Levels Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Articles

Strategies for managing corn crop residue in the context of greenhouse gas emissions.

Food production is one of the most important sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, both in primary production and in processing and the logistics chain. The most problematic and risky is the optimization of environmental effects in the stage of primary production. This is due to the significant influence of factors related to climate and soil that are difficult to predict. The scientific literature offers much information on the impact of crop residue management, but the context for assessing the impact of crop residue management in corn production on the carbon footprint is still unclear. The effectiveness of using organic additives like biochar, compost, corn, or straw to maintain soil productivity is well acknowledged. Information about the effects of particular crop residue management strategies on soil carbon sequestration, soil quality, and crop yield in corn cultivation is currently scarce. The research aimed to assess the potential for optimizing corn production through modifications in crop residue management, with a focus on the efficiency indicator being the level of greenhouse gas emissions per functional unit of the product. A 3-year growing experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of different corn crop residue management strategies. The modifications of the corn cultivation technology in terms of the crop residue management strategy had a significant impact on the yield of plants and the amount of GHG emissions. The conversion of corn straw to biochar and its introduction into the soil reduced the GHG emissions from corn cultivation per functional unit, despite the energy expenditure related to straw transport and biochar production. From a 3-year time perspective, a beneficial effect of biochar addition on the size of the commercial yield of plants was observed. In variants with biochar and a reduced level of nitrogen fertilization, no reduction in yields was observed. This confirmed the hypothesis that biochar could be a useful material for the production of slow-acting fertilizers.

Methodology for Assessing the Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agricultural Crops Production

Methodology for Assessing the Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agricultural Crops Production

Assessing the carbon footprint of soybean transportation in Brazil: a network equilibrium model approach.

Brazil has historically invested few resources in its transport infrastructure, leaving gaps and reducing its efficiency. The country presents a high dependence on road transport, which results in increased operational costs and higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Consequently, the performance of cargo transportation in Brazil has been deteriorating, accompanied by a rise in the consumption of fossil fuels and noteworthy levels of GHG emissions. This article assesses the carbon intensity of soybean transport operations within Brazil. Utilizing a network equilibrium model, this study estimated the soybean transportation flows that minimize the total cost of transporting this product across the origins and destinations within the grain handling system. The modeling also calculated the GHG emissions in transportation. The results show that the transportation of soybeans produced 2.74 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, with road transport accounting for 81.7% of these emissions. The state of Mato Grosso, responsible for 44.08kg CO2 equivalent per tonne of soybeans transported, contributed almost 49% of the total emissions due to the extensive distances involved. In contrast, states like Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, located closer to southern ports, exhibited the lowest emissions, with rates of 11.55kg CO2 eq/t and 12.52kg CO2 eq/t, respectively. The analysis highlights the significant potential for reducing GHG emissions by increasing the use of rail and barge transport, particularly in high-emission regions such as Mato Grosso.

Dynamic Analysis of CO2 Emissions and Their Determinants in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe

This study addresses the problem of the relationship between the adopted development path and the emission levels of greenhouse gases. The analysis includes the countries of Central and Eastern Europe that joined the EU in 2004–2018. This study used a dynamic analysis due to the nature of the changes taking place, which cannot be assessed in static terms. The results of the research conducted so far for this group of countries have been inconclusive. The countries studied have the aim of accelerating economic growth in order to reduce their distance from other EU countries on the one hand, while attempting to pursue a policy favoring the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, on the other. The aim of this evaluation was to determine the relationship between GDPs per capita and CO2 emissions and to establish the factors determining this relationship. The results for the whole group showed the presence of N-shaped EKCs. This study showed the importance of energy productivity and demographic factors as well as the pace of GDP growth. This research extended the scope of research on CO2 emissions and their determinants through the use of dynamic methods, as well as the complex course of their relation to GDP per capita in Central Eastern European Countries.

