Reduction Goals Research Articles

Impact of digitization on carbon productivity: an empirical analysis of 136 countries

Enhancing carbon productivity (CP) is key to achieving carbon reduction goals while maintaining economic growth. Digital technology plays a significant role in improving CP. Based on panel data from 136 countries worldwide from 2000 to 2020, this study empirically examines the impact of digitalization on CP and its mechanisms using fixed-effects and mediation models. The conclusions are as follows: (1) Overall, digitalization significantly enhances CP. (2) In terms of the mechanism, digitalization primarily improves CP through technological innovation and mitigating income inequality. (3) In terms of the quantile regression results, as the quantile level of CP increases, the promoting effect of digitalization on CP gradually strengthens. (4) From the perspective of heterogeneity among regions, income levels and human capital levels, digitalization has the greatest promotion effect on carbon productivity in European countries, high-income countries and high human capital countries. This study provides a reference for policymakers worldwide to use digital technology in achieving carbon emission reduction targets.

Synergistic effects of pollutant control: Evidence from China's sulfur dioxide emission control policy

This study investigates the impact of China's national sulfur dioxide emission control policies on carbon dioxide emissions. Using the difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) estimation method, we analyze the synergistic effects of environmental regulations on pollution control and carbon emission reduction. Empirical findings demonstrate that sulfur dioxide emission regulations have a significant effect on reducing firms' carbon dioxide emissions, primarily through energy conservation measures. Furthermore, results reveal variations in the effectiveness of these regulations across different types of firms and regions. Specifically, state-owned and large-scale firms, along with those situated in the eastern and central regions of China, exhibit greater energy-saving and emission-reducing effects in response to the regulations. Notably, these regulations lead to unexpected energy savings and emission reductions without compromising output, highlighting improvements in energy efficiency as a key driver. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing the potential synergies between pollutant control policies and carbon emission reduction goals. To maximize these positive effects, policymakers should prioritize strategies to enhance energy efficiency and tailor environmental regulations to suit the unique characteristics of firms and regions. Overall, this study contributes valuable insights to the development of effective environmental policies in the context of carbon peaking and neutrality objectives of China.

Optimizing Cold Chain Distribution Routes Considering Dynamic Demand: A Low-Emission Perspective

Cold chain logistics, with its high carbon emissions and energy consumption, contradicts the current advocacy for a “low-carbon economy”. Additionally, in the real delivery process, customers often generate dynamic demand, which has the characteristic of being sudden. Therefore, to help cold chain distribution companies achieve energy-saving and emission-reduction goals while also being able to respond quickly to customer needs, this article starts from a low-carbon perspective and constructs a two-stage vehicle distribution route optimization model that minimizes transportation costs and refrigeration costs, alongside carbon emissions costs. This research serves to minimize the above-mentioned costs while also ensuring a quick response to customer demands and achieving the goals of energy conservation and emission reduction. During the static stage, in order to determine the vehicle distribution scheme, an enhanced genetic algorithm is adopted. During the dynamic optimization stage, a strategy of updating key time points is employed to address the dynamic demand from customers. By comparing the dynamic optimization strategy with the strategy of dispatching additional vehicles, it is demonstrated that the presented model is capable of achieving an overall cost reduction of approximately 17.13%. Notably, carbon emission costs can be reduced by around 17.11%. This demonstrates that the dynamic optimization strategy effectively reduces the usage of distribution vehicles and lowers distribution costs.

Numerical investigations of transient thermal loading of steam turbines for SMR plants

One of the well-known technologies that fit well into the goal of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is nuclear energy. In particular, the change in approach to the design and construction of nuclear power plants led to the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which are characterized by a broader range of possible applications than large nuclear reactors and the ability to flexibly operate as per load demand. This paper presents an analysis of the thermal loads of a steam turbine rotor operating in a power plant with SMR. Steam-water cycle and turbine train of a 300 MW unit are presented. High-pressure steam turbine rotor and its thermal loading due to varying steam conditions are investigated for a cold startup designed with consideration of the thermal characteristics of nuclear reactors. It was shown by numerical simulations that steam condensation on rotor surfaces plays a crucial role in determining its thermal behaviour. Comparison with conventional rotors has shown that the thermal loading of nuclear turbine rotors is lower and more stable than that of conventional turbines.

