Carbon Neutrality Goals Research Articles

Advanced informatic technologies for intelligent construction: A review

Since there is a growing interest in driving the digital transformation of the construction industry, the goal of this paper is to provide a full picture and understanding of the emerging research front on intelligent construction. Through the quantitative and qualitative analysis, relevant pieces of literature are thoroughly reviewed to extract useful knowledge to raise awareness of intelligent construction, resulting in the summary of research status and the determination of future needs. In light of the research findings, the rapid development of intelligent construction follows the strategies of standardization, digitization, intellectualization, collaboration, greenization, and customization, which mainly support “4S” technologies. The popular research topics covering intelligent engineering services for the project's full lifecycle (i.e., design, construction, operation, and maintenance) and even the city level have been deeply explored, which are proven to dramatically improve project efficiency, safety, and automation. Moreover, challenges exist in three potential paths for future research, including the digital twin-enabled engineering cloud platform, man-machine-environment interaction, great sustainability under carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. As for the practical value, a synthesized point of up-to-date reference is created to guide managers to promote intelligent construction in real-world engineering.

Can issuing carbon neutral bonds promote low-carbon investment in renewable energy industry？

Guiding by the goal of carbon neutrality and carbon peaking, the importance of low-carbon finance in renewable energy industry is becoming increasingly prominent, and carbon neutral bond (CANB) is showing a strong development trend. This study explores the impact of CANB on low carbon investment (LOCI) in renewable energy industry based on the OLS method combined with the quarterly samples, and the following results are obtained. First, issuing CANB can lead to a 4.7 % increase in LOCI. Second, the higher the scale, duration, and rating of CANB, the more they can promote LOCI. Third, CANB may promote LOCI by strengthening corporate environmental responsibility and alleviating financing constraints, while CANB may reduce LOCI by increasing operational pressure. Fourth, CANB has a stronger promoting effect on the LOCI of large-scale firms, central state-owned firms, and eastern firms. Fifth, under the pressure of carbon peaking and public low-carbon attention, CANB has a higher promoting effect on LOCI. This study aims to provide policy implications for promoting low-carbon development of renewable energy firms.

Spatio-temporal distribution and peak prediction of energy consumption and carbon emissions of residential buildings in China

With the acceleration of urbanization and the improvement of people's living standards, the carbon emissions of residential buildings (BCE) in China have been increasing, hindering the achievement of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. It has become increasingly urgent and important to analyze and grasp the dynamic trends of BCE. Given the notable regional variations in carbon emissions, it is necessary to delve into the distribution characteristics of BCE and the underlying factors influencing them. First, based on the emission factor method, the energy consumption and carbon emissions calculation models are established. Next, the main influencing factors are obtained by improving Kaya's constant equation. Meanwhile, the GA-PPC-Kmeans model is established to divide BCE into different regions. Then, the STIRPAT-Ridge model is built to predict the peak carbon emissions. Finally, a combination of static and dynamic methods is used to forecast peaks under three scenarios, which are low-carbon (LC) scenario, baseline (BA) scenario, and high-carbon (HC) scenario. The results show that five pivotal factors significantly impact BCE in China, which are energy carbon emission intensity (ECEI), energy intensity (EI), economic density (ED), residential housing level (RHL) and population size(P). Furthermore, BCE is categorized into five distinct regions: low-carbon demonstration area, energy efficiency improvement area, carbon concentration and innovation area, high-carbon optimization area, and carbon poverty development area. Under BA scenario, the peaks for BCE in these regions converge primarily around 2040 and 2045. This study provides a regional research perspective for China's residential buildings to reach the peak of carbon emissions, and serves as a reference for formulating carbon emission reduction plans in different regions.

