Reduction Of Global CO2 Emissions Research Articles

Integration of Geospatial Tools and Multi-source Geospatial Data to Evaluate the Tropical Forest Cover Change in Central America and Its Methodological Replicability in Brazil and the DRC

Satellite monitoring of forests plays a relevant role in the agendas of tropical countries, mainly in the framework of international negotiations to implement a mechanism that ensures a reduction in global CO2 emissions from deforestation. An efficient way to approach this monitoring is to avoid duplication of efforts, generating products in a regional context that are subsequently adopted at the national level. In this effort, you should take advantage of the different data sources available by integrating geospatial tools and satellite image classification algorithms. In this research, a methodological framework was developed to generate cost-efficient national maps of forest cover and its dynamics for the countries of Central America, and its scalability and replicability was explored in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the State of Pará in Brazil. The maps were generated from Landsat images from the years 2000, 2012, and 2017. New geoprocessing elements have been incorporated into the digital classification procedures for satellite images, such as the automated extraction of training samples from secondary sources, the use of official national reference maps that respond to nationally adopted forest definitions, and automation of post-classification adjustments incorporating expert criteria. The applied regional approach offers advantages in terms of reducing costs and time, as well as improving the consistency and coherence of reports at different territorial levels (regional and national), reducing duplication of efforts and optimizing technical and financial resources. In Central America, the percentage of forest area decreased from 44% in 2000 to 38% in 2017. Average deforestation in the 2000–2012 period was 197,443 ha/year and that of 2012–2017 was 332,243 ha/year. Average deforestation for the complete period 2000–2017 was 264,843 ha/year. The tropical forests in both the State of Pará, Brazil, and the DRC have decreased over time.

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from national climate legislation

The international response to climate change has been inadequate, but not zero. There are 1,800 climate change laws worldwide. We use panel data on legislative activity in 133 countries over the period 1999–2016 to identify statistically the short-term and long-term impact of climate legislation. Each new law reduces annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 0.78% nationally in the short term (during the first three years) and by 1.79% in the long term (beyond three years). The results are driven by parliamentary acts and by countries with a strong rule of law. In 2016, current climate laws were associated with an annual reduction in global CO2 emissions of 5.9 GtCO2, more than the US CO2 output that year. Cumulative CO2 emissions savings from 1999 to 2016 amount to 38 GtCO2, or one year’s worth of global CO2 output. The impact on other greenhouse gases is much lower. Climate change laws are shown to reduce national CO2 emissions by 0.78% in their first three years and 1.79% in the longer term. These reductions add up to 38 GtCO2 of avoided emissions for 1999–2016—equal to a year of CO2 emissions.

The Lancet–Chatham House Commission on improving population health post COVID-19

The Lancet–Chatham House Commission on improving population health post COVID-19

Fighting carbon leakage through consumption-based carbon emissions policies: Empirical analysis based on the World Trade Model with Bilateral Trades

Policy initiatives towards reduction of CO2 emissions implemented so far are grounded on the so-called Production-Based paradigm: this approach allocates responsibility of emissions to countries that directly caused such emissions, without taking into account all the indirect contributions to CO2 emissions caused outside country’s borders, eventually leading to the so-called carbon leakage phenomenon. In this paper, the alternative Consumption-Based approach is proposed, and its effectiveness assessed: according to this approach, policy initiatives allocates responsibility for CO2 emissions proportionally to the CO2 emissions embedded in goods and services required by industries as inputs for production. Global environmental and economic consequences of carbon emissions reduction policies, applied at the European level based on both Production- and Consumption-Based paradigms, are comparatively assessed based on the World Trade Model with Bilateral Trades. Results of this study suggest that defining CO2 emissions policies based on a Consumption-Based paradigm seems to be the most effective way to reduce the global carbon emissions, avoiding the carbon leakage phenomenon which may occur in economies regulated by Production-Based policies. Indeed, an imposed reduction in CO2 emissions embedded in EU final demand through a Consumption-Based Accounting policy would result in a global CO2 emissions reduction up to almost 1.2 Gton. On the other hand, an imposed reduction in direct EU CO2 emissions according to a PBA approach would result in an overall increase in global carbon emissions up to almost 0.8 Gton.

Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 forced confinement

Government policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have drastically altered patterns of energy demand around the world. Many international borders were closed and populations were confined to their homes, which reduced transport and changed consumption patterns. Here we compile government policies and activity data to estimate the decrease in CO2 emissions during forced confinements. Daily global CO2 emissions decreased by –17% (–11 to –25% for ±1σ) by early April 2020 compared with the mean 2019 levels, just under half from changes in surface transport. At their peak, emissions in individual countries decreased by –26% on average. The impact on 2020 annual emissions depends on the duration of the confinement, with a low estimate of –4% (–2 to –7%) if prepandemic conditions return by mid-June, and a high estimate of –7% (–3 to –13%) if some restrictions remain worldwide until the end of 2020. Government actions and economic incentives postcrisis will likely influence the global CO2 emissions path for decades. COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns have altered global energy demands. Using government confinement policies and activity data, daily CO2 emissions have decreased by ~17% to early April 2020 against 2019 levels; annual emissions could be down by 7% (4%) if normality returns by year end (mid-June).

Saving less in China facilitates global CO2 mitigation

Transforming China’s economic growth pattern from investment-driven to consumption-driven can significantly change global CO2 emissions. This study is the first to analyse the impacts of changes in China’s saving rates on global CO2 emissions both theoretically and empirically. Here, we show that the increase in the saving rates of Chinese regions has led to increments of global industrial CO2 emissions by 189 million tonnes (Mt) during 2007–2012. A 15-percentage-point decrease in the saving rate of China can lower global CO2 emissions by 186 Mt, or 0.7% of global industrial CO2 emissions. Greener consumption in China can lead to a further 14% reduction in global industrial CO2 emissions. In particular, decreasing the saving rate of Shandong has the most massive potential for global CO2 reductions, while that of Inner Mongolia has adverse effects. Removing economic frictions to allow the production system to fit China’s increased consumption can facilitate global CO2 mitigation.

CO2 mineralization and utilization by alkaline solid wastes for potential carbon reduction

CO2 mineralization and utilization using alkaline solid wastes has been rapidly developed over the last ten years and is considered one of the promising technologies to stabilize solid wastes while combating global warming. Despite the publication of a number of reports evaluating the performance of the processes, no study on the estimation of the global CO2 reduction potential by CO2 mineralization and utilization using alkaline solid wastes has been reported. Here, we estimate global CO2 mitigation potentials facilitated by CO2 mineralization and utilization as a result of accelerated carbonation using various types of alkaline solid wastes in different regions of the world. We find that a substantial amount of CO2 (that is, 4.02 Gt per year) could be directly fixed and indirectly avoided by CO2 mineralization and utilization, corresponding to a reduction in global anthropogenic CO2 emissions of 12.5%. In particular, China exhibits the greatest potential worldwide to implement CO2 mineralization and utilization, where it would account for a notable reduction of up to 19.2% of China’s annual total emissions. Our study reveals that CO2 mineralization and utilization using alkaline solid wastes should be regarded as one of the essential green technologies in the portfolio of strategic global CO2 mitigation. CO2 mineralization and utilization via alkaline solid wastes shows promise for both stabilizing solid waste and tackling climate change, but evidence of its actual CO2 reduction potential is scant. This study estimates that CO2 mineralization and utilization could lead to a 12.5% global reduction of CO2 emissions.