Low-carbon diets across diverse dietary patterns: Addressing population heterogeneity under constrained optimization

Mathematical optimization is a useful tool for modeling diets that fulfill requirements for health and environmental sustainability, however, population-based optimization approaches fail to account for underlying dietary diversity in populations. This study proposes a methodological approach to consider diverse dietary intake patterns in mathematical optimization of nutritionally adequate low-carbon diets and investigates the differences between different population groups, along with trade-offs between greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) reduction and the inconvenience of dietary changes required to achieve optimized diets. A k-means clustering analysis was applied to individual dietary intake data from Denmark, which resulted in four clusters with different dietary patterns. This was followed by quadratic programming, wherein the total dietary changes required from the observed diet within each cluster were used as a proxy for consumer inconvenience (i.e., “inconvenience index”) and were minimized while fulfilling nutrient constraints and incrementally tightened GHGE constraints. Across clusters, a steep increase of the inconvenience index was observed at GHGE levels below approximately 3 kg CO2e/10 MJ, corresponding to GHGE reductions of 24–36 % in different clusters. In all clusters, the optimized diets with nutritional and GHGE constraints showed common traits of increased content of cereals and starches, eggs, and fish and decreased amounts of beef and lamb, cheese, animal-based fats, and alcoholic beverages, but differences across clusters were also observed, maintaining characteristics of the clusters' baselines. When additional health-based targets for food amounts were applied as constraints, the optimized diets converged towards the same type of diet. The total inconvenience of dietary changes required to fulfill constraints differed between clusters, indicating that specific sub-populations may be more effective targets for dietary transition. The method has potential for future integration of more sustainability aspects and different consumer preferences.

Greenhouse gas emissions of shipping with onboard carbon capture under the FuelEU Maritime regulation: A well-to-wake evaluation of different propulsion scenarios

International shipping has extended its decarbonization strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond onboard CO2 emissions. Onboard carbon capture and storage systems are being investigated as a potential solution for fossil-fueled ships, however there is a lack of knowledge on the reduction of well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions that could be enabled. Considering the ambitious emission reduction targets, this may lead to inaccurate estimations of the future fuel mix in the maritime sector and the market share of marine engines. This study defines nine ship propulsion scenarios based on combinations of fossil fuels and marine engines. To better understand the greenhouse gas emission reduction of onboard carbon capture, this study calculates the well-to-wake greenhouse gas intensity of each scenario with and without onboard carbon capture and storage from the ship’s main engine(s). Deploying onboard carbon capture and storage systems notably reduces the tank-to-wake greenhouse gas intensity (54–68 % depending on the scenario). Contrary to onboard emissions, oil-fueled ships with onboard carbon capture and storage are found to be less greenhouse gas intensive and more cost-effective than LNG-fueled ships. The four-stroke oil-fueled engine achieves the lowest well-to-wake greenhouse gas intensity of 38.31 gCO2eq/MJ, while the four-stroke LNG-fueled engine has the highest intensity of 50.34 gCO2eq/MJ. The greenhouse gas emission levels enabled by onboard carbon capture from the main engine would allow fossil-fueled ships to comply with the FuelEU Maritime greenhouse gas intensity requirement until 2044. To be compliant in subsequent periods, onboard carbon capture and storage systems will need to consider carbon capture from the auxiliary boiler and generator and higher capture rate, as well as measures to reduce upstream emissions from fossil fuel production and transport.

GHG emission quantification and reduction pathway of subway shield tunnel engineering: a case study on Guangzhou Metro, China.