Phase classification and transient effects of the start-up process of multi-functional pump station in pump mode

In the context of achieving the goal of carbon neutrality, multi-functional pump stations (MFPS) have been greatly developed as a new energy system in recent years. The MFPS can operate in forward direction in pump mode to pump water and in turbine mode in reverse direction to generate electricity. At present, the instability of the MFPS during start-up process (SUP) in pump mode has become the key to restricting the operating life and further development of MFPS. In this paper, based on the motion characteristics of the pump and the cut-off facility (COF), the SUP of the MFPS in pump mode is clearly classified. In order to reveal the transient effect during the SUP, the steady-state full characteristic experiment (SFCE) of the pump was carried out. The occurrence phase of the transient effect during the SUP is analyzed, and the deviation between the steady-state external characteristics and the transient characteristics is revealed. In this study, the evaluation formula of the start-up completion degree (SUCD) of the MFPS in pump mode is proposed for the first time, and the evaluation and identification of the start-up progress at different phases are completed. The results show that the water flow in the system is in a reverse flow state in the Phase I. The SUCD of Phase I is 17 %. In the Phase II, The high-speed jet flow in the pump flows to the inlet of the guide vane (GV), which gradually changes the mainstream direction in the GV. A certain vortex structure can be observed at the exit of the flap gate (FG). The SUCD of Phase II is 61 %. In the Phase I and II, the dimensionless head of transient simulation is much larger than that of SFCE. In the Phase III, the flow state in the impeller will gradually stabilize. The transient effect disappears and the pressure fluctuation intensity decreases. The SUCD of Phase III is 93 %. In the Phase IV, the separation vortex that persists from Phase I-III at the tail of the GV blades disappears. The diversion capacity at the gate increases, and significant annular flow can be observed near the FG.

Thermodynamic performances of a power-to-X system based on solar concentrating photovoltaic/thermal hydrogen production

100% renewable power-to-X (fuel, power, and heat products) systems have great application potential for the achievement goal of carbon neutrality. However, the extensive chain of the power-to-X system could result in low energy utilization efficiency. A novel composite-parabolic-concentrating photovoltaic/thermal-collector-based power-to-X system utilizing 100% solar energy is proposed, which integrates proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells and proton exchange membrane fuel cells to provide heat, electricity, and hydrogen. Thermodynamic models for each subsystem are established, and energy and exergy efficiencies are assessed in the thermodynamic laws. Three operation modes are analyzed to adapt to the variations of solar radiation and a residential building is used as an application scenario to evaluate its thermodynamic and economic performances in dynamic variations of solar radiations and energy demands. The effects of key operating parameters, such as solar radiation intensity, photovoltaic coverage ratio, current density, and operating temperature, on the performances are investigated. The maximum exergy destruction of the concentrator photovoltaic/thermal collector is 93.20% at the rated operating conditions, and the system exergy and energy efficiencies are 9.11% and 48.97%, respectively. The economic results demonstrate that the levelized costs of solar power, hydrogen, and fuel cell power are 0.2936 $/kWh, 21.70 $/kg, and 2.1520 $/kWh, respectively.

Microbial production of food compounds with carbon dioxide and derived low-carbon molecules as substrates

The construction and optimization of microbial cell factories are crucial steps and key technologies in achieving green biomanufacturing. As concern has been aroused regarding the excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and food security, a new and promising research field, microbial conversion of CO2 into food compounds, has emerged. The research in this field not only holds significant implications for achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals but also plays a role in maintaining food security. This paper provides a comprehensive review and outlook of the research on utilizing CO2 and its derived low-carbon chemicals for the production of food compounds, focusing on the production of glucose, sugar derivatives, and single-cell proteins and the development of artificial CO2 fixation pathways.

Modeling the spatiotemporal dynamics of electric power consumption in China from 2000 to 2020 based on multisource remote sensing data and machine learning

China's rising electricity power consumption (EPC) is strongly correlated with carbon emissions. Timely and accurate analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of EPC is important to the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals in China. However, due to data quality problems and limitations of modeling methods, the estimation accuracy warrants further improvement. In this study, the EPC in China from 2000 to 2020 was estimated based on multisource remote sensing data using the Random Forest (RF) model. Compared with previous studies, the accuracy of this study was improved by 39%–47%. The reasons were combining multisource remote sensing data can mitigate the quality issues of nighttime light (NTL) data, and the RF can capture the nonlinear relations between remote sensing data and EPC. In addition, the spatial pattern of the average EPC in China was dominated by the low-level EPC, as well as showing an obvious increasing trend. We also found that in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and northern coastal China, the low-speed increase in EPC led to high carbon emissions and emission intensity. We suggest optimizing the fuel fix of energy and adjusting the industrial structure, combining them with scientific and rational spatial planning.

