Mitigate GHG Emissions Research Articles

Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management in Indonesia: The case of Semarang City

This study aimed to choose appropriate strategies to reduce GHG emissions through sustainable MSW management (MSWM) in Semarang City, Indonesia. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines was used to calculate GHG emissions from the waste sector. The factors that describe MSWM towards GHG emission mitigation were derived using a bibliometric analysis (VOSviewer). Information on current management practices and the choice of appropriate strategies was acquired using closed questionnaires answered by 20 experts and analyzed quantitatively using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) analyses. The total GHG emissions from 2021 to 2030 can be decreased to 10.73 Gg CO2-eq/year if there is an intervention to reduce the amount of illegal waste dumping. Currently, Semarang City needs competitive strategies (ST) to achieve the reduction target based on the SWOT analysis matrix. The highest strategic priority for GHG reduction in the MSW sector is to increase the performance of the sub-district or decentralized services and its data quality management. The SWOT factors and alternative strategies resulting from this case study can be used as references for other capital cities in developing countries to determine their position in MSWM and choose appropriate strategies to achieve sustainability.

What they say, what they do and how they do it: An evaluation of the energy transition and GHG emissions of electricity companies

The electricity sector is a critical player in combating climate change through the energy transition. Therefore, companies in the sector should align their policies and actions with the world's major environmental movements, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement. This paper assesses the energy transition and GHG emissions mitigation by the electricity sector using Paris Agreement targets and evaluates the impact of SDGs and science-based targets adoption on their decarbonization. From 2017 to 2019, we evaluated 39 global electricity companies using their sustainability reports and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) based on Paris Agreement global warming scenarios of 1.5 °C and well-below 2 °C (WB2°C). We discovered that all companies prioritize climate change actions, with 87% linking these actions to at least one SDG. When analyzing whether GHG emission reductions were in line with either Paris Agreement scenario, this figure dropped to 51%. Companies with SBTi met the 1.5 °C and WB2°C targets at a rate of 92% compared to 32% of companies without SBTi. We concluded that SDG adoption had no effect on mitigation results and that companies with SBTi performed significantly better in terms of emissions reduction and transition to renewables, although there was no proof of causality. These findings can help with the adoption of more effective policies for the implementation of SDGs and their prioritization in the sector, as well as encourage emission targets based on consolidated methodologies to guide companies' actions.

A National and Regional Greenhouse Gas Breakeven Assessment of EVs across North America

Electrification is considered key to decarbonizing the transport sector. While electric vehicles (EVs) lack tailpipe emissions, battery and electricity production can lead to significant emissions. This study analysed whether EVs can effectively mitigate GHG emissions in North America, by calculating two GHG breakeven indicators for EVs and comparing them to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). EV life cycle emissions were compared to those of ICEVs in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. In addition, this study considered potential national electricity grids evolutions and improvements in battery production and vehicle efficiency. The study estimated that EVs in Canada, the USA, and Mexico would see environmental benefits after 18.0, 25.1, and 25.6 thousand driven kilometres, respectively, as compared to petrol vehicles. Regionally, Québec had the lowest emissions (12.9 tCO2eq) for EVs while Iowa (62.0) had the highest. In several states, EVs did not outperform ICEVs. Emissions from EVs are expected to decrease in coming years as the carbon intensity of electrical grids decreases. Policies should consider prioritising grid decarbonization over EV uptake where regional grid GHG intensity is high. This work provides one of the first regional and international case studies determining the environmental breakeven points of EVs when considering trade.

