Potential Co-benefits Research Articles

A framework for modeling carbon loss from rivers following terrestrial enhanced weathering

Abstract Enhanced weathering (EW) has garnered increasing interest as a promising technique for durable carbon dioxide removal, with a range of potential co-benefits including increased soil pH and nutrient availability. However, the potential loss of initially captured CO2 during river transport remains poorly constrained, undermining the use of this practice as a carbon mitigation strategy. Here, we present results from a first-of-its-kind dynamic river network (DRN) model designed to quantify the impact of EW on river carbonate chemistry in North American watersheds. We map key water quality parameters using machine learning and use a DRN model to simulate changes in carbon degassing during EW. Our model predicts low carbon loss (<5%) from river networks for many of the river pathways explored here, but significantly higher (>15%) carbon degassing is also observed, indicating that riverine carbon storage and the impacts of EW on river chemistry must be evaluated in a deployment-specific or regional context.

Protection of seabed sediments in Canada's marine conservation network for potential climate change mitigation co-benefit

Protection of seabed sediments in Canada's marine conservation network for potential climate change mitigation co-benefit

Emission reduction strategies and health: a systematic review on the tools and methods to assess co-benefits

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to review the current literature on the health co-benefits of emission reduction strategies and the methods and tools available to assess them.DesignSystematic review conducted...

Resilience of Phytoplankton and Microzooplankton Communities under Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement in the Oligotrophic Ocean.

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is currently discussed as a potential negative emission technology to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide in seawater. Yet, its potential risks or cobenefits for marine ecosystems are still mostly unknown, thus hampering its evaluation for large-scale application. Here, we assessed the impacts OAE may have on plankton communities, focusing on phytoplankton and microzooplankton. In a mesocosm study in the oligotrophic subtropical North Atlantic, we investigated the response of a natural plankton community to CO2-equilibrated OAE across a gradient from ambient alkalinity (2400 μmol kg-1) to double (4800 μmol kg-1). Abundance and biomass of phytoplankton and microzooplankton were insensitive to OAE across all size classes (pico, nano and micro), nutritional modes (autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic) and taxonomic groups (cyanobacteria, diatoms, haptophytes, dinoflagellates, and ciliates). Consequently, plankton communities under OAE maintained their natural chlorophyll a levels, size structure, taxonomic composition and biodiversity. These findings suggest a high tolerance of phytoplankton and microzooplankton to CO2-equilibrated OAE in the oligotrophic ocean. However, alternative application schemes involving more drastic perturbations in water chemistry and nutrient-rich ecosystems require further investigation. Nevertheless, our study on idealized OAE will help develop an environmentally safe operating space for this climate change mitigation solution.

Enhanced Rock Weathering for Carbon Removal-Monitoring and Mitigating Potential Environmental Impacts on Agricultural Land.

Terrestrial enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is the application of pulverized silicate rock to soils for the purposes of carbon removal and improved soil health. Although a geochemical modeling framework for ERW in soils is emerging, there is a scarcity of experimental and field trial data exploring potential environmental impacts, risks, and monitoring strategies associated with this practice. This paper identifies potential negative consequences and positive cobenefits of ERW scale-up and suggests mitigation and monitoring strategies. To do so, we examined literature on not only ERW but also industry, agriculture, ecosystem science, water chemistry, and human health. From this work, we develop recommendations for future research, infrastructure, and policy needs. We also recommend target metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and best practices for monitoring that will permit early detection and prevention of negative environmental impacts.

Carbon Farming of Main Staple Crops: A Systematic Review of Carbon Sequestration Potential

Carbon farming has become increasingly popular as it integrates agriculture, forestry, and diverse land use practices, all crucial for implementing European strategies aimed at capturing 310 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These farming methods were proven to reliably increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. However, there is a lack of discussion and consensus regarding the standards used to report these values and their implications. This article analyzes carbon sequestration rates, calculation methodologies, and communication procedures, as well as potential co-benefits and best practices. The average carbon sequestration rates in major staple crops range from very low values (0–0.5 Mg/ha/yr) to medium values (1–5 Mg/ha/yr). Scientific agricultural experiments in key global staple crops demonstrate positive rates of 4.96 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in wheat–maize rotations and 0.52–0.69 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in rice–wheat rotations. In agriculture, carbon sequestration rates are reported using different terms that are not consistent and pose communication challenges. This assessment involves a systematic review of the scientific literature, including articles, reviews, book chapters, and conference papers indexed in Scopus from 2001 to 2022. Specifically, this review focuses on long-term experiments, meta-analyses, and reviews that report an increase in soil carbon stock. The research trends observed, through a VOSviewer 1.6.18 analysis, show a steadily increasing interest in the field of carbon sequestration.

