Substantial Emission Reductions Research Articles

Thermite reaction driven pyrotechnic formulation with promising functional performance and reduced emissions

Green pyrotechnics/firecrackers reported herein are driven by thermite reactions for self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions to make heat and sound by the usage of minimal fuel (aluminum), oxidizer (potassium nitrate), and Sulfur. These firecrackers have the potential for generating less emissions (70%) compared to commercial firecracker-based counterparts due to the presence of additives and are therefore designated as “Green firecrackers” or reduced emissions firecrackers. The functional performance and long-term stability of the composition was investigated through sound measurement and different tests, including ageing, thermal stability, and moisture test. The thermodynamics of the facilitated thermite reaction was cross-checked with experimental and theoretical methods. Prevalent mechanism for a substantial reduction in emissions to the tune of about 70% has been discussed. Cost of the green firecrackers is at par with the commercial firecrackers as cost of raw materials being used to prepare the formulation is comparable to the relatively toxic oxidizer substituted. “Green firecrackers” developed and reported here are environmentally benign in nature with higher business potential as far as a green chemistry-based sustainable solution for the society is required.

A novel quantitative forecasting framework in energy with applications in designing energy-intelligent tax policies

Energy, monetary and fiscal policies are going to play a crucial role towards the broad transformation of global energy. The design and optimization of these policies as well as the efficacy in achieving the desirable results require quantitative approaches. In this study, we extend the methodology of our novel quantitative framework, the Energy Price Index (EPIC) that represents the average price of energy in the US, to the design, optimization and assessment of energy-intelligent tax policies. The non-availability of actual energy demand and price data for the recent months is addressed with the introduction of a rolling horizon methodology that demonstrates excellent forecasting ability over a testing period of 181 months. The mean absolute percentage error of the initial and the 2nd adjusted EPIC are just 2.71% and 1.02% respectively over this period, with the forecasting framework demonstrating excellent robustness even during the unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19. The same framework can be used to forecast the energy demands for the next four years. Two case studies for energy-intelligent tax policies are presented, investigating parametrically the effects that a gasoline tax hike and a carbon tax could have retrospectively and prospectively. A hypothetical gasoline tax hike of 15 cents per gallon would increase EPIC by 1.6%, with the greatest increase of 3.67% being associated with the transportation sector (TEPIC). This policy would result in an estimated annual average revenue of $20.253 billion. Likewise, a hypothetical incremental carbon tax hike over the next 10 years would lead in substantial reductions in CO2 emissions, while the average price of energy would increase by just $1.5/MMBtu, generating though more than $110 billion in annual revenue.

PD02-12 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT OF VIRTUAL UROLOGY MEETINGS

You have accessJournal of UrologyEducation Research I (PD02)1 Sep 2021PD02-12 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT OF VIRTUAL UROLOGY MEETINGS Sunil Patel, Kelsey Gallo, Russell Becker, and Stacy Loeb Sunil PatelSunil Patel More articles by this author , Kelsey GalloKelsey Gallo More articles by this author , Russell BeckerRussell Becker More articles by this author , and Stacy LoebStacy Loeb More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000001966.12AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: During the coronavirus pandemic, many academic meetings that were previously held in-person were shifted to a virtual format. The objective of our study was to examine the potential environmental impact of reduced conference-related travel. METHODS: We obtained data from the largest global urological meetings, the American Urologic Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology (EAU), on the geographic distribution of participants to their respective 2019 meetings. Using an online calculator (https://co2.myclimate.org), we calculated the estimated total carbon emissions per person, and combined these numbers to estimate total carbon emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency calculator was used to estimate equivalency for these estimates (https://www.epa.gov/). Overland travel was accounted for the AUA meeting assuming 18% used overland travel based on percent of members being from the North Central Section. Similarly, for the EAU, a 400km radius in combination with population statistics, was used to account for overland travel. RESULTS: A total of 10,827 and 9,379 participants attended the AUA and EAU meetings, resulting in approximately 15,923 and 11,256 metric tons of carbon emissions, respectively. Attendees from Asia, South and North America for the AUA meeting contributed the greatest amount to these emissions, while Europeans contributed the greatest amount for the EAU meeting (Figure 1). The combined transportation-related emissions from these two conferences are equivalent to approximately 5872 passenger vehicles driven for one year, or the carbon dioxide emissions from 3.05 million gallons of gasoline consumed. Limitations of the study are the use of approximate locations within each continent (AUA) and country (EAU) for these estimates and that only travel-related carbon emissions for attendees were considered in the calculation, which do not include other factors such as climate control in the convention center, printed materials, catering services and accommodations. CONCLUSIONS: Going virtual for international meetings led to a substantial reduction in travel-related greenhouse gas emissions. A potential benefit of expanding virtual participation in urological meetings is reducing the environmental footprint from conference-related travel. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e42-e42 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Sunil Patel More articles by this author Kelsey Gallo More articles by this author Russell Becker More articles by this author Stacy Loeb More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...

