Mitigation Objectives Research Articles

A Review of Sustainable Agroforestry Practices as Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation Strategy in Nigeria

Agroforestry is one of the most conspicuous land use systems across landscapes and agroecological zones in Nigeria. With food shortages and increased threats of climate change, interest in agroforestry is gathering for its potential to address various on-farm adaptation needs, and fulfill many roles in mitigation pathways. Agroforestry provides assets and income from carbon, wood energy, improved soil fertility and enhancement of local climate conditions; it provides ecosystem services and reduces human impacts on natural forests. Most of these benefits have direct benefits for local adaptation while contributing to global efforts to control atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. This paper presents recent findings on how agroforestry as a sustainable practice helps to achieve both mitigation and adaptation objectives while remaining relevant to the livelihoods of the poor smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Keywords: Review, sustainable, Mitigation, adaptation, climate change, strategy, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-12-01 Publication date: December 31 st 2022

Detectable Increase in Global Land Areas Susceptible to Precipitation Reversals Under the RCP8.5 Scenario

AbstractOf rising concern is the consecutive occurrence of contrasting precipitation extremes such as droughts followed by severe floods, which tips a precarious balance with lasting impacts on human and natural systems. However, it is not clear how the risk of such precipitation reversals may change over time at the global scale. Using precipitation data from the Community Earth System Model Version 1 (CESM1) Large Ensemble Simulations (LENS), we examined changes in the likelihood and spatial distribution of low‐intensity dry‐to‐wet fluctuations and more severe shifts from meteorological droughts to pluvials over global land areas via a conditional statistical framework. Our analysis of CESM1‐LENS leads to the conclusion that the worst‐case climate change scenario, that is, RCP8.5 can increase the percent of global land areas susceptible to both low‐intensity and more severe precipitation reversals by the end of the twenty‐first century, while inducing disproportionate impacts at regional scales depending on the severity of precipitation reversals. Particularly, we find 13.6% of global land areas may be depressed by interannual dry‐to‐wet events with a transition probability of greater than 0.5 in the twenty‐first century, quintupling the figure in the past century. The increase in the susceptible global land areas further indicates that new local hotspots with low‐frequency drought‐pluvial seesaws are more likely to emerge under the effects of enhancing anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Collectively, the study is expected to provide useful information for policy makers and infrastructure operators to prioritize actions that affect water resource objectives of flood control, drought mitigation, and water quality protection.

Climate, Energy – and Environment? Reconciliation of EU Environmental Law with the Implementation Realities of EU Climate Law

Abstract Recognizing that significantly increased renewable-energy share (res) is a central component of both EU climate and environmental law, the focus of this paper is the point of intersection between these legal frameworks. Renewable-energy infrastructure projects are necessary for climate-mitigation purposes, but they give rise to significant local environmental impacts that have a negative effect on local communities and environmental conditions. The objective of environmental protection, ‘to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment’, does not fully align with the objectives of climate mitigation, which are designed to safeguard the needs of future generations and the long-term environment. While EU environmental policy encompasses ‘measures designed to combat climate change’, little attention has been afforded in relevant Directives to the impact of climate-mitigation measures on the environment. There is no provision for proportionate treatment of the impacts of these measures in environmental governance procedures. Analysis of the provisions of the eia and Habitats Directives, which directly impact the authorization of renewable-energy projects, reveals that climate as a component of EU environmental policy is dealt with via the limitation and control of greenhouse gas emissions, an incomplete approach that fails to provide for the development of new large-scale infrastructure that can mitigate the generation of greenhouse gas emissions through provision of sustainable energy sources. The European Union’s revised Trans European Network – Energy (ten-E) Regulation (June 2022) provides that energy infrastructure in the form of projects of common interest shall be deemed to be in the overriding public interest in the context of the Habitats Directive, an exception to that Directive’s prohibition on development that could negatively impact protected Natura 2000 features. A proposal pursuant to the EU Commission’s plan ‘REPowerEU’ recommends an amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive to introduce a similar overriding provision in respect of all renewable-energy infrastructure projects. These sidestepping provisions in climate-energy laws, made necessary by the failure of EU environmental law to incorporate effective provisions that promote climate change measures, are an incomplete solution that will limit the regulation of an environmentally responsible approach to increased res and are likely to be challenged.