IMPACT OF GREEN CAMPUS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS ON EMISSION REDUCTION TARGET 2030

The effects of climate change on the environment, human health, and economy are significant. Global warming and climate change are primarily caused by emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. In response, Sebelas Maret University, an Indonesian higher education institution located in Surakarta, Central Java, established the Emission-Free Day, held on the first Friday of every month beginning in July 2020. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the Emission-Free Day in achieving 2030 emission reduction goals. This study analyzes the effect of the Emission-Free Day on reducing emissions from motorized vehicles on college campuses. The Tier-1 method, applying emission factors from the Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventory published in 2006 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), was used to estimate the emission reduction. The findings indicate that while the Zero Emissions Program aligns with the Sebelas Maret University Green Campus Policy, its contribution to the 2030 emission reduction targets specified in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is negligible. Additional measures are required to enhance emission reduction efforts, such as the establishment of a Centralized Parking Facility, the implementation of an RFID card system to restrict vehicle access to the campus, the introduction of a ridesharing program, the provision of employee shuttle services, and the promotion of the use of public transportation. These attempts will support global emission reduction efforts and significantly contribute to achieving NDC targets. The study emphasizes the significance of instituting a variety of complementary programs to effectively combat emissions from motorized vehicles and promote a sustainable and low-carbon campus environment.

LNG as a bridge fuel in the transition to renewable energy: A global perspective

The global energy landscape stands at the precipice of transformation, with a growing consensus on the imperative to shift towards sustainable and renewable sources. Amidst this transition, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) emerges as a pivotal bridge fuel, strategically positioned to facilitate the journey towards renewable energy. This review encapsulates the essence of the comprehensive review, delving into the global perspective on LNG's role as a bridge fuel in the renewable energy transition. The narrative unfolds with a contextualization of the pressing need for a renewable energy transition, acknowledging the escalating environmental concerns and the imperative to reduce carbon footprints. It then seamlessly transitions to the concept of LNG as a bridge fuel, elucidating its capacity to serve as a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels and its role in mitigating the challenges associated with intermittent renewable energy sources. Examining LNG's significance on a global scale, the review navigates through key aspects. It scrutinizes the environmental considerations and carbon reduction goals that position LNG as a pragmatic choice in the decarbonization journey. The analysis extends to policy factors influencing LNG demand, unraveling the intricate tapestry of governmental initiatives supporting its adoption and the dynamic interplay with renewable energy policies. Economic drivers take center stage in the exploration of LNG's role as a bridge fuel. The review investigates the cost competitiveness, market dynamics, and the industrial demand propelling its consumption. The comprehensive examination encompasses the expansion of global LNG production capacity, featuring key exporting nations and the technological innovations transforming LNG production processes. Regional dynamics further enrich the narrative, providing insights into LNG's impact on major economies across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. The review culminates in a nuanced exploration of the geopolitical implications surrounding LNG trade, emphasizing its role in geopolitical events, trade agreements, and potential risks for stakeholders. In essence, this review serves as a guide to stakeholders, policymakers, and industry players navigating the complex interplay between LNG and renewable energy in the global quest for a sustainable energy future.

Optimization of Cutting Large Amounts of Dense Material

The effective operation of any manufacturing enterprise cannot be achieved without optimal allocation of available resources. Efficient distribution of input materials, entering production, and procurement costs are significant parts of production costs. One of the primary requirements to ensure a given company's production efficiency and competitive capability is its optimization. An area within this context is the distribution of, for instance, dense material required for constructing concrete structures such as bridges, roads, buildings, and more. When cutting dense material, it is necessary to create a plan for optimal cutting to minimize waste. This paper aims to create a methodology for optimizing the cutting of metal rods with the goal of waste reduction. The software MS Excel and Python solutions have been developed and used based on the methods employed. The computed solutions can serve as a foundation for creating a data repository, which holds information about purchased materials and realized production and material remnants that can be utilized in subsequent cutting. Elements of the data repository will encompass cutting plans and remnants resulting from the implementation of calculated cutting plans. The data repository enables a multidimensional view for managing the cutting process.

