positioning it as a promising candidate to bolster the safety and dependability of LIBs. This research introduces a promising approach for crafting high-performance insulating films applicable across diverse industries, particularly in the realm of lithium-ion battery technology, leveraging SnSe as an insulating material—a departure from its prior application as a thermoelectric material.

Greenhouse gas assurance and carbon emission performance in light of the auditor’s reputation and the country’s development level

PurposeThe objective of this study is to determine the impact of GHG assurance on firms’ carbon emissions performance (CEP) regarding curbing carbon emissions and the effect on such by the GHG assurance provider’s affiliation and reputation. It also explores whether the affiliation and reputation of GHG assurance providers imply the relationship between GHG assurance and the firm’s CEP. Further, this study examines the moderating effect of the country’s development level on the relationship.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of international firms from 56 countries spanning the period from 2012 to 2020, this study utilizes the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. We also run the OLS regression at times t+1 and t+2 to verify the baseline results. To address the endogeneity concerns arising from self-selection bias and the causality effect, this study applies the generalized method of moment (GMM) and the Heckman test.FindingsThis study finds that GHG assurance leads to better CEP by firms. We also find that engaging with accounting assurance providers leads firms to a better CEP than non-accounting assurance providers. Our results show that Big Four auditors can help firms decrease carbon emissions. We also find that the positive effect of GHG assurance is prevalent in firms operating in developed countries.Research limitations/implicationsOur study only considers the influence of the assuror’s reputation and affiliation on CEP without examining other factors that may influence the quality of assurance services provided.Practical implicationsOur study provides a practical implication related to the influence of a GHG assurance provider’s affiliation and reputation globally by providing evidence that accounting and Big Four assurance providers do play a significant role in a firm’s carbon emission performance. This study offers great insights into the GHG assurance impact on CEP with the interplay between the assuror’s affiliation and reputation and the country’s development.Originality/valueThis paper enriches the limit evidence on GHG assurance and CEP by providing novel evidence on the relationship between GHG assurance and a firm’s CEP. Moreover, this study provides insights into the implication of a country’s development level on the role of GHG assurance in CEP.

Investigating Consumer’s Attitudes Toward New Carbon Tax Regulation in Indonesia

Abstract The Indonesian Government’s 2021 initiative to curb carbon emissions through carbon tax aims to influence the behavior of firms and consumers, particularly, those reliant on fossil fuels. Simultaneously, the carbon tax is envisaged as a means of generating state income and facilitating environmental investments. This research investigates Indonesian consumers’ attitudes toward the carbon tax through a representative survey, analyzing awareness, acceptance, and support levels as indicators and utilizing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS) program. The study explores opinions on the climate crisis and carbon tax, with a focus on Greater Jakarta. Preconceptions of climate change and their influence on attitudes are examined, along with socio-demographic characteristics shaping consumer behaviours. Findings reveal a heightened climate crisis awareness among the participants, however, a quarter remain unaware of the carbon tax enactment. Most consumers accept the tax, recognizing personal and industry responsibility for carbon reduction. Many are willing to contribute with tax rates of 1% to 3%. Policy recommendations include fostering political trust, progressive taxation on fossil fuels, and government incentives for carbon reduction. The study underscores the link between awareness, acceptance, and support for carbon tax implementation, suggesting further research on additional support indicators, including political trust.

Cleaner operations “revolutionizing liquid mud plants with sustainable practices”

The global imperative for an energy transition towards cleaner and more sustainable practices is more pressing than ever. As the world seeks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and curb carbon emissions, industries must explore innovative solutions. One such solution is the adoption of electric forklifts, especially in sectors like oil and gas, which traditionally rely on diesel-powered machinery. This paper examines the environmental benefits of replacing diesel forklifts with electric ones, focusing on significant carbon reduction. We will discuss the various types of electric forklifts, their operational advantages, and their impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, this study provides a detailed regional market analysis, including market size, growth trends, and the factors driving the adoption of electric forklifts. By highlighting the role of electric forklifts in the broader context of the global energy transition, this paper underscores their potential as a crucial component in achieving a sustainable and low-carbon future.

Analysis of policy measures and feedback effects on industry transformation towards carbon neutrality

AbstractMotivated by the urgent need to curb carbon emissions substantially over the next years and decades, we develop a qualitative system dynamics model to investigate the role of feedback effects on the transformation of the industry sector towards carbon neutrality. Through systems thinking, this research analyses the complex interactions between policy measures, investment decisions in different environmental measures to reduce CO2 emissions (e.g., use of electric and thermal energies from renewables and increase of energy efficiency), CO2 compliance, the pressure to take further climate action, the industry's economic success and the availability of investment funds. The study contributes to qualitatively identify and explore levers that policymakers can use to encourage industry to invest further in climate protection measures. Moreover, it provides an important basis for the development of quantitative modelling approaches.

