Search Results (69)

Background: Sustainability is a critical concern in transportation, notably in light of governmental initiatives such as cap-and-trade systems and eco-label regulations aimed at reducing emissions. In this context, collaborative approaches among carriers, which involve the exchange of shipment requests, are increasingly recognized as effective strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Methods: This research proposes a novel collaborative planning model for multimodal transport designed to minimize the total costs associated with freight movements, including both transportation and $C{O}_2$ emissions costs. Transshipments of freight between vehicles are modeled in the proposed formulation, promoting carrier coalitions. This study incorporated eco-labels, representing different emission ranges, to capture shipper sustainability preferences and integrated authority-imposed low-emission zones as constraints. A bi-objective approach was adopted, combining transportation and emission costs through a weighted sum method. Results: A case study on the Naples Bypass network (Italy) is presented, highlighting the model’s applicability in a real-world setting and demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative transport planning. In addition, the model quantified the benefits of collaboration under low-emission zone (LEZ) constraints, showing notable reductions in both total costs and emissions. Conclusions: Overall, the proposed approach offers a valuable decision support tool for both carriers and policymakers, enabling sustainable freight transportation planning. Full article

Between 2013 and 2020, China had implemented a pilot cap-and-trade carbon emissions trading system (ETS) in some cities. Previous research has reported that this policy significantly reduces air pollution in the policy-implementing districts. However, whether and to what extent there are spatial spillover effects of this policy on air pollution in other regions has not been sufficiently analyzed. The research objective of this study is to quantitatively assess the spatial spillover effects of China’s carbon ETS on air pollution. Based on data from 288 Chinese cities between 2005 and 2020, this study employs a multiple linear regression approach to estimate the policy effects. Our study finds that the policy significantly reduces the concentrations of black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), organic carbon (OC), particulate matter less than 1 micron in size (PM₁), fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and particulate matter less than 10 microns in size (PM₁₀) in non-ETS regions. This indicates that the carbon ETS has beneficial impacts on air quality beyond the areas where the policy was implemented. The heterogeneity tests reveal that the beneficial spatial spillover effects of the ETS can be observed across cities with different levels of industrialization, population density, economic development, resource endowments, and geographical locations. Further mechanism analyses show that although the policy does not affect the degree of environmental regulation in other regions, it promotes green innovation, low-carbon energy transition, and industrial structure upgrading there, which explains the observed spatial spillover effects. Full article

This study explores how carbon pricing and electricity market liberalization jointly contribute to China’s sustainable energy transition. Using a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model (CEEEA2.0), we simulate three policy scenarios—business as usual, emissions trading scheme (ETS) with regulated electricity prices, and ETS with market-based pricing—under a unified emissions cap. The results demonstrate that electricity market liberalization enhances carbon pricing efficiency by eliminating price distortions, leading to a 0.06% increase in GDP and a 12% reduction in emission abatement costs. However, liberalization also raises electricity and consumer prices, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income households. These findings underscore the need to balance economic efficiency and social equity in sustainability-oriented energy reforms. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of designing inclusive and just transition policies to ensure that carbon mitigation efforts support long-term environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals. Full article

This study investigates two pricing strategies within a vendor-buyer supply chain system under cap-and-trade regulation, emphasizing demand sensitivity to market price and green technology investment. The findings reveal that quantity discounts significantly enhance profitability across the supply chain by encouraging buyers to place larger orders, thereby benefiting vendors, buyers, and end consumers. A novel profit-sharing parameter is introduced to foster sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between supply chain participants. A search algorithm is developed to determine the optimal solutions by using the profit-sharing mechanisms. The analysis yields three key insights: first, a critical cap threshold is identified, enabling supply chain participants to make informed strategic decisions based on the value of the cap; second, another critical cap threshold is derived to assist governments in setting feasible emission limits that incentivize vendors to invest in green technology—caps below this threshold may discourage such investments; third, a reasonable return on investment (ROI) benchmark is established to guide vendors in adopting effective green technology strategies. Numerical examples and sensitivity analyses are conducted to illustrate the theoretical framework and validate the findings. Full article

In response to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 sulfur cap and China’s stricter emission control policies, this study investigates the strategic interaction between port authorities and shipowners concerning air pollution emissions from ships in port areas. Using supervisory game theory, we construct a model that captures the cost–benefit trade-offs between inspection efforts by regulators and compliance behavior by ship operators. Empirical data from Guangzhou Port in 2020—including government inspection costs, fuel substitution costs, subsidy schemes, and fine levels—are incorporated into the model to simulate equilibrium outcomes. Results indicate that while the current level of inspection has a significant deterrent effect, the probability of full compliance remains low at 34.36%, highlighting the importance of a balanced regulatory approach combining inspection, fines, and subsidies. Policy implications suggest that increased financial incentives and stronger penalties can reduce both regulatory costs and non-compliance risks. This study contributes to the literature on maritime environmental governance by providing a quantitative supervisory framework grounded in real-world port data. Full article