The shield method is a commonly used construction technique in subway tunnel engineering. However, studies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions specifically in subway shield tunnel engineering are lacking. This study aims to investigate the GHG emission characteristics and GHG reduction pathways during the construction period of subway shield tunnels. Firstly, based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission quantification model for the shield tunnel construction period was developed using a multi-level decomposition of construction. Then, the GHG emission level and intensity during the construction period of a case project are quantified, and its emission characteristics and GHG reduction potential points are assessed. Finally, a comprehensive path for GHG reduction in subway shield tunnel engineering is proposed. The research results indicate that constructing 1 km of subway shield tunnel can generate 19,294.28 t CO2eq. Among these, material production element dominates the emissions with a percentage of 89.05%, while transportation and mechanical construction elements contribute 1.81% and 9.14%, respectively. From the structure perspective, the main structure contributes 88.73% of total emissions, while the ancillary structure contributes 11.27%. Among them, the working shaft and tunnel segments are the main sources of emissions for the main structure, accounting for 23.65% and 65.08%, respectively. Connecting channel and end reinforcement are the main emission sources of the ancillary structures, accounting for 43.63% and 31.30%, respectively. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the environmentally friendly transformation of urban railway development regarding pursuing "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" strategic goals.

Realizing the potential for circularity in Glasgow through the socio-spatial dimension of urban systems

ABSTRACT With urbanization trends impacting on levels of greenhouse gas emissions, environmental degradation, resource consumption and associated waste; the quest for stronger mitigation and adaptation approaches has put more pressure on solutions to be viewed at the city scale. A plethora of concepts has emerged under the umbrella of sustainable cities, aiming to make cities greener, smarter, resilient, eco-friendly, decarbonized, and more recently, ‘Circular’. This research aims to contextualize the alignment of the circular economy to socio-spatial issues by leveraging the discussions on the implications of circularity in urban planning and design. Drawing on a combination of methods: literature review, stakeholder interviews and the exploration of Glasgow as a case study; a synthetic view of an urban circularity framework is aided by the visualization of four urban systems (building and property assets, social-productive, energy and mobility, and natural and ecological) and initiatives affecting them (policies, plans, projects) enabling a socio-spatial perspective to circularity. Applied to Glasgow, the maps showcased current practices and their potential for moving towards a circular city, promoting inclusive, collaborative planning and stakeholder engagement not only on the macro scale (city) but at the meso (neighbourhood) and micro (buildings/sites/citizens) scales. The framework presents the potential for advancing urban metabolism in a way that is visual and relatable to urban decision-making, and encourages a more holistic interpretation of circularity in the built environment.

Numerical Study on Optimization of Combustion Cycle Parameters and Exhaust Gas Emissions in Marine Dual-Fuel Engines by Adjusting Ammonia Injection Phases

Decarbonizing maritime transport hinges on transitioning oil-fueled ships (98.4% of the fleet) to renewable and low-carbon fuel types. This shift is crucial for meeting the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets set by the IMO and the EU, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Ammonia, which does not contain carbon atoms that generate CO2, is considered one of the effective solutions for decarbonization in the medium and long term. However, the concurrent increase in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions during the ammonia combustion cycle, subject to strict regulation by the MARPOL 73/78 convention, necessitates implementing solutions to reduce them through optimizing the combustion cycle. This publication presents a numerical study on the optimization of diesel and ammonia injection phases in a ship’s medium-speed engine, Wartsila 6L46. The study investigates the exhaust gas emissions and combustion cycle parameters through a high-pressure injection strategy. At an identified 7° CAD injection phase distance between diesel and ammonia, along with an optimal dual-fuel start of injection 10° CAD before TDC, a reduction of 47% in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG = CO2 + CH4 + N2O) was achieved compared to the diesel combustion cycle. This result aligns with the GHG reduction target set by both the IMO and the EU for 2030. Additionally, during the investigation of the thermodynamic combustion characteristics of the cycle, a comparative reduction in NOx of 4.6% was realized. This reduction is linked to the DeNOx process, where the decrease in NOx is offset by an increase in N2O. However, the optimized ammonia combustion cycle results in significant emissions of unburnt NH3, reaching 1.5 g/kWh. In summary, optimizing the combustion cycle of dual ammonia and diesel fuel is essential for achieving efficient and reliable engine performance. Balancing combustion efficiency with emission levels of greenhouse gases, unburned NH3, and NOx is crucial. For the Wartsila 6L46 marine diesel engine, the recommended injection phasing is A710/D717, with a 7° CAD between injection phases.

