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Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Air, Climate Change and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2024) | Viewed by 19121

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Dr. Bin Xu

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School of Management, China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Interests: energy economics; environmental economics; industrial economics; applied econometrics; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global warming has become one of the most major environmental problems faced by the world today, leading to ecological problems such as melting glaciers, land desertification, and vegetation degradation. In recent years, the international community has held a series of important meetings and formulated many agreements to control carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon neutrality has become an important strategic goal for the world's major energy-consuming countries to control CO₂ emissions, and how to effectively achieve this strategic goal has become the focus of government managers and academia around the world. This Special Issue invites papers concerning carbon emission reduction technologies and carbon emission reduction paths, along with their fundamental problems, including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide emission control, renewable energy, clean energy, novel energy vehicles, energy storage technology, etc.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

CO₂ emission control technology;
Shale gas extraction;
Renewable energy production and consumption;
Natural gas transmission
Biomass energy production and consumption;
Energy storage technology;
Novel energy vehicles;
Government subsidies and clean energy consumption.

Prof. Dr. Bin Xu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

CO₂ emission control technology
shale gas extraction
renewable energy production and consumption
natural gas transmission
biomass energy production and consumption
energy storage technology
novel energy vehicles
government subsidies and clean energy consumption

Related Special Issue

Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges, 2nd Edition in Sustainability

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Carbon Emissions from Animal Husbandry in China: Trends, Regional Variations and Mitigation Strategies

by Cheng Peng, Xiaona Wang, Xin Xiong and Yaxing Wang

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062283 - 9 Mar 2024

Viewed by 912

Abstract

The intensification of land use and the accelerated integration of three industries (agricultural production, agricultural product processing industry, and agricultural product market service industry) in China have resulted in the continuous expansion of animal husbandry and its industrial chain. This phenomenon has led to a rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock farming, intensifying climate change and placing strain on worldwide environmental conservation efforts. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was utilized to evaluate carbon emissions from China’s animal husbandry sector from 2012 to 2021. Additionally, the logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) decomposition method was employed to examine and elucidate the influential impacts of five factors on carbon emissions. These factors included the efficiency of animal husbandry production, the structure of the agricultural industry, per capita agricultural production income, urbanization, and the total population. The results reveal the following: (1) From 2012 to 2021, China’s animal husbandry sector witnessed a marginal increase in cumulative carbon emissions from 287.74 million tons to 294.73 million tons, with an annual growth rate of 0.42%. (2) Emission contributions were categorized as follows: the production stage (149.61 million tons), the transportation stage (145.07 million tons), and the processing stage (0.05 million tons). (3) The primary factor contributing to the rise in carbon emissions from animal husbandry from 2012 to 2021 was the per capita agricultural production income factor (

A_{3}

), alongside a notable impact from the total population factor (

A_{5}

). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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16 pages, 1854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact Factors of Industrial Pollution and Carbon Reduction under the “Dual Carbon” Target: A Case Study of Urban Aggregation in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta

by Xiaoyi Wen, Shangjiu Wang, Shaoyong Li, Liang Cheng, Keqiang Li, Qing Zheng and Baoreng Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051879 - 25 Feb 2024

Viewed by 703

Abstract

China is facing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and control pollution. Promoting the synergy between pollution reduction and carbon reduction has become an inevitable choice to achieve the construction of a beautiful China and meet the dual carbon target. This study examines the main factors influencing industrial pollution and carbon reduction in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomerations based on data on industrial CO₂ and local air pollutants (LAP) from 2002 to 2021, using the random forest regression model. The results indicate that (1) industrial CO₂ emissions have increased overall, while intensity has decreased. Additionally, both industrial LAP emissions and intensity have decreased. (2) The main factor influencing industrial CO₂ and LAP emissions is the proportion of industrial value added above the scale. Additionally, the proportion of R&D internal expenditure in GDP and total trade imports and exports are the main influencing factors of industrial CO₂ emissions. The industrial fume and dust removal rate mainly affects industrial LAP emissions. (3) There is a clear non-linear relationship between industrial CO₂- and LAP-influencing factors and emissions, which can be attributed to the scale effect factor, the lagging effect of R&D expenditure, and the inappropriate treatment of the “three wastes” by relevant departments that is non-linear. The urban agglomerations of PRD and YRD should prioritize the reduction of carbon emissions, upgrading and transforming their industrial structures, promoting the impact of foreign trade on pollution and carbon reduction, and achieving a balance between sustainable economic development and environmental protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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13 pages, 1411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social and Economic Impact Assessment of Coal Power Phase-Down at the Provincial Level: An Entropy-Based TOPSIS Approach

by Changhong Zhao, Jiaxuan Chen, Xiaowen Yang and Jiahai Yuan

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16175; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316175 - 21 Nov 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1061