Environmental protection and low-carbon life are the focus of global attention. This paper adopts Stackelberg’s game method to discuss channel selection. Two decision models are involved: (1) model P represents dual-channel structure of the manufacturer, and (2) model O represents dual-channel structure of the retailer. We examined the optimal pricing strategy, and profit distribution among stakeholders. This research showed that, compared to model O, model D always sells more products, and model D has a higher (manufacturer)/lower (retailer) profits than model O. The retailer’s offline price exhibits a linear decline. At the point of intersection (0.28, 45.5), the price in both models converge to an identical value. From an environmental perspective, model D is more environmentally friendly than model O when unit carbon price is small. Furthermore, the emission reduction rate is higher if consumers’ online preference coefficient is not high in model D. Through the lens of social welfare, the sales strategies employed in model O yield higher social welfare benefits compared to those in model D. For the entire supply chain, model O is the optimal choice if they focus on environmental performance and social welfare. The research provides application guidance for the sustainable development of enterprises. Full article

Cap-and-trade is widely recognized as an effective mechanism for curbing carbon emissions, and it significantly influences the operational decisions within supply chains. This study investigates a three-echelon closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) consisting of one original equipment manufacturer, one traditional retailer, and one independent third-party collector. The manufacturer invests in cleaner technologies to produce green products and remanufactures new products from used items recycled by the third-party collector. Considering different channel power structures, three Stackelberg game models are developed, and their optimal solutions are derived using the backward induction. Additionally, the combined effects of remanufacturing-related and carbon-related parameters on economic and environmental benefits as well as social welfare are investigated under different settings. Moreover, the derived results are validated via numerical simulation. The findings indicate that: (1) Each channel member is incentivized to act as the leader role within the CLSC to maximize profits. (2) A loose cap-and-trade regulation is conducive to enhancing the emission abatement rate, collection rate, and overall performance for the CLSC. (3) The retailer-led model is the best option for capturing more economic benefits and social welfare, while the third party-led model can always achieve the best environmental performance regardless of carbon trading price. These research findings can provide valuable insights for policymakers and decision makers engaged in CLSC. Full article

Integrating low-carbon design into products is crucial for reducing carbon emissions throughout their life cycle and promoting sustainable development. Addressing the uncertainty in the carbon footprint resulting from the unknown choice of product material solutions. This paper considers ABC (activity-based costing) along with the components’ carbon footprint and scrap return issues to illustrate the above challenge in a two-stage production-inventory system with imperfect processes. We determine the optimal production and sales strategies that maximize total profit per unit time. An algorithm is developed to identify these optimal solutions. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm, two numerical examples from the Taiwan die casting industry are presented. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to provide valuable managerial insights. Full article

This is the first review study that focuses on the interplay between China’s regulated and voluntary carbon markets, the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) scheme, and their combined influence on the development of renewable energy in the country. Through a comparative literature review of 52 peer-reviewed academic papers published between 2009 and 2024, this study aims to elucidate how these market mechanisms interact to drive renewable energy deployment. The findings indicate that both the ETS and the CCER system positively affect China’s renewable energy landscape. The ETS, with its Cap-and-Trade (CaT) mechanism, sets a cap on total emissions and allows for the trading of emission quotas, thereby creating financial incentives for companies to reduce emissions and invest in renewable energy. The CCER scheme complements the ETS by allowing companies to use the CCER scheme for a capped share of their ETS certificates, whereby the lower CCER price diverts investments to where the saved ton of CO₂ in China is cheapest, further incentivizing investments in renewable energy. This dual mechanism allows for a more flexible and cost-effective approach to achieving emission reduction targets, thereby fostering an environment conducive to investment in renewable energy. It will stimulate additional investment in renewable energy projects in the long run, particularly in economically underdeveloped regions, contributing to both local economic development and national emission reduction targets. Full article

As manufacturing advances swiftly and public consciousness about low-carbon practices rises, eco-friendly supply chains have seen significant expansion. This study investigates a government-driven green supply chain in two phases, involving a producer and a seller. Four scenario game models are established to determine whether the manufacturer engages in green technology innovation or whether the retailer has altruistic preferences. The Stackelberg game was used to analyze changes in government carbon quota regulations, retail prices of retailers, and manufacturers’ carbon reduction efforts in the context of carbon market trading. Research shows that the government will set looser carbon emission limits for manufacturers when retailers have no altruistic preferences. When carbon prices in the market are low, encouraging manufacturers to invest in green technology innovation enhances social welfare. This study offers essential theoretical backing for the government in crafting carbon quota regulations and aids businesses in making prompt technological innovation choices. Full article