River restoration can increase carbon storage but is not yet a suitable basis for carbon credits.

Increasing organic carbon storage in river corridors (channels and floodplains) is a potential cobenefit of some river restoration approaches, raising the possibility of using restoration to produce carbon credits and, therefore, increase restoration funding. However, the uncertainty already associated with existing carbon credits is compounded in river corridors, which are dynamic on daily, seasonal, annual, and longer timescales. We currently do not know how much river restoration approaches could increase carbon storage or how significant increased organic carbon storage from restoration would be compared with other forms of climate mitigation. We also do not know whether river corridor carbon credits could meet market needs for quickly established, stable, and simple credits. Therefore, we argue that biophysical and political economic uncertainties make river corridor restoration carbon credits currently unfeasible but that research on river restoration projects would demonstrate whether restoration carbon credits could be feasible in the future.

Unlocking urban blue-green infrastructure: an interdisciplinary literature review analysing co-benefits and synergies between bio-physical and socio-cultural outcomes

ABSTRACT Conventional methods of urbanization and risk management have exposed communities to multiple climatic, ecological, and social vulnerabilities. Urban blue-green infrastructure (BGI) refers to a range of nature-based approaches to mitigating the impacts of hazards and enhancing the connections between natural and social capitals, with a particular focus on the presence and management of water elements. However, the bio-physical benefits of BGI are often prioritized over a wider range of potential social-ecological co-benefits. This article draws on a narrative literature review to present the bio-physical and socio-cultural co-benefits of urban BGI, and to examine the relationships, synergies, and trade-offs between these. This review identifies a wide range of socio-cultural and bio-physical benefits of blue-green stormwater infrastructure, including improved mental and physical wellbeing, enhanced cultural connections and values, strengthened social cohesion and sense of place, amelioration of urban heat island effects, reduction of flood risks, improved water quality, and enhanced biodiversity. A number of environmental and socio-cultural trade-offs were identified between these co-benefits, however, including the presence of negatively viewed insects and plant-produced allergens. Aimed at expanding knowledge on the effective implementation of urban BGI to achieve such outcomes, this review highlights wider co-benefits and relationships between them.

Food biodiversity and gastrointestinal cancer risk in nine European countries: Analysis within a prospective cohort study

BackgroundFood biodiversity in human diets has potential co-benefits for both public health and sustainable food systems. However, current evidence on the potential relationship between food biodiversity and cancer risk, and particularly gastrointestinal cancers typically related to diet, remains limited. This study evaluated how dietary species richness (DSR) was associated with gastrointestinal cancer risk in a pan-European population. MethodsAssociations between DSR and subsequent gastrointestinal cancer risk were examined among 450,111 adults enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort (EPIC, initiated in 1992), free of cancer at baseline. Usual dietary intakes were assessed at recruitment with country-specific dietary questionnaires. DSR of an individual’s yearly diet was calculated based on the absolute number of unique biological species in each food and drink item. Associations between DSR and cancer risk were assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. FindingsDuring a median follow-up time of 14.1 years (SD=3.9), 10,705 participants were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) comparing overall gastrointestinal cancer risk in the highest versus lowest quintiles of DSR indicated inverse associations in multivariable-adjusted models [HR (95 % CI): 0.77 (0.69–0.87); P-value < 0·0001] (Table 2). Specifically, inverse associations were observed between DSR and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, proximal colon, colorectal, and liver cancer risk (p-trend<0.05 for all cancer types). InterpretationGreater food biodiversity in the diet may lower the risk of certain gastrointestinal cancers. Further research is needed to replicate these novel findings and to understand potential mechanisms.

