Low-carbon Transformation Research Articles

Projection-driven optimization framework for risk assessment of “dual carbon” audit in power grid enterprises with q-rung orthopair fuzzy MAGDM

Power grid enterprises are the backbone of promoting clean and low-carbon energy transformation, playing an important role in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. It is very necessary to audit the implementation of the “dual carbon” work of power grid enterprises, in order to better implement the national “dual carbon” policy and serve the development of the national economy. The risk assessment of “dual carbon” audit in power grid enterprises is multiple-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM). In this study, in light with projection measure technique and bidirectional projection measure technique, four forms of projection measure technique with q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets (q-ROFSs) are conducted. Then, two weighed projection techniques are conducted to manage the MAGDM. Finally, a numerical example for risk assessment of “dual carbon” audit in power grid enterprises and comparative analysis is utilized to verify the developed techniques. The major contribution of this research is constructed: (1) entropy technique is implemented to determine the weight values in line with score number (SN) and accuracy number (AN); (2) two weighed projection techniques are implemented to put forward MAGDM with q-ROFSs; (3) the numerical example for risk assessment of “dual carbon” audit in power grid enterprises is implemented to show the two weighed projection techniques under q-ROFSs; and (4) comparative studies are constructed with existing techniques.

Does Green Entrepreneurial Orientation Improve the Sustainable Performance of Agribusiness? Evidence from China

Agribusinesses play an important role in the process of green and low-carbon transformation of China’s economy. It is extremely necessary to explore how to promote green entrepreneurship in agribusiness to promote a win-win situation for the environmental and economic and social performance to achieve the sustainable development goals of agribusinesses. Based on intellectual capital theory and natural resource-based theory, this study introduces green intellectual capital (GIC) and sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) as chain mediators to build a theoretical model for exploring the impact mechanism of green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) on sustainable performance (SP) of agribusinesses. Through the empirical analysis of 621 agribusinesses’ research data, the results show that (1) GEO has a positive impact on SP of agribusinesses; (2) GIC and SBMI are important transmission factors for the transformation of green entrepreneurial orientation into the sustainable performance of enterprises, and play a mediating role in the relationship between GEO and SP of agribusinesses; and (3) GEO promotes SBMI through the accumulation of GCI, which in turn enhances SP of agribusiness. This study not only enriches the theoretical scope of green entrepreneurship research in terms of subdimensions, but also provides theoretical references and practical guidance for agribusinesses to improve their sustainable performance.

Unveiling the impact of industrial robots on consumption-based embodied carbon intensity: A global perspective

With the widespread application of industrial robots, exploring the patterns of consumption-based embodied carbon intensity is crucial for understanding the fairness of carbon emissions responsibility and supporting global sustainability efforts. Employing the dynamic panel Generalized Method of Moments estimation methodology to a dataset including 52 countries, this paper evaluates the influence of the applications of industrial robot on the consumption-based embodied carbon intensity and its corresponding mechanisms. The main findings reveal that: (i) the application of industrial robots significantly reduces consumption-based embodied carbon intensity. The result remains robust after undergoing a series of robustness checks. (ii) In countries with greater advantages in environmental technology and a higher abundance of natural resources, the application of industrial robots results in more noticeable environmental benefits. (iii) While the impact of industrial robots on consumption is complex, their implementation boosts human capital and reduces income inequality, thereby lowering carbon intensity. The findings highlight the importance of human capital and reduced inequality in promoting eco-friendly consumption behaviors. Furthermore, the adoption of industrial robots has driven green innovation, enhancing environmental quality from the supply side. The findings provide policy implications for fostering global low-carbon transformation using industrial intelligence approaches.