CO2 Sequestration Overview in Geological Formations: Trapping Mechanisms Matrix Assessment

This review focuses on the consequences of the early and rapid deployment of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS) technologies, which is currently recognized as a critical problem in fulfilling climate change mitigation objectives and as a viable alternative for countries throughout the world. Currently, the geological storage of CO2 is the most effective and, in many cases, the only viable short- to medium-term alternative for considerably moving towards CO2 sequestration in geological sinks and, thus, lowering net carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Furthermore, this review explores the global and environmental measurements of CO2 emissions, as well as the emphasis behind more efficient energy usage. The components of the CCS system are briefly examined, with an emphasis on the technologies that have been developed by previous scholars to support carbon capture, as well as the kinds of carbon geological formations that are suitable sinks for CO2. Additionally, the importance of carbon interaction and sequestration in unconventional formations are examined through case studies that are applied to coalbed seams and shale gas reservoirs. Numerous trapping processes are grouped and introduced in a constructive matrix to easily distinguish the broad trapping mechanisms, which are (1) chemical, (2) physicochemical, and (3) physical trapping, and each of these categories are further classified in depth based on their contribution to CO2 storage.

A life cycle assessment method to support cities in their climate change mitigation strategies

National climate change mitigation objectives must be translated to the city level and to specific sectors, with locally-relevant policy measures. However, assessing the decarbonization value of these measures is a challenge for local policy makers and few local consumption assessment studies integrate a systemic vision. This research presents a multi-criteria city-scale Life Cycle Assessment method focusing on the three largest carbon-emitting sectors in cities: food, residential buildings and daily mobility, with an original combination of databases and models. For food, databases were used to evaluate environmental impacts based on socio-demographic characteristics. For building and mobility, modeling tools were used and adapted at different scales: with local spatial refinement for mobility and the creation of archetypes representing the city's most common residential buildings. A demonstration of this new cross-sectoral method was conducted on Montreuil city in the Parisian region, to (1) evaluate the current greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and (2) test the possible reductions following different measures. The developed assessment framework provides various interpretation, with disaggregated contribution, mapping, and scenario analysis. For instance, the application of ambitious measures and important lifestyle changes reduced GHG in these sectors by 30%, far from the French government's ambitions of a 55% reduction by 2030.

Resilient cooling pathway for extremely hot climates in southern Asia

Global warming is increasing extreme heat conditions, with existing energy efficiency policies showing trade-offs between mitigation objectives and adaptation to climate change. This research aims to identify the best resilient cooling solutions that should be promoted in the built environment of extremely hot countries to increase their heat resilience capacity. The impact of climate change on climate zones, cooling thermal demand (kWh/m2), and indoor heat discomfort hours (DHh, hours) in buildings is evaluated in different extremely hot dry climates of southern Asia through a parametric analysis for 2020, 2050 and 2080 under the A2 (medium–high) emission scenario. Then, cooling alternatives with higher synergies and trade-offs between energy efficiency (energy consumption) and resiliency to extreme heat (passive survivability) are highlighted. TRNSYS simulation software and ASHRAE criteria were used to characterise climate zones and calculate buildings' cooling needs and discomfort hours. Pakistan, in southern Asia, was selected as a hot reference region characterised by various climatic regions. The simulated scenario shows how Pakistan's extremely hot dry climate surface may increase from 36.9 % to 78.1 % by 2080, increasing annual cooling needs ranging from 20.56 to 66.96 kWh/m2 and indoor discomfort hours ranging from 423 to 1267 h. The results demonstrate how the passive solutions with higher synergies between energy savings and indoor comfort hours are, in decreasing order, ventilative cooling, reflective and ventilated roofs, shading in windows, and roof insulation. They can provide energy savings ranging from 13.1 to 7.1 kWh/m2 while reducing indoor discomfort by 320 to 131 h for extremely hot climates. Moreover, the sufficiency action related to higher thermostat settings, from 24 to 25 °C to 25–26.5 °C, was the most effective strategy to decrease energy demand. Additionally, there are trade-offs between energy-saving and heat resilience with highly insulated alternatives when ventilation is not adequately addressed. Despite increasing energy savings by 14.4 kWh/m2, discomfort hours are increased by 256 hours when air conditioning is unavailable, increasing building overheating by 5.1 %.

