Search Results (690)

This paper aims to provide an analytical assessment of country-level experience in moving towards agricultural decarbonization—from ideas around decarbonization measures to assessment of their potential, including evaluations of political goals and practical implementation success. This paper is based on 10-year cycle that highlights the main steps in building decarbonization awareness using an approach that can monitor, quantify, and evaluate the contribution of agricultural practices to climate change mitigation. This approach is based on a marginal abatement cost curve (MACC), which serves as a convenient visual tool for evaluating the effectiveness of various greenhouse gas emission reduction measures in agriculture, as well as climate policy planning. This study reveals the experiences to date and the main directions for developing the MACC approach, which serves as a basis for analyzing the potential of moving towards decarbonization in agriculture for a specific European Union Member state, i.e., Latvia. The results of the study are of practical use for the development of agricultural, environmental, and climate policies or legal frameworks, policy analysis, and impact assessment. Additionally, the findings are useful for educating farmers and the public about measures to reduce GHG and ammonia emissions. Full article

In 2022, Korea became the first country to introduce a climate change impact assessment (CCIA) system that requires prior analysis and evaluation of climate impacts for major development projects, delivering a relevant analysis and management framework for such purposes. This study reviews Korea’s CCIA system from a policy perspective, organizing its structural components, assessment procedures, and reporting methods according to the domains of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate crisis adaptation. The system’s characteristics and assessment procedures of this system are also analyzed via a case study review of urban development projects. In the GHG mitigation category, emissions and absorptions should be investigated at each project stage and quantitative reduction amounts and targets established based on scientific and statistical evidence. Regarding climate crisis adaptation, regional climate risks should be analyzed and adaptation strategies for priority management areas developed based on impact prediction results. CO₂ concentrations recorded in Seoul’s central and background areas confirmed spatial differences in city-level GHG concentrations, proposing the CCIA’s potential practical use for enhancing future monitoring frameworks. To enhance the effectiveness of the CCIA and its consequences for future sustainability, the opinions of various stakeholders and linking the system with existing environmental impact (EIA) assessment frameworks are paramount. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils threatens food security and exacerbates climate change through its impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) (CO₂, N₂O and CH₄) emissions, in which N₂O and CO₂ are the dominant fluxes of the terrestrial carbon-nitrogen cycle whose magnitude is directly amplified by Cd stress. Key remediation approaches for this dual challenge are phytoremediation and biochar amendment. This study aims to investigate the effects of Solidago canadensis (CGR) and biochar (BC) on soil remediation and GHG emissions under different levels of Cd contamination. A pot experiment with four Cd concentration gradients (0, 5, 10, and 30 mg kg⁻¹, i.e., Cd-0, Cd-5, Cd-10, and Cd-30, respectively) and three remediation measures (control, BC addition, and CGR cultivation) was set up to measure available soil Cd (ACd), soil physicochemical properties, GHG emissions, and plant Cd accumulations. The results demonstrated that ACd was significantly reduced by BC via adsorption through surface complexation and by CGR via immobilization through root uptake and sequestration. CGR decreased ACd by 46.2% and 41.7% under mild and moderate Cd contamination, respectively, while BC reduced ACd by 8.9% under severe contamination. In terms of GHG emissions, CGR increased cumulative CO₂ by 83.4% in Cd-10 soil and 53.8% in Cd-30 soil, whereas BC significantly lowered N₂O emissions by 22.1% in Cd-5 soil. Mantel analysis revealed strong correlations between ACd and key carbon and nitrogen indicators, which mediate the bioavailability of Cd. Therefore, CGR cultivation is better suited to mild-to-moderate contamination given its high removal efficiency, while BC amendment is targeted at severe contamination by stabilizing Cd and mitigating N₂O. This provides a scientific basis for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils. Full article

This study evaluated the seasonal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon assimilation of Bambusa edulis under four soil amendment treatments—control (C), biochar (B), fertilizer using vermicompost (F), and biochar plus fertilizer (B + F)—in a coastal shelterbelt system in south-western Taiwan. Over a 12-month period, CO₂ and N₂O fluxes and photosynthetic carbon uptake were measured. The control (C) treatment served as the baseline, exhibiting the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon assimilation. Its summer N₂O emissions were 39.54 ± 20.79 g CO₂ e m⁻², and its spring carbon assimilation was 13.2 ± 0.84 kg CO₂ clump⁻¹. In comparison, the amendment treatments significantly enhanced both emissions and carbon uptake. The fertilizer-only (F) treatment resulted in the highest levels, with peak summer N₂O emissions increasing by 306.5% (to 160.73 ± 96.22 g CO₂ e m⁻²) and spring carbon assimilation increasing by 40.2% (to 18.5 ± 0.62 kg CO₂ clump⁻¹). An increase in these values was also observed in the combined biochar and fertilizer (B + F) treatment, although the magnitude was less than that of the F treatment alone. In the B + F treatment, summer N₂O emissions increased by 130.3% (to 91.1 ± 62.51 g CO₂ e m⁻²), while spring carbon assimilation increased by 17.4% (to 15.5 ± 0.36 kg CO₂ clump⁻¹). Soil CO₂ flux was significantly correlated with atmosphere temperature (r = 0.63, p < 0.01) and rainfall (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), while N₂O flux had a strong positive correlation with rainfall (r = 0.71, p < 0.001). The findings highlight a trade-off between nutrient-driven productivity and GHG intensity and demonstrate that optimized organic and biochar applications can enhance photosynthetic carbon gain while mitigating emissions. The results support bamboo’s role in climate mitigation and carbon offset strategies within nature-based solution frameworks. Full article

Agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with enteric methane (Ent_CH4) from cattle production being a major source. In Zambia, cattle play a critical role in rural livelihoods and food security, yet the contribution of cattle production systems to national GHG emissions remains poorly quantified. This study used the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 method to estimate Ent_CH4 from Zambia’s cattle population from 1994 to 2022. The Tier 2 method provides a more accurate estimate than the Tier 1 method by incorporating country-specific data on cattle population demographics, husbandry, and feeding practices. The results show significant variations in Ent_CH4 over time, driven by changes in cattle population dynamics and production practices. This study underscored the importance of transitioning from the generalized Tier 1 to the Tier 2 method to capture the unique characteristics of Zambia’s cattle production systems. The present findings provide critical insights for developing targeted mitigation strategies that will support Zambia’s ongoing efforts to address climate change while promoting sustainable livestock production. Full article

Straw returning is a common agricultural practice that can enhance rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield in paddy systems. However, it also leads to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Fortunately, this negative impact can be mitigated by implementing enhanced oxygenation strategies during rice cultivation. This study explored the effects of various oxygenation measures on GHG under straw-returning conditions through controlled pot experiments. Six distinct treatments were applied. These included straw not returned (NR, no straw applied), straw returned (SR), controlled irrigation (CI), oxygenation irrigation (OI), application of oxygenated fertilizer (OF, CaO₂), and use of biochar-based fertilizer (CF). All treatment groups, with the exception of the NR group, involved the return of straw to the field. Creating rice production methods that increase yield and decrease emissions is of great importance to agricultural ecology. We postulated that using aeration methods under straw return conditions would stabilize rice yield and reduce GHG. The experimental results were consistent with our hypothesis. The experiment evaluated multiple parameters, including rice yield, leaf photosynthetic performance, soil ammonium and nitrate nitrogen (N) levels, and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings revealed that different oxygenation approaches significantly promoted rice tillering. Oxygenation measures have been shown to enhance rice yield by 19% to 65%. The highest tiller numbers were observed in the SR (22.75) and CF (21.6) treatments. Among all treatments, the CF achieved the highest seed setting rate at 0.94, which was notably greater than that of the other treatments. Total plant biomass was also significantly higher in the straw returning treatment (109.36 g), surpassing all other treatments. In terms of soil nitrogen dynamics, the OF treatment resulted in the highest nitrate nitrogen content. Meanwhile, the ammonium nitrogen concentrations across the four oxygenation treatments (CI, OI, OF, CF) ranged from approximately 7 to 8.9 mg kg⁻¹. Regarding GHG, the CF treatment exhibited the lowest methane emissions, which were 33% lower compared to the straw returning treatment. The OF led to a 22% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂) relative to straw returning. Most notably, the CF reduced nitrous oxide emissions by 37% compared to the straw returning treatment. Overall, SR was found to substantially increase GHG. In contrast, all tested oxygenation measures—CI, OI, OF, and CF—were effective in suppressing GHG to varying degrees. Among these, the CF and OF demonstrated the most balanced and outstanding effects, both in reducing emissions and maintaining stable rice yields. Full article

The transition toward renewable energy systems offers significant opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while also introducing new challenges in risk management and policy design. This study examines the long-term effects of renewable energy consumption, the risk factors associated with environmental taxation, and public expenditure on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across 27 European Union countries over a period of 22 years. Using panel data techniques—specifically the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) estimators—the analysis identifies robust cointegrating relationships among environmental, fiscal, and energy variables. The joint null hypothesis (H₀) states that renewable energy consumption, environmental taxation, and public environmental expenditure do not exert a statistically significant negative long-run effect on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (i.e., none of these variables contributes to reducing GHG emissions in the long run). The findings show that renewable energy consumption and environmental taxes significantly and negatively affect GHG emissions, confirming their effectiveness as instruments for emission risk mitigation. Pollution taxes display the strongest elasticity among fiscal measures, indicating their pivotal role in carbon reduction strategies. Furthermore, public expenditure, particularly in waste management, meaningfully contributes to long-term emission reductions. These results highlight that a cohesive policy framework combining renewable energy development, targeted taxation, and strategic public investment can effectively minimize the environmental and economic risks associated with decarbonization. The study provides valuable empirical evidence for policymakers and risk analysts, underscoring the