Study of Gas Film Cooling under Large Eddy Simulation: Effect of Forward and Backward Injection on Gas Turbine Cooling Efficiency and Stability

In the design of advanced gas turbines, improving thermal efficiency and power output is crucial achieve energy saving and emission reduction goals. This necessitates raising the inlet temperature, thereby highlighting the importance developing efficient cooling technologies to ensure the longevity of hot components. Gas film cooling, as a widely used traditional cooling method, is subject to the influence of fluid dynamic characteristics, especially in unstable operating environments such as pressure fluctuations in the upstream combustion chamber and interactions between stators and rotors. This study utilized large eddy simulation to analyze the effectiveness of trench film cooling under such unstable conditions, with a specific focus on the time-averaged and transient characteristics of forward and backward injection of cooling air. The study investigated the efficacy of film cooling under pulsating flow conditions, with a blowing ratio of 1.5 under steady-state conditions, utilizing cosine and square waves as pulse boundaries, and a Strouhal number of 0.254. The research findings reveal that: 1) Contrary to the results under steady-state conditions, pulsating reverse injection led to a reduction of over 15% in time-averaged cooling efficiency and a noticeable decrease in the film coverage area compared to forward injection; this phenomenon is determined by the different flow mechanisms under steady-state and pulsating states. 2) Under a certain blowing ratio, the instability of gas film cooling is induced by the temporal fluctuations of near-wall vortices, which could result in rapid temperature changes and component failures. For pulsating forward injection, additional high film cooling unsteadiness outside the slot membrane orifices was observed. In the case of backward injection, pulsations did not lead to a significant increase in instability. These research findings provide a deeper understanding of the impact of gas film cooling on the cooling efficiency and stability of gas turbines, enabling gas film cooling technology to meet the inlet temperature requirements of advanced gas turbines, thereby reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the achievement of China's dual carbon goals.

Effects of speech rate modifications on phonatory acoustic outcomes in Parkinson's disease.

Speech rate reduction is a global speech therapy approach for speech deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD) that has the potential to result in changes across multiple speech subsystems. While the overall goal of rate reduction is usually improvements in speech intelligibility, not all people with PD benefit from this approach. Speech rate is often targeted as a means of improving articulatory precision, though less is known about rate-induced changes in other speech subsystems that could help or hinder communication. The purpose of this study was to quantify phonatory changes associated with speech rate modification across a broad range of speech rates from very slow to very fast in talkers with and without PD. Four speaker groups participated: younger and older healthy controls, and people with PD with and without deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS). Talkers read aloud standardized sentences at 7 speech rates elicited using magnitude production: habitual, three slower rates, and three faster rates. Acoustic measures of speech intensity, cepstral peak prominence, and fundamental frequency were measured as a function of speech rate and group. Overall, slower rates of speech were associated with differential effects on phonation across the four groups. While all talkers spoke at a lower pitch in slow speech, younger talkers showed increases in speech intensity and cepstral peak prominence, while talkers with PD and STN-DBS showed the reverse pattern. Talkers with PD without STN-DBS and older healthy controls behaved in between these two extremes. At faster rates, all groups uniformly demonstrated increases in cepstral peak prominence. While speech rate reductions are intended to promote positive changes in articulation to compensate for speech deficits in dysarthria, the present results highlight that undesirable changes may be invoked across other subsystems, such as at the laryngeal level. In particular, talkers with STN-DBS, who often demonstrate speech deterioration following DBS surgery, demonstrated more phonatory detriments at slowed speech rates. Findings have implications for speech rate candidacy considerations and speech motor control processes in PD.