Emission characterisation of motorcycles and the potential of co-benefits from selected development scenarios in the urban ecosystem of Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract Motorcycles are the largest proportion of transport in Hanoi. This study focuses on the emission characteristics and initially evaluates the potential co-benefits of low emission zones (LEZ) applied to motorcycles in Hanoi. The International Vehicle Emissions (IVE) model was designed by the U.S. EPA to calculate emissions from motor vehicles and was used to find the emission factor, the important index for emission characteristics of motorcycle activities, in Hanoi. This study surveyed motorcycle technologies and activities in Hanoi with questionnaires, collected data from GPS devices, and counted traffic flow through video cameras and collaborators teams from 2021 to 2023. EFs for the typical pollutants and GHGs of motorcycles in Hanoi were determined. During running, EFruning is 0.053g/km with PM, 4.8 g/km for CO, 0.006 g/km for SO2, 0.13 g/km NOx, CO2 is 72.55 g/km and CH4 is 0.24 g/km, respectively. When starting, EFstart-up is 0.12 g/time with PM, CO is 12.24 g/time, SO2 is 0.0007 g/time, NOx is 1.05 g/time, CO2 is 6.96 g/time, CH4 is 0.53 g/time and N2O is 0.0009 g/time, respectively. Using the EMISENS model, inventory emissions were calculated at tier 3 for this source via the Bottom-up approach. The EMISENS model calculates emissions resulting from traffic, developed by Bang Ho et al in 2010 uses input data related to traffic activities and three emission factors found from the IVE model to calculate the emissions. The total emissions from motorcycle operations in Hanoi are approximately 5.3 thousand tons of PM and 4.6 million tons of CO2e. The proposed LEZ solution for motorcycles brings climate co-benefits of reducing 1.62 million tons CO2e in scenario 1 - limiting all day and 563.2 thousand tons CO2e in scenario 2 – limit operations from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in 2025. Co-benefits on the environment corresponding to the two scenarios with PM are 1990 and 692 tons. Reducing motorcycle operations during 5 peak hours at LEZ can reduce total emissions from motorcycles in Hanoi by 12%. Meanwhile, the proposed 24-hour LEZ for motorcycles in the area has the potential to reduce GHGs by 35%. These results show that reducing emissions from motorcycles brings climate and environmental co-benefits.

Mid-season nitrogen management for winter wheat under price and weather uncertainty

ContextIn-season nitrogen (N) management tools are essential for optimizing N application rates, maximizing farmers’ economic returns and minimizing adverse environmental impacts. The primary limitation to developing such tools is the risk associated with uncertainties in weather forecasts and crop price projections required to estimate yields and returns for different N rates. Therefore, characterizing the risk associated with these uncertainties is crucial for determining optimum N rates in-season. ObjectiveThis study investigated the N application decision-making process for farmers, accounting for risks associated with weather and crop price uncertainties through crop modeling and economic analysis. MethodsWe used field trial data for winter wheat in Kansas to examine how optimal nitrogen rates and economic returns vary over sites, years, and differing farmers’ risk attitudes. First, the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) agroecosystem model was used to simulate the distribution of final yields under different N applications during early spring. Then, an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model estimated the wheat price distribution at harvest based on historical prices. Finally, optimal N application rates for farmers with different risk appetites were estimated using two risk decision models: the constant-absolute-risk-averse (CARA) expected utility model, which treats upside (higher-than-expected returns) and downside (lower-than-expected returns) deviations equally, and the invariant-preference, generalized-deviation (IPGD) model, which focuses on downside risk. ResultsWe found that optimal N rates vary greatly between sites and years, as well as across farmers with different risk preferences. Due to the positive skewness of economic return distribution, farmers tend to apply lower N rates when considering downside risk. On average, the optimal N rate for farmers with a CARA coefficient of 0.002 is 77 kg/ha in the CARA model and 67 kg/ha in the IPGD model. Compared to the outcome of risk-neutral N usage, risk-averse N usage for a farmer with a CARA coefficient of 0.008 could reduce the uncertainty (standard deviation) of return by 6.2 %, on average, while the expected return decreased by only 1.2 %. ConclusionsBy lowering the N rate, risk-averse farmers would reduce the uncertainty of returns and incur a minor return loss, suggesting the possibility of improving agricultural resilience while also improving N use efficiency. Our analysis also underscores the importance of yearly site-specific N management, given the substantial variation in optimal rates across years and locations. SignificanceThis study provides the foundation for an N application decision framework that considers both weather and price uncertainty. The analysis also demonstrates the potential co-benefit of enhancing agriculture’s climate and market resilience while potentially lowering N losses.