Reconciling regional nitrogen boundaries with global food security.

While nitrogen inputs are crucial to agricultural production, excess nitrogen contributes to serious ecosystem damage and water pollution. Here, we investigate this trade-off using an integrated modelling framework. We quantify how different nitrogen mitigation options contribute to reconciling food security and compliance with regional nitrogen surplus boundaries. We find that even when respecting regional nitrogen surplus boundaries, hunger could be substantially alleviated with 590 million fewer people at risk of hunger from 2010 to 2050, if all nitrogen mitigation options were mobilized simultaneously. Our scenario experiments indicate that when introducing regional N targets, supply-side measures such as the nitrogen use efficiency improvement are more important than demand-side efforts for food security. International trade plays a key role in sustaining global food security under nitrogen boundary constraints if only a limited set of mitigation options is deployed. Policies that respect regional nitrogen surplus boundaries would yield a substantial reduction in non-CO2 GHG emissions of 2.3 GtCO2e yr-1 in 2050, which indicates a necessity for policy coordination.

Wind turbine blade wastes and the environmental impacts in Canada.

Electricity production by wind turbines is considered a clean energy technology, but the life cycle of wind turbines could introduce environmental risks due to waste generation, especially at the decommissioning process. This study predicts the future wind turbine blade waste arising in Canada, throughout all life cycle stages, from manufacturing until end of life, based on the installed capacities of existing Canadian wind farms and projected future installations. Five alternative strategies for managing this waste stream are assessed in terms of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and primary energy demand, including landfilling, incineration, and mechanical recycling. For the base case scenario, it is observed that the total cumulative waste until 2050 is 275,299 tonnes, with on-site waste accounting for around 75% of this total. Waste generation is concentrated in provinces with greater wind power deployment: Ontario and Quebec alone account for 70% of total blade waste. Life cycle environmental impacts of waste management strategies are dependent on background energy systems, with incineration a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly when displacing low-carbon grid mixes. Cement kiln coprocessing achieves net zero emission by converting waste into energy and raw materials for the cement. Mechanical recycling can achieve substantial reductions in primary energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions but achieving financial viability would likely require substantial regulatory support.

North Carolina’s Changing Energy Generation Profile and Reductions in Key Air Pollutants, 2000-2019