Modeling the impact of future rainfall changes on the effectiveness of urban stormwater control measures

The convergence of urban expansion, deteriorating infrastructure, and a changing climate will escalate the risks of stormwater pollution and urban flooding in the coming decades. Using outputs from an ensemble of global climate models to drive a high spatial resolution stormwater model, we analyzed climate change impacts on urban stormwater runoff and control measures for 23 cities across the United States. Runoff model outputs for two future emissions scenarios ending in 2055 were compared against a historical scenario to assess changes. All cities showed increases in average annual stormwater runoff, with changes up to 30% over the next 30 years due to a greater frequency of high intensity storm events. Runoff model outputs showed substantial variation across cities with untreated stormwater runoff increasing by as much as 48%. Patterns of future runoff impacts within cities will affect the performance of distributed treatment strategies such as Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) to meet municipal water quality improvement and runoff reduction goals. Results indicate that adoption of adaptable design standards and decision support tools that readily accommodate projected precipitation changes are critical for supporting more resilient designs of stormwater control measures.

Linking optical data and nitrates in the Lower Mississippi River to enable satellite‐based monitoring of nutrient reduction goals

AbstractHypoxic zones and associated nitrate pollution from farms, cities and industrial facilities is driving declines in water quality that affect ecosystems, economies and human health in major rivers and coastal areas worldwide. In the Mississippi River, the United States Environmental Protection Agency set a goal of reducing nitrogen loading 20% by 2025, but estimating progress towards this goal is difficult because data from in‐stream gauges and laboratory samples are too sparse. Satellites have the potential to provide sufficient data across the Mississippi River, if a key methodological challenge can be overcome. Satellites provide data from visible light, but nitrates are only observable with ultraviolet light. We address this methodological challenge by using a two‐step surrogate modelling procedure to link optical data and nitrates in the Lower Mississippi River. First, we correlate in situ nitrate measurements to common water quality parameters, particularly turbidity and chlorophyll, using data from water sensors installed at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, and a long‐term dataset from Louisiana State University. Second, we correlate these water quality data to satellite estimates of water quality parameters. We found a correlation between these water quality parameters and nitrate concentrations, as indicated by a coefficient of determination, when the relationship was viewed in nonlinear parameter space. The spatial extent of the correlation was tested with an upstream nitrate sensor 140 km north of the estimation location. These results provide proof of concept that we can develop models that use satellite data to provide large‐scale monitoring of nitrates across the Mississippi River Basin and other impaired rivers, globally.

Analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution and drivers of net carbon efficiency of plantations in China

With the increasing severity of global warming, the goal of carbon sequestration and emission reduction in various industries has become an important responsibility for sustainable development. As an important part of carbon sink, the improvement of net carbon efficiency in the plantations industry will make a great contribution to the realization of the “double carbon” target in agriculture. However, there are large spatial and temporal differences in the net carbon efficiency of the plantations sector in various provinces, and there is still a large scope for increasing carbon sink and reducing carbon emission. In this paper, we have analyzed spatial and temporal trends in the net carbon sink efficiency of the plantations' production processes in 31 provinces in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) from 2000 to 2020. On this basis, we have analyzed the influencing factors of net carbon efficiency in the plantations' production process through an extended Kaya constant equation. Through the geographically and temporally weighted regression model, we explore the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the influencing factors, and further analyze the driving and restraining factors of net carbon efficiency in plantations' production process, in order to propose appropriate countermeasures. The study shows that: (1) The net carbon efficiency of plantations sector in China increase between 2000 and 2020, and the development of net carbon efficiency is uneven across regions. (2) The geographic center of net carbon efficiency of China's plantations industry shift from the northeast to the southwest and is consistent with the migration direction of agricultural inputs. (3) The influencing factors of net carbon efficiency in the plantations sector show large regional differences, and can be specifically divided into four major types of zones. In this regard, this paper provides more appropriate countermeasure suggestions for increasing carbon sink and reducing carbon emission in each zone, with a view to achieving the goal of double carbon in agriculture with practical significance.