Assessing the environmental impact of resource recovery from dairy manure

Manure management is a major contributor to environmental impacts from large-scale dairy production. In this study, technologies for recovering energy, nutrients, and water from dairy manure were evaluated using life cycle assessment (LCA) and compared to conventional practices on California dairy farms. Six scenarios were evaluated: conventional manure management practices, anaerobic digestion (AD) for biogas recovery, and four scenarios for nutrients, energy, and water integrated recovery, called NEWIR. The NEWIR system consists of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) for energy recovery via hydrochar, algae cultivation in the HTC aqueous product for nutrient recovery and production of protein-rich cattle feed, and water recovery from algae pond effluent via membrane distillation. Four NEWIR scenarios were evaluated, each with a different species of algae. Based on the results of the LCA, AD improves GHG emissions relative to conventional practices by 82%, but has similar eutrophication impacts, posing similar concerns for nutrient management as current practices. Results for the NEWIR system are highly dependent on the algae species used. Three of the four species evaluated (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella vulgaris, and Scenedesmus obliquus) improve GHG emissions by 420–500 kg CO2-eq. per functional unit, while net water consumption is increased by approximately 75% over AD and conventional practices Spirulina maxima requires more water and chemical inputs for cultivation than the other species, resulting in higher water use (21 times higher than baseline), though GHG emissions are still reduced by 85 kg CO2-eq. per functional unit relative to conventional practices. All NEWIR scenarios improve eutrophication impacts relative to AD and conventional practices by 16–46% for marine eutrophication and 18–99% for freshwater eutrophication, depending on the algae species used. The results suggest integrated resource recovery through NEWIR is a promising treatment method for manure to mitigate GHG emissions and improve nutrient management on large-scale farms. In addition, carbon and nutrient trading policies are discussed in relation to resource recovery technologies and their potential to incentivize producers to recover products from dairy manure.

Towards net zero emissions logistics cold chains – An early-stage assessment of GHG reduction potentials in the fruits and vegetables industry

Cold chains in the food sector are responsible for a significant electricity demand and GHG emissions globally. Given the urgent need for decarbonization to limit global warming, the temperature-controlled food sector offers potentials for mitigating GHG emissions. This paper presents the results of an early-stage assessment of lettuce logistics using a case study to map energy and emissions hotspots and assess the potential for net zero emissions logistics. The results indicate that transport, such as delivery by the farmer and distribution to the customer, contributes the most to direct energy consumption and GHG emissions. Only a combination of technological measures and a change in the design of the logistics network, can support a deep decarbonization of the logistics sector. However, in the current phase of the research project, the net zero emissions target is not yet achievable.

Silvopastoral Systems Ecological Strategy for Decreases C Footprint in Livestock Systems of Piedmont (Meta), Colombia

HIGHLIGHTS Soil and Biomass C sequestration are agricultural practices to mitigate GHG emissions Carbon footprint is use as indicator for livestock systems efficiency. Silvopastoral systems cause lower CF per LW. Degraded pasture cause higher CF per LW.

Suitability of biochar as supplementary cementitious material (SCM) or filler: waste revalorization, a critical review

For decades, researchers on materials science have highlighted the potential of biochar as a CO2 adsorption medium and the possibility of its incorporation into other materials to reduce the overall carbon footprint. This present study is a critical review of a selection of articles about biochar potential as a material on the construction industry. Biochar is a promising material in order to mitigate GHG emissions when added to cementitious materials, reducing its carbon footprint through a dual effect: CO2 sorption and replacement of cement or aggregates. Literature evidenced that replacement ratios of around 2-8 of cement wt% improved or leveled with conventional cementitious composites. However, some recent studies have shown that the incorporation of biochar up to >10% replacement ratios have the potential to improve the composites. Based on this premise, the present review emphasizes on the durability and long-term properties of biochar cementitious composites by providing up-to-date discussions of the studies on the matter and the future perspectives of the research in order to develop more eco-efficient concretes or mortars.

Optimal Water Level Management for Mitigating GHG Emissions through Water-Conserving Irrigation in An Giang Province, Vietnam.

