Emission Reduction Strategies Research Articles

Climate change, critical theory and economic democracy: ‘Small is Beautiful’ and the challenge to growth

This article brings ‘Small is Beautiful’ into dialogue with Frankfurt School critical theory to explore reshaping capitalism considering the climate crisis. Nature’s subjugation to capitalist instrumental reason is discussed in terms of Schumacher’s arguments. The article contends that market-based emission reduction schemes privatise Earth’s life-sustaining capacity and underscores how current lifestyles depend on growth whilst commodifying environmental concerns. Capitalism, it is argued, relies on producing a continued demand for new products, requiring continued growth to sustain the ‘treadmill of production’. Technology disrupts markets but not capitalism, further serving accumulation. Economic democracy, as in Schumacher’s argument, is proposed as a solution which redirects economic activity by combining the worker/producer duality of the individual but notes the challenge of changing the growth-based status quo on which we rely despite the existential threat it presents.

Cooperative strategies of emission reduction in the 3PL-led supply chain

Abstract Accepted by: M. Zied Babai The third-party logistics (3PL) industry has grown rapidly over the past few years, and its emission reduction behaviour is gaining attention. This paper considers a supply chain system composed of a manufacturer, a retailer and a 3PL provider, in which both the manufacturer and the 3PL make the low-carbon investment. 3PL is a leader in the low-carbon supply chain. To promote emission reduction in logistics, the manufacturer and the retailer separately share the logistics emission reduction costs of the 3PL. Through comparing the no-sharing, manufacturer-sharing and retailer-sharing models, we discuss the cost-sharing strategy preference of each participant and analyze the impact on environmental benefit and social welfare. The results show that cost-sharing can effectively improve product demand, which also supports society in obtaining higher benefits. Moreover, the 3PL tends to be shared by the retailer when the low-carbon investment cost of logistics is high and the investment cost of production is low. Both the manufacturer and the retailer prefer the other party to share the cost, but sharing it together can effectively alleviate free-rider behaviour.

Rethinking the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis across 214 countries: the impacts of 12 economic, institutional, technological, resource, and social factors

Research over the past three decades has provided rich empirical evidence for the inverted U-shaped EKC theory, but current problems facing advancing climate mitigation actions require us to re-examine the shape of global EKC rigorously. This paper examined the N-shaped EKC in a panel of 214 countries with 12 traditional and emerging variables, including institutions and risks, information and communication technology (ICT), artificial intelligence(AI), resource and energy use, and selected social factors. The two-dimensional Tapio decoupling model based on N-shaped EKC to group homogeneous countries is developed to explore the inter-group heterogeneous carbon emission effects of each variable. Global research results show that the linear and cubic terms of GDP per capita are significantly positive, while the quadratic term is significantly negative, regardless of whether additional variables are added. This means the robust existence of an N-shaped EKC. Geopolitical risk, ICT, and food security are confirmed to positively impact per capita carbon emissions, while the impact of composite risk, institutional quality, digital economy, energy transition, and population aging are significantly negative. The impact of AI, natural resource rents, trade openness, and income inequality are insignificant. The inflection points of the N-shaped EKC considering all additional variables are 45.08 and 73.44 thousand US dollars, respectively. Combining the turning points and the calculated decoupling coefficients, all countries are categorized into six groups based on the two-dimensional decoupling model. The subsequent group regression results show heterogeneity in the direction and magnitude of the carbon emission impacts of most variables. Finally, differentiated carbon emission reduction strategies for countries in six two-dimensional decoupling stages are proposed.