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Coal combustion releases a number of airborne toxins. The North Carolina (NC) Clean Smokestack Act of 2002 required coal-fired power plants (CFPP) to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions by 2009 and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 2009 and 2013. The purpose of this analysis is to corroborate the effectiveness of the Clean Smokestacks Act at reducing air pollution across NC and assess a major policy that aimed to benefit environmental health. METHODS: We utilized publicly available databases from the Energy Information Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to characterize NC’s electricity generation profile from 2000 until 2019 and evaluate corresponding NOX and SO2 emissions by sector over the same time period. RESULTS:Between 2000-2008 in NC, approximately 60% of electric power was generated by coal-fired plants. Since then, NC’s electric power generation has transformed from predominate dependence on coal to approximately equal dependence on natural gas and nuclear power (each at ~30%), with coal close behind (~25%). Renewables have increased, although marginally compared with the rapid increase in natural gas. Despite the stark drop in reliance on CFPPs for energy in NC, and subsequent drop in emissions, CFPPs still contribute ~60% of SO2 air pollution as of 2017. CONCLUSIONS:While this analysis relies upon utilities’ self-reported electricity generation and emissions data and publicly available data from federal agencies, the data support environmental health policy and research purposes. NC’s electric utilities met the 2009 and 2013 regulatory benchmarks set by the Clean Smokestack Act, which resulted in substantial reductions in SO2 emissions from the fuel combustion electric generation sector. Still, CFPPs remain the predominant utility-related contributor of SO2 air pollution in NC. KEYWORDS: air pollution, sulfur dioxide, coal, natural gas, policy, North Carolina

University leadership in climate mitigation: reducing emissions from waste through carbon pricing

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate potential impact of internal carbon pricing in emission reduction in Higher education institutions (HEIs). Over the past century, human activities have increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere. If GHG emissions continue their upward trend, this will disturb the natural balance and trigger abrupt changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change would require a substantial and sustained reduction in GHG emissions from all sectors. HEIs, as major emitters, indeed need to respond to the demand to become more sustainable by making practical changes to the way their institution is run.Design/methodology/approachUsing emission data associated with campus waste, this study describes how HEIs can take the lead on emission reduction through the implementation of carbon pricing.FindingsSpecifically, this study estimates the cost of emissions from campus waste to illustrate the primary benefits of internal carbon pricing for scaling up campus carbon neutrality initiatives and describes practical implications for enhancing sustainable waste management in a university setting. This study will contribute to identifying the potential for emissions reduction through waste management using a carbon pricing mechanism in university settings.Originality/valueWhile carbon pricing has long been regarded as an alternative approach to tackling carbon pollution, it has not been thoroughly explored with regard to waste management.

Health Benefits of Emission Reduction under 1.5 °C Pathways Far Outweigh Climate-Related Variations in China.

The 1.5 °C pathways initially promoted by the challenges presented by climate change could bring substantial air quality-related benefits. However, since there is a lack of comprehensive assessment on emissions of air pollutants, meteorology, air quality, and heatwave occurrences under different climate goals, how significant the clean air cobenefits compared with the direct climate-related impact is uncertain. In this study, we assess the cobenefits of 1.5 °C pathways for air quality in China by linking multiple shared socioeconomic pathways, ensembling simulations of regional climate-air quality dynamic downscaling and an air pollution and climate-related health assessment model, and compare different kinds of benefits: the health benefits from direct slowing climate (reduced heatwaves) versus the health cobenefits from air quality improvement (the improved air quality from reduced air pollutants versus meteorological changes). The benefit of reduced air pollution emissions associated with sustainable development under 1.5 °C pathways dominated the overall impact, which could avoid 1 589 000 PM2.5-related and 526 000 O3-related deaths in 2050. Correspondingly, the impact of changed meteorology on air quality would avoid additional 8000 PM2.5-related deaths in 2050 under 1.5 °C pathways yet would lead to 22 000 O3-related deaths. Also, the heatwave-related deaths could be avoided by 7000. The substantial anthropogenic emission reduction cobenefits of 1.5 °C pathways in improving air quality significantly exceed the direct climate (heatwave-related) benefits and completely offset the impact of meteorological changes' impact on air pollution under climate change.