Rational water and fertilizer management approaches and technologies could improve water use efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency in paddy rice cultivation. A promising water-conserving technology for paddy rice farming is the alternate wetting and drying irrigation system, established by the International Rice Research Institute. However, the strategy has still not been widely adopted, because water level measurement is challenging work and sometimes leads to a decrease in the rice yield. For the easy implementation of alternate wetting and drying among farmers, we analyzed a dataset obtained from a farmer's water management study carried out over a three-year period with three cropping seasons at six locations (n = 82) in An Giang Province, Southern Vietnam. We observed a significant relationship between specific water level management and the rice yield and greenhouse gas emissions during different growth periods. The average water level during the crop period was an important factor in increasing the rice yield and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The average water level at 2 days after nitrogen fertilization also showed a potential to increase the rice yield. The greenhouse gas emissions were reduced when the number of days of non-flooded soil use was increased by 1 day during the crop period. The results offer insights demonstrating that farmers' implementation of multiple drainage during whole crop period and nitrogen fertilization period has the potential to contribute to both the rice yield increase and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Healthcare Waste Management Practices in Major Town of Niger State, Nigeria

Purpose: The study was to examine the healthcare waste management practices in Niger State, Nigeria, with a view of promoting the quality of environment. The study has the following objectives: Determine the factors which influenced healthcare waste management practices in Niger State, assess the problems hindering the provision of adequate healthcare waste management practices, examine the physical planning implications on their sustainability, and examine the existing waste-management practices vis-a-vis of GHG emissions mitigation mechanism.
 Methodology: A questionnaires survey was carried out on the one hundred and fifty (150) respondents who were workers in the health facilities selected for the study for proper assessment of healthcare waste management of the hospitals. There was an interview of the various heads of departments of the hospitals’ administration to obtain accurate information on the management of the healthcare waste. 
 Findings: The study found that the health facilities do not have records of the volume of waste which they generate. The medical wastes generated range from 0.116 to 0.561 kg/bed/day, but there is no standard gauge for measuring waste collected in Niger state. Thus, the average generation rate is approximately 0.181 kg/bed/day. What the study classified as general waste was found to be common among the health facilities in the study area. About 66.4% of the respondents ascertained this type of waste which constituted of paper, food and plastic.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Policies and monitoring mechanisms should be generated and coordinated at the federal and State levels and including Local Governments Areas (LGA) and Health facilities levels

The Role of International Shipping in Mitigation of Global GHG Emissions: The Need for a Broader Perspective

The Role of International Shipping in Mitigation of Global GHG Emissions: The Need for a Broader Perspective

Feasibility of Biochar Derived from Sewage Sludge to Promote Sustainable Agriculture and Mitigate GHG Emissions-A Review.

Sewage sludge (SS) has been connected to a variety of global environmental problems. Assessing the risk of various disposal techniques can be quite useful in recommending appropriate management. The preparation of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) and its impacts on soil characteristics, plant health, nutrient leaching, and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are critically reviewed in this study. Comparing the features of SSB obtained at various pyrolysis temperatures revealed changes in its elemental content. Lower hydrogen/carbon ratios in SSB generated at higher pyrolysis temperatures point to the existence of more aromatic carbon molecules. Additionally, the preparation of SSB has an increased ash content, a lower yield, and a higher surface area as a result of the rise in pyrolysis temperature. The worldwide potential of SS output and CO2-equivalent emissions in 2050 were predicted as factors of global population and common disposal management in order to create a futuristic strategy and cope with the quantity of abundant global SS. According to estimations, the worldwide SS output and associated CO2-eq emissions were around 115 million tons dry solid (Mt DS) and 14,139 teragrams (Tg), respectively, in 2020. This quantity will rise to about 138 Mt DS sewage sludge and 16985 Tg CO2-eq emissions in 2050, a 20% increase. In this regard, developing and populous countries may support economic growth by utilizing low-cost methods for producing biochar and employing it in local agriculture. To completely comprehend the benefits and drawbacks of SSB as a soil supplement, further study on long-term field applications of SSB is required.