Analysis of the potential of marine bioblue carbon storage and their regional contributions in Shanghai marine areas

Shanghai's extensive coastline and offshore marine areas feature diverse ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the current status, spatial distribution, and total capacity of marine carbon storage in Shanghai. Surveys were conducted on oyster reefs, phytoplankton, and fish populations from August to November 2022, with samples collected to quantify biomass and carbon content. The carbon storage of oyster reefs, phytoplankton, and fish was found to be 2.045 × 105 tC, 5113.19 kgC, and 56.6014 tC, respectively. The spatial distributions exhibited significant heterogeneity, influenced by substrate type, nutrient concentrations, and fishing activities. The total marine carbon storage capacity in Shanghai's offshore waters was estimated at 2.045 × 105 tC, highlighting a pathway for achieving regional carbon neutrality goals. This study enriches baseline data, elucidates carbon sequestration functions and spatial patterns, and provides scientific support for marine ecological protection and blue carbon resource utilization. Future research should investigate spatiotemporal variation mechanisms and potential regulation pathways.

European ports transition to carbon-neutral energy: A multiple regression analysis

This paper focuses on sustainable initiatives in the maritime industry, specifically energy transition in EU ports. Our research aims to apply the stakeholder theory in port contexts, to examine the influence of different actors on the adoption of carbon–neutral energy generation technologies, from a port-employee perspective. To that aim, the proposed conceptual model is empirically tested through a survey among port employees, following the identification of applicable technologies via a literature review. Specifically, six types of energy generation technologies that advance the goal of carbon neutrality are identified, and likewise, following the stakeholder theory approach, we identified six categories of relevant stakeholders, perceived as external or internal. By means of a multiple regression analysis, we assess the influence of stakeholders identified regarding the carbon–neutral generation technologies. The results corroborate the suitability of the stakeholder approach for assessing port environments. The findings suggest the existence of different perceptions among port employees regarding the various technologies, while stakeholder influence can be either positive or negative depending on the type of technology. Among the stakeholders involved, customers and competitors appear as most influential. The main contribution of our results derive of tackling the differences in perception of carbon neutrality within the European Ports, and the carbon–neutral technologies in ports contributing towards carbon neutrality. By providing a more thorough understanding regarding the influence of diverse stakeholders in promoting carbon neutral energy generation technologies, this study can serve as a guideline for future research and be of value for practitioners in the field.

Comprehensive assessment of potential forestation land in China considering factors of vegetation resilience and top vegetation succession

China is currently the world’s largest carbon emitter and has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which requires significant reductions in emissions and the removal of carbon dioxide removal. Precise and efficient forestation has become a key strategy to increase carbon sequestration and mitigate the effects of climate change. In order to obtain a high-accuracy distribution area of potential forestation land, a variety of influencing factors on potential forestation land were selected in this study, including vegetation factors and environmental factors. Combining the two models “law of the minimum factors (LMF)” and “equal weight classification (EWC)” predicts the spatial distribution pattern of potential forestation land in China. And, we calculated the available forestation area in each province and predicted future forest coverage. The results showed that the potential forestation area using the LMF method reached approximately 5.65 × 105 km2, and the potential forestation area using the EMC method reached approximately 4.95 × 105 km2. Combining the two models, the final potential forestation area in China was approximately 6.29 × 105 km2, of which approximately 1.02 × 105 km2 was evaluated as a high-confidence area. If all potential forestation land obtained from the two models was successfully planted, China’s forest coverage rate would reach nearly 26 %. Two newly introduced vegetation factors, namely vegetation resilience and top vegetation succession, were considered in this study to make the prediction results of potential forestation distribution more accurate and reasonable. In addition, the results obtained in this study can provide certain assistance for the specific implementation of national forestation policies, and can provide a reference for promoting forestation actions and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.