A Scoping Review of Assistance and Therapy with Head-Mounted Displays for People Who Are Visually Impaired

Given the inherent visual affordances of Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) used for Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR), they have been actively used over many years as assistive and therapeutic devices for the people who are visually impaired. In this article, we report on a scoping review of literature describing the use of HMDs in these areas. Our high-level objectives included detailed reviews and quantitative analyses of the literature, and the development of insights related to emerging trends and future research directions. Our review began with a pool of 1,251 articles collected through a variety of mechanisms. Through a structured screening process, we identified 61 English research articles employing HMDs to enhance the visual sense of people with visual impairments for more detailed analyses. Our analyses reveal that there is an increasing amount of HMD-based research on visual assistance and therapy, and there are trends in the approaches associated with the research objectives. For example, AR is most often used for visual assistive purposes, whereas VR is used for therapeutic purposes. We report on eight existing survey articles, and present detailed analyses of the 61 research articles, looking at the mitigation objectives of the researchers (assistive versus therapeutic), the approaches used, the types of HMDs, the targeted visual conditions, and the inclusion of user studies. In addition to our detailed reviews and analyses of the various characteristics, we present observations related to apparent emerging trends and future research directions.

Assessing the synergies and trade-offs of development projects in response to climate change in an urban region

A synthesis of the complex relationships, including synergies and trade-offs, between urban development projects and climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives can ensure that all these relationships are taken into consideration. We used a systems approach and applied an impact matrix and chain effect analysis methods to projects in the highly urbanized Taipei metropolitan region to identify the influences and effects between urban development projects and climate change objectives. Three types of urban plans and projects were analyzed: flood control, transportation, and urban planning. The magnitudes of the influences and effects between these projects and plans were derived through interviews with experts familiar with Taipei's urban development. This pilot study found no synergy in the response to climate change mitigation and adaptation for the urban development projects analyzed. The current standalone policies and plans related to urbanization in Taipei have resulted in trade-offs for flood control and public transit projects because they contribute positively toward one climate objective but negatively impact another. A high-level policymaking mechanism that ensures coordination and collaboration between different sectors is needed to supervise sectoral policies. Prior to the approval and implementation of a plan, policymakers should request the assessment of synergies and trade-offs between plans and projects to ensure a synergistic effect to climate change issues. This study confirms that the strategy from individual sector in a metropolitan region will result in trade-off between climate change issues is a global problem. This paper also strengthens the concept that the assessment of synergy/trade-offs between policy and plans should be conducted using systemic approach.