Research on the path of low-carbon construction of multimodal logistics parks under the background of “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality”

Abstract The construction of intermodal logistics parks in China is developing rapidly, but most of them are in the bad mode of high energy consumption. While polluting the environment, it also affects the cost reduction and efficiency of the whole logistics industry, which is not conducive to the healthy development of the logistics industry. Therefore, under the goals of “carbon peak” and “carbon neutral”, the planning of multimodal logistics parks must seek the development path of low-carbon transformation. This is not only a responsibility, but also a necessary path for the healthy and sustainable development of the logistics industry in the future, which has far-reaching strategic significance. Therefore, based on this background, the paper describes the opportunities and challenges of low-carbon construction of China’s multimodal logistics parks. According to the above analysis, combined with the relevant policies, it puts forward the low-carbon construction path of multimodal logistics parks. It is intended to provide support for the promotion of low-carbon construction of multimodal logistics parks and help the practice of the “carbon peak” and “carbon neutral” strategic goals in practice.

The Effect of Financial Development on Industrial Green Technology Innovation Efficiency: Experience Analysis from 288 Cities in China

Green industrial growth is at the core of the green and low-carbon transformation of the real economy. Financial services provide new channels for green innovation financing for enterprises. How to utilize financial development to enhance the industrial green technology innovation efficiency (GTIE) is the focus of this paper. Using data from 288 cities in China, this paper employs the Super-SBM model and the Network DEA model to measure the industrial GTIE and then investigates the complex relationship between financial development and industrial GTIE. The results show that, overall, financial development can promote the industrial GTIE. And alleviating enterprise financial constraints and increasing investment openness are effective pathways for this influence. In addition, we discuss the heterogeneous effects of financial development on industrial GTIE across different types of cities, manifested as a dual effect of “supporting” and “predation”. In regions with stronger financial power such as coastal and eastern cities, the “predation effect” is stronger, while the “support effect” is stronger in inland and central/western cities. Furthermore, the expansion of city size weakens the impact of financial development on industrial GTIE. This paper points out that financial development plays a crucial role in enhancing the industrial GTIE, but excessive financial power may crowd out the positive impact of financial development on the industrial GTIE. When promoting financial development, it should be matched with region development to avoid crowding out investment in green innovation by enterprises.

Can green finance promote the low-carbon transformation of the energy system? New evidence from city-level data in China

This study explores the comprehensive effects of green finance (GF) on the low-carbon transition of the energy system (LTES) by analyzing panel data from 281 cities in China from 2006 to 2021. It is found that GF significantly reduces overall energy consumption and exhibits a U-shaped association with energy efficiency, while its relationship with the energy consumption structure is inverted U-shaped. After accounting for endogeneity in the robustness tests, these findings remain consistent and are therefore deemed reliable. A mechanistic analysis reveals that GF promotes industrial upgrading, technological progress, and economic agglomeration, collectively facilitating the LTES. The impact of GF on LTES shows considerable variation among regions, influenced by their levels of economic growth, extents of marketization, and governmental environmental preferences. Our findings provide new evidence for the relationship between GF and LTES, offering a scientific basis for formulating GF policies to accelerate this transformation.

Towards Sustainable Development: The Impact of Agricultural Productive Services on China’s Low-Carbon Agricultural Transformation

In the context of carbon neutrality, the low-carbon transition in agriculture is crucial to achieving carbon mitigation through clean production. The provision of agricultural productive services (APS) is pivotal for modernizing farming practices in China. However, the impact of this on the low-carbon transformation has received limited attention. This research examined the non-linear relationship between agricultural productive services and low-carbon development, including verifying a threshold effect with APS as the threshold variable, employing panel data for 31 provinces in China from 2010 to 2021. The results of the study suggested that the effect of services associated with agricultural productivity on the transition of the agricultural sector to low-carbon practices varied across threshold ranges. Specifically, when the APS exceeded the threshold of 2.4396, a significant suppressive effect was observed on carbon emission intensity. Further analysis revealed that APS indirectly influenced the farmland scale and agricultural technological advancements, thereby promoting the low-carbon transition of China’s agriculture. Based on these results, it is recommended to intensify the development of APS in key cereal-producing regions, while emphasizing the harmonious progress of these services in conjunction with large-scale farmland management.