INTENSITY OF GREENHOUSE GAS FORMATION DUE TO LIVESTOCK FARMING ACTIVITIES – AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR

According to numerous expert assessments by international organizations and specialists, animal husbandry makes a significant negative contribution to global climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), which are formed at different stages of livestock production as a result of various chemical and biological processes in the body of animals and in livestock waste. The domestic animal husbandry is developing mainly due to the intensification of production in the industry, but traditional farming methods as well as small-scale production in the individual sector also take place. Since the use of various technologies in animal husbandry has different effects on the level of environmental pollution and GHG emissions, the aim of the research was to study the differences in the intensity of GHG gas formation by one animal reared with individual features of animal rearing technologies and business activities. The intensity of gas formation and emission of CH4 and N2O in typical farms for pork production and milk production by one animal reared was determined, analyzed and substantiated. A significant variation in this indicator was found depending on the individual economic and technological features of the studied farms. The average weighted annual intensity of CH4 emission from animal manure in pig farms varied within the range of 0.95–25.71, in cattle farm – 2.74; CH4 from intestinal fermentation of dairy cows – 110.8–148.4; N2O (direct) in pig farms – 0.0–0.106, in cattle farm – 0.229; N2O (indirect) in pig farms – 0.071–0.097, in cattle farm – 0.174. The emission intensity is characterized separately in each age and sex group of animals in the herd structure of farms and the average weighted emission intensity in pork producing farms depending on the season. Based on the research results, it is proposed to use the generalized average annual indicator of greenhouse gas emissions per one average weighted animal reared (kg/head/year) as an indicator of the environmental load of livestock farms on the environment, which will allow planning production volumes with minimal environmental risks in the context of climate change.

Lead‐Free Perovskite‐Based Photocatalysts for Solar‐Driven Chemistry Technologies

AbstractThe high consumption of fossil fuels and concomitant contamination of the environment have promoted the search for new, low‐cost, and cleaner energy sources to satisfy the current energy demand around the world, decreasing the levels of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. One of the promising strategies to facilitate the generation of renewable energy involves solar‐driven chemical reactions, by using photocatalysts with improved sunlight absorption and carrier transfer abilities. Lead‐free halide perovskites (LFHPs) are good candidates, showing mesmerizing optical features, modulable band structure, oxidizing/reducing capability, and less toxicity compared to their Pb‐analogous. However, the literature reporting the photo(electro)chemical (PEC) properties of the LFHPs‐based materials for solar energy production is scarce. This review describes the current state‐of‐the‐art exhibiting the influence of the dimensionality, chemical composition and the formation of heterojunctions based on LFHPs on their photo(electro)activity for conducting solar‐driven hydrogen evolution, carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, and the degradation of recalcitrant pollutants to obtain added‐value chemicals. In this way, it is also included the main challenges to be faced. Furthermore, we address some potential LFHPs to be explored in PEC systems, opening up the gamut of possibilities to consolidate the solar‐to‐chemical transformation as an innovative alternative to favor environmentally friendly energy production.

Organic or Non-organic Agriculture: Comparison of Organic and Conventional Farming Sustainability

Reduction of the level of greenhouse gas emissions from sector of agriculture are one of the serious issues across European Union. The dairy industry is responsible for generating a significant amount of emissions from enteric fermentation, manure and long-term storage. The amount of emissions produced depends highly on factors such as livestock feeding and manure management systems, feed intensity and quality. Farms that have high milk yield also produce more liquid manure, leading to an increase in overall emissions from manure management.Organic farming has been valued as one of the most suitable solutions to conventional agriculture for the achievement of climate goals. Organic farming can be described as a farming approach based on prevention, ecological processes, and the restriction of pesticides. Restricting pests and lower yields can have a negative impact on production costs and revenues. However, organic farming has lower operating costs and higher product costs, which can increase overall incomes.The research aims to evaluate the environmental, economic and social dimensions of conventional and organic farming, comparing were comparing on their integral environmental, economic and social sustainability. The core element for the sustainability assessment is the construction of the composite sustainability index using data for scientific literature, reports and statistics.