Existing evidence on the impacts of within-field farmland management practices on the flux of greenhouse gases from arable cropland in temperate regions: a systematic map

BackgroundReducing the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is vital for mitigating climate change and meeting commitments to international agreements such as the COP 21 Paris Agreement of 2015. Agriculture is reported to account for approximately 11 percent of total global GHG emissions such that: the agricultural sector has an important role to play in meeting climate change mitigation objectives. However, there is currently little consensus on how farm management and interventions, along with interactions with in-field variability, such as soil type, affect the production and assimilation of GHGs in arable crop lands. Practical recommendations for farmers are often vague or generalised, and models (e.g. on the amount of nitrogen fertiliser applied) are used despite limited understanding of the influence of local conditions, such as the importance of soil type. Here, we report the findings of a systematic map of the evidence relating to the impact on GHG flux from the in-field management of arable land in temperate regions.MethodsWe searched for, collated and catalogued research relating to the effects of in-field arable farming practices in temperate systems on GHG emissions. Results from 6 bibliographic databases, a web-based search engine and organisational websites were combined with evidence from stakeholders. Duplicates were removed and the results were then screened for relevance at title and abstract, and full-text levels according to a predefined set of eligibility criteria (following consistency checking). Relevant studies were then coded and their meta-data extracted and used to populate a systematic map database describing each study’s settings, methods and measured outcomes.ResultsThe mapping process identified 538 relevant studies from 351 articles. Nearly all of these (96%) were found from traditional research papers, with 42% from European countries and nearly half (203 studies) lasting for 12 months or less. Over half of all studies (55%) investigated multiple interventions with chemical fertiliser (n = 100), tillage (n = 70), and organic fertiliser (n = 30) the most frequently studied single intervention types. When combining individually studied and multiple interventions, the top three intervention types most frequently studied were: chemical fertiliser (n = 312); organic fertiliser (n = 176) and tillage (n = 158). Nitrous oxide was the most commonly studied outcome, with over double the number of studies compared to carbon dioxide, the next most studied outcome. Sandy loam and silty loam were the most commonly studied soils but there was a good distribution of studies across other types. However, studies predominately focused on humid sub-tropical (Cfa) and temperate oceanic (Cfb) climates, with hot summer Mediterranean (CSa) and warm summer Mediterranean (Csb) climate zones less represented.ConclusionsThe mapping process identified clusters of research for chemical and organic fertiliser especially in relation to nitrous oxide emissions and for both carbon dioxide and nitrous dioxide in relation to tillage. Therefore, there is potential for further synthesis for these interventions. The spread of research across soil textures and in the humid sub-tropical and temperate oceanic climates may enable further synthesis to provide tailored in-field advice for farmers and provide an evidence base to inform subsidies policy. However, smaller amounts of research relating to biochar, cover crops, crop rotation, and nitrogen inhibitors highlight gaps where further research would be beneficial.

The Duty of Care of Fossil-Fuel Producers for Climate Change Mitigation

AbstractOn 26 May 2021, the District Court of The Hague (The Netherlands) passed an innovative judgment in Milieudefensie v. Royal Dutch Shell. The Court interpreted Shell's duty of care towards the inhabitants of the Netherlands as requiring it to mitigate climate change by reducing the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from its global operations by at least 45% by 2030, compared with 2019. This case comment salutes the identification of a corporate duty of care for climate change mitigation but expresses scepticism regarding the Court's interpretation of this duty. The Court's reading of global climate mitigation objectives and climate science, which form the basis of its determination of Shell's requisite level of mitigation action, is plagued with inconsistencies. It is argued here that, in order to determine the standard of care applicable to Shell, the Court should have relied not only on a ‘descending’ reasoning as to what ought to be done, but also on an ‘ascending’ reasoning accounting for industry practices.

