Low-carbon Industry Research Articles

Index System of Low-carbon Driving Factors of Construction Industry in Hebei Province

Under the background of "double carbon" goal, the low-carbon development of construction industry in Hebei Province has become an important part of achieving the carbon peak in 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060. The construction industry is one of the main sources of carbon emission in Hebei Province, and how to promote its low-carbon development is an urgent issue to be solved. Based on the five aspects of technology, energy, society, economy and industry, this paper constructs the low-carbon driving factor index system of the construction industry. The research shows that technological innovation, energy structure optimization and economic structure adjustment are the key factors to promote the low-carbon construction industry. In addition, by analyzing the current situation and future trend of carbon emissions of the construction industry, this paper puts forward corresponding policy suggestions, which provides theoretical support for the government to formulate countermeasures for the low-carbon development of the construction industry. The conclusion points out that the research and development and application of low-carbon technology, the optimization of energy structure and the green transformation of industrial structure will be the core path to realize the low-carbon development of the construction industry.

Energy Transition in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Regional Solutions for Climate Change Challenges Amid Economic Sanctions

As the world grapples with the urgent priority of transitioning to a net-zero future, there exists a shared need to make all efforts to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, mostly caused by burning fossil fuels. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region plays an important role because of its oil and natural gas output. Additionally, this region has experienced significant conflict and numerous wars. This article will focus on one of the many challenges that some key states in the MENA region, with a main focus on Iran, are facing in their energy transition. Several countries in the MENA region are or have recently been subject to some form of economic sanctions. Sanctions appear to have had a material impact on these countries’ abilities to fulfill their contributions to transitioning to a net-zero economy. Research suggests that the chief obstacles they face regarding that transition is the lack of access to the latest technologies, a dearth of financing, limited or often no direct investments in low carbon industry, diplomatic isolation, and the concomitant economic volatility caused by sanctions, which in sum, take away from the financial capacity of a target country to save and invest for the transition to net zero. Therefore, it is crucial to revisit sanctions laws and policies, ensuring that they do not hinder the global community from achieving its climate goals. This article proposes establishing a regional ‘climate savings account’ to serve as a strategic mechanism to balance geopolitical interests and environmental goals.

From industrial territory to sustainable or “green” industrial district? The case of an industrial district’s evolution in Normandy

PurposeThrough participant observation, this paper aims to show how the existing ecosystem has helped to attract new companies that are integrating and enriching this ecosystem, while helping to decarbonize the region’s industry.Design/methodology/approachIn France, industrial and carbon-intensive regions are currently facing the challenges of environmental, energy and digital transition. Against a backdrop of reindustrialization, and to meet the objectives set by the French climate and resilience law, these regions are seeking both to support the existing ecosystem in meeting these new challenges and to diversify their economic fabric by welcoming greener industries.FindingsIn Normandy, in the Caux Seine agglo area, new projects linked to bioplastics have led the region to reflect on the creation and structuring of a greener industrial district bringing together manufacturers, a research cluster and a training center.Originality/valueThe authors are studying an industrial region in Normandy that is considered to be a pilot area, experimenting with new directions in terms of low-carbon industry. Based on the petrochemical industry, this little-studied area wants the industrial zone to become a genuine green energy hub. Strong political will and substantial private and public investment have enabled the emergence of a new green chemistry industry.

Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Industrial Carbon Emissions in the Yellow River Basin