Unravelling the Missing Link: Climate Risk, ESG Performance and Debt Capital Cost in China

The concept of sustainability has developed significantly from an unrealistic abstract ideology to a framework that can measure companies’ environment, society and corporate governance (ESG) performance. While extensive research has established some relational impacts of ESG performance on debt capital cost (DCC), this paper contends that a comprehensive review of these impacts is incomplete without screening them through the lens of climate risk (CR). Companies are subjected to CR that comprises physical and transition factors resulting from climate change. This paper aims to unravel the missing link between CR and ESG performance, and the consequent impacts on DCC. This paper illustrates using Chinese companies that operate in an emerging economy with robust industrial activities under intense global scrutiny to achieve emission reduction and meet carbon neutrality goals. Through considering CR, the impacts of ESG performance on DCC are explained using panel data and mediation effect tests with A-share listed enterprises on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2016 to 2020. The findings show that ESG performance significantly and negatively affects DCC, with debt default risk playing a mediating role. The negative effect of ESG performance on DCC is more significant in non-polluting enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises.

Carbon Emissions Dynamics and Environmental Sustainability in China’s Tourism Sector: A 22-Year Comprehensive Regional Study

China’s tourism industry has rapidly grown over the past two decades, significantly contributing to the national economy but also increasing carbon emissions. This has raised concerns about environmental sustainability, especially given China’s commitments to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This study analyzes the changes in carbon emissions, carbon carrying capacity, and the Tourism Carbon Pressure Index (TCPI) of China’s tourism industry from 2000 to 2022, aiming to support the green transition of the sector. Examining data from 31 provinces, we observed a significant growth trend in carbon emissions, with a temporary decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, followed by a rebound in 2021 and 2022. The findings reveal that carbon emissions and carrying capacity are relatively stable in the eastern regions, but more pronounced in central and western regions, particularly the west. The TCPI is higher in the east, indicating greater environmental pressure, while it is rapidly increasing in central and western regions. To achieve sustainable tourism development, we propose promoting green transportation, eco-friendly hotels, and green scenic spots, improving resource utilization efficiency, enhancing policy support and technological innovation, and adopting regional development strategies. These measures will help reduce tourism-related carbon emissions and contribute to national carbon neutrality goals. This study provides a comprehensive analysis and actionable insights to guide the sustainable transformation of China’s tourism industry.

Research on the Path of Energy Economy Transformation under the Goal of Carbon Neutrality

Research on the Path of Energy Economy Transformation under the Goal of Carbon Neutrality

Research on Carbon Emission Right Accounting Issues and Countermeasures

Against the backdrop of global climate change, China is actively promoting the construction of an ecological civilization and green and low-carbon development, and the accounting treatment of carbon emissions trading, as one of the important market mechanisms to achieve this goal, has become increasingly prominent. Although China has issued a number of accounting guidance documents on carbon emission rights trading, there are still a number of challenges and shortcomings, which limit the accuracy and comparability of accounting information and affect market participants' perception of the value of carbon emission rights. This paper firstly outlines the international accounting confirmation and measurement methods for carbon emission rights allowances, and comparatively analyzes China's current relevant regulations, pointing out the controversial points and deficiencies therein. In response to the above problems, this paper puts forward specific suggestions for improvement in the expectation that, to help the development of China's carbon emission right trading accounting system, to improve the quality of China's carbon emission right trading accounting system, to promote the healthy development of the entire carbon market, and to provide a solid accounting foundation for the realization of China's carbon neutrality goal.

Research progress on the impact of Suaeda salsa on carbon cycling in coastal wetland ecosystems

With the deepening global warming crisis, studying the potential carbon sequestration capacity of coastal ecosystems is of significant importance for achieving carbon neutrality goals. This paper employs a literature review method to summarize recent relevant literature on the involvement of Suaeda salsa in carbon cycling, as well as the impacts of climate warming and human activities on its growth and carbon sequestration capacity. The research finds that Suaeda salsa exhibits good carbon sequestration capabilities, with climate warming and increased salinity promoting its growth, while the impact of different growth stages on carbon sequestration is minimal, making it superior to other halophytes. However, human activities have led to the widespread loss of Suaeda salsa. In the future, Suaeda salsa may become the dominant vegetation in some coastal wetland areas and play a significant role in carbon fixation and salinization improvement.