Biochar as a carbon dioxide removal strategy in integrated long-run mitigation scenarios

Limiting global warming to under 2 °C would require stringent mitigation and likely additional carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to compensate for otherwise unabated emissions. Because of its technology readiness, relatively low cost, and potential co-benefits, the application of biochar to soils could be an effective CDR strategy. We use the Global Change Analysis Model, a global multisector model, to analyze biochar deployment in the context of energy system uses of biomass with CDR under different carbon price trajectories. We find that biochar can create an annual sink of up to 2.8 GtCO2 per year, reducing global mean temperature increases by an additional 0.5%–1.8% across scenarios by 2100 for a given carbon price path. In our scenarios, biochar’s deployment is dependent on potential crop yield gains and application rates, and the competition for resources with other CDR measures. We find that biochar can serve as a competitive CDR strategy, especially at lower carbon prices when bioenergy with carbon capture and storage is not yet economical.

The Food, Energy, and Water Nexus through the Lens of Electric Vehicle Adoption and Ethanol Consumption in the United States

The US produces a large share of global biofuels but is unique in using a relatively inefficient biofuel pathway involving corn (maize) for ethanol production. The Renewable Fuel Standards that enshrine this feedstock were intended as a greenhouse gas emissions reduction measure but have had the effect of coupling the food, energy, and, to a lesser extent, water systems. This paper looks at the food–energy–water (FEW) nexus as exemplified by the growth in corn agriculture for internal combustion engine vehicle fuel and how that will likely change as vehicle electrification proceeds and accelerates. Starting with scenarios in which there is a rapid uptake in electric vehicles by 2030 and beyond, we examine the implications for the switch from liquid fuels for transportation in the United States toward electric vehicles (EVs). We find that scenarios in which EV penetration grows rapidly will clearly decrease demand for corn ethanol. Our analysis shows that, with judicious planning, the decrease in corn ethanol demand can have potential positive co-benefits. These co-benefits include reducing stressors on depleting aquifers and nutrient runoff to waterways. Substituting a small fraction of displaced industrial corn–ethanol cropland with large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity can supply a large fraction of the additional electricity needed for EVs. Finally, solar PV generation can ameliorate or even increase income and create more jobs than those lost to the decreased ethanol demand.

A traits-based approach to assess aquaculture’s contributions to food, climate change, and biodiversity goals

Aquaculture has the potential to support a sustainable and equitable food system in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on food security, climate change, and biodiversity (FCB). Biological diversity amongst aquaculture organisms can drive diverse contributions to such goals. Existing studies have assessed the performance of a limited number of taxa in the general context of improving aquaculture production, but few explicitly consider the biological attributes of farmed aquatic taxa at the FCB nexus. Through a systematic literature review, we identify key traits associated with FCB and evaluate the potential of aquaculture to contribute to FCB goals using a fuzzy logic model. The majority of identified traits are associated with food security, and two-thirds of traits linked with food security are also associated with climate change or biodiversity, revealing potential co-benefits of optimizing a single trait. Correlations between FCB indices further suggest that challenges and opportunities in aquaculture are intertwined across FCB goals, but low mean FCB scores suggest that the focus of aquaculture research and development on food production is insufficient to address food security, much less climate or biodiversity issues. As expected, production-maximizing traits (absolute fecundity, the von Bertalanffy growth function coefficient K, macronutrient density, maximum size, and trophic level as a proxy for feed efficiency) highly influence a species’ FCB potential, but so do species preferences for environmental conditions (tolerance to phosphates, nitrates, and pH levels, as well as latitudinal and geographic ranges). Many highly farmed species that are typically associated with food security, especially finfish, score poorly for food, climate, and biodiversity potential. Algae and mollusc species tend to perform well across FCB indices, revealing the importance of non-fish species in achieving FCB goals and potential synergies in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems. Overall, this study provides decision-makers with a biologically informed assessment of desirable aquaculture traits and species while illuminating possible strategies to increase support for FCB goals. Our findings can be used as a foundation for studying the socio-economic opportunities and barriers for aquaculture transitions to develop equitable pathways toward FCB-positive aquaculture across nuanced regional contexts.