We collected online public opinions on the CSI 300 index constituents and investigated the different impacts of online public opinion divergence on trading volume. Here, we find that online public opinions are helpful in improving the trading volume, but the online public opinion divergence of investors reduces the expected trading volume. In particular, non-financial and mid-cap stocks with high levels of discussion are more significantly influenced by online public opinion divergence. Through the classification of investors’ influence levels, we find that the divergence among high-level investors increases the trading volume, while the divergence among low-level investors exacerbates the decrease in trading volume. A reduction in divergence for both levels will have a greater impact. We believe that attention should be paid to regulating and guiding the online public opinions of “newcomers”. This will not only improve the quality of Guba but also contribute to the steady development of the Chinese stock market. Full article

Online-to-offline (O2O) retailing offers unique opportunities for customizable assembled products with spare parts. Customers can browse and configure their desired product online, selecting from various components. Imperfect production, where a certain percentage of products have defects, can be amplified in the manufacturing system. Stricter carbon emission regulations put pressure on manufacturers to minimize waste. This creates a tension between discarding imperfect products, generating emissions, and potentially offering them at a discount through the O2O channel, which could raise quality concerns for consumers. In this study, an imperfect single-stage production process is examined, incorporating manufacturing–remanufacturing within a single stage for assembled products containing various spare parts. The study explores an investment scenario aimed at enhancing the environmental sustainability of the product. Additionally, two carbon emissions regulation strategies, specifically carbon cap-and-trade regulation and carbon taxation, are evaluated for their effectiveness in mitigating carbon footprints. The identification of waste, particularly in the form of defective items, is achieved through automated inspection techniques. The demand for spare parts associated with the assembled products is intricately linked to the selling prices set across diverse channels. Finally, the total profit of the manufacturing system is maximized with the optimized value of the selling prices, order quantity, backorder quantity, and investments in autonomated inspection, setup cost, and green technology. Numerical illustrations show that system profit was optimized when the defective rate followed a triangular distribution under carbon cap-and-trade regulation and when green technology investment helped to enhance retailer profit by $18.12\%$, whereas autonomated inspection increased retailer profit by $10.27\%$. Full article

Cap-and-trade models have been largely studied in the literature when it comes to reducing emissions in a supply chain. In this paper, further pursuing the goal of analyzing the effectiveness of cap-and-trade strategies in reducing emissions in supply chains, we propose a mathematical model for sustainable supply chain management. This optimization program aims at reducing emissions and supply chain costs in an unregulated scenario w.r.t. the cap definition, i.e., trading CO₂ is allowed but no formal limit on the CO₂ emissions is imposed. Also, we considered an initial budget for technological investments by the facilities in the considered supply chain, allowing plants to reduce their unit production emissions at a different unit production cost. For this model, differently from what exists in the literature, we derive some theoretical conditions guaranteeing that, if obeyed, the emissions over time have a non-increasing trend meaning that decreasing caps over time can be attained with a self-regulated scenario. Computational results show the effectiveness of our approach. Full article

Permanent grasslands (PG) feature in the European rural landscape and represent a major agricultural production resource. They support multiple non-provisioning ecosystem services (ES), including climate regulation, flood control, biodiversity, and pollination. PG are at risk of loss or degradation due to agricultural land use and land management changes. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the main economic influences shaping management and maintenance of PG, and the risks and opportunities for delivery of a range of ES. A total of 51 papers were included. Relevant policy interventions and economic drivers are identified in relation to how they shape the management of EU grasslands over time and across farming systems, countries, or biogeographic zones. A high reliance on public payments from the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with uneven impact on mitigating PG losses and associated ES provisions, was identified, which needs to be considered in relation to ongoing CAP reform. There is a gap in the literature regarding economic tipping points for change. Future research needs to identify and map ES provisions by PG along with trade-offs and synergies, and link this to policy. There are substantive challenges to maintaining Europe’s PG area and management, which must be addressed through EU-wide instruments. Full article

Canadian provinces are required to regulate their power sectors using carbon pricing systems that meet national minimum stringency standards, which are set by the federal government. A diverse set of systems has emerged as a result. However, there has been limited assessment of how different pricing mechanisms impact the evolution of Canada’s electricity system. To address this gap, we use an electricity system planning model called COPPER and a scenario-based approach to assess if, and to what extent, different policy regimes impact power sector greenhouse gas emissions and costs. Our results show that carbon pricing systems currently in place lead to significant carbon reductions over the long term, provided that free emissions allocations are reduced. However, the cost-optimal pathway for the power sector differs across provinces depending on the carbon pricing mechanism. Some provinces achieve least-cost emissions reductions by switching from high-carbon technologies to renewables, while others are better served by replacing high-carbon technologies with low-carbon fossil fuel alternatives. Further, provinces that implement cap-and-trade systems may affect the transitions of interconnected jurisdictions. Power sector climate policy design should reflect the heterogeneity of available assets, resources, and neighbouring approaches. Full article