The cost and emissions advantages of incorporating anchor loads into solar mini-grids in India

Renewables-based mini-grids have the potential to improve electricity access with lower emissions and better reliability than national grids. However, these systems have a challenging cost to revenue ratio, hindering their implementation. Combining residential loads with an anchor load, a relatively large non-domestic user, can help to improve mini-grid economics. Using measured electricity demand data from India and energy modelling, we assess the cost and emissions advantages of integrating health clinics as anchor loads within domestic solar mini-grids. For comparison, we also assess the ability of the national grid to meet our demand scenarios using monitored grid data. We apply a scenario-based approach, using separate domestic and anchor load demand profiles, and both in combination; we test meeting two levels of energy demand, 95% and 100%; and compare systems using PV and batteries, diesel, and hybrid generation. We find that the national grid has poor availability, at just over 50% at the most comparable monitoring site; and that it would meet a lower fraction of energy demand for our anchor load scenarios than the domestic only ones. For the off-grid systems, we find substantial cost and emissions reductions with anchor loads relative to demand scenarios without anchor loads. At 95% of demand met, we find PV and battery systems are 14-22% cheaper than diesel-only systems, with 10 times lower carbon intensity. Our findings illustrate the role off-grid systems can play in the provision of reliable low-carbon electricity and highlight the advantages of incorporating anchor loads like health centres into such systems.

Impacts of Meteorology and Emission Variations on PM2.5 Concentration Throughout the Country During the 2020 Epidemic Period

This study analyzed the impacts of meteorological conditions and changes in air pollutant emissions on PM2.5 across the country during the first quarter of 2020 based on the WRF-CMAQ model. Results showed that the variations in meteorological conditions led to a national PM2.5 concentration decreased of 1.7% from 2020-01 to 2020-03, whereas it increased by 1.6% in January and decreased by 1.3% and 7.9% in February and March, respectively. The reduction of pollutants emissions led to a decrease of 14.1% in national PM2.5 concentration during the first quarter of 2020 and a decrease of 4.0%, 25.7%, and 15.0% in January, February, and March, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, the PM2.5 concentration measured in Wuhan City decreased more than in the entire country. This was caused by improved meteorological conditions and a higher reduction of pollutant emissions in Wuhan City. PM2.5 in Beijing increased annually before the epidemic outbreak and during the strict control period, mainly due to unfavorable meteorological conditions. However, the decrease in PM2.5 in Beijing compared to March 2019 was closely related to the substantial reduction of emissions. The measured PM2.5 in the "2+26" cities, the Fenwei Plain and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) decreased during the first quarter of 2020, with the largest drop occurring in the Yangtze River Delta due to higher YRD emissions reductions. The meteorological conditions of "2+26" cities and Fenwei Plain were unfavorable before the epidemic outbreak and greatly improved during the strict control period, whereas the Yangtze River Delta had the most favorable meteorological conditions in March. The decrease in PM2.5 concentration caused by the reduction of pollutant emissions in the three key areas was highest during the strict control period.

Quantifying the challenge of reaching a 100% renewable energy power system for the United States

Quantifying the challenge of reaching a 100% renewable energy power system for the United States

Potential trading partners of a brazilian emissions trading scheme: The effects of linking with a developed region (Europe) and two developing regions (Latin America and China)

• An ETS linkage of brazil with a developed region (Europe) and two developing regions (Latin america and China) would increase opportunities for mitigation at lower cost. • Brazil exhibits a permit-importer profile in all linkage scenarios. • The magnitude of the ETS linkage effects varies according to the partner energy profile, macroeconomic development and mitigation commitments. • Matching with a trading partner suitable in the selected priorities (economic performance, environment outcomes and political acceptance) is recommended. • Brazil should consider including land use and forestry-related emissions in ETS policy and linkage agreement. The Paris Agreement has recently underlined the relevance of international cooperation via carbon pricing to tackle climate change. With Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) emerging in developed and developing regions worldwide, linking ETS systems is likely to be necessary in the future. This raises the question as to the appropriateness of linking ETS systems from the perspective of each trading partner. This paper analyses the impact of a hypothetical ETS, covering the electricity and energy-intensive sectors of Brazil, using a global economy-wide model - the EPPA6. We simulate links for Brazil with a developed region (Europe) and two developing regions (Latin America and China). Linking Brazil with a heterogeneous partner such as Europe results in more substantial emissions reductions, a movement towards low carbon energy and losses in GDP and welfare, as both regions assume ambitious targets. Linking with China is less costly due to less stringent targets. A link with Latin America, a region of similar energy and economic profile to Brazil, produces moderate reductions. Accordingly, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with each proposed trading situation. An ETS with a less stringent cap, or one that encompasses additional sectors, might allow for mitigation opportunities at lower costs for Brazil.