Scientific assessment of industrial carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin and identification of its influencing factors are of great importance for promoting green transformation, ecological protection, and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Considering nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin as the research objects； using relevant data on industrial development and energy consumption in the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2019； and with the help of IPCC carbon emission measurement, spatial autocorrelation, and LMDI decomposition, the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of carbon emissions from industries and industrial sectors in the Yellow River Basin were analyzed. Reasonable suggestions were put forward for reducing the carbon emissions from industries in the Yellow River Basin. The results showed that： ① From 2000 to 2019, industrial carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin showed a fluctuating growth trend, with a decreasing growth rate. The spatial pattern changed from "low in the upstream and high in the middle and downstream" to "high and low value distribution," and the spatial difference gradually expanded. ② The high carbon industry was the most important source of industrial carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin, accounting for 96.35% of the carbon emissions between the industries with a continuous growth trend, which was a significant difference. The middle and low carbon industry carbon emissions and the total proportion was low, showing different fluctuations； nine provinces and nine industrial industries had significant spatial variability. ③ Energy structure intensity, economic scale, and population scale promoted the increase in industrial carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin and energy consumption intensity had an inhibitory effect on the increase in carbon emissions. The economic scale effect was positive and significant, which offset the negative effect of energy consumption intensity. Spatial variability was observed in the contribution value of the influence effect of the factors affecting the carbon emissions of the industry in nine provinces.

Driving Paths and Evolution Trends of Urban Low-Carbon Transformation: Configuration Analysis Based on Three Batches of Low-Carbon Pilot Cities

In response to global climate challenges, urban low-carbon transformation has become a critical strategy for sustainable development. This study constructs a theoretical model for urban low-carbon transformation using the multi-level perspective framework. We focused on three batches of low-carbon pilot cities in China and employed fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to investigate the transformation pathways and impact mechanisms during the periods 2010–2012, 2012–2017, and 2017–2019. The results indicate that none of the six antecedent conditions is necessary for urban low-carbon transformation. Initially, the transformation is primarily driven by a pathway led by low-carbon industries. In the mid-stage, two pathways emerge: one dominated by the combination of low-carbon industries and research and development (R&D) human capital and another led by low-carbon consumption awareness and economic development levels. In the later stage, the influencing factors involve a combination across micro, meso, and macro levels, reflecting an increasingly diversified and intricate configuration. The regional industrial structure consistently plays a dominant role, while awareness of low-carbon consumption has grown over time. This study not only enhances our understanding of the underlying mechanisms but also provides practical policy recommendations for local governments to tailor their strategies for effective low-carbon transformation.

Development of green manufacturing implementation framework based on life-cycle assessment

Climate change stabilization at 1.5 to 2 °C requires a shift in paradigm of industries to transition to low carbon industries. The way forward to decarbonize industries is green manufacturing, as the environmental facet of manufacturing has often been compromised for the sake of economic gains. In order to implicate green manufacturing, it is incumbent upon manufacturing facilities to introduce such measures which ensure that carbon footprint and environmentally detrimental emissions are minimized. In this context, Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) is an excellent tool to record, analyze and critically review the environmental impact of a process. In order to investigate the environmental hotspots, the authors have performed LCA of an auto-parts manufacturing industry in Pakistan by using a unique gate-to-gate approach. ReCiPe Midpoint impact assessment method was utilized to investigate the effects of manufacturing and transportation related emissions of the monthly produce on climate change, fossil depletion, ionizing radiation and human toxicity. Furthermore, the authors discuss three scenarios, which include current state, optimized future state and an energy mix involving hydropower and photovoltaic generation. The results helped in developing a comprehensive framework for green manufacturing which suggests that the prerequisite of a green manufacturing process is an optimized process flow, which significantly reduces the environmental emissions up to 24%. Moreover, the use of photovoltaic cells results in 54% reduction, thus indicating that conventional hydropower systems in developing countries should be mixed with solar power to reduce the environmental burden. A detailed green manufacturing framework based on LCA is proposed by the authors to enhance the functionality and to improvise the carbon burden of the manufacturing sector of Pakistan.

Highly Selective Recovery of Gold by In Situ Magnetic Field-Assisted Fe/Co-MOF@PDA/NdFeB Double Network Gel.