Digital economy as a catalyst for low-carbon transformation in China: new analytical insights

To obtain a consistent estimate of the impact of digital economy on the carbon total factor productivity (CTFP) is important not only in the academic field but also for the policymakers. However, the existence of endogeneity issue makes it challenging. This paper constructs a novel analysis framework that can measure the CTFP as well as the impact of digital economy simultaneously after addressing the endogeneity. By employing the endogenous stochastic frontier analysis method, the findings indicate that digital economy has a positive and significant effect on CTFP, which persists when different production functions and instrumental variables are employed. Mechanism analysis reveals that the positive impact is facilitated by changes in production methods and improvements in urban environmental regulatory governance. Moreover, the effect of digital economy on CTFP is more pronounced in regions with higher environmental awareness among residents, lower resource abundance, and higher levels of human capital. The results provide valuable policy insights into the utilization of the digital economy to achieve green and high-quality development in China, including to promote the regional balanced development of digital economy and so on.

Study on the Path of Enabling High-quality Agricultural Development in Anhui Province with New Quality Productivity

With the continuous progress of science, technology and society, new quality productivity is gradually becoming a strong support and internal driving force for high-quality development of agriculture, which is of great significance for transforming traditional agriculture and promoting agriculture to intelligent, low-carbon and modern transformation. With its "new" and "quality" as the fundamental, new quality productivity has the characteristics of high-tech, high efficiency, high quality, etc., and has a strong leading role in the all-round transformation of traditional agriculture. On the basis of reviewing the literature related to the new quality productivity and the agricultural development of Anhui province, this paper first put forward the author's interpretation of the connotation of new quality productivity, and then analyzed the conditions of Anhui province's transformation from a large agricultural province to a strong agricultural province. On this basis, it explored the path of enabling the high-quality agricultural development of Anhui province by new quality productivity. Finally, it is concluded that in order to achieve this goal, we must strictly implement the new development concept and promote the transformation of traditional agriculture to the direction of wisdom, ecology and industrialization.

The impact of financial development on enterprise green innovation under low carbon pilot city.

Low-carbon pilot city (LCPC) plays a pivotal role in stimulating green innovation among enterprises. However, relying solely on policy often proves less effective, necessitating support from financial development. Yet, current research frequently overlooks the impact of financial development on LCPC policy. Drawing on economic, management, and organizational psychology theories, we investigate the influence of the financial development level on enterprise green innovation in LCPC, utilizing data from listed companies between 2010 and 2018. The main finding is that LCPC facilitates institutional-level green innovation. Concurrently, financial development augments the effectiveness of LCPC policy, further expediting green innovation activities among enterprises in these pilot cities. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that financial development significantly promotes green innovation, particularly among state-owned enterprises, those with myopic management, non-high technology industries, and businesses in the southern region within LCPC. Mechanism tests identify enterprises' financing constraints and R&D investment levels as key pathways through which financial development fosters green economic development in LCPC. This study provides micro-level evidence from China elucidating the effects of environmental policies and offers practical implications for the low-carbon transformation of the manufacturing sector amid peak emissions and carbon-neutral targets. Additionally, it provides valuable guidance for other emerging economies seeking enhanced resource and environmental protection through the implementation of energy-saving and emission-reduction fiscal policy.

Carbon Emission Heterogeneity in Developed Countries: Insights for China’s Neutrality Strategy