Effects of Silvicultural Adaptation Measures on Carbon Stock of Austrian Forests

We present the results of a simulation experiment that evaluated three scenarios of forest management in the context of climate change mitigation. Two scenarios refer to climate change adaptation measures. The third scenario was a business-as-usual scenario representing the continuation of current forest management. We wanted to know whether a change in tree species composition or the implementation of shorter rotation cycles is in accordance with the objectives of climate change mitigation. Our simulation experiment was based on data of the Austrian National Forest Inventory. A forest sector simulation model was used to derive timber demand and potential harvesting rates. Forest dynamics were simulated with an individual-tree growth model. We compared carbon stocks, harvesting rates, current annual increment, salvage logging, and forest structure. Compared to the business-as-usual scenario, a change in tree species composition and shorter rotation cycles reduce salvage logging by 14% and 32%, respectively. However, shorter rotation cycles reduce the carbon stock by 27%, but increase the harvesting rate by 4.8% within the simulation period of 140 years. For changes in the tree species composition, the results were the opposite. Here, the carbon stock is increased by 47%, but the harvesting rate is reduced by 15%. Thus, there are clear tradeoffs between the different ecosystem services depending on the climate change adaptation scenario. We also show that a fundamental change in forest management must be accompanied by a transformation in wood processing technology and innovation in wood utilization.

Systematic Approach of TOPSIS Decision-Making for Construction Method Based on Risk Reduction Feedback of Extended QFD-FMEA

The key factors in the decision-making process are uncertainty, probability, and impact. The appropriate construction methods must be selected based on review safety requirements, which are to be adjusted accordingly depending on highly uncertain and continually changing technological requirements. The evaluation of the construction method should account for various technical characteristics of the method, including changeable safety risk reduction. In most cases, the decision maker’s insufficient knowledge and response to an uncertain and changing environment contribute primarily to the selection of inappropriate construction methods. This paper presents a feedback-based decision-making model that involves systematic safety evaluation and changing environmental risks for selecting the construction method using a technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) model, which is a multicriteria decision-making tool, and extended quality function deployment-failure mode effect analysis (extended QFD-FMEA) simultaneously. Extended QFD-FMEA model presented herein provides an objective and quantitative analysis of risk reduction and mitigation based on the risk assessment and safety cost of construction methods. Risk factors are analyzed comprehensively to minimize safety uncertainties. The proposed decision-making process is based on a changing risk environment, where a tradeoff exists between technological options and safety issues. A case study is conducted to verify the proposed model. Results of risk assessment and possible risk reduction are presented using the extended QFD-FMEA, where two cases of feedback process in decision-making are presented for selecting the most appropriate construction method.

A systematic review of municipal smart water for climate adaptation and mitigation

This study examines how research on smart water is contributing to climate-resilient municipal water systems around the globe. We identify smart water research trends over time, relationships with climate adaptation and mitigation goals, and applicability to places with developed or developing water and electrical infrastructure. To do so, we systematically review the literature, identifying research on Information Communication Technology-enabled technologies related to water supply, wastewater, and stormwater management. We assess the relationship between each study and climate adaptation and mitigation objectives: managing greater variation in water quantity, leading to scarcity and increased stormwater; managing declining water quality; and low-carbon water systems. We find 96 relevant studies and identify five major categories of research addressing climate adaptation and mitigation: monitoring, modeling, system design, system feedbacks, and uptake and implementation. We find there is a recent acceleration in smart water research, with a concentration of studies focused on modeling. There is an emphasis on water efficiency using data from Advanced Metering Infrastructure, which is most applicable to cities with developed water grids and consistent electrical supplies. Secondarily, there is a concentration of work using distributed sensors for early detection of water quality degradation, which is being done in all municipal contexts. There is far less research on uptake and implementation of smart approaches, especially at the institutional level. In addition, there is relatively little work that explicitly relates smart water technologies to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While smart water approaches are applicable everywhere, there is a need to for expanded focus on areas without developed water grids or consistent electricity for smart water to meaningfully contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 6.

The Possible Seismo-Ionospheric Perturbations Recorded by the China-Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite

Driven by the objective of earthquake disaster prevention and mitigation, China launched the Zhangheng mission to build a stereoscopic earthquake monitoring system from the lithosphere to space. This report briefly presents the possible seismic ionospheric disturbances recorded by the first probe of the Zhangheng mission, which is known as the China-Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES). The routine data preprocessing and seismo-ionospheric information analysis methods are briefly introduced. The possible seismo-ionospheric disturbances that appeared during the strong shallow earthquakes (with a magnitude over 7 and a depth shallower than 30 km) are analyzed by using CSES and other multi-source data. Investigating seismo-ionospheric mechanisms requires multidisciplinary knowledge involving geophysics, atmosphere/ionosphere physics, geochemistry/atmospheric chemistry, etc. We state that the results from the CSES scientific application center are preliminary, calling for international scientists to contribute to the seismo-ionospheric perturbation phenomena, which is one of the most challenging scientific problems.