Examining the Carbon Management Strategies of Diebold Nixdorf

Carbon management is imperative to curb global temperature increases and mitigating climate change impacts. This report explores the carbon management strategies employed by Diebold Nixdorf, a multinational financial and retail technology company. <strong>As </strong>of 2021, the company has not established specific reduction targets and has not committed to achieving net zero emissions. The company employs diverse carbon reduction strategies, such as carbon offsetting, solar energy, and fleet improvements, with notable projects like the "green roof" initiative and a tree planting program contributing to carbon offsetting. Despite a gradual reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions since 2015 and notable decreases in energy consumption and natural gas emissions from 2020 to 2021, Diebold Nixdorf falls short in revenue-adjusted emissions compared to competitors. Critical challenges within Diebold Nixdorf's carbon management strategies revolve around controversies related to carbon offsetting and uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of specific initiatives. Although an improved Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) score and efforts in product sustainability showcase progress, the lack of specific targets remains a notable pitfall. The potential misuse of green labelling, considering significant carbon emissions from products, adds complexity to Diebold Nixdorf's carbon management approach. This report underscores the imperative need for substantial enhancements in the company's carbon management practices, emphasising a realignment of values and a firm commitment to carbon reduction and net-zero goals in response to the severity of the climate crisis.

IMPROVEMENT OF CRAFT WORK PRODUCTION THROUGH PROMOTION OF CREATIVITY IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: AN IMPERATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

This paper discussed the importance of improving craft work production through promoting creativity in entrepreneurship. The problems facing the country which include high rate of poverty; youth and graduate unemployment; and low economic growth among others can be reduced if craftwork production through promoting creativity in entrepreneurship is improved and encouraged. This paper therefore argues that equipping individuals and the nation at large with improved craftwork skills will make them self-reliant and employers of labour. This will go a long way in helping the country achieve the first sustainable development goal of poverty reduction. The different approaches for promoting creativity in the craft world market were discussed. Various ways craft world market can grow to encourage craft work production was therefore recommended among others.

From subsistence to market-oriented farming: The role of groundwater irrigation in smallholder agriculture in eastern India

Empowering smallholder farmers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and improving their livelihood is a critical goal for poverty reduction. To achieve this, agricultural commercialization can play an important role. However, a prerequisite to achieving agricultural commercialization is access and control of stable irrigation. This study revisits empirically the relationship between groundwater irrigation and crop commercialization. It also analyses the underlying mechanisms of how groundwater affects crop commercialization through on-farm production diversity. Studying the effects of groundwater irrigation on crop commercialization is essential for comprehending the trade-off between agricultural benefits and the environmental costs of groundwater irrigation. Geospatial and remote sensing information, combined with primary household data from small-scale farmers in eastern India, are employed in conjunction with an instrumental variable technique and a 3SLS simultaneous equation model for the analysis. The results suggest that small-scale farmers in eastern India experience enhanced crop commercialization when they have access to groundwater irrigation. Furthermore, the study suggests that the utilization of groundwater irrigation indirectly promotes crop commercialization by incentivizing farmers to diversify their production system.

Managing Coins for Depository Institutions in Coin Supply Chains for Improved Circulation

We study the U.S. Coin Supply Chain from both the demand and supply side perspectives to improve coin circulation in the economy. More specifically, we provide an operating policy for Depository Institutions (DIs) to improve their efficiency in packaging, distributing, coordinating, and managing the inventory of coins. We further propose a new policy (via a Rewards Program) to increase coin circulation in the economy and optimally determine a reward price, which, if implemented by the Federal Reserve System (FRS), can incentivize DIs to process the coins themselves and/or frequently deposit excess coins at the FRS. We identify the structures of DIs’ best response to the reward price and FRS’s optimal pricing policy. The results and insights developed in this study can be beneficial to both the FRS and DIs in increasing the efficiency of the nation’s coin circulation and thereby reducing their operating costs. Additionally, to estimate the societal benefit from the Rewards Program, we formulate the coin flow for an entire FRS region as an optimization problem from the supply side perspective and quantify the societal costs (and benefits) with and without the reward. We show via numerical experiments that both the FRS and Dis reduce their operating costs as a result of the program and produce a surplus benefit for the society. The reward price that maximizes this surplus is determined optimally. We also propose a robust optimization framework to help DIs and the FRS to manage their inventory under uncertain demand while attaining their cost reduction goals.