RETRACTED: Green finance strategies for mitigating GHG emissions in China: Public spending as a new determinant of green economic development

In order to lessen China’s carbon footprint, the government has turned to environmentally friendly financing. A reduction in CO2 has been reported in some Chinese provinces where green finance has been developed. Numerous regions in China from 2010 to 2020 are selected for this study. Based on a Dynamic Seemingly Uncorrelated, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares regressions model, empirical research is performed with per capita growth in the economy, public spending, and the relationship between economic growth, human resources, and industrial arrangement as core variables to test the influence of green financing on CO2 emission in Chinese provinces. According to the findings, green financing speeds up the reduction of carbon emissions. Moreover, the outcomes present that industrial structure, economic growth per capita, and trade openness increase carbon emissions. Likewise, public expenditures and human capital are significantly contributing to emissions reduction. The findings show that sustainable green environment can only be achieved by boosting the performance of green finance and increasing the level of green finance supported by the Chinese economy. Last but not least, policymakers should promote public health and education spending to fully engage in the protection of the environmental efforts to encourage green consumption while minimizing the structural problems resulting from economic activity.

69 Animal Sourced Foods Role in Sustainable Nutrition

Abstract Amid growing concern regarding the food system are calls to reduce or eliminate animal sourced foods (ASF) from human diets. Despite the green revolution and consequent increase in crop yields, nutrient deficiencies are still problematic, particularly in developing regions. In the US, ASF provide 24% of energy, 48% of protein, approximately 50% of the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids as well as the micronutrients (White and Hall, 2017). This presentation introduces a framework for evaluation and discusses remaining knowledge gaps regarding the role of ASF in sustainable food systems that provide nutritious diets. Lifecycle assessment (LCA) was used to provide an accounting of environmental and sustainability characteristics of food production systems. LCA has an explicit goal the identification of tradeoffs between stages in the supply chain and tradeoffs across environmental dimensions. In a published study (Kim et al., 2020) using a hybrid lifecycle assessment technique, it was shown that while vegetarian diets resulted in lower environmental impacts across several environmental categories, that the US non-vegetarian recommended dietary guidelines led to increases for many categories. This is driven by the increased consumption of less calorically dense foods and changes in the patterns of food loss and waste. Ongoing studies of US beef production systems are providing insight into factors behind the variability in sustainability driven by practice and location. One management practice receiving attention is Adaptively Managed Paddocks (AMP). Sequestration estimates were combined with process model simulations of cow calf finishing operations. One system used conventional grain finishing and the other used grass finishing. The potential mitigation of GHG emissions from the potential sequestration is significant. Complete assessment of the role of ASF in healthy diets from sustainable food systems requires a full understanding of the benefits and costs of alternatives and informed decisions based on understanding of tradeoffs.

The climate cost of saving water by different plastic mulching patterns

Global water shortage and climate change are two of the most significant challenges for our planet, and how to coordinate their relationship is a problem unsolved. In this study, we proposed the synchronization index of water-saving and CO2 mitigation to evaluate the climate cost of saving water by different plastic mulching patterns and explore way to improve the synchronization. The water-saving performance, carbon footprint, and the synchronization index were analyzed for three typical plastic mulching patterns, namely conventional partial plastic mulching, full plastic mulching, and “one film for two years” mulching. The results indicated that all three types of plastic mulching systems were effective in reducing the water footprint of crop production, with full plastic mulching showing the best performance in terms of improving crop yields and water savings. The application of plastic mulching mainly influences the carbon footprint through increasing indirect greenhouse gas emission, accelerating soil organic carbon decline and increasing N2O emission. Area-scale carbon footprint showed a significant positive relationship with the input amounts of plastic film, and the sort order of yield-scale carbon footprint was partial plastic mulching > full plastic mulching > “one film for two years” mulching. Calculated synchronization index was -0.35 kg CO2-eq m−3, -0.10 kg CO2-eq m−3, and 0.50 kg CO2-eq m−3 for partial plastic mulching, full plastic mulching, and “one film for two years” mulching, respectively. Full plastic mulching and partial plastic mulching resulted in an additional 0.35 and 0.10 kg of CO2-eq for saving one cubic meter of water, and only “one film for two years” mulching resulted in simultaneous water savings and greenhouse gas mitigation. This study suggests that water savings achieved using conventional partial plastic mulching have costs in terms of climate change. Faced with the dual pressure of global water shortages and climate change, controlling input amounts of plastic film and prolonging the lifetime of the film are simple and effective way to coordinate water savings and greenhouse gas mitigation. Moreover, the results of this study suggested that water savings and GHG emission mitigation cannot necessarily be achieved simultaneously and that searching for both water-saving performance and its synchronization with GHG mitigation should become a new paradigm for the development of water-saving technologies in the future.