This study investigates the heterogeneity and driving factors of carbon emission reduction in developed countries, providing insights for formulating carbon neutrality strategies and plans in China. Firstly, typical developed countries worldwide are categorized into four modes: high energy consumption–high emissions, high energy consumption–low emissions, low energy consumption–low emissions and low energy consumption–high emissions, based on the “per capita energy consumption–emission intensity” classification method. Secondly, the LMDI decomposition model is employed to calculate the carbon emission-reduction driving effects of each mode, thereby analyzing the evolution path of carbon emissions. Finally, carbon emission-reduction policy recommendations are proposed based on the current situation of provincial carbon emissions in China. The research findings are as follows: (1) Carbon emissions in developed countries follow the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) law, exhibiting an inverted U-shaped trajectory. In the per capita GDP range of USD 12,000–20,000, carbon emissions in most countries have reached or are close to their peak, with per capita carbon emissions in different modes decreasing and tending towards a level of 4000 kg/person. (2) There is heterogeneity in the EKC of carbon emissions in developed countries, which can be divided into technological, structural, comprehensive and clean types based on differences in emission-reduction factors. The trajectories of carbon emissions in most developed countries follow a clean path, while those in newly developed countries are constrained by environmental pressures and are expected to be between mixed and structural types before the emission peak, and tend towards a clean type after the peak. (3) Energy clean-up is the most direct and efficient method for carbon emission reduction, which can significantly and efficiently achieve carbon emission reduction. Industrial restructuring and technological progress play a significant role in suppressing carbon emissions. Policy recommendations are proposed as follows: first, reduce the proportion of fossil energy and increase energy cleanliness; second, promote industrial restructuring to reduce energy dependence; third, enhance production technology and improve energy-utilization efficiency; fourth, increase technological breakthroughs to support low-carbon transformation; fifth, correctly recognize the differences among provinces in China and formulate differentiated carbon emission-reduction policies.

Research on the Development and Policy Evolution of CCUS Industry at Home and Abroad

CCUS is internationally recognized as one of the three major pathways to achieve carbon neutrality goals. It is an important choice for realizing zero emissions from large-scale fossil energy utilization and a feasible technological solution to offset carbon emissions in industries such as power, steel, and cement where emissions reductions are challenging. Systematic analysis of the development and policy evolution of the CCUS industry at home and abroad can provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for China's energy transition and development under the background of carbon emission peaking and achieving carbon neutrality. Guided by the strategic goals of national energy security, carbon emission peaking, and achieving carbon neutrality, this study aims to analyze the global development process and stage characteristics of the CCUS industry, investigate the supporting policies in the CCUS field and their evolution patterns, summarize the current status and trends of the CCUS industry at home and abroad, and provide reference for the implementation of national energy green and low-carbon transformation and the construction of a new energy system. In terms of industry, European and American countries emphasize national-level technological guidance and macro-control. The United States has introduced the progressive 45Q tax credit policy, and the European Union has included CCUS in its carbon trading system. The US National Carbon Capture Center provides a testing environment and facilities for CCUS technology research and development, and has established a carbon dioxide industry cluster and transportation hub. In terms of policies, tax credits and carbon trading policies in Europe and America have attracted various types of capital investment, establishing a relatively complete legal framework system. These regions have been leading in CCUS technology research and deployment, holding dominant positions and decision-making power in mainstream international CCUS organizations such as the CSLF, IEA, GCCSI, and OGCI. This study benchmarks the forward-looking and strategic development status of the CCUS industry at home and abroad, elucidates the challenges facing CCUS industry development, and proposes future trends and policy support needs for the CCUS industry. The research reveals that Europe and America emphasize national-level technological guidance and macro-control, focusing on the construction of regional industrial networks and having established a relatively complete legal and regulatory framework system. Compared to other countries, China needs to establish national-level guidance on CCUS development, regional carbon dioxide capture and transportation networks, and enact specific laws, regulations, and technical standards for CCUS.

Research on fence protection for liquid hydrogen leakage in the storage tank area

Hydrogen energy is an important carrier for energy terminals to achieve green and low-carbon transformation, but hydrogen safety remains a bottleneck for its large-scale commercial development. This study conducts numerical simulation of hydrogen leakage accidents in liquid hydrogen refueling stations, analyzes the shortcomings of protective walls in the safety aspect, and proposes the use of fences for protection. The results show that although the protective walls can prevent the cold hydrogen gas from diffusing outside the storage tank area, it greatly increases the duration and final dissipation time. Then gas cloud is prone to accumulate in corners. The fences can alter the turbulent field around the storage tank area, accelerate the heat exchange between cloud and air, and promote buoyancy. The promoting effect of fences on turbulence is most evident under windy conditions, especially outside the fence. Results indicate that the 3 cm and 4 cm fences have the best effect. Compared with the protective wall case, under windy conditions, the dissipation time of flammable clouds in the corner of the 3 cm fence is reduced by 8 s, while the 4 cm fence is reduced by 7 s. It should be noted that under wind conditions, the dilution time outside the 3 cm fence decreases by 21 s, while the 4 cm fence decreases by 35 s. Under windy conditions, there is a uniformly concentrated strong turbulent flow field near the 3 cm fence.