Modelling greenhouse gas emissions of cacao production in the Republic of C\xf4te d\u2019Ivoire

The current expansion of cacao cultivation in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is associated with deforestation, forest degradation, biodiversity loss and high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Global concerns about emissions that are associated with tropical commodity production are increasing. Consequently, there is a need to change the present cacao-growing practice into a more climate-friendly cultivation system. A more climate-friendly system causes lower GHG emissions, stores a high amount of carbon in its standing biomass and produces high cacao yields. GHG emissions and carbon stocks associated with the present cacao production, as assessed in 509 farmers’ fields, were estimated by using the Perennial GHG model and the Cool Farm Tool. On average, the production of 1 kg cacao beans is associated with an emission of 1.47 kg CO2e. Deforestation contributed largely to GHG emissions, while tree biomass and residue management contributed mainly to carbon storage. The collected data combined with the model simulations revealed that it is feasible to produce relatively high yields while at the same time storing a high amount of carbon in the standing biomass and causing low GHG emissions. The climate-friendliness of cacao production is strongly related to farm management, especially the number of shade trees and management of residues. Calculated emissions related to good agricultural practices were 2.29 kg CO2e per kg cacao beans. The higher emissions due to the use of more agro-inputs and other residue management practices such as recommended burning of residues for sanitary reasons were not compensated for by higher yields. This indicates a need to revisit recommended practices with respect to climate change mitigation objectives.

Data Science and Energy: Some Lessons from Europe on Higher Education Course Design and Delivery

Data science is seen as a key enabler for technologies that help decarbonize global energy use. However, the energy sector continues to struggle to attract and train enough data scientists. The primary reason for this is the lack of emphasis on data science in most graduate programs in energy engineering, and the high barriers of entry for data scientists from other sectors. In this article, we present a snapshot of the data science–related curriculum being taught in graduate energy programs in four different European universities as well as include feedback we received from students and alumni of these programs. While knowledge of data science remains low across the board, students in these programs already recognize data science as an important element of their future professional careers. We also present findings from running three separate iterations of an energy data science course we developed in light of this feedback—one of these iterations was offered only in KU Leuven (Belgium), while the other two were accessible to students at all four universities. In the article, we also discuss challenges and opportunities arising from designing and delivering courses in a cross-university context. This foundational course and others like it are seen as a necessary means to enable students to take more specialized courses in data science, and eventually contribute toward realizing a sustainable energy transition and meeting climate change mitigation objectives.

Analysing the Trade-Offs between Mitigation and Development Objectives for Setting South Africa's 2030 Ndc Update Using a Linked Modelling Framework

Analysing the Trade-Offs between Mitigation and Development Objectives for Setting South Africa's 2030 Ndc Update Using a Linked Modelling Framework

Robust Enough? Exploring Temperature-Constrained Energy Transition Pathways under Climate Uncertainty

In this paper, we study how uncertainties weighing on the climate system impact the optimal technological pathways the world energy system should take to comply with stringent mitigation objectives. We use the TIAM-World model that relies on the TIMES modelling approach. Its climate module is inspired by the DICE model. Using robust optimization techniques, we assess the impact of the climate system parameter uncertainty on energy transition pathways under various climate constraints. Unlike other studies we consider all the climate system parameters which is of primary importance since: (i) parameters and outcomes of climate models are all inherently uncertain (parametric uncertainty); and (ii) the simplified models at stake summarize phenomena that are by nature complex and non-linear in a few, sometimes linear, equations so that structural uncertainty is also a major issue. The use of robust optimization allows us to identify economic energy transition pathways under climate constraints for which the outcome scenarios remain relevant for any realization of the climate parameters. In this sense, transition pathways are made robust. We find that the abatement strategies are quite different between the two temperature targets. The most stringent one is reached by investing massively in carbon removal technologies such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) which have yields much lower than traditional fossil fuelled technologies.