Abstract

With the rollout of the carbon peak and neutrality targets, conventional coal-fired power plants will gradually be phased down in China’s power system in an orderly manner. The economic and social impact of the energy transition is a vital topic that requires scientific measurements and evaluation. In this paper, we establish a comprehensive approach to assess the impact of provincial coal power phase-down with 11 indicators covering dimensions of economy, society, and industry. An entropy-based Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach is adopted to calculate entropy weight, relative closeness, and other evaluation benchmark data. Then, the influence degree in 30 provinces is ranked based on the assessment. The results show that there is a significant regional imbalance in the process of coal power phase-down, among which Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and other coal base provinces are the most vulnerable regions bound by their huge raw coal production and coal industry employment. Although the coal power industry is less affected than the coal industry, it will face pressure from the optimization of coal power units, followed by the dual impact of taxation and employment issues. Finally, the potential impacts of coal power phase-down and policy implications are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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20 pages, 1369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Industrial Upgrading Affect Carbon Productivity in China’s Service Industry?

by Shimei Weng and Jianbao Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10580; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310580 - 5 Jul 2023

Viewed by 801

Abstract

Promoting carbon productivity is an effective way to reduce carbon emissions. The existing literature focuses mainly on the carbon productivity of heavily polluted sectors, such as heavy industry, the manufacturing industry, and the construction industry. With the deepening of China’s economic transformation and industrial upgrading, the service industry plays an increasingly important role in the national economy, and the ratio and amount of carbon emissions in the service industry show an upward trend. In order to effectively achieve the goal of energy conservation and emission reduction, it is necessary to study how industrial upgrading affects the carbon productivity in the service industry. This study uses a spatial autoregressive panel model to investigate the carbon productivity in China’s service industry. The empirical results are summarized as follows: (1) the carbon productivity of China’s service industry is on the rise, and there exist regional heterogeneity and spatial dependence; (2) industrial upgrading has a significant positive effect on the carbon productivity in China’s service industry; (3) the positive effect of industrial upgrading in the eastern (northern) region is higher than that in middle and western (southern) regions in the service industry; and (4) environmental regulation and economic development have positive moderating effects in the process of industrial upgrading. Accordingly, some targeted policy suggestions are put forward. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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16 pages, 1140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Impact of Real Estate Development on Carbon Emissions Using Differential Generalized Method of Moments and Dynamic Panel Threshold Model

by Chun Fu and Can Zhou

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6897; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086897 - 19 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1083

Abstract

The development of the real estate industry inevitably consumes large amounts of fossil energy and makes great contributions to China’s carbon emissions. However, very few research studies have explored the intrinsic link and influence mechanisms between the rapidly growing real estate sector and carbon emissions in China. Hence, this study investigated the impact of real estate development on carbon emissions using a differential generalized method of moments and dynamic panel threshold models. The empirical results show that: (1) There is a non-linear relationship between real estate development and China’s carbon emissions, first promoting and then inhibiting them with the increasing level of real estate development, but it will take a long time to reach the latter stage in the future; (2) The threshold effect of economic development levels on carbon emissions was identified with a threshold value of 9.904, and the positive impact of real estate development on China’s carbon emissions is more significant in economically backward areas; (3) The threshold effect of population sizes on carbon emissions was identified with a threshold value of 7.839, and in areas with larger populations, the positive impact of real estate development on China’s carbon emissions is more significant. The findings above extend the carbon emission literature by clarifying the threshold role of the economic development level and population size between real estate development and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the findings of this study are instructive for China to formulate energy-saving and emission-reduction policies according to local conditions and will ultimately contribute to achieving the goal of “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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16 pages, 2763 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Possibility of Achieving Zero CO₂ Emission in the Indonesian Cement Industry by 2050: A Stakeholder System Dynamic Perspective

by Iman Junianto, Sunardi and Dadan Sumiarsa

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6085; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076085 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2025