Geospatial assessment of the carbon footprint of water and electricity consumption in residential buildings in Doha, Qatar

The process of estimating the carbon footprint (CF) has become a key method for managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, guiding strategies for emission reduction and validating those strategies. Given the complexity of quantifying total lifecycle emissions in residential buildings, this study delves into assessing the CF focusing on water and electricity consumption in two types of residential buildings: mainly residential villas and residential flats. This assessment was carried out in Doha City, Qatar, using data on water and electricity consumption from 2017 to 2020. The study employs the Multi-Regional Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (MRIO-LCA) model to calculate and convert the water and electricity consumption data into the CF of these buildings. Further, the study employs various methods for statistical and spatial statistical analysis of CF emissions, including geographically weighted regression (GWR), Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and hotspot and cold spot assessments. The annual electricity CF emissions from these buildings are approximately 7 MtCO2 equivalent, with residential villas contributing about 83% of this total. Concurrently, the annual average water CF in residential buildings is around 0.06 MtCO2 equivalent, predominantly attributed to villas. The findings highlight the substantial impact of residential structures, particularly villas, on the city's overall CF emissions. Furthermore, the findings underscore the significant impact of residential structures, especially villas, on Doha's CF emissions, revealing a marked seasonal increase, particularly during the summer months and a notable spike in 2020. The spatial analysis of CF emissions reveals consistent spatial clustering patterns across different seasons in 2020. Elevated CF emissions from villas are concentrated in Doha's central, northern, and northeastern regions, while cold spots are predominantly in the eastern and southern areas. Understanding CF in residential settings is crucial for developing strategies to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and address climate change. This research helps inform targeted interventions for more sustainable residential energy and water use, aligning with broader environmental and climate goals.

A Literature Review of Seaport Decarbonisation: Solution Measures and Roadmap to Net Zero

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature related to seaport decarbonisation by combining the academic literature with case studies, industrial reports, newsletters, and domain knowledge. Through the literature review, the emission sources at seaports are categorised according to different criteria for better understanding. One of the criteria is the geographic location, which divides the emission sources into four categories. For each emission source category, the emission reduction measures in the literature are categorised into six structured categories including operational measures, technical measures, fuel and energy measures, infrastructural measures, digitalisation measures, and policy and collaboration measures. The first three categories have a direct impact on emission reductions, whereas the last three categories tend to support and facilitate the development and implementation of the first three categories. Representative case studies are selected from the UK ports to discuss their decarbonisation practices and pathways to net zero. We then propose a generic time-phased roadmap for port decarbonisation towards net zero, which divides the solution measures in each category into three phases to show their progressive processes. We explain the dependence relationships of the solution measures in the roadmap and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the roadmap. This paper could offer strategic guidelines to port-associated stakeholders to implement emission reduction strategies and transition to net zero from the system perspective.

Photochemical Mechanism and Control Strategy Optimization for Summertime Ozone Pollution in Yining City

To explore the formation mechanism of the ozone （O3） and emission reduction strategy in a northwestern city， an extensive field campaign was conducted in summertime in 2021 in Yining City， in which the 0-D box model incorporating the latest explicit chemical mechanism （MCMv3.3.1） was applied for the first time to quantify the O3-NOx-VOCs sensitivity and formulate a precise O3 control strategy in this city. The results showed that： ① the three indicators ［i.e.， O3 formation potential （OFP）， ·OH reaction rate （k·OH）， and relative incremental reactivity （RIR）］ jointly indicated that alkenes， oxygenated volatile organic compounds （OVOCs）， and aromatics were the highest contributors among anthropogenic volatile organic compounds （AVOC） to O3 formation， and the contribution of biogenic volatile organic compounds （BVOC） also could not be ignored. Additionally， the results based on RIR calculation implied that that the acetaldehyde， ethylene， and propylene were the most sensitive individual VOCs species in Yining City. ② The in-situ photochemical O3 variations were primarily influenced by the local photochemical production and export process horizontally to downwind areas or vertically to the upper layer， and the reaction pathways of HO2·+ NO and ·OH + NO2 contributed the most to the gross Ox photochemical production （60%） and photochemical destruction production （53%）， respectively. Hence， the reduction in local emissions for O3 precursors was more essential to alleviate O3 pollution in this city. ③ The outcome based on RIR（NOx） / RIR（AVOC） and EKMA jointly suggested that the photochemical regime in this city can be considered a transitional regime that was also nearly a VOCs-limited regime. Detailed mechanism modeling based on multiple scenarios further suggested that the NOx and VOCs synergic emission reduction strategies was helpful to alleviate O3 pollution. These results are useful to provide policy-related guidance for other cities facing similar O3 pollution in northwest China.