Forest carbon trajectories: Consequences of alternative land-use scenarios in New England

The extent to which forest carbon sequestration can help mitigate climate change will be determined in large part by future land use. Here we quantify the impacts of five divergent future land-use scenarios on aboveground forest carbon stocks and fluxes throughout New England. These scenarios, four co-designed with stakeholders from throughout the region and the fifth a continuation of recent trends in land use, were simulated by coupling a land-cover change model with a mechanistic forest growth model to produce estimates of aboveground carbon over 50 years. We tracked the fate of forest carbon removed through harvesting and development using a standard carbon accounting methodology, modified to fit our modeling framework. Of the simulated changes in land use, changes in harvesting had the most profound and immediate impacts on carbon stocks and fluxes. In one land-use scenario that included a rapid expansion of harvesting for biomass energy, New England’s forests stopped serving as a net carbon sink and became a net carbon source by 2060. In an alternative scenario, relatively small reductions in harvest intensities (i.e., ~10% less biomass removed), coupled with an increased percent of wood going into longer-term storage, led to substantial reductions in net carbon emissions (909 MMtCO2eq) as compared to a continuation of recent trends in land use. However, these projected gains in carbon storage and reduction in emissions from less intense harvesting regimes can only be realized if they are paired with a reduction in the consumption of the timber products, and their replacements, that otherwise would result in additional emissions from leakage and substitution.

Design and Comparative Study of Hybrid Propulsions for a River Ferry Operating on Short Cycles with High Power Demands

Based on a multidisciplinary and configurable modeling approach, this work deals with the optimal choice and the design of a hybrid propulsion with the associated power management strategy to replace a conventional propulsion in a low tonnage river ferry operating on short cycles, with the aim of reducing its environmental impact and the costs over its entire lifetime. The considered ferry is used for the transport of people and vehicles crossing the Seine river, with an installed propulsive power of 330 KW. The operating cycle of the ferry and the energy consumption of its classical propulsion have been determined experimentally and then used as references in simulations for validation and comparison purposes. Two hybrid structures involving the use of batteries and supercapacitors were proposed and compared. It is shown that the hybridization leads to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. The supercapacitor- and battery-based hybrid structures lead respectively to 18% and 29.7% CO2 reduction compared to classical propulsion, representing, respectively, about 382 and 626 tons of CO2 reduction over 20 years of operation. Despite the fact that the use of batteries leads to a more significant reduction in CO2 emissions, the solution using supercapacitors is chosen following a technical-economic study over 20 years of operation.

Twitter conferences as a low‐carbon, far‐reaching and inclusive way of communicating research in ornithology and ecology

Academic conferences play an important role in the scientific community by providing an opportunity for researchers to discuss their work and to network. However, drawbacks of traditional face‐to‐face (F2F) conferences, such as the ostensible exclusion of non‐scientists, the substantial environmental footprint, and the large costs in terms of both time and money are increasingly being recognized. As a result, alternative and complementary formats are being explored. One of these is the Twitter conference (TC), in which research is presented and discussed on the social media platform Twitter. Here, we use hashtag and presenter data from several ornithology and ecology conferences (both TCs and F2F events) to explore the potential reach of the tweets and the magnitude of the difference in greenhouse gas emissions between the two conference types. We found that TCs generated greater engagement than F2F events, have the potential to reach a very large audience and result in a substantial reduction in emissions. Further, we argue that the format promotes presenter and audience diversity due to participation being flexible and virtually cost‐free. While we recognize some disadvantages of this format compared to F2F events, especially in relation to the social and networking aspects of conferences, we envision that virtual events, such as TCs, will play an important role in the future of science dissemination and outreach. By embracing such opportunities, academic conferences can move towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Breeding for reduced methane emission and feed-efficient Holstein cows: An international response