Techno-economic and GHG mitigation analyses based on regional and seasonal variations of non-concentrating solar thermal collectors in textile sector of Pakistan

SDG implementation in the industrial sector of Pakistan is significant for its economic growth, sustainable industrialization, innovation, and sustainable production. Integration of solar thermal collectors in the textile industry will encompass sustainable development goals (SDG 7,9,12,13). Meeting these goals in the thermal sector of Pakistan is becoming increasingly challenging due to the limited resources and harmful emissions from conventional fuels. In this study, the technical feasibility of two non-concentrating collectors, Flat Plate Collector (FPC) and Evacuated Tube Collector (ETC) was investigated for the application of preheating of feedwater of boilers. Choosing the better performing collector for a range of regional and climatic variations across Pakistan, a comparative analysis of three fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) has been carried out by using TRNSYS and RETScreen for economic analysis and GHG emission mitigation, respectively. The overall best results have been observed in Quetta. For this city replacement of coal has shown the highest GHG emission mitigation potential of 182,326 tonnes of CO2 and the highest NPV for oil (1509.4 million PKR) among the three fuels studied. Based on the results, it can be deduced that this work can be further extended to concentrating thermal technologies as well. Since real-time industrial data has been used, the insights will promote solar thermal technology in Pakistan.

Mitigation options for decarbonization of the non-metallic minerals industry and their impacts on costs, energy consumption and GHG emissions in the EU - Systematic literature review

The non-metallic minerals industry is the third-largest industrial energy consumer, and it constitutes around 7% of global CO 2 emissions due to the high energy intensity of production processes. Although the substantial improvement of the energy efficiency of this industry in the EU observed since 1995, the energy intensity of this sector is still relatively high. To reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is necessary to implement further steps towards the decarbonization of this sector. Previous works do not provide information about research trends in this field or the current development of technologies. To fill this gap, the following research questions have been asked: (Q1) which decarbonization measures are already applied or under development in the non-metallic minerals sector?; (Q2) which of these measures might bring breakthrough to this sector?; (Q3) what is the impact of these measures on costs, energy consumption and GHG emissions? To this end, this paper performs a systematic literature review of GHG emission mitigation options of the non-metallic minerals industry by screening 2964 articles and performing an in-depth analysis of 48 full-text relevant articles following the PRISMA approach. The results show that the carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is the most popular research topic and has the highest decarbonization potential for the industry (up to 60%). However, more research is needed for the full-scale implementation. Further lowering the clinker to cement ratio to at least 75% is also of major importance, however, it is a mature technology, and not much research is required in this field. Despite the relatively low representation in scientific literature, heat electrification is an unavoidable direction for the industry in the long term, resulting from the global shift towards sustainable energy from renewables. The article also sets directions for future research, especially in terms of further development of the most promising technologies and on the industry transition pathways that would be legally adopted at the international level. • The non-metallic minerals industry constitutes around 7% of global CO 2 emissions. • A systematic literature review of GHG emission mitigation options of the industry. • 2964 articles screened and 48 full-text articles analyzed. • CCS is the most discussed mitigation option, yet not ready for commercialization. • Heat electrification is an unavoidable direction, resulting from the climate policy.