Causal inference approaches reveal both positive and negative unintended effects of agricultural and urban management practices on instream biological condition

Agricultural and urban management practices (MPs) are primarily designed and implemented to reduce nutrient and sediment concentrations in streams. However, there is growing interest in determining if MPs produce any unintended positive effects, or co-benefits, to instream biological and habitat conditions. Identifying co-benefits is challenging though because of confounding variables (i.e., those that affect both where MPs are applied and stream biota), which can be accounted for in novel causal inference approaches. Here, we used two causal inference approaches, propensity score matching (PSM) and Bayesian network learning (BNL), to identify potential MP co-benefits in the Chesapeake Bay watershed portion of Maryland, USA. Specifically, we examined how MPs may modify instream conditions that impact fish and macroinvertebrate indices of biotic integrity (IBI) and functional and taxonomic endpoints. We found evidence of positive unintended effects of MPs for both benthic macroinvertebrates and fish indicated by higher IBI scores and specific endpoints like the number of scraper macroinvertebrate taxa and lithophilic spawning fish taxa in a subset of regions. However, our results also suggest MPs have negative unintended effects, especially on sensitive benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and key instream habitat and water quality metrics like specific conductivity. Overall, our results suggest MPs offer co-benefits in some regions and catchments with largely degraded conditions but can have negative unintended effects in some regions, especially in catchments with good biological conditions. We suggest the number and types of MPs drove these mixed results and highlight carefully designed MP implementation that incorporates instream biological data at the catchment scale could facilitate co-benefits to instream biological conditions. Our study underscores the need for more research on identifying effects of individual MP types on instream biological and habitat conditions.

Cancer control co-benefits of the climate-related provisions in the American Inflation Reduction Act.

The American Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 contains climate-related provisions that may have noteworthy implications for cancer control and prevention. This commentary assesses the potential co-benefits of the IRA for cancer control efforts, specifically policies and programs to reduce carcinogen exposure via air quality monitoring and air pollution reduction. Allocations through the IRA for air quality improvement, paired with its environmental justice provisions, hold promise for advancing cancer prevention by targeting resources to communities most susceptible to environmental hazards. Moreover, climate resilience measures dictated by the IRA are crucial for oncology professionals grappling with the dual challenges of climate change and cancer care. Climate-driven extreme weather events can exacerbate carcinogen exposure and disrupt access to cancer care, underscoring the need for resilient health-care infrastructure. The IRA's provisions for clean energy incentives and infrastructure upgrades offer oncology care institutions opportunities to mitigate emissions and bolster resilience against climate-related disruptions, ultimately improving cancer outcomes. Climate-related initiatives funded by the IRA present a unique and timely avenue to advance equitable cancer control efforts. This commentary underscores the critical intersection between climate resilience policy and oncology care, highlighting the potential to promote a healthier and more resilient future for all.

Optimizing the co-benefits of biodiversity and carbon sinks in urban residential yards

Urban green infrastructure is recognized for its potential to combat biodiversity loss and enhance carbon sequestration in cities. While residential yards constitute a significant part of urban green infrastructure, their role in providing urban ecosystem services remains largely understated. There is a lack of systematic measures for effectively implementing urban vegetation to enhance ecosystem services. The aim of this study is to investigate how different vegetation types typically found in urban residential yards of apartment blocks can enhance carbon sequestration and biodiversity, and how these benefits can be supported through landscape design. The study encompasses an integrative literature review and qualitative analysis. Drawing from a review of previous research, this study identifies the drivers that indicate either carbon sink potential or biodiversity enhancement potential of urban vegetation types. The drivers are then cross-examined to identify the qualities of urban green that potentially strengthen carbon–biodiversity co-benefits. As the key findings we present versatile measures to enhance the potential co-benefits of carbon sinks and biodiversity within urban yards and summarize them in three main categories: plant diversity, provision of good growing conditions and maintenance. The study stresses that the several potential co-benefits of urban green can only be achieved through the selection and prioritization of solutions during the planning and design process. To exemplify this, we demonstrate how the findings from the literature review can be incorporated into the design and management of urban yards. We conclude that the main actions to be addressed in the future planning and design of urban residential yards are (i) establishing diverse planting areas with a mixture of woody and herbaceous plants to encourage species richness and complexity, (ii) optimizing the use of space and growth conditions, and, (iii) implementing maintenance practices that consider both carbon and biodiversity aspects. The study highlights that through enhancing carbon-biodiversity co-benefits urban yards can significantly contribute to major environmental challenges and provide vital ecosystem services within the built urban environments.