Firm's emission reduction effectiveness and the influence of the five institutional dimensions of the quintuple helix model: European evidence

AbstractBased upon the quintuple helix model (QHM), this study explores whether the differences in firms' emission reduction effectiveness can be attributed to the five institutional helices related to educational system, economic development, political–legal system, cultural orientation, and the natural capital. Using a set of listed European firms for the 2015–2020 period, we show that firms with better emission reduction effectiveness operate in nations with more public educational expenditure and scientific production, more extensive economic development, and better institutional and governance quality. Moreover, emission reduction strategies are more pronounced in firms located in countries characterized by less masculinity, individualism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance, and more long‐term orientation and indulgence. In addition, we find that companies with better emission reduction effectiveness are found in countries with more natural capital, characterized by a life in harmony with nature and employing the finite resources available in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner. Moreover, employing a two‐stage model to identify the most relevant helix, we find that the political–legal system helix is the most pivotal in promoting firms' commitment to reducing environmental emissions.

A Data-Driven Approach to Identify Major Air Pollutants in Shanghai Port Area and Their Contributing Factors

Air pollution is a growing concern in metropolitan areas worldwide, and Shanghai, as one of the world’s busiest ports, faces significant challenges in local air pollution control. Assessing the contribution of a specific port to air pollution is essential for effective environmental management and public health improvement, making the analysis of air pollution contributions at a selected port in Shanghai a pertinent research focus. This study aims to delve into the distribution patterns of atmospheric pollutants in port areas and their influencing factors, utilizing a data-driven approach to unveil the relationship between pollution sources and dispersion. Through a comparative analysis of pollution levels in the port’s interior, surrounding regions, and urban area concentrations, we ascertain that carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) are the primary pollutants in the port, with concentrations significantly exceeding those of the surrounding areas and urban area levels. These two pollutants exhibit an hourly pattern, with lower levels during the day and higher concentrations at night. Employing a random forest model, this study quantitatively analyzes the contribution rates of different factors to pollutant concentrations. The results indicate that NO concentration is primarily influenced by operational intensity and wind speed, while CO concentration is mainly affected by meteorological factors. Further, an orthogonal experiment reveals that maintaining daily operational vehicle numbers within 5000 effectively controls NO pollution, especially at low wind speeds. Additionally, humidity and temperature exhibit similar trends in influencing NO and CO, with heightened pollution occurring within the range of 75% to 90% humidity and 6 °C to 10 °C temperature. Severe pollution accumulates under stagnant wind conditions with wind speeds below 0.2 m/s. The results help to explore the underlying mechanisms of port pollution further and use machine learning for early pollution prediction, aiding timely warnings and emission reduction strategy formulation.

Investigating the impact of high-altitude on vehicle carbon emissions: A comprehensive on-road driving study

This study addresses the literature gap concerning accurately identifying vehicle carbon emission characteristics in high-altitude areas. Utilizing a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) for real-world testing, we quantified the influence of altitude on carbon emissions from light-duty gasoline (LDGV) and diesel vehicles (LDDV). The Random Forest (RF) algorithm was employed to analyze the complex nonlinear relationships between altitude, meteorological conditions, driving patterns, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, enabling predictions across different altitudes. The results showed that CO2 emissions progressively increase with elevation. Furthermore, as altitude increases, combustion efficiency declines, and the overall impact of driving conditions on emission rates diminishes. Altitude and meteorological factors significantly contributed to CO2 emissions, whereas driving conditions and road grades contributed less. Compared with the COPERT model, the RF model demonstrates strong accuracy in predicting carbon emissions at different altitudes. Specifically, the CO2 emission rate nearly triples as altitude increases from 2.0 km to 4.5 km. This research bridges a critical gap in the understanding carbon emissions from high-altitude vehicles, offering insights into policy development for emission reduction strategies in such regions. Future studies should integrate diverse testing methodologies and comprehensive surveys to validate and extend the findings.