Selling sunshine: Emerging challenges in the certification of hydrogen

Development of a hydrogen economy as part of the response to the challenges especially of climate change and energy security will depend upon the solution not only of technical problems, but also of legal and regulatory problems. Whereas these are most obviously related to health and safety, this paper focuses on the fact that support for hydrogen is increasingly contingent upon the method of its production and specifically upon the level of greenhouse gas emissions involved. The paper examines emerging arrangements in Australia and the EU as examples of likely future key hydrogen exporters and importers, respectively.

A simplified system dynamics model to investigate the effects of urban transportation management policies on reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions

Kuwait suffers from severe air pollution levels making it on the top ten list worldwide pollution wise based on the records of Air Quality Index (AQI). The transport and energy sectors represent the major players in contributing to the current unprecedent pollution situation Kuwait is suffering from. The unique harsh arid weather associated with high levels of humidity, high temperatures and frequent sandstorms in the region intensifies the extent of the pollution crisis. There is almost no single study in the literature that focused on testing different scenarios on transport and energy sectors effects into the reduction of prevailing pollution levels in this region of the world. This work comes to fill this gap in the literature. A simplified system dynamics model (covering the years from 2004 to 2040) was developed for Kuwait to simulate the effects of different urban transportation management policies on reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions levels. Two policies were tested: a gasoline tax with low, medium, and high rates, as well as a free bus service. Combined policies resulting from merging the gasoline tax at different levels with the free bus service were also tested, which outperformed the two separate plans being implemented alone. The best combined strategy achieved was to encourage citizens to use public transportation by utilizing the free bus service rather than using private vehicles in addition to impose a high fuel tax. This action was anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions by 14 million metric tons and the number of private vehicles by 3 million vehicles by the end of 2040. Such approach proved to be helpful in reducing the pollution levels and in turn decrease the severity of global warming phenomenon in the Arabian desertic peninsula.

Disaggregation of Dairy in Composite Foods in the United Kingdom

Dairy, especially cheese, is associated with high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Accurate estimates of dairy consumption are therefore important for monitoring dietary transition targets. Previous studies found that disaggregating the meat out of composite foods significantly impacts estimates of meat consumption. Our objective was to determine whether disaggregating the dairy out of composite foods impacts estimates of dairy consumption in Scotland. Approximately 32% of foods in the UK Nutrient Databank contain some dairy. In the 2021 Scottish Health Survey, mean daily intakes of dairy with and without disaggregation of composite foods were 238.6 and 218.4 g, respectively. This translates into an 8% underestimation of dairy consumption when not accounting for dairy in composite foods. In particular, milk was underestimated by 7% and cheese and butter by 50%, whereas yogurt was overestimated by 15% and cream by 79%. Failing to disaggregate dairy from composite foods may underestimate dairy consumption.

Spatial Econometric Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Emission – European Case Study

The level of greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most important issues today, both professionally and politically, because a lower level of greenhouse gas emission is mandatory for a sustainable economy. Besides industry and households, the transport sector is also responsible for these emissions. For this reason, it may be essential to set up a model with which the amount of CO2 emissions could be estimated or predicted. This article presents a model that examines the extent of economic development and CO2 emissions in European countries. The result is establishing a pattern requiring a longer time series. If the pattern is proven, a clear reassessment of the current relationship between economic development and environmental protection should be made.