There are enormous economic benefits to conveniently increasing the selective recovery capacity of gold. Fe/Co-MOF@PDA/NdFeB double-network organogel (Fe/Co-MOF@PDA NH) is synthesized by aggregation assembly strategy. The package of PDA provides a large number of nitrogen-containing functional groups that can serve as adsorption sites for gold ions, resulting in a 21.8% increase in the ability of the material to recover gold. Fe/Co-MOF@PDA NH possesses high gold recovery capacity (1478.87mg g-1) and excellent gold selectivity (Kd = 5.71mL g-1). With the assistance of an in situ magnetic field, the gold recovery capacity of Fe/Co-MOF@PDA NH is increased from 1217.93 to 1478.87mg g-1, and the recovery rate increased by 24.7%. The above excellent performance is attributed to the efficient reduction of gold by FDC/FC+, Co2+/Co3+ double reducing couple, and the optimization of the reduction reaction by the magnetic field. After the samples are calcined, high-purity gold (95.6%, 22K gold) is recovered by magnetic separation. This study proposes a forward-looking in situ energy field-assisted strategy to enhance precious metal recovery, which has a guiding role in the development of low-carbon industries.

Research on the Impact of BYD Group’s Green Innovation on Corporate Financial Performance under the Background of “Dual Carbon”

With the increasingly severe global climate change problem, the “dual carbon” goals (peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality) have become a common focus of international attention. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly emphasizes the need to accelerate the green transformation of development models, implement comprehensive strategies for frugal development, support the growth of green and low-carbon industries, and promote the concept of green consumption. At the same time, “Made in China 2025” also elaborates on the strategic concept of innovation-driven and green development centered, and strives for breakthroughs in key industries such as new energy vehicles. In such a macro environment, adopting green innovation measures by enterprises not only contributes to ecological protection but also has an undeniable impact on their economic performance and overall value. This article takes BYD Group as a case study to explore in detail the positive effects of green innovation on its economic performance. We first systematically organized and analyzed BYD’s specific practices in green innovation; Then, by examining three key financial indicators, BYD’s current financial situation was analyzed in depth; On this basis, combined with research data, the positive impact of green innovation on BYD’s financial performance was revealed; Finally, based on the analysis results, relevant suggestions are proposed to provide reference for the sustainable development of enterprises in the context of “dual carbon.”

Research on the Mechanisms by Which Green Finance Policies Promote Low-Carbon Economic Development

This paper explores the mechanisms by which green finance policies promote low-carbon economic development, analyzing their implementation effects and challenges in China, and proposing corresponding policy recommendations. Green finance, defined as financial activities supporting environmental protection and sustainable development, aims to direct funds towards environmentally friendly and low-carbon projects. It includes green credit, green bonds, green investment funds, and green insurance, and involves providing preferential loans, issuing green bonds, establishing investment funds, and developing insurance products to support green projects and reduce environmental risks. Additional policies such as green incentives, environmental information disclosure, green ratings, and international cooperation further enhance the effectiveness of green finance. The mechanisms by which green finance policies promote low-carbon development include guiding funds to low-carbon industries, optimizing resource allocation, promoting technological innovation, supporting industrial structure transformation, enhancing market competitiveness, and promoting socially responsible investment. Despite significant progress, challenges such as insufficient supply of green finance resources, regional disparities in policy implementation, limited innovation in green finance products, and imperfect information disclosure and regulatory systems remain. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to increase policy support, improve information disclosure and regulatory systems, promote product innovation, strengthen regional coordinated development, and enhance international cooperation.

Regional coordinated development of low-carbon sports industry in China

This study develops a systematic modeling framework, comprising a prediction model, a super-SBM model, and a spatial autocorrelation analysis model, to explore the spatial–temporal evolution tendencies of development efficiency within China's 30 regions in the low-carbon sports industry from 2006 to 2025. This framework aims to provide theoretical insights for the formulation of more targeted policies. Based on the empirical findings, the main conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) The optimal buffer operator grey prediction model demonstrates the highest accuracy among the prediction models examined. (2) The development efficiency curves of the 30 regions exhibit a significant increasing trend from 2006 to 2021, with values generally peaking between 0.4 and 0.6. (3) Notably, the disparity in development efficiency between developed and less developed regions is expected to progressively widen. (4) The development efficiency of the low-carbon sports industry across the 30 regions typically displays high-high clustering and low-low clustering during China's four five-year plan periods. This underscores the importance and urgency of promoting regional coordinated development within the low-carbon sports industry.