Mitigation of GHG Emissions from Soils Fertilized with Livestock Chain Residues

Using livestock residues as alternative fertilizers is a sustainable practice which recycles nutrients that would otherwise be lost. However, organic fertilizers may have a large impact on N2O emissions, offsetting the beneficial effects of C sequestration. After four years from biochar application, greenhouse gas fluxes were monitored for two years from a Maize field fertilized with digestate, slurry, or urea, with and without biochar. The objectives of the present study were to assess (i) the climate feedback of using residues from the livestock chain as alternative fertilizers and (ii) the contribution of biochar in mitigating GHGs emissions, while increasing the organic C in soil. Digestate was shown to have the highest impact on CO2 and N2O emissions from soil, with respect to mineral fertilization (+29 and +142%), more than slurry (+21 and −5%), whereas both residues positively affected CH4 uptake (+5 and +14%, respectively). The maximum N2O peaks occurred between 7–20 days after fertilization, accounting for 61% of total emissions, on average. Biochar was effective in reducing N2O emissions derived from mineral fertilization and digestate (−54% and −17%, respectively). An excess of labile organic matter and N induced the highest CO2 emissions and N2O peaks, independent of—or even triggered by—biochar. Mitigation of GHG emissions, from soils fertilized with livestock chain residue, can be obtained using biochar, but with limitations dependent on (i) the quantity of organic matter added, (ii) its quality, and (iii) the time from application: those aspects that deserve further investigations.

Mitigating GHG emissions: A global ecosystem service provided by obligate scavenging birds

Dead animals release greenhouse gases to the atmosphere through natural decomposition or because they have to be processed by disposal methods such as composting or rendering. Obligate scavenging birds (vultures) consume dead animals and are among the most efficient terrestrial scavengers. They may therefore contribute to a considerable reduction in sources of greenhouse gases. Here, we quantify the global contribution of vultures in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by consuming organic material. First, we evaluated a scenario where all the dead animals that can be consumed by vultures every year have to be disposed of by composting, anaerobic decomposition (e.g., burial), anaerobic digestion or rendering. Second, we assessed a scenario in which dead animals are left to decompose in the environment. Current vulture populations (∼134–140 million individuals) may reduce emissions of 3.03–60.70 Tg CO2 eq. per year, depending on the disposal method implemented, without considering carcass transport to disposal plants. Alternatively, they may reduce emissions of 13.02 Tg CO2 per year if dead animals remain in the environment. Over recent years a decline in vulture populations worldwide has led to a decrease of a 30 % in their capacity to mitigate greenhouse gases emissions. A few abundant vulture species reduce almost 98 % of the maximum emissions potentially removed worldwide by all extant vulture species over one year. This ecosystem service contributed by vultures to humans and nature cannot easily be replaced by other species, including humans. Moreover, supplanting this contribution with alternative carcass disposal methods is expensive and harmful to the environment due to emissions generated in the process. Our results highlight an important service that vultures provide worldwide, which is relevant in the current context of global warming.

Social, Environmental and Economic Externalities Related to the Implementation of Wind Energy Projects on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

This study aims to analyze the economic, social, and environmental impacts caused by the development of wind projects in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in the Southwest of Mexico and, simultaneously, to evaluate, in a synergistic way, wind energy as an effectively viable option for the Mexican energy matrix by mapping and analyzing socio-environmental and economic externalities. The development of these parks represents, in this region of the country, a successful model for reducing GHG emissions, but there are controversies such as land displacement and lack of local development, which have generated socio-environmental conflicts that remain in force today. Therefore, the methodology adopted was based on a systematic literature review, as well as on the application of semi-structured interviews conducted in field research in situ. Because of this study, it was possible to increase the compression about the following paradox: the wind farms implemented in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec contribute to mitigating GHG emissions; however, according to the results of this work, this environmental benefit did not bring any improvement in their socioeconomic vulnerabilities to local communities.

The transition of agriculture to low carbon pathways with regional distributive impacts

This study, based on agricultural sector modelling, shows how changes in food consumption and land use measures can reduce GHG emissions from Finnish agriculture, and what are the impacts on regional levels of agricultural production, land use, GHG emissions, and farm income. The results demonstrate that it is difficult to achieve a large reduction in GHG emissions from agriculture by just changing diet alone. There is a big disparity in the distribution of farm income among the main regions in Finland due to a radical decrease in the consumption of livestock products. However, land use measures alone do not create the disparity in farm income among the different regions. Combining changes in diet and land use is the most effective in mitigating GHG emissions from agriculture, but the relatively disadvantaged regions with high shares of livestock production and peatlands may experience major restructuring in agriculture and land use.