Research on regional ozone prevention and control strategies in eastern China based on pollutant transport network and FNR

O3 pollution in China has worsened sharply in recent years, and O3 formation sensitivity (OFS) in many regions have gradually changed, with eastern China as the most typical region. This study constructed the transport networks of O3 and NO2 in different seasons from 2017 to 2020. The transport trends and the clustering formation patterns were summarized by analyzing the topological characteristics of the transport networks, and the patterns of OFS changes were diagnosed by analyzing the satellite remote sensing data. Based on that, the main clusters that each province or city belongs to in different pollutant transport networks were summarized and proposals for the inter-regional joint prevention and control were put forward. As the results showed, O3 transport activity was most active in spring and summer and least active in winter, while NO2 transport activity was most active in autumn and winter and least active in summer. OFS in summer mainly consisted of transitional regimes and NOx-limited regimes, while that in other seasons was mainly VOC-limited regimes. Notably, there was a significant upward trend in the proportion of transitional regimes and NOx-limited regimes in spring, autumn, and winter. For regions showing NOx-limited regime, areas with higher out-weighted degrees in the NO2 transport network should focus on controlling local NOx emissions, such as central regions in summer. For regions showing VOC-limited regime, areas with higher out-weighted degrees in the O3 transport network should focus on controlling local VOCs emissions, such as central and south-central regions in summer. For regions that belong to the same cluster and present the same OFS in each specific season, regional cooperative emission reduction strategies should be established to block important transmission paths and weaken regional pollution consistency.

Assessment of the national emission reduction strategies effects for Bulgaria (2020–2029 and after 2030) on surface FPRM and CPRM concentrations

Bulgaria has developed national emission reduction strategies for the period from 2020 to 2029 and the years after 2030, in accordance with EU Directive 2016/2284. Our fundamental aim in this study is to assess the effects of the strategy on the PM near surface concentrations in Bulgaria. All the simulation was done by the modeling system U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Models-3 for 2008 to 2014 period and with 9 km horizontal grid resolution for the selected region – Bulgaria. The meteorological background that was used is with 1°x1° resolution from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Analysis Data. There are 5 emission scenarios structured: 2005 emissions (reference period), 2020–2029 emissions projected with existing measures (WEM) and with additional measures (WAM), projected after 2030 WEM and WAM emissions, as parallel calculations were performed with all of the scenarios. Making parallels between the concentrations, with different scenarios simulated, gives the possibility to evaluate the national emission reduction strategies’ effect.

Carbon Emission Mitigation: a Sustainable Transportation Perspective for Reforming the Law on Highways in Indonesia

Objective: This research aims to provide essential issues to be included in the draft of new regulations to revise Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation. The transportation sector plays a vital role in social mobility in Jakarta. However, the negative impact of increasing carbon emissions reaching 171 air pollution standard index (APSI) cannot be accommodated by outdated laws and poses a significant challenge to the health of the environment and urban communities now and in the future. Theoretical framework: The theory used is Carbon Emission Disclosure. We will use some of this theory to explain and incorporate it into the plans for new regulations. Carbon Emission Disclosure (CED) is one part of carbon accounting, an organization's obligation to measure, acknowledge, record, present, and disclose carbon emissions. In this context, the government is responsible for CED. Carbon Emission Disclosure was measured using several items adopted from research. There are five broad categories relevant to climate change and carbon emissions: climate change risks and opportunities, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, reduction of greenhouse gases and costs, and accountability of emission carbon. Method: The Method uses a qualitative approach using focus group discussions and is supported by participant observation. Sixteen stakeholders, policymakers, and eight private vehicle users participated in this study, providing diverse perspectives. Research starts May 18 to November 19, 2023. The research locus is in the city of Jakarta. Results and Conclusions: This study found six themes that were taken into consideration to be included in the draft of new regulations that will be drafted. Namely Motor Vehicle Policy is to reduce the amount of reduction in the impact of carbon emissions; policy on the impact of traffic jams and density, the impact of carbon emissions on population health; limiting vehicle emissions by implementing carbon accounting; zero-emission vehicles by supporting electric vehicles; future solutions and strategies, namely implementing a Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) plan to reduce carbon emissions, and regarding the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and several points proposed by field observation participants. Research implications: This study presents policy implications that the government can utilize to reduce the impact of carbon emissions through several parts of the CED concept, including reducing carbon emissions, high energy consumption in Jakarta can be reduced by electric vehicles, detailing emission reduction strategies, and comprehensively implementing accountability for carbon emissions serious about coal-based electricity companies around the city of Jakarta. The consequences of this strategy can range from policy formulation to developing new regulations that replace old laws. Originality/value: This research analyzes the paradigm shift, which still uses old laws to become new laws, by including the CED concept, which focuses on six themes from the results of this study. These changes can affect transportation management in Indonesia. This paradigm shift study is a new contribution because it can provide a deeper understanding of the evolution of transportation governance by reducing carbon emissions. This paradigm shift is expected to significantly shift private vehicle users to mass vehicles, reducing carbon emissions. On the other hand, the government has issued regulations President Number 61 of 2011 concerning the National Action Plan for Emission Reduction Greenhouse Gases. This regulation is issued to reduce carbon emissions. The challenge is that until now, the implementers have yet to implement it thoughtfully; its implementation is separate from the National Law and requires a solid will to include it in the new draft law as a single unit.