Abstract

According to the SDG on climate change, Indonesia is expected to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner, as outlined in the long-term low-carbon and climate resilience strategies implemented by the country’s president. Therefore, this research aims to apply the system dynamic model to simulate sustainable targets for CO₂ emission reductions until 2050. The simulation was limited to factors influencing the cement industry’s CO₂, as described in the IEA’s recommendations, and the scenarios were based on the AHP (analytical hierarchy process) results from the stakeholders. The simulation results showed that the realistic target for sustainable CO₂ emission reduction in Indonesia by 2050 was the scenario from the combined stakeholders with 450 kgCO₂eq/ton cement, corresponding to a 27% decrease in emissions from the 2020 baseline. This serves as input for interested parties to showcase the efforts of reducing CO₂ emissions, and provides recommendations for the achievements by (1) determining carbon taxes and revising cement product standards to further increase the clinker substitution rate; (2) developing an RDF (refused derived fuel) waste-processing plant independently to increase alternative fuel use; (3) ensuring the efficiency of electrical energy by increasing renewable energy sources; (4) integrating carbon capture and storage technology in cement plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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19 pages, 2020 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Spatial and Temporal Pattern Evolution and Driving Factors of County Carbon Emissions in Underdeveloped Regions: Gansu Province of Western China as an Example

by Weiping Zhang, Peiji Shi and Wanzhuang Huang

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010291 - 24 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1447

Abstract

This paper used the Gini coefficient, standard deviation ellipse, and spatial autocorrelation model to analyze the overall changes, regional differences, spatio-temporal evolution pattern, and clustering characteristics of carbon emissions in 87 counties in Gansu Province from 1997 to 2017, based on which driving factors of carbon emissions were detected using the geographic detector model, so as to provide a reference for promoting low-carbon green development and ecological civilization construction in Gansu Province. The empirical research results found that county carbon emissions in Gansu Province showed a “first urgent and then slow” upward trend, and the difference in carbon emissions level has a slightly decreasing trend, and there are significant regional differences. Compared with other regions, the difference in county carbon emissions level in the Longzhong region has a smaller decline. Meanwhile, the county carbon emissions show spatial differentiation characteristics “medium-high and low-outside,” among which the carbon emissions in areas with better economic foundations are much higher than those in other areas, and the spatial polarization effect is obvious. In addition, there is a significant spatial positive correlation between county carbon emissions. The counties with high-high clusters are relatively stable, mainly concentrated in the Longzhong region, while counties with low-low clusters are slightly reduced, mainly concentrated in the southern ethnic region and the Longdongnan region, and the county carbon emission clusters type has a spatial locking effect. This is mainly due to the large differences in economic scale, industrial structure, and population size in Gansu Province, and the interaction between economic scale and other factors has a more significant impact on the spatial differentiation of carbon emissions. Moreover, the leading influencing factors of county carbon emission differences also have regional differences. Therefore, differentiated and targeted carbon emission reduction strategies need to be implemented urgently. Due to the lack of real county energy consumption statistics, the research results need to be further tested for robustness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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20 pages, 10757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Differentiation of Carbon Budgets and Carbon Balance Zoning in China Based on the Land Use Perspective

by Hui Wen, Yi Li, Zirong Li, Xiaoxue Cai and Fengxia Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 12962; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142012962 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1874

Abstract

Carbon emission reduction in China is of great significance to curb global warming. Based on the land use perspective, the spatial characteristics of carbon emissions and carbon sinks in 30 Chinese provinces were analyzed and the carbon balance was partitioned by combining the economic contribution coefficient (ECC) and ecological support coefficient (ESC). It was found that (1) the intensity of land use in China is strong, being high in the southeast and low in the northwest, divided by the Heihe–Tengchong Line, and carbon source and carbon sink lands show clear spatial heterogeneity. (2) Total carbon emissions show clear spatial heterogeneity. Carbon emissions from construction land are the main source of carbon emissions. The carbon emission intensity and per capita carbon emissions are both high in the north and low in the south. (3) The total carbon sink is high in the north–south and low in the middle of the country, and woodland and grassland are the main sites of terrestrial carbon absorption. The overall carbon sink intensity shows a continuous decrease from southeast to northwest. (4) Based on the ECC and ESC indicators, 30 provinces were divided into four carbon zones and differentiated low-carbon development suggestions are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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20 pages, 2119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accelerating the Transition to a Circular Economy for Net-Zero Emissions by 2050: A Systematic Review

by Ahmed A. Khalifa, Abdul-Jalil Ibrahim, Abdulkarem I. Amhamed and Muftah H. El-Naas