INFLUENCE OF ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM GAS COMBUSTION VOLUMES ON AVERAGE ANNUAL SURFACE AIR TEMPERATURE INCREASE IN WESTERN SIBERIA

On April 2016, Russia signed the Paris Climate Agreement, under which by 2030 it pledged to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to no more than 70 % of 1990 levels annually. However, this may be hindered by a number of factors, in particular the significant increase in oil production at new oil and gas fields being brought into commercial development. Most of these facilities are concentrated in inaccessible areas with poor infrastructure, which significantly complicates the process of associated petroleum gas utilization and calls into question the fulfillment of commitments made. At the moment, carbon regulation in Russia is at the initial stage: in 2018, the level of greenhouse gas emissions from Russia amounted to only 52 % of the 1990 level. This has a significant contribution to the change in the temperature background of oil-producing regions, the main one being Western Siberia. Therefore, the study of such a massive anthropogenic impact on the environment, such as the mass flaring of associated petroleum gas on an industrial scale, is confidently correlated with Russia's stated strategic goals to significantly reduce the amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Household Activities: A Case in Bogor Indonesia

Climate change is a result of global warming. Global warming is caused by an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. One of the largest GHG-contributing sectors is the energy sector, which includes households with various activities. Household activities include using LPG, electricity, gasoline, waste generation, and farming and livestock activities to meet the household's needs. The level of GHG emissions produced in households is influenced by income, years of study, and knowledge of emissions. The objectives of this study are to estimate the amount of GHG emissions generated from household activities, analyze the factors that influence GHG emissions, and estimate the value of the carbon economy. The analytical methods used are quantitative descriptive analysis, IPCC (2006) method, multiple linear regression, and economic value analysis. The results showed that: (1) CO2-eq emissions generated in Sinarsari Village for 100 respondents amounted to 32,011.68 kg CO2-eq/month, and the amount of GHG emissions in one village scope amounted to 853,431.36 kg CO2-eq/month. (2) Income, length of study, and emission knowledge dummy influence GHG emissions. 3) Carbon economic value based on carbon pricing is Rp287,415,199.70/month.

Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer consumption, and technological innovation: A comprehensive quantile analysis

This paper investigates the asymmetric inter-linkages and causality between agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer consumption, and technological innovation in four main agricultural countries i.e., China, the United States, Japan and Canada, by employing monthly data from 1990 to 2019. Accordingly, Quantile-on-Quantile (QQ) regression and two causality-in-quantile approaches are applied to conduct a comprehensive quantile analysis of the asymmetric relationship for all quantiles of the above distribution. Our results exhibit a positive association between agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer consumption, and technological innovation in China, the United States and Canada. Besides, the strength of the positive association depends largely on the development level of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer consumption, and technological innovation. However, except for the positive impact between fertilizer consumption and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, I find a negative nexus between agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and technological innovation in Japan. Compared with the other three sample countries, Japan has done the best in agricultural greenhouse gas emission mitigation. The results also demonstrate that agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer consumption, and technological innovation follow a bidirectional quantile-causality relation in all sample countries. Overall, I find that fertilizer consumption does increase agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, and that technological innovation has not played a full role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in most countries. Finally, our findings have significant implications for formulating reasonable emission reduction measures in the agricultural sector.

The size and composition of residual emissions in integrated assessment scenarios at net-zero CO2

Residual emissions are an important category of analysis in climate targets and scenarios, describing the emissions that would need to be compensated by carbon dioxide removal to reach net zero CO2. This article sheds light on the size and composition of residual emissions in integrated assessment modelling (IAM) scenarios at net-zero CO2, using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th assessment report (AR6) scenario database. I find that IAMs depict residual greenhouse gas emissions levels of 16 [12–26] GtCO2e/yr across below 1.5 °C, below 1.5 °C with overshoot, and below 2 °C scenarios—representing gross emissions reductions of 72 [55–78] % from 2020 to the point of net zero CO2. Emissions from livestock, agriculture, transport, waste and industrial processes remain most prevalent at net zero, with scenario averages tending to depict significantly lower reduction rates and higher residual emissions than those recently published in corporate net zero standards. Nonetheless, scenarios depict a wide range of outcomes across all of these ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors, with lower values characterised by demand-side shifts in the food and energy system, alongside the rapid electrification of end-use sectors and limits on CDR scaling. Current scenario reporting does not easily facilitate the calculation of gross emissions from the AR6 database, which would be a prerequisite to a more systematic exploration of the residual emissions frontier and its implications for climate policy.