Exploring the Impact of Financial Development on Water–Energy Efficiency in Western China

The western region of China is a fundamental ecological protection barrier for China. The conflict between regional economic development and ecological environmental protection has always existed in the region. This study first evaluated the water–energy efficiency (WEE) of 11 provinces in western China from 2011 to 2019 using the super-slacks-based model with undesirable outputs and analyzed their spatiotemporal characteristics. It then investigated the influence of financial development level on WEE. The results indicate that (a) the WEE in Western China was at a relatively low level, showing an upward trend from 2011 to 2016 and fluctuating after 2016; (b) financial development levels had U-shaped impacts on the WEE of Western China, which reduced at first and then rose; (c) increasing technological innovation capabilities and trade openness had positive impacts on WEE in Western China, while urbanization level had a negative effect on WEE; and (d) an examination of robustness using two different methods showed that the test results are consistent with the above conclusions. Therefore, this study has robustness. We also put forward corresponding policy suggestions, such as increasing financial support for clean and low-carbon industries, increasing input in science and technology, vigorously developing cleaner and environmentally friendly foreign trade, and implementing a new type of urbanization strategy, to promote the WEE of Western China.

Do government resource management policies influence green productivity? New perspectives from fintech and digital resource policy in China

Achieving sustainable development necessitates the exploration of innovative approaches towards low-carbon development and efficient resource management. By adopting the low-carbon city pilot project as a policy shock of Government Resource Management Policies (GRMP), we aim to scrutinize the nuanced impacts of GRMP on green productivity (GTFP). Using the difference-in-difference (DID) approach and panel data from 280 cities in China. Our findings reveal a significant relationship between GRMP and GTFP. In the immediate short-term, GRMP exhibits a negative effect on GTFP growth, followed by a long-term positive promoting effect. A detailed temporal analysis uncovers an “inverted N″ time-period effect of GRMP on GTFP growth. Further exploration into the mechanisms driving this influence reveals three key aspects: the reduction of natural resources consumption and the promotion of low-carbon production (LCP), low-carbon transportation (LCT), and low-carbon industries (LCI). While the regulated effect of financial technology resources on the relationship between GRMP and GTFP is positive but statistically insignificant, the regulated effect of digital resource policy emerges as positive and significant. Additionally, the regulated effect of mineral and forest resource coverage rate is positive but not statistically significant in the context of the influence of GRMP on GTFP. This comprehensive analysis contributes to our understanding of the dynamic interplay between policy interventions, resource management, and sustainable development in the Chinese urban landscape.

Revealing Greenhouse Gas Emission and Nitrogen Fertilizer Destination: A Case Study in Chengdu Plain Cultivation Industry

The cultivation industry occupies a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Assessing greenhouse gas emissions from the cultivation industry is pivotal for mitigating emissions and promoting sustainable cultivation. Utilizing greenhouse gas emission calculation methods recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other methods, this work evaluated annual emissions and the emission structure of major crops from 2005 to 2021 in the Chengdu Plain, a significant agricultural region in Southwest China. We identified nitrogen fertilizer as the primary contributing factor to high emissions from cultivation production. Subsequently, we analyzed the trend and utilization of nitrogen fertilizer, which proposes essential strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The results showed that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the cultivation industry in the Chengdu Plain exhibited a growth, fluctuation, and eventual decline trend from 2005 to 2021. The emissions increased from 5,148,900 t in 2005 to 6,289,700 t in 2009, representing a 22.16% increase, and subsequently decreased to 5,109,900 t in 2021, marking a 23.31% decrease. Nitrogen fertilizer application emerges as the primary source of GHG emissions, constituting approximately half of the total, with nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing contributing significantly as well, collectively amounting to about 70%. We also found that the proportion of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to cash crop cultivation has gradually increased over the last decade. Among these crops, vegetables exhibit the highest emissions, comprising nearly half of the total emissions from 2019 onwards. However, the nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency of cash crops is less than 30%, with higher nitrogen surplus, ammonia volatilization, and nitrogen leaching per unit area, and the total amount is higher than that of grain crops. Among cash crops, vegetables exhibit the highest amount of nitrogen surplus, ammonia volatilization, and nitrogen leaching, constituting nearly half of the total amount in the study area since 2019. Our findings significantly affect sustainable and low-carbon cultivation industry development in the study area.