Research on the Influencing Factors of CO2 Emission Intensity in Cement Industry

The cement industry, as a significant carbon-emitting sector, has a substantial impact on climate change. This study aims to explore the influencing factors of CO2 benchmark emission intensity in the cement industry to reveal how to reduce carbon emissions and enhance carbon emission management efficiency. We collected and analyzed data from numerous cement industry enterprises, including factors such as production processes, raw material selection, energy sources, and government policies. Through descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis, we drew some key conclusions. The results indicate that production processes, raw material selection, and energy sources are the primary influencing factors for CO2 benchmark emission intensity. Enterprises employing wet production processes, selecting raw materials with higher silicon content, and utilizing renewable and efficient energy sources typically exhibit lower CO2 benchmark emission intensities. Government policies and regulations also have a significant impact on CO2 emissions, albeit with variations across countries and regions. These findings provide robust support for carbon emission management in the cement industry, aiding in the development of more sustainable production practices and emission reduction strategies.

Heterogeneity study on mechanisms influencing carbon emission intensity at the county level in the Yangtze River Delta urban Agglomeration: A perspective on main functional areas

Identifying the regional heterogeneity characterizing the mechanisms influencing carbon emissions is crucial to the scientific formulation of emission reduction targets and strategies. The studies that have been conducted have limitations in terms of regional classification criteria and study scales, and their findings are limited to reflect the actual situation. In this study, the perspective of main functional area is chosen as the entry point to carry out regional classification. First, the 305 county-level administrative districts in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration (YRDUA) are categorized into four different types of main functional areas according to official standards. Then, the differences in carbon emission intensity (CEI) within and outside each main functional area are analyzed. The STIRPAT model (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology) is used to analyze the differences in the impact mechanisms of various carbon emission influencing factors in the four main functional areas. The results show that there are significant differences in the CEI of different main functional areas, indicating the feasibility and necessity of studying carbon emission from the perspective of main functional area. The key development area (KDA) and optimized development area (ODA) dominate the evolution of regional CEI, especially KDA should be the core area for carbon reduction. There are significant differences in the mechanisms influencing CEI in different main functional areas, especially in terms of population density, industrial structure and government intervention. Our study provides a scientific basis for the subregional regulation of carbon emissions from the perspective of main functional area.

Scenarios for Adoption of Low-Carbon Household Cooking Fuels in Biomass-Dependent Informal Settlements of Urban Sub-Saharan Africa: A Critical Analysis of Kisumu City