Nitrogen and sulfur dual-doped high-surface-area hollow carbon nanospheres for efficient CO2 reduction

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) can substantially contribute to the production of useful chemicals and reduction of global CO2 emissions. Herein, we presented N and S dual-doped high-surface-area carbon materials (SZ-HCN) as CO2RR catalysts. N and S were doped by one-step pyrolysis of a N-containing polymer and S powder. ZnCl2 was applied as a volatile porogen to prepare porous SZ-HCN. SZ-HCN with a high specific surface area (1510 m2 g−g1) exhibited efficient electrocatalytic activity and selectivity for CO2RR. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that SZ-HCN showed excellent catalytic performance for CO2-to-CO reduction with a high CO Faradaic efficiency (~93%) at −0.6 V. Furthermore, SZ-HCN offered a stable current density and high CO selectivity over at least 20 h continuous operation, revealing remarkable electrocatalytic durability. The experimental results and density functional theory calculations indicated that N and S dual-doped carbon materials required lower Gibbs free energy to form the COOH* intermediate than that for single-N-doped carbon for CO2-to-CO reduction, thereby enhancing CO2RR activity.

Climate Change, Human Impacts, and Coastal Ecosystems in the Anthropocene.

Coastal zones, the world's most densely populated regions, are increasingly threatened by climate change stressors - rising and warming seas, intensifying storms and droughts, and acidifying oceans. Although coastal zones have been affected by local human activities for centuries, how local human impacts and climate change stressors may interact to jeopardize coastal ecosystems remains poorly understood. Here we provide a review on interactions between climate change and local human impacts (e.g., interactions between sea level rise and anthropogenic land subsidence, which are forcing Indonesia to relocate its capital city) in the coastal realm. We highlight how these interactions can impair and, at times, decimate a variety of coastal ecosystems, and examine how understanding and incorporating these interactions can reshape theory on climate change impacts and ecological resilience. We further discuss implications of interactions between climate change and local human impacts for coastal conservation and elucidate the context when and where local conservation is more likely to buffer the impacts of climate change, attempting to help reconcile the growing debate about whether to shift much of the investment in local conservation to global CO2 emission reductions. Our review underscores that an enhanced understanding of interactions between climate change and local human impacts is of profound importance to improving predictions of climate change impacts, devising climate-smart conservation actions, and helping enhance adaption of coastal societies to climate change in the Anthropocene.

Market segmentation and urban CO2 emissions in China: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta region

As the largest CO2 emitter in the world, China plays a crucial role in global CO2 emission reduction. Meanwhile, as the largest developing country, China gives top priority to economic development, especially balanced regional development. In order to narrow regional development inequality, China has formulated some economic zone plannings to weaken market segmentation. However, existing studies pay little attention to the impacts of intra-national trade barrier on CO2 emissions within China. This is the first study to investigate the impact of market segmentation on urban CO2 emissions in China, taking the Yangtze River Delta region as a sample that is the most developed region with a high economic integration in China. Using a city-level panel data set during the period of 1995–2014 and the fixed effect model, we verify the nonlinear relationship between market segmentation and urban CO2 emissions measured by three indicators, i.e., total CO2 emissions, per capita CO2 emissions and CO2 emissions per unit of GDP. We also use the generalized method of moments (GMM) to control the endogeneity problem, and further adopt the threshold regression model to check the robustness of the baseline results. The results show that there is a U-shaped curve relationship between market segmentation and urban CO2 emissions. A low level of market segmentation restrains CO2 emissions, while a high level of market segmentation promotes CO2 emissions. This finding is helpful to understand CO2 emission trends and narrow regional economic inequality accompanied with the implementation of China's economic zone plannings.