No pain, no gain? Simulation of carbon reduction potential and socioeconomic effects of voluntary carbon trading in China during 2021–2060

Voluntary carbon market has become a key mechanism of stimulating carbon emission mitigation actions globally. In this study, we calculate the emission reduction potential of Carbon Generalized System of Preferences (CGSP), a dominated voluntary carbon trading mechanism in China, including on-going projects of forestry carbon sinks, waste clothes reuse, installation of distributed photovoltaic power generation system, and usage of energy-conserving devices, as well as other extended methods for their future mitigation potentials. We employ a computable general equilibrium model to delve into the effects of CGSP mechanism on carbon price, economic growth and household consumption, assessing its impact on the equitability of social welfares between urban and rural residents during 2021–2060. Our results indicate that employing the current methods for CGSP would lead to around 5.0 Mt CO2 reduction annually. since 2018, whereas adopting the extended methods would yield reductions of 157.1 Mt. Promoting forestry carbon sinks and energy-conserving appliances offers the most prominent emission reduction, while low-carbon travel shows the biggest potential going forward. CGSP will loosen carbon constraints on industries in the market and result in a lower carbon price, reducing the economic cost of carbon trading without compromising China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Supplementing CGSP could reduce the GDP loss by up to 0.2 trillion Yuan by 2030 and 0.9 trillion Yuan by 2060, compared to the sole operation of compliance carbon trading market. Provided fiscal stimulus policies, CGSP will further reduce GDP loss by 1.1 trillion Yuan in 2060. Different fiscal stimulus scenarios have a strong implication on welfares of urban and rural residents, wherein monetary equivalent incentive will reduce urban-rural income gap by up to 718 Yuan/capita in 2060.

Mechanistic study of transition metal loaded/doped Ni − MgO catalyzed dry reforming of methane: DFT calculations

In the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, dry reforming of methane (DRM) offers both environmental and economic benefits and holds great promise for development. In this work, based on Ni loaded MgO, two structural models constructed by transition metal loading (TM+Ni − MgO, TM=Fe, Zr, Mo) and doping (Ni − TM/MgO) were used for DRM by density functional theory (DFT). And the adsorption of CO2 and CH4 on these structures was analyzed. The partial density of states (PDOS) and charge density difference (CDD) indicate that due to the presence of unfilled electron d − orbitals in the TM atoms, electron transfer occurs between them and the p − orbitals of the C and O atoms. It facilitates the interactions and enhances the adsorption between CO2 and MgO. On this basis, the DRM reactions on Fe and Ni loaded MgO (FeNi − MgO) and Ni − loaded, Fe − doped MgO (Ni − Fe/MgO) were screened for focused research. It was revealed that the addition of Fe lowered the energy barrier values for some of the elementary reaction steps, allowing the reaction to proceed more easily. And Ni − Fe/MgO showed greater advantages by possessing more stable energy barrier fluctuation intervals (ER1 − ER3) and the smallest CO2 dissociation energy barrier.

Role of multiple energy sources under carbon neturality goals, income and energy consumption in transition economies: A joint case study between China and Uzbekistan

This study critically reviews policies addressing the role of multiple energy sources in achieving carbon neutrality goals, with a focus on income and energy consumption in transition economies, specifically China and Uzbekistan. As both nations undergo significant economic transitions, their energy consumption patterns are evolving in response to modernization and policy changes. Utilizing data from 2012 to 2022, this study examines the consumption of various energy sources, including coal, wood, electricity, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), within the context of these countries' carbon neutrality objectives. Our findings reveal that income levels significantly influence energy consumption behaviors, with low- and high-income households in both China and Uzbekistan exhibiting distinct preferences for energy sources. The study integrates social survey data, economic variables, and policy analysis to explore how energy consumption is shaped by income disparities, fluctuating prices, and environmental goals. By drawing on historical contexts and previous scholarly works, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between income, energy use, and policy in transition economies. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to develop sustainable energy strategies that align with carbon neutrality goals while addressing the unique challenges of income disparity and energy consumption in China and Uzbekistan.