Selecting for lower methane (CH4) emitting animals is one of the best approaches to reduce CH4 given that genetic progress is permanent and cumulative over generations. As genetic selection requires a large number of animals with records and few countries actively record CH4, combining data from different countries could help to expedite accurate genetic parameters for CH4 traits and build a future genomic reference population. Additionally, if we want to include CH4 in the breeding goal, it is important to know the genetic correlations of CH4 traits with other economically important traits. Therefore, the aim of this study was first to estimate genetic parameters of 7 suggested methane traits, as well as genetic correlations between methane traits and production, maintenance, and efficiency traits using a multicountry database. The second aim was to estimate genetic correlations within parities and stages of lactation for CH4. The third aim was to evaluate the expected response of economically important traits by including CH4 traits in the breeding goal. A total of 15,320 methane production (MeP, g/d) records from 2,990 cows belonging to 4 countries (Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and Denmark) were analyzed. Records on dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score, and milk yield (MY) were also available. Additional traits such as methane yield (MeY; g/kg DMI), methane intensity (MeI; g/kg energy-corrected milk), a genetic standardized methane production, and 3 definitions of residual methane production (g/d), residual feed intake, metabolic BW (MBW), BW change, and energy-corrected milk were calculated. The estimated heritability of MeP was 0.21, whereas heritability estimates for MeY and MeI were 0.30 and 0.38, and for the residual methane traits heritability ranged from 0.13 to 0.16. Genetic correlations between different methane traits were moderate to high (0.41 to 0.97). Genetic correlations between MeP and economically important traits ranged from 0.29 (MY) to 0.65 (BW and MBW), being 0.41 for DMI. Selection index calculations showed that residual methane had the most potential for inclusion in the breeding goal when compared with MeP, MeY, and MeI, as residual methane allows for selection of low methane emitting animals without compromising other economically important traits. Inclusion of residual feed intake in the breeding goal could further reduce methane, as the correlation with residual methane is moderate and elicits a favorable correlated response. Adding a negative economic value for methane could facilitate a substantial reduction in methane emissions while maintaining an increase in milk production.

Contrasting effects of emission control on air pollution in Central China during the 2019 Military World Games based on satellite and ground observations

To ensure a good air quality during the 7th Military World Games (MWG) held in the megacity, Wuhan of central China, an unprecedented substantial emission reduction has been conducted during October 13–27, 2019. Here we present an observational overview on the effects of emission control measures as well as their implications by integrated satellite observations and surface measurements. Compared with air quality before control, there is a remarkable overall decline (~15–30%) in PM10 and SO2 concentration in control period. By contrast, NOx and O3 remain at high levels under persistent stagnant weather conditions since vehicle emission is not restricted. Despite high NOx (~100 μg/m3) in ground measurements, satellite column NO2 exhibits a considerable decline (~30–50%) over Wuhan, indicating that the large reduction of industrial emission from elevated chimneys has limited effects on changes of NOx near surface. The NO3− and NH4+ in PM2.5 reach peak values at the beginning of emergency control period, and then decrease steadily with a rising temperature. Meanwhile, OC and EC in PM2.5 have a continuous accumulation process on the premise of enhanced emission control, which can be caused by vehicle emissions. Generally, the stringent emission reduction focusing on industrial sources obviously mitigates particle pollution in Wuhan. Considering complicated relationship between atmospheric pollutants and their precursors, synchronized emission reduction measures based on their accurate roles are necessary in improving air quality effectively.