Structural change and socio-economic disparities in a net zero transition

A net zero transition is likely to generate substantial and irreversible economic transformation. High-carbon industries and their related occupations will disappear, while new low-carbon industries and occupations will be created. In the aggregate, the impact of the transition on GDP and employment is commonly projected to be relatively moderate. However, such estimates hide drastic distributional issues that are sectorally and regionally concentrated. We use three sectorally detailed and regionally disaggregated macroeconomic models to explore the possible levels and impacts of structural change in a well below 2°C scenario. In addition to the expected decline in the carbon-intensive industries, we observe secondary impacts, particularly in the services sectors, that vary significantly between models. The risks entailed with structural change involve worsening economic disparity and societal division that could exacerbate existing socioeconomic and political polarisation. Impact assessments of decarbonisation should consider such distributional issues to avoid post-industrial decline and widening socioeconomic inequalities.

Domestic renewable energy industries and national decarbonization policy

Does the growth of renewable energy industries catalyze national decarbonization policy? The idea that stronger domestic renewable energy industries increase the political feasibility of stringent energy and climate policies aiming to phase out fossil fuels has been championed by proponents of policy sequencing and underpins the global pivot to green industrial policy. Yet, the conditions necessary for such an effect to materialize have not been fully spelled out and its empirical veracity not been systematically scrutinized. This paper contends that the willingness and ability of renewable energy industries to influence policy should be weaker for fossil fuel phaseout policies compared to green industrial policies because of more diffuse material interests, less access to policymaking, and stronger countermobilization. The first large-scale investigation of this relation using extensive time-series cross-sectional data provides no evidence of a systematic positive effect of renewable energy industry strength on carbon pricing or fossil fuel subsidy phaseouts. These findings challenge the widespread argument that the emergence of domestic low-carbon industries translates into more ambitious decarbonization policy. Scholars and policymakers should scrutinize the mechanisms and scope conditions underlying this assumed relationship.

Assessment and Driving Factors of Embodied Carbon Emissions in the Construction Sector: Evidence from 2005 to 2021 in Northeast China

Reducing embodied carbon emissions in the construction sector is pivotal for achieving sustainable development goals, mainly those related to health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action. Hence, it is crucial to delve into the trends and influencing factors of construction-embodied carbon, especially in countries like China, where extensive construction projects are underway. Previous studies have investigated carbon emissions at both national and regional levels, whereas research specific to the construction sector in Northeast China remains limited. This study assessed the embodied carbon of the construction sector in Northeast China from 2005 to 2021. The results indicated that embodied carbon initially rose before declining, peaking at 278.9 MtCO2e in 2012. Based on the Logistic Mean Divided Index (LMDI) approach, the variations in embodied carbon were decomposed into seven driving factors, including emission source structure, embodied carbon intensity, construction mechanization, machinery requirement, industrial structure, economic development, and population scale. While construction mechanization and economic development were identified as primary drivers of the changes in embodied carbon, carbon emission intensity and population scale exerted inhibiting effects on the rise. Moreover, potential strategies for mitigating construction-embodied carbon in Northeast China were delineated, underscoring the regionality across different provinces. The results and suggestions can help foster a low-carbon construction industry from a provincial perspective.