Global CO2 emission reduction policies and West African electricity system: Case for transformational access

Based on the UN Human Development Index, the West African sub-region holds one of lowest indices in development around the world. There is a glaring need for the sub-region to increase its electricity capacity; however, stringent global CO2 policies have ‘choking’ effects on the growth of the electricity sector in energy deprived countries, like the West African Member States. This study examines the West Africa electric power sector under a range of technological, economic, and policy-related uncertainties, positing that there is the need to frame policies from the premise of ‘need’ rather than a ‘circumstantial’ perspective, which, in this study, relates to the global policies on CO2 emission reduction. Though CO2 is the inevitable by-product of combusting fossil fuels to generate electricity, it should also be viewed from the perspective of its significant benefits as regards provision of social welfare of individuals. This study evaluated the broad strategies in policy formulation and implementation (top-down versus bottom-up analysis) and applied these strategies to examine investment decision versus pricing regime and electricity system value chain (upstream versus downstream analysis). System dynamics principles were used to forecast what future consumption will look like, which shows that there would be marked increase in demand followed by increased emission without intervention. This study concludes that global CO2 policy would need to be re-considered such that energy deprived countries, like those in West Africa, would be able to implement a sustainable development agenda through growth strategy of bottom-up approach to ‘free’ their electricity system for improved living standard, irrespective of climate change issues.

Optimal Energy Taxes and Subsidies under a Cost-Effective Unilateral Climate Policy: Addressing Carbon Leakage

We analyze how a country pursuing a unilateral climate policy may contribute to a reduction in global CO2 emissions in a cost-effective way. To do so its system of energy taxes and subsidies must account for leakage of emissions from the domestic to the foreign economy. We focus on leakage occurring via international trade in electricity and via shifts between domestic and foreign production of other goods. The optimal tax-subsidy scheme is based on an intuitive principle: Impose a uniform carbon tax on all additions to global emissions caused by changes in domestic production and consumption of energy, including additions to emissions occurring via shifts in international trade. Emissions from the sector exposed to foreign competition should be taxed at reduced rates to avoid excessive carbon leakage, and a part of the carbon tax on electricity should be levied at the consumer rather than the producer level to ensure taxation of the carbon content of imported electricity. Producers of renewables-based electricity should receive a subsidy to internalize their contribution to the reduction of global emissions. In other sectors emissions should be taxed at a uniform rate corresponding to the marginal social cost of meeting the target for emissions reduction. Simulations calibrated to data for the Danish economy suggest that redesigning energy taxes and subsidies to account for carbon leakage can generate a welfare gain.

Peanut Shell for Energy: Properties and Its Potential to Respect the Environment

The peanut (Arachys hypogaea) is a plant of the Fabaceae family (legumes), as are chickpeas, lentils, beans, and peas. It is originally from South America and is used mainly for culinary purposes, in confectionery products, or as a nut as well as for the production of biscuits, breads, sweets, cereals, and salads. Also, due to its high percentage of fat, peanuts are used for industrialized products such as oils, flours, inks, creams, lipsticks, etc. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistical yearbook in 2016, the production of peanuts was 43,982,066 t, produced in 27,660,802 hectares. Peanuts are grown mainly in Asia, with a global production rate of 65.3%, followed by Africa with 26.2%, the Americas with 8.4%, and Oceania with 0.1%. The peanut industry is one of the main generators of agroindustrial waste (shells). This residual biomass (25–30% of the total weight) has a high energy content that is worth exploring. The main objectives of this study are, firstly, to evaluate the energy parameters of peanut shells as a possible solid biofuel applied as an energy source in residential and industrial heating installations. Secondly, different models are analysed to estimate the higher heating value (HHV) for biomass proposed by different scientists and to determine which most accurately fits the determination of this value for peanut shells. Thirdly, we evaluate the reduction in global CO2 emissions that would result from the use of peanut shells as biofuel. The obtained HHV of peanut shells (18.547 MJ/kg) is higher than other biomass sources evaluated, such as olive stones (17.884 MJ/kg) or almond shells (18.200 MJ/kg), and similar to other sources of biomass used at present for home and industrial heating applications. Different prediction models of the HHV value proposed by scientists for different types of biomass have been analysed and the one that best fits the calculation for the peanut shell has been determined. The CO2 reduction that would result from the use of peanut shells as an energy source has been evaluated in all production countries, obtaining values above 0.5 ‰ of their total emissions.