The use of unclean cooking fuels is widespread in urban informal settlements in Africa, while the adoption of clean fuels is largely done by stacking with traditional biomass fuels. Rapid urbanisation has aggravated the situation since it hampers effective planning for climate action and the provision of clean and affordable cooking fuels. It is, therefore, essential to deploy effective household carbon emissions (HCE) reduction strategies that are cognizant of the fuel use patterns and household dynamics of households in urban informal settlements. This study highlights the status of HCE in Kisumu City’s informal settlements and subsequently explores possible pathways for reducing emissions through the adoption of low-carbon cooking fuels. The paper features existing and plausible emissions scenarios in the informal settlements of Kisumu City. The study adopts a descriptive correlation research design targeting a sample 419 households drawn from seven informal settlements of Kisumu City. Binary logistic regression is used to establish the relationships that exist between household characteristics and the adoption of clean fuels. Multiple linear regression analysis reveals existing and probable emission pathways, informed by varying household characteristics and adjusting fuel-stacking scenarios. Household income has a positive correlation with adoption of clean fuel combinations (p<0.01), while household size does not have a significant relationship with adoption of clean fuels. The annual HCE attributable to cooking in Kisumu City’s informal settlements is 976 KgCO2. Fuel stacking nuances are vital considerations in choosing practical emission reduction pathways for these households. Emission reduction scenario that contemplates transitioning households that use charcoal in their fuel stacks to using LPG has the highest emission reduction potential of 72%. Although an emission scenario that includes LPG in the fuel mix of households that do not use it has an emission reduction potential of just 9%, it is the most realistic option since it accommodates the phenomenon of fuel stacking

Ecological and Economic Benefits of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Strategies in Rice Production: A Case Study of the Southern Rice Propagation Base in Hainan Province

Developing tailored emission reduction strategies and estimating their potential is crucial for achieving low-carbon rice production in a specific region, as well as for advancing China’s dual carbon goals in the agricultural sector. By utilizing water-saving and drought-resistant rice (WDR) with enhanced water and nitrogen utilization efficiency, the mitigation strategies were constructed for rice production systems, and their potential for emission reduction was estimated in the southern rice propagation base of Hainan Province. This study revealed that the implementation of a reduction strategy, which involves dry direct seeding and dry cultivation, combined with a 53% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer, can effectively synergize the mitigation of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from rice paddies. Compared with traditional flooded rice cultivation, this integrated approach exhibits an impressive potential for reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 97% while simultaneously doubling economic benefits. Moreover, when combined with plastic film mulching, the strategy not only sustains rice yields but also achieves a remarkable emission reduction of 92%, leading to a fourfold increase in economic benefits. Our study provides a comprehensive low-carbon sustainable development strategy for rice production in the southern rice propagation base of Hainan Province and offers valuable insights for researching GHG emissions in other regions or crops. These emission reduction pathways and the assessment method could contribute to the realization of low-carbon agriculture.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from internal floating-roof tank in oil depots in Beijing: Influencing factors and emission reduction strategies analysis

The internal floating-roof tank is the main type of storage tank for refined oil products. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission from the internal floating-roof tank plays a dominant role in the unorganized emission source of the oil depot. In this study, we selected six typical oil depots in Beijing to investigate VOC emission characteristics from the tank top vent hole using infrared imaging technology and flame ionization detector (FID). The results reveal that infrared thermal imager is efficient in quickly identifying the emission level of the tank discharge point. The ambient temperature and wind speed have a direct effect on sealing loss, the turnover can greatly influence the wall hanging loss, and the concentration of VOCs emitted from the tank top vent hole is negatively correlated with liquid height. Furthermore, the influence of accessories type of the internal floating-roof tank on the concentration of VOCs emission from the top vent hole is also studied when other parameters remain unchanged, and find the floating deck type and sealing mode have a significant influence on their VOCs emissions, of which the combination of pontoon type floating deck and secondary seal are effective in controlling the concentration of VOCs emitted from the tank top vent hole. Finally, based on our experimental results, several feasible emission reduction strategies are proposed in terms of source prevention and process control in order to achieve the fine management of the whole process. This paper provides important technical support and policy thoughts for VOCs emission control during oil storage.

A four-party evolutionary game analysis of carbon emission reduction behavioral strategies in the shipping industry