Artificial intelligence-driven transformations in low-carbon energy structure: Evidence from China

The widespread integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the realms of energy and the environment has emerged as a catalyst for transformative shifts toward low-carbon energy structures. However, existing literature and practical applications have yet to delve into the intricate ways in which intelligent technology influences energy structures. Consequently, this study addresses this gap by constructing a comprehensive theoretical model that encompasses robots and differentiated energy inputs. By drawing on the Chinese case, this research investigates the impact of AI on low-carbon energy structure transformation, both theoretically and empirically. The study's results reveal that AI technology significantly advances the cause of low-carbon energy transformation. Notably, this effect is manifested in the post-Industry 4.0 era and regions endowed with abundant renewable energy resources and strong governmental support for innovation. Rigorous robustness tests substantiate the existence of this relationship. Furthermore, adopting smart technology fosters energy structure transformation through industrial restructuring, and introduces the energy rebound effect, thereby partially offsetting its positive impact. Importantly, the study underscores that the efficacy of AI is further heightened when the influx of innovation factors surpasses a certain threshold. These findings furnish crucial evidence and policy insights for China and other developing nations, offering guidance on accelerating energy transitions and attaining carbon neutrality.

Preparation and Properties of Natural Bamboo Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete.

To promote resource reuse and the green, low-carbon transformation of the construction industry, this study uses recycled aggregate from crushed waste concrete and natural bamboo fibers to formulate bamboo fiber-reinforced recycled-aggregate concrete. This study investigates the effects of natural bamboo fiber (NBF) content, NBF length, and the water-to-cement ratio on the performance of concrete through an orthogonal experiment to determine the optimal mixing proportions of NBF-reinforced concrete. Additionally, recycled aggregate completely replaced natural aggregate. The mechanism by which NBF influences concrete was also analyzed. The results demonstrate that the NBF-reinforced specimens exhibited good integrity during compression failure, with NBFs effectively tying the concrete together. The optimized parameters for NBF-reinforced concrete were an NBF length of 20 mm, an NBF content of 0.4v%, and a water-to-cement ratio of 0.55. Almost no flaky Ca(OH)2 crystals were observed in the NBF-hardened cement-paste transition zone, indicating effective bonding at the interface.

Digital technology, green innovation, and the carbon performance of manufacturing enterprises

With the continuous promotion of digitalization and the global trend toward a low-carbon economy, the issue of whether enterprises can enhance their carbon performance with the assistance of digital technology has aroused widespread attention from both academia and industry. In order to explore whether digital technology can improve the carbon performance of manufacturing enterprises, this study, based on resource orchestration theory and signaling theory, utilizes data from China’s A-share manufacturing enterprises from 2012 to 2021 to empirically investigate the relationship between digital technology and the carbon performance of manufacturing firms. It also explores the mediating conduction path and boundary influencing factors between them. Its findings demonstrate that: digital technology is capable of improving carbon performance; green innovation (including green technology and green collaboration) has partially mediating effects; there is a catalytic role for environmental information disclosure in utilizing digital technology to enhance carbon performance. Building on this, we find that the impacts of digital technology, green innovation, and environmental information disclosure on carbon performance vary due to differences in the nature of industries and the strategic aggressiveness of enterprises. Specifically, the role of digital technology on carbon performance seems somewhat more pronounced among firms in the high-tech industry and those employing defensive and analytical strategies. Additionally, the effects generated by green innovation and environmental information are more pronounced in the high-tech industry and among enterprises that adopt analytical strategies. This study reveals the inherent mechanism of digital technology in enhancing the carbon performance of manufacturing enterprises, which provides empirical evidence for the development of digital technology and the improvement of carbon performance in manufacturing enterprises, thus helping promote low-carbon economic transformation.