In-depth analysis of macro-properties and micro-mechanism of eco-friendly geopolymer based on typical circulating fluidized bed fly ash

Geopolymer is an eco-friendly building material that significantly reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The increase in circulating fluidized bed fly ash (CFBFA) production presents an opportunity to use CFBFA in geopolymer synthesis, mitigating environmental hazards and promoting a sustainable, low-carbon cement industry. However, the complex transformation of amorphous aluminosilicates in CFBFA into geopolymer gels and the impact of calcium (Ca) composition on the macro-properties and micro-mechanism of geopolymers are not well understood, hindering large-scale utilization of the CFBFA-based geopolymer. In this study, low-Ca CFBFA (LCFA) and high-Ca CFBFA (HCFA) were used as precursors, with NaOH as the activator. The workability, mechanical properties, and microstructure evolution of the geopolymer samples were systematically compared. The LCFA-based geopolymer slurry exhibited ideal workability. The high Ca content in HCFA increased the water demand of the slurry, thereby reducing its workability. Compared to LCFA-based geopolymer samples, although Ca-containing components in HCFA accelerated the geopolymerization processes, some gels transformed into irregular crystalline phases during the later stages of curing, compromising the dense structure and slowing the development of mechanical properties. The evolution of the Si–Al coordination structure showed that LCFA-based geopolymers favored the development of Si-rich gels (Q4(1Al) and Q4(2Al)), whereas HCFA-based geopolymers exhibited a preference for Al-rich gels (Q4(3Al) and Q4(4Al)). The results of this research can provide valuable insights for the synthesis of CFBFA-based geopolymers.

Research Status of China's Digital Economy in the Context of Achieving China's Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Goals

This paper studies the positive or negative impacts of the development of digital economy on China under the policy background of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. First of all, it predicts the future under the rapid development of digital economy based on different literature materials. The increasing demand for calculation, storage and flow data of communication technology as well as the fixed network iteration are influential factors to make an analysis of the overall increase in carbon emissions, and then update measures taken by different enterprises under this policy, such as high-carbon enterprises to develop more clean energy and improve smart grid systems. Low-carbon industries pay more attention to the greening of the entire production line and the digital tracking of products after sale in order to achieve a more effective circular economy. The highlight of this paper lies in the lack of literature on the integration of emission reduction measures for enterprises of different modes based on the increase of carbon emissions brought by the future digital economy, and gives relevant examples.

Binary solid wastes derived clinker: Raw feed system design validation and thermodynamic simulation investigation

Solid waste derived clinker design methodology was established based on thermodynamic simulation and experiment validation via the recycling of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) and recycled concrete fine (RCF). Compared with 1000 °C and 1100 °C, 1200 °C was the optimum temperature for C2S-rich clinker synthesis due to the highest simulated belite content after sintering. A utilization rate of 95 % was achieved, accomplishing the maximization of solid waste recycling. Due to the CaCO3 phase formation by the reaction of high-content belite (46.8 %) with CO2, carbonated 1200ARS eco-cement showed higher compressive strength than OPC and other eco-cements. The lowest porosity (18.1 %) with dense microstructure was also obtained by carbonated 1200ARS. Benefiting from the high CO2 reactivity of belite, 1200ARS displayed the optimum CO2 sequestration capacity with a higher carbonation degree (30.1 %) than other batches, providing a promising direction for future development of the low-carbon cement industry to achieve environmental sustainability.

Can the China–Europe Railway Express reduce carbon dioxide emissions? New mechanism of the manufacturing industry substitution effect

The China–Europe Railway Express (CRE) has attracted and fostered low-carbon, export-oriented manufacturing industry sectors; thus, it could reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the manufacturing industry substitution effect. To verify this new mechanism, this study focuses on a specific case, namely, Chongqing’s electronic and telecommunications equipment (ETE) manufacturing industry, as this sector is a low-carbon industry promoted by the CRE. This study proposes a novel detour estimation strategy for causal identification of the environmental externality of the CRE on carbon dioxide emissions. The results show that the CRE could contribute to an increase of 567.06 billion yuan in ETE exports from Chongqing to Europe and a consequent reduction of 17.10 million tons of carbon dioxide between 2011 and 2021. This study provides new insights into the environmental externality of the CRE and the mechanism of the manufacturing industry substitution effect, contributing to the understanding of the relationship between transportation and carbon dioxide emissions.