Abstract Global warming and the urgency of environmental issues have brought the issue of carbon emissions in the shipping industry to the forefront. Taking the government, port enterprises, shipping companies, and social and environmental organizations as research subjects, this study delves into the key challenges of carbon emission reduction in the shipping industry. By constructing a complex and dynamic evolutionary game model and conducting data simulations with the help of MATLAB 2016b, we analyze in detail the strategic choices of each party on the emission reduction issue and explore the impact of these choices on the evolution of the system. In this study, we find that the government plays a crucial role in emission reduction regulation. Regulatory strategy and intensity have far-reaching impacts on the development of the whole system, and a flexible and intelligent regulatory system will promote active emission reduction by all parties. In addition, the reputation mechanism of social and environmental organizations plays a significant role in motivating all parties to take the initiative to adopt emission reduction strategies. In terms of economic incentives, we find that the government needs to provide differentiated support according to the characteristics of different enterprises, so that all parties can work together to move towards the emission reduction target. Through this study, we present a comprehensive game analysis of carbon emission reduction in the shipping industry and propose practical recommendations that are valuable to the shipping industry and environmental managers. These findings provide strong policy and action support for realizing the decarbonization of the shipping industry.

Marine fishery carbon emission reduction and changing factors behind marine fishery eco-efficiency growth in China

The accurate assessment of marine fisheries' carbon emissions (MFCE) and the identification of spatial and temporal variation in marine fisheries eco-efficiency (MFEE) and its drivers under the carbon emission reduction constraint can facilitate high-quality development and the achievement of the ‘carbon neutrality’ goal. Current assessments of MFEE exclude carbon emissions and focus on single-factor methodologies, which limit their utility in guiding emission reduction strategies. In this study, using provincial data on carbon emissions from marine fisheries from 2008 to 2021, we constructed a model of undesired output emission efficiency through a directional distance function to determine the undesired output emission reduction potential of each province. The global Malmquist–Luenberger (GML) model was also used to explore the spatial and temporal trends of MFCE and MFEE in China and the drivers influencing MFEE growth. Different mechanisms underlying the MFEE growth in three major marine economic zones were investigated. The results show that (1) MFCE is declining, with carbon sources from marine fisheries showing a decline and carbon sinks showing rapid growth. The year 2015 was an important turning point for carbon emissions from marine fisheries. (2) The level of carbon emission potential of marine fisheries differed among Chinese coastal provinces and cities during the study period, and the three major marine economic circles belonged to different types of carbon emission reduction potential. Under the carbon emission reduction constraint, the MFEE values showed a fluctuating upward trend with significant differences in growth rates and power sources, while pure technical efficiency drove the optimal development of eco-efficiency. (3) The marine economy, resource use, industrial structure, environmental regulation, and science and technology improve MFEE, whereas the degree of openness to the outside world negatively impacts MFEE; the trend of high-quality development of marine fisheries under the carbon emission reduction constraint is positive.

Modelling the effect of context-specific greenhouse gas and nitrogen emission mitigation options in key European dairy farming systems

Understanding the environmental consequences associated with dairy cattle production systems is crucial for the implementation of targeted strategies for emission reduction. However, few studies have modelled the effect of tailored emission mitigation options across key European dairy production systems. Here, we assess the single and combined effect of six emission mitigation practises on selected case studies across Europe through the Sustainable and Integrated Management System for Dairy Production model. This semi-mechanistic model accounts for the interacting flows from a whole-farm perspective simulating the environmental losses in response to different management strategies and site-specific conditions. The results show how reducing the crude protein content of the purchased fraction of the diet was an adequate strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas and nitrogen emission intensity in all systems. Furthermore, implementing an anaerobic digestion plant reduced the greenhouse gas emissions in all tested case studies while increasing the nitrogen emissions intensity, particularly when slurry was applied using broadcast. Regarding the productivity increase, contrasting effects were observed amongst the case studies modelled. Moreover, shallow slurry injection effectively mitigated the intensity of nitrogen losses from the fields due to strong reductions in ammonia volatilisation. When substituting urea with ammonium nitrate as mineral fertiliser, site-specific conditions affected the mitigation potential observed, discouraging its application on sandy-loam soils. Rigid slurry covers effectively reduced the storage-related nitrogen emissions intensity while showing a minor effect on total greenhouse gas emission intensity. In addition, our results provide novel evidence regarding the advantages of cumulative implementation of adapted mitigation options to offset the negative trade-offs of single-option applications (i.e. slurry covers or anaerobic digestion and slurry injection). Through this study, we contribute to a better understanding of the effect of emission mitigation options across dairy production systems in Europe, thus facilitating the adoption of tailored and context-specific emission reduction strategies.