Small reservoirs can enhance the terrestrial carbon sink of controlled basins in karst areas worldwide

The concentration of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) in the atmosphere has sharply increased since the Industrial Revolution, leading to climate warming and severe environmental problems. It has become a consensus that GHG emissions of large reservoirs essentially constitute inland aquatic GHG emissions. However, questions remain regarding whether small karst reservoir (SKR) is only a substantial source of GHG emissions like large reservoirs, and how much GHG emission it can offset by affecting the terrestrial carbon sink (TCS) of its controlled basin. We selected two basins in the karst area of southwestern China, with built and planned SKRs, and quantitatively analysed the impact of the SKR on basin-scale water and carbon cycles during 2000–2020 using multi-source remote sensing data and the Google Earth Engine. Results showed that the associated increase in the TCS in the SKR-controlled basin can completely offset the GHG emissions and TCS losses caused by submerged land, resulting in a 21.48 % faster increase rate of TCS and a 12.20 % greater increase in TCS caused by human activities than in non-karst reservoir basin. Meanwhile, by intercepting both surface and groundwater runoff, the SKR-controlled basin showed a 329.55 % faster increase rate of available surface water resources than the non-karst reservoir basin, alleviating the problem of engineering water shortages and enhancing the drought resistance capacity. Moreover, in the three major karst areas worldwide, and especially in southwestern China, faster vegetation restoration and TCS increase exist in most SKR-controlled basins, and this increase is enhanced with increasing proximity to the water surface. This study revealed that SKR is more than a substantial source of GHG emissions; it can also effectively enhance the TCS and available surface water resources in controlled basin, which is of great significance for achieving carbon neutrality goals while maintaining the sustainability of water and carbon cycle in karst areas.

Research on Improving the Accuracy of SIF Data in Estimating Gross Primary Productivity in Arid Regions

Coupling solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) with gross primary productivity (GPP) for ecological function integration research presents numerous uncertainties, especially in ecologically fragile and climate-sensitive arid regions. Therefore, evaluating the suitability of SIF data for estimating GPP and the feasibility of improving its accuracy in the northern region of Xinjiang is of profound significance for revealing the spatial distribution patterns of GPP and the strong coupling relationship between GPP and SIF in arid regions, achieving the goal of “carbon neutrality” in arid regions. This study is based on multisource SIF satellite data and GPP observation data from sites in three typical ecosystems (cultivated and farmlands, pasture grasslands, and desert vegetation). Two precision improvement methods (canopy and linear) are used to couple multiple indicators to determine the suitability of multisource SIF data for GPP estimation and the operability of accuracy improvement methods in arid regions reveal the spatial characteristics of SIF (GPP). The results indicate the following. (1) The interannual variation of GPP shows an inverted “U” shape, with peaks values in June and July. The cultivated and farmland areas have the highest peak value among the sites (0.35 gC/m2/month). (2) The overall suitability ranking of multisource SIF satellite products for GPP estimation in arid regions is RTSIF > CSIF > SIF_OCO2_005 > GOSIF. RTSIF shows better suitability in the pasture grassland and cultivated and farmland areas (R2 values of 0.85 and 0.84, respectively). (3) The canopy method is suitable for areas with a high leaf area proportion (R2 improvement range: 0.05–0.06), while the linear method is applicable across different surface types (R2 improvement range: 0.01–0.13). However, the improvement effect of the linear method is relatively weaker in areas with high vegetation cover. (4) Combining land use data, the overall improvement of SIF (GPP) is approximately 0.11%, and the peak values of its are mainly distributed in the northern and southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, while the low values are primarily found in the Gurbantunggut Desert. The annual mean value of SIF (GPP) is about 0.13 mW/m2/nm/sr. This paper elucidates the applicability of SIF for GPP estimation and the feasibility of improving its accuracy, laying the theoretical foundation for the spatiotemporal coupling study of GPP and SIF in an arid region, and providing practical evidence for achieving carbon neutrality goals.