Reduction in global area burned and wildfire emissions since 1930s enhances carbon uptake by land

The terrestrial biosphere currently absorbs about 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This carbon uptake over land results primarily from vegetation’s response to increasing atmospheric CO2 but other factors also play a role. Here we show that since the 1930s increasing population densities and cropland area have decreased global area burned, consistent with the charcoal record and recent satellite-based observations. The associated reduced wildfire emissions from increase in cropland area do not enhance carbon uptake since natural vegetation that is spared burning was deforested anyway. However, reduction in fire CO2 emissions due to fire suppression and landscape fragmentation associated with increases in population density is calculated to enhance land carbon uptake by 0.13 Pg C yr−1, or ~19% of the global land carbon uptake (0.7 ± 0.6 Pg C yr−1), for the 1960–2009 period. These results identify reduction in global wildfire CO2 emissions as yet another mechanism that is currently enhancing carbon uptake over land.

Conceptual Study on Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicle Integration in smart grids

Smart grid technology plays an important role in the efficient use of distributed energy resources. With the increasing global CO2 emission rate and reduction in cost of renewable energy power systems, opportunities for renewable energy systems to address electricity generation seems to be increasing. To achieve commercialization and adoption for the local independent user, an understanding of the technologies involved as well as their implication is necessary. This paper presents a study on the smart grid challenges, technologies involved, and the integration of renewable sources. This explores the challenges and technologies used in integrating smart grid with renewable energy sources so as to achieve the demand side management. The introductory section provides a brief overview of the smart grid system. Subsequent sections cover the applications of smart grid as well as benefits, Issues and renewable energy integration in smart grid systems. This study would be useful to smart grid developers and practitioners of renewable energy systems and policy makers.

Optimum Insulation Thickness for Building Exterior Walls in 32 Regions of China to Save Energy and Reduce CO2 Emissions

China accounts for approximately 30% of the CO2 emissions—one of the largest proportions from a single nation. Therefore, reducing the CO2 emissions in China will play a decisive role in global CO2 emissions reduction. This paper is a proposal of optimum insulation thickness (OIT) for the exterior walls of buildings in 32 regions of China to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions. The determination of the OIT for exterior walls its impact on the annual total energy cost and annual CO2 emissions per unit area of building exterior walls were calculated for 32 regions of China using the life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) and degree-days (DD) method. The results indicate that the annual total energy cost decreases up to the OIT level, and increases beyond the OIT level. The annual CO2 emissions can be reduced by increasing the insulation thickness. It is predicted that the average total energy cost of 32 regions can potentially be decreased by about $5/m2-year (40%) and the average CO2 emissions of the 32 regions can potentially be reduced by about 27 kg/m2-year (63%) when the OIT is applied. It also shows it is more effective to apply the OIT for the exterior walls of buildings to save annual total energy cost and reduce annual CO2 emissions in the Severe Cold and Hot Summer & Cold Winter climatic zones rather than the other climatic zones of China.

Risk Perception and Acceptance of CDU Consumer Products in Germany

Carbon dioxide utilization (CDU) has the potential to contribute to global CO2 emission reduction efforts. Research and developmental activities mainly focused on technical feasibility so far, neglecting the public perception and acceptance of the CDU technology and its products. Therefore, this study focused on the conceptualization and quantification of CDU risk perception and acceptance. First, qualitative focus group discussions were run, where the sub-dimensions of CDU-product-associated risks were determined (health-, product quality-, environmental-, and sustainability risks). Second, in a quantitative online survey, the impact of single CDU risk sub-dimensions on general CDU risk perception was quantified and related to CDU product acceptance. CDU risk perceptions, which were mainly determined by health- and environmental risks, were low and CDU acceptance positive. Individual differences (gender, technical self-efficacy, level of information) in CDU risk perceptions were identified and guidelines for a successful rollout and communication of CDU products were derived.