Research on the Quality Evaluation and Improvement of Carbon Emission Right Accounting Information Disclosure in the Context of Low-Carbon Economy

This paper explores the accounting treatment of carbon emission rights in the petrochemical industry in China, focusing on the challenges and opportunities presented by carbon trading mechanisms. The study analyzes existing norms in the EU's carbon trading market and evaluates SINOPEC's approach to carbon accounting and emission reduction. Through a comprehensive review of financial reports, sustainability disclosures, and industry trends, the paper offers insights into improving the accounting treatment of carbon emission rights and promoting low-carbon transformation in the petrochemical sector.

Driving forces and typologies behind household energy consumption disparities in China: A machine learning-based approach

Establishing an intuitive link between driving factors of household energy consumption activities and inequalities is important for the understanding of household heterogeneity in energy consumption behaviours. This paper proposes a novel typology framework based on machine learning approaches and data from 3637 Chinese households in 2014 from 85 cities. Activity-based energy consumption was measured, highlighting inequalities across activities, regions and household types. The results showed significant energy consumption disparities between urban/rural and north/south households, especially in cooking, space heating and vehicle activities. By identifying driving factors of energy consumption, a new household typology classified samples into 6 (all), 6 (urban) and 7 (rural) types. Within these types, households with similar demographic structures, lifestyles and energy consumption habits were clustered. Demographic structure, region, and primary energy demand were used as the basis for the typology. The findings demonstrated how household lifestyle differences explained the cause and underlying driving factors of urban-rural energy consumption inequalities and provided suggestions for city-by-city and type-by-type measurements to support effective low-carbon transformation in cities.

Study on the impact of green digital finance on low-carbon transition of energy consumption structure under multidimensional perspective-empirical evidence from China

Green digital finance plays a crucial role in driving green production, consumption and facilitating the low-carbon transition of energy consumption structures. This paper delves into the impact of green digital finance on this transformation from a multidimensional perspective for the first time. The study reveals that developing green digital finance effectively elevates the level of carbon reduction in energy consumption structures. Both industrial restructuring and innovation in green, low-carbon technologies play significant conduit roles in advancing the low-carbon transformation of energy consumption structures through green digital finance, with a mutually reinforcing relationship between them. Formal environmental regulations act as positive regulators, influencing the strategic choices of innovation entities in green, low-carbon technology innovation. Green digital finance exhibits heterogeneous effects on the low-carbon transformation of energy consumption structures due to factors such as geographical location, financial regulatory intensity, informal environmental regulations, marketization, and resource endowment. The conclusions of this paper hold substantial significance and practical reference value for China's ongoing efforts to advance the construction of a new energy system and high-quality energy development.

Exploring spatial pattern optimization path of urban building carbon emission based on low-carbon cities analytical framework: A case study of Xi'an, China

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions has become a prominent issue in city construction. Here, with the objective of spatial pattern optimization, we propose a comprehensive evaluation framework for low-carbon cities. To shed further light on the mechanism by which green finance facilitates the low-carbon transformation of the economy, we chose Xi'an as a study area, used the system dynamics model, simulated the relationship between different factors in the development of low-carbon cities, and provided guidance for spatial planning of low-carbon cities. Through systematic analysis of results, we found that with the progress of urbanization and the improvement of people's living standards, the carbon emissions from urban buildings in Xi'an will increase annually and reach 2.47 million tons by 2030. In scenario 1, the faster pace of urbanization raises carbon emissions from urban buildings by 3 %, to 2.5543 million tons from the base. In contrast, in Scenario 2, the reduction in urbanization rate results in a decrease in urban building carbon emissions to 2.4243 million tons, a reduction of 2.26 % compared to the baseline scenario. Thus it can be seen that diverse modifications of parameters exert distinct effects on the ultimate carbon emissions from urban buildings.