China’s Tea Industry: Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Potential

Tea is an important cash crop and a beverage that is widely consumed across the world. In China (the largest producer of tea), the industry is growing, and there is a need to understand current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sequestrations and the potential for mitigation so that climate action can be strategically undertaken. Life cycle assessment and carbon footprint methods were used to quantify emissions in tea cultivation and processing in the 16 major producing regions for the year 2017. The system boundary was from cradle to factory gate, which was divided into three subsystems, namely agricultural materials production, tea production and tea processing. Several units of analysis were chosen: the production region (province), the production area (ha) and the product (kg loose tea), etc. Total GHG emissions were 28.75 Mt CO2eq, which were mainly attributable to energy use in tea processing (41%), fertilizer production (31.6%) and soil emissions (26.7%). This equated to 12.0 t CO2eq per ha and 10.8 kg CO2eq per kg processed tea. Production in Hubei, Yunan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Fujian provinces contributed almost two thirds of industry emissions, representing priority areas for strategic action to reduce GHG emissions. At the same time, the total carbon sink amounted to 21.37 MtCO2, representing 74.3% of total GHG emissions. The proportions stored in soil, biomass, and tea production were 49.3%, 30.0%, and 20.7%, respectively. If best recommended management practices for fertilizer application were adopted and biomass was used as a source of energy for tea processing, the GHG emissions reduction potential was 16.66 Mt CO2eq, or 58% of total emissions. The GHG emissions associated with tea production and processing in China appeared high by comparison to other regions of the world. However, considering the carbon sink and emissions reduction potential, the tea industry should be viewed as an important sector for climate action. Moreover, the potential for substantial GHG emissions reduction through the adoption of improved practices seems very realistic. There may also be additional opportunities for GHG emissions reduction through the development of organic tea cultivation systems.

Impact of solar heating technology installation on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Kabul city

The increasing trend of air pollution in Kabul listed this city, one of the most polluted in the world. The air pollution in Kabul contrasting to other polluted cities in the world is seasonal pollution. According to some reports during the winter season as the demand for heating increases, the majority part of the households and industries in cities use biomass and low-quality fossil fuels to meet their energy demand. The increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions due to the use of conventional energy resources, especially raw coal considered a serious threat to people's lives in Kabul. Due to the abundance of solar energy radiation and the simplicity of technologies, Solar Heating (SH) installation on the rooftop of houses is one of the most prominent solutions to minimize environmental impacts and air pollution related diseases in Kabul. The primary objective of this paper is to assess the potential of GHG reduction with the use of SH technologies in houses. Additionally, the impact of SH installation on non-renewable energy consumption and electricity bill reduction is deliberated in this paper as well. This study is supported by a public web-based survey, which is designed for municipal planned and nonplanned areas in Kabul city. The results of the study indicate, due to poor reliability of electric energy supply, most of the population in Kabul city rely on polluted energy sources to meet their primary demand. The study also points; housing sector in Kabul has the biggest portion of energy consumption, which is mainly used for heating purposes. Employing solar thermal technologies in households can significantly decline the utilization of coal and firewood, which in turn leads to a substantial reduction in GHG emissions. This study could be a good reference for the policymakers and investors in the field of green energy in Afghanistan.

Smart Policy for Smart Vehicles: Regulatory revisions to incentivize efficient autonomous automobiles

Transportation accounts for nearly 30% of the United States’ annual greenhouse gas emissions and is currently the fastest growing source of emissions by economic sector. National policies are therefore needed to mitigate the climatic impact of vehicular travel. Autonomous vehicle technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and real-time route optimization, can potentially improve fuel efficiency. However, many emerging technologies remain too inefficient to meet federal fuel economy standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The current regulatory framework therefore hinders vehicle manufacturers from researching and developing greener autonomous technologies. In this analysis, we argue that these federal agencies should adopt policies like technology waivers, regulatory credits, environmentally preferable purchasing, and educational programs to stimulate the development of more efficient autonomous vehicle technologies. These policies would incentivize manufacturers to widely develop and deploy fuel-saving technologies that could potentially realize substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.