Corporate culture and carbon emissions

ABSTRACT The burning global concern about climate change and its adverse effects on all aspects of human life highlights the need for academic research on the factors that affect carbon emission – the major cause of climate change. In this study, we examine whether corporate culture matters in shaping a firm’s environmental responsibility, particularly corporate carbon strategies. Utilizing the Competing Value Framework to quantify corporate culture, we find that a one standard deviation shift towards Compete culture would result in a 13.6% decrease in firms’ CO2 emissions, whereas a one standard deviation shift towards Create culture is associated with a 9.5% increase in firms’ direct CO2 emissions but has no significant effect on total CO2 emissions. This impact is more pronounced for firms with higher growth, smaller size, firms in ‘dirty’ industries, firms facing no emission limit, or those in states that have low environmental performance. Our findings suggest the promotion of Compete culture across all firms as an effective strategy to curb carbon emissions.

Hydrogel polyamidoxime shell layer constructed on cyclized polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous mats for efficient uranium extraction from seawater

Extracting uranium from seawater, which contains hundreds of times more than terrestrial ores, furnishes a sustainable energy resource while curbing carbon emissions. Nanofibrous-based amidoxime is the most reliable uranium adsorbent due to its abundant chelating sites and large surface area. However, the amidoximation (AO) of polyacrylonitrile nanofiber (PAN NFs) produces brittle and shrunk AO-PAN NFs, and the spinning of pre-amidoximed PAN produces sub-micro stiff poly amidoxime (PAO) NFs, restricting their applicability. Herein, pre-cyclization (210 °C) and optimized amidoximation are applied to construct a hydrogel shell layer from PAO on cyclized electrospun PAN NFs. Among different amidoximation ratios, AO10-CPAN mats (10 g/L) with a thin hydrogel PAO shell layer exhibit excellent mechanical strength, high uranium adsorption capacity reached 380 mg/g at pH 8, and maintained their structure and 89 % of their initial adsorption capacity after six adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, a 20.6 mg/g uranium adsorption capacity is reached after 15 days of circulating spiked (300 ppb uranium) natural seawater through the AO10-CPAN mats, proving their excellent selectivity and the open-chain amidoxime is the main compound of PAO shell. The surface amidoximed cyclized PAN (AO10-CPAN) mats satisfy the mechanical and physiochemical requirements for effectively extracting uranium from seawater.

Does digital-industrial technology integration reduce corporate carbon emissions?

The integration of digital technology and industrial technology emerges as a pivotal avenue for enterprises to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting the transition towards a sustainable and green trajectory of development. The panel data utilized in this paper encompasses financial, operational, and carbon emission metrics of publicly listed companies in China from 2008 to 2019. This longitudinal dataset enables us to perform robust statistical analyses to evaluate the impacts of Digital-Industrial technology integration on carbon emission intensity over time. The results indicate that: (i) Digital-Industrial technology integration significantly reduces the carbon emission intensity of enterprises, the conclusion remains robust when subjected to endogeneity and sensitivity analyses. (ii) Digital-Industrial technology integration mainly reduces the marginal cost of production and enhances the accumulation of knowledge to reduce the carbon emission intensity of enterprises. (iii) Digital-Industrial Technology Integration manifests more pronounced effects in curbing carbon emissions in regions characterized by robust property rights protection and well-developed digital infrastructure. (iv) Further research finds that Digital-Industrial technology integration increases the green technology innovation and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance of enterprises. The results of this study provide empirical evidence for the carbon emission reduction function of the Digital-Industrial technology integration, and also verify the positive externality impact of the Digital-Industrial technology integration on the enterprise green innovation and SDGs.

How renewable and nuclear energy-related research and development expenditures pave the way for curbing carbon emissions in France?

Research and development expenditures on clean energy have recently become an important option for sustainable development solutions. The lack of a study examining the impact of clean energy research and development expenditures on ecological quality in France is a research gap. With this motivation, this study aims to explore the impact of energy prices, technological advancements in renewable and nuclear energy on carbon (CO2) emissions in France from 1990 to 2020. To this end, the study employs the Fourier autoregressive distributed lag approach. The study recognizes the importance of environmental quality for sustainable development and highlights the negative ecological impact of fossil fuels. It points out that nuclear and renewable energy are valuable alternatives to fossil fuels. In addition, the study points out that rising energy prices can help encourage a switch to cleaner energy sources by making fossil fuels less economically viable. However, the adoption of alternative energies depends on factors such as cost and technological infrastructure. In particular, technological advancements in renewables have a greater impact on CO2 mitigation than those in nuclear energy. The unique contribution of this study is to explore the impact of energy-related technological developments on ecological quality in France, filling a research gap.

How Can Financial Innovation Curb Carbon Emissions in China? Exploring the Mediating Role of Industrial Structure Upgrading from a Spatial Perspective

How Can Financial Innovation Curb Carbon Emissions in China? Exploring the Mediating Role of Industrial Structure Upgrading from a Spatial Perspective