Considering investment resources when assessing potential CO2 reductions of CHP – a case study

Combined heat and power (CHP) can increase electricity production efficiency and decrease global CO2 emissions. Studies have shown large unrealised economic CHP investment potentials. An assessment of profitable CO2 reduction based solely on net present value (NPV) implicitly assumes unlimited investment resources. This study analysed the impact of the assumption of unlimited/limited investment resources on the assessment of profitable reduction potential of global CO2 emissions due to CHP investment. The correlation between changes in direct and global fossil CO2 emissions was also analysed. This was done by evaluating alternative CHP and heat-only boiler investments in a district heating system. When investment resources were unlimited, NPV was used to determine whether an investment was profitable and to rank the profitability of the investment. When investment resources were limited, equivalent annual annuity ratio (EAAR) was used to rank the investment's profitability and determine whether its level of profitability was acceptable.The results showed that the profitability ranking of an investment can change depending on whether investment resources are considered unlimited or limited. Moreover, an investment with positive NPV may be regarded as insufficiently profitable when investment resources are limited. This could have an important impact on profitable CO2 reduction potential. Furthermore, when CHP investments are considered, local views on CO2 emissions may be counterproductive for global CO2 emission reductions.

The Contribution of China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) to the Reduction of Global CO2 Emissions

Under economic globalization, with the intensification of China’s reform and opening up, China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has continuously gained momentum, but CO2 emissions caused by the OFDI have not been given due attention. As one China is of the world’s leading CO2 emitters, it is necessary to conduct thorough research into the CO2 emission problem caused by China’s OFDI. Thirty-four host countries were selected as the objects of this study, including some European countries, Australia, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, and the USA. Their CO2 emissions as caused by China’s OFDI were calculated using the input-output model with non-competitive imports, the data of China’s OFDI flows, and their own energy consumption and CO2 emissions from 2000 to 2011. Then a comparative analysis was performed taking China as the comparative object. CO2 emission transfer of China’s OFDI was studied quantitatively. Finally, CO2 emissions from China’s OFDI were discussed from the perspective of industry selection and location selection. The results showed that China’s OFDI could achieve the aim of reducing global carbon emissions with reasonable industry and location selection.

Energy supply modelling of a low-CO2 emitting energy system: Case study of a Danish municipality

Municipal activities play an important role in national and global CO2-emission reduction efforts, with Nordic countries at the forefront thanks to their energy planning tradition and high penetration of renewable energy sources. In this work, we present a case study of the Danish municipality of Sønderborg, whose aim is to reach zero net CO2 emissions by 2029. Sønderborg has an official strategic plan towards 2029, which we compared with four alternative scenarios to investigate how the municipality could approach its target in the most energy-efficient and cost-effective way while simultaneously keeping biomass and waste consumption close to the limits of the locally available residual resources.We modelled all sectors of the energy system on the municipal scale, applying a broad range of energy conversion technologies, including advanced biomass conversion technologies and reversible electrolysis. We constructed five scenarios, each representing a different energy mix for Sønderborg’s energy system in 2029. We modelled these scenarios using the mixed-integer linear optimization tool Sifre. We compared the results for the five scenarios using four indicators: annual total system cost, total energy system efficiency, annual net system CO2 emissions and total annual biomass consumption.The results show that scenarios with a high degree of electrification perform better on the selected indicators than scenarios with a high degree of biomass utilization. Moreover, the incorporation of advanced conversion technologies such as electrolysis, fuel cells and methanol production further reduces both the total system cost and net CO2 of the highly electrified energy system. Our sensitivity analysis demonstrates that scenarios with a low biomass consumption and a high degree of electrification are less dependent on changes in energy prices.We conclude that in order to achieve their CO2 emission goals in the most energy-efficient, cost-effective and sustainable way, municipalities similar to Sønderborg should compare a wide range of energy system configurations, for example, scenarios with a high degree of electrification and a limited biomass use.