Emissions Reduction Target Plan and Export Product Quality: Evidence from China’s 11th Five-Year Plan

Determining how environmental policy affects export competitiveness is essential for achieving win–win objectives in environmental governance and trade development. We examine whether and how China’s emissions reduction policy declines the firm’s export product quality during the 11th five-year plan via the difference-in-difference-in-difference method. The main findings of this paper are as follows: (i) Compared with less polluting industries, the export production quality declines 5.74% and 3.31%, respectively, as the pollution reduction targets of SO2 and chemical oxygen demand (COD) are set 1 unit higher in more polluting industries. (ii) The negative effect is greater in Western regions as well as state-owned firms. (iii) Local officials facing promotion pressure are more incentivized to raise emissions reduction goals, as well as greater increasing emissions abatement costs, thus leading to greater declines in export quality. However, the innovation compensation effect still remains. (iv) The negative effects can be mitigated through product switching that contributes to resource allocation within firms towards their core products, or executing the first-mover advantage in response to the emissions reduction plan.

Environmental goal misalignment between logistics service providers and shippers: An analytical perspective

Two critical questions arise in the context of mounting pressures to reduce carbon emissions from freight transportation. Is it possible to reconcile the emissions reductions goals of shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs)? How do factors such as consumer preferences, eco-efficiency, carbon tax policy, and sharing of green investment cost affect target emissions levels? We address these questions using game theory to model shippers and LSPs as economic agents, thereby gaining insight into how the carbon intensity of freight delivery operations can be reduced. Our novel contributions include (1) models that consider both the shipper’s and the LSP’s interests, and in particular the gap between their preferred environmental performance levels; and (2) a methodologically rigorous explanation why, as empirical studies suggest, LSPs and shippers rarely agree on how to share responsibility for environmental initiatives, or who should pay a carbon tax.

Challenges in implementing climate change policy within local climate action, transportation and land use planning in Japan

Climate change poses substantial challenges to policy implementation and planning at scales ranging from local to global. This study examines the effectiveness and challenges of implementing climate change policy, particularly in local climate action planning and implementation in Japan, focusing on the transportation and land use planning fields. It specifically asks questions about the efficacy of local governments’ practices and efforts in realising national carbon reduction goals, measures taken by local governments, and hurdles in implementation experienced by them. The study found several significant challenges in which local governments tend to meet procedural requirements but leave substantial uncertainty in the efficacy of their local climate action planning and implementation. The article calls for more stringent regulations and mandates, more robust initiatives and guidance considering the diverse local conditions, combined with better coordination among the ministries, for more effective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction.

Numerical and Experimental Study on Preheating Burner Characteristics for Peak Shaving

With the proportion of renewable energy power in the electricity market gradually increasing, coal-fired power is transforming from primary to basic power, with it providing peak and frequency shaving. However, most current methods for peaking below 50% load have been applied industrially, sacrificing the efficiency of the unit. This is not in line with the goals of energy conservation and emission reduction. Therefore, this study proposes a new preheating-based peaking method. This study experimentally and simulatively explores the flow characteristics, pyrolysis gas law, and NOx emission characteristics of a preheating burner at 40–100% load. The results show that the burner has a significant preheating effect, producing high-temperature char and large amounts of pyrolysis gas. As the load decreases, the burner exit temperature increases, whereas the airflow stiffness decreases. There is little variation in the pyrolysis gas concentration between 40% and 100% loads. The NOx concentration at the burner outlet increases and the reduction efficiency decreases with decreasing load. At 40% load, NOx emissions are 91.53 mg/Nm3 and the reduction efficiency reaches 95.9%. Therefore, preheating is an economical, stable, and low-NOx-emission-peaking method. This study provides theoretical guidance for the application of preheating burners for the 40–100% load peaking of coal-fired units.