An umbrella review of health co-benefits from actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

BackgroundThere have been many modelled studies of potential health co-benefits from actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but so far there have been no large-scale attempts to compare the magnitude of health and climate effects across sectors, countries, and study designs. MethodsAs part of the Pathfinder Initiative project an umbrella review of studies was done, and 26 previous reviews were identified with 57 primary studies included. Studies included in the review were required to have quantified changes in greenhouse gas emissions and health effects (or risk factors) from defined actions to reduce climate effects. Study data were extracted and harmonised by standardising impact measures per 100 000 of the national population (or urban population for city-level actions), averaging effects over a 1-year period and aggregating actions into their respective sectors by use of a predefined framework. FindingsFrom 200 mitigation actions, the majority were in the agriculture, forestry, and land use sector (103 actions [52%]), followed by the transport sector (43 actions [22%]). The largest effects on greenhouse gas emissions were seen from actions in the energy sector, and these actions also had substantial health co-benefits in lower middle-income countries, although benefits were smaller in high-income settings. The greatest health benefits were seen from actions to change diets and introduce clean cookstoves. The major pathways to health were through reduced air pollution, healthier diets, and increased physical activity from switching to active travel modes. Effect sizes tended to be larger from national modelling studies and smaller from localised or implemented actions. InterpretationThe potential co-benefits to health from actions to reduce climate change are large, but most evidence still comes from modelling studies and from high-income and middle-income countries. There are also major context-dependent differences in the magnitude of effects found, so actions need to be tailored to the local context and careful attention needs to be paid to potential trade-offs and spillover effects. FundingThe Wellcome Trust and the Oak Foundation.

Assessment of CO2 Co-benefits of Air Pollution Control Policies in Taiyuan's 14th Five-Year Plan

To quantitatively evaluate the co-benefits of air pollution reduction and carbon dioxide reduction of Taiyuan's 14th Five-Year Plan air pollution prevention and control policies, this study used the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Greenhouse Gas-Air Pollution Interaction and Synergy Model (GAINS-JJJ) to simulate and evaluate the emission reduction potential and CO2 co-benefit of 13 air pollution control measures. The emission reductions of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, VOCs, and NH3 in 2025 were 1.8 (5%, compared with that in the baseline scenario), 2.5 (2%), 3.7 (16%), 20.0 (27%), 13.6 (15%), and 0.0 kt (0%), respectively. The reduction in CO2 emissions was 9.0 Mt (13%), whereas CH4 emissions increased by 203.3 kt (25% increase relative to that in the baseline scenario). SO2, NOx, and VOCs emission reductions derived from the power, industrial combustion, and solvent use sectors. CO2 reduction occurred mainly in the industrial combustion sector, and CH4 emission increased mainly due to the increase in coal mining activity. The highest synergistic CO2 reductions were achieved by restricting energy consumption in the high energy-consuming and high-emitting sectors; prohibiting new capacity in the steel, coke, cement, and flat glass industries; and replacing coal-fired power generation with renewable energy. Furthermore, the CO2 reduction co-benefit was highest for VOCs. In addition, this study suggests that promoting the policy of terminal electrification and simultaneously increasing the share of clean energy and the ability to consume renewable energy generation in the power sector are the keys to decreasing the emissions in Taiyuan.

Quantifying the Climate Co-Benefits of Hybrid Renewable Power Generation in Indonesia: A Multi-Regional and Technological Assessment

Quantifying the co-benefits of renewable energy investments can aid policymakers in identifying technologies capable of generating significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to effectively offset mitigation costs. Although there has been a growing body of work evaluating co-benefits, few studies have compared the potential co-benefits of several technologies across different regions in key countries. This study fills this gap by formulating a new modeling structure to assess the environmental–health–economic co-benefits of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) in different parts of Indonesia. The proposed model is unique in that it incorporates various techno-economic activities to assess air quality, health, and economic benefits and then presents results as part of a cost–benefit analysis. From the intervention scenario, the modeling results show that installing 0.5 GW grid-connected solar PV, 100 MW of wind turbines, and a 100 MW biomass generator to cover a total of 1.64 million residential load units in the Bali province can avoid GHGs, PM2.5, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and provide health savings of 1.73 Mt/y, 289.02 t/y, 1648, and 6.16 million USD/y, respectively. In addition, it shows that the payback period is enhanced by one year, while the net present value is increased by 28%. In Jakarta, a 3 GW solar PV plant and a 100 MW biomass generator that supply 5.8 million residential load units can deliver 32,490 averted DALYs and 652.81 million USD/y of health care savings. Nationally, the contribution of renewable energy to the electricity supply mix could grow from the 2020 baseline of 18.85% to 26.93%, reducing dependence on oil and coal contribution by 5.32%.