Towards sustainable circular agriculture: An integrated optimization framework for crop-livestock-biogas-crop recycling system management under uncertainty

ContextGrowing socio-economic development and population poses unprecedented challenges for agriculture in meeting increasing demand of food, water, and energy. Rethinking the future agricultural production to simultaneously safeguard resources security and regulate environmental pollution is essential. Circular agriculture opens up a new path for the high-efficiency and environmental-friendly production. An integrated energy-water-food nexus optimization approach for managing agricultural resources and wastes in line with the principles of sustainable circular agriculture management is lacking. ObjectiveThis study therefore proposes an integrated uncertain optimization model to manage agricultural crop-livestock-biogas-crop recycling systems from a cross-sectoral energy-water-food nexus perspective in the changing environment. The aims are to: (1) balance objectives of input reduction, output promotion, ensuring equity, and global warming mitigation; (2) generate sustainable resources allocation strategies based on efficiency and recycling; (3) assess the global warming mitigation potential of the recycling systems from a life cycle perspective; and (4) deal with interactions, complexities, uncertainties, and risks existed in the recycling systems. MethodsThe proposed model framework is based on a stochastic multi-objective programming, while triangular fuzzy numbers, fuzzy credibility constrained programming, Stewart model, analytic hierarchy process, and opportunity carbon footprint are integrated to enhance its practicability and feasibility. The model is verified through a real-world case study in the Zhanghe Irrigation District, Hubei province, China. Results and conclusionsResults show that optimal water and land resources allocation solutions are more efficient than current strategies, with water consumption per unit area decreasing by 13.63% and rice production per unit area improving by 22.06%. Paddy field and biogas leakage are two of the largest sources of GHG emission, calling for agronomic and engineering measures to improve farmland management and biogas generation technology. Livestock breeding contributes 10% of the total GHG emission, along with generating 76% of the total biogas, indicating the great significance of manure recycle. Overall, 4.26 × 108 kg CO2 is reduced in the recycling system, contributed by chemical fertilizer reduction, agricultural wastes recycle, and non-renewable energy replacement. SignificanceThe study offers a potential nexus optimization approach for sustainable management of agricultural recycling systems from a holistic perspective. It can be used as a general model to extend to other agricultural systems suffering from similar resources and environmental crisis.

Integrating climate change impact in new building design process: A review of building life cycle carbon emission assessment methodologies

Life-Cycle Carbon Emission Assessment (LCCO2A) of buildings integrating climate change impact has received increasing attention by researchers as the consequences of climate change become more apparent. It is crucial to integrate the indicator of life cycle carbon equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the early design stage combined with a life cycle assessment, to ensure the elimination of GHG emissions from a building, for its entire life. LCCO2A can provide the necessary information required for reducing carbon emissions of the buildings sector both systematically and comprehensively; however, the lack of a unified assessment framework has prevented the LCCO2A from being utilised as a common daily decision-support tool for sustainable design. This paper will take a retrospective approach when reviewing the methodologies of building LCCO2A in order to facilitate sustainable collective building design which incorporates GHG emission reduction objectives. The paper discusses a wide array of issues concerning LCCO2A and will demonstrate solution methods, as addressed in the extensive existing literature examined in the review and will attempt to establish an effective framework for life cycle carbon assessment. The implication of promoting sustainable designs which incorporate climate change mitigation objectives at the design phase together with the need for climate change policies to facilitate such processes, are also discussed.