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11656; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811656 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5961

Abstract

Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require tackling both energy-related and non-energy-related GHG emissions, which can be achieved through the transition to a circular economy (CE). The focus of climate change crisis reversal has been on the energy-related continuum over the years through promoting renewable energy uptake and efficiency in energy use. Clean energy transition and efficiency gains in energy use alone will not be sufficient to achieve net-zero emissions in 2050 without paying attention to non-energy-related CO₂ emissions. This study systematically reviews the CE literature across different themes, sectors, approaches, and tools to identify accelerators in transitioning to a CE. The study aims to understand and explore how technology, finance, ecosystem, and behavioral studies in the CE paradigm can be integrated as a decision-making tool for CE transition. The material analysis was carried out by identifying the main characteristics of the literature on CE implementation in the agriculture, industry, energy, water, and tourism sectors. Results of the literature survey are synthesized to engender clarity in the literature and identify research gaps to inform future research. Findings show that many studies focused on technology as an accelerator for CE transition, and more studies are needed regarding the CE ecosystem, financing, and behavioral aspects. Also, results show that CE principles are applied at the micro-, meso-, and macro- (national, regional, and global) levels across sectors with the dominance of the industrial sector. The agriculture, water, and energy sectors are at the initial stages of implementation. Additionally, the use of carbon capture and utilization or storage, conceptualized as a circular carbon economy, needs attention in tackling CE implementation in the energy sector, especially in hydrocarbon-endowed economies. The major implication of these findings is that for CE to contribute to accelerated net-zero emission by 2050, coordinated policies should be promoted to influence the amount of financing available to innovative circular businesses and technologies within an ecosystem that engenders behavioral change towards circularity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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Review

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25 pages, 3842 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of the Energy Policies of the BRICS Countries: The Possibility of Adopting a Just Energy Transition for South Africa

by Rajesh Ramluckun, Nandi Malumbazo and Lwazi Ngubevana

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020703 - 13 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1540

Abstract

This review focuses on the Just Energy Transition (JET) policies of the BRICS member countries with the aim of finding lessons and possibly adopting some of the key energy policy aspects utilised in other countries as a benchmark for the South African context. We consider the present stage of JET in South Africa while being cognisant of the energy source mix supporting the electricity sector and the lifespan and condition of its power plants. An analysis of the energy mix revealed that all nations are dependent on electricity for energy, which is produced predominantly from fossil-fuelled power plants with high GHG emissions (concentrating on high CO₂ emissions). It was concluded that some of the lessons learnt from the BRICS countries might be incorporated into a South African energy plan for the transition, with options and guidance for the formulation of policies. This study will attract a responsible, environmentally conscious audience that has the commitment and drive to combat global warming and curb climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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Other

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19 pages, 2739 KiB

Open AccessEssay

Analysis of Factors Influencing the Spatial and Temporal Variability of Carbon Intensity in Western China

by Mingchen Yang, Lei Wang and Hang Hu

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3364; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083364 - 17 Apr 2024

Viewed by 453

Abstract

Understanding the spatio-temporal differentiation of carbon intensity factors is crucial for setting scientific and reasonable carbon emission reduction targets. This study, based on relevant data from the western regions for the years 2010–2019, analyzes the influencing factors of the spatio-temporal distribution differences in carbon intensity in these areas. Additionally, the Grey Forecasting Model was utilized to predict the development trend of average carbon intensity in the western regions. The results indicate the following: (1) The temporal dimension of carbon intensity in the western regions shows an overall declining trend with local rebounds, while the high-value areas of spatial carbon intensity are concentrated in the northern part of the study area. (2) Per capita Gross Domestic Product, energy consumption per unit of Gross Domestic Product and investment in industrial pollution control have a positive impact on carbon intensity, whereas investment in the energy industry and per capita disposable income of residents have a negative impact. (3) Energy consumption per unit of Gross Domestic Product is the factor with the highest degree of explanation in univariate analysis; interaction detection results suggest that the core factors of spatial distribution differences in carbon intensity are energy consumption and urban development. (4) Predictions using the Grey Forecasting Model for the development of carbon intensity in the western regions show a year-by-year decline, consistent with carbon intensity control targets. Based on these conclusions, this paper proposes policy recommendations focusing on improving regional economic coordination mechanisms, increasing investment in industrial pollution control, managing energy industry expenditures, adjusting the proportion of the urban population, and enhancing the per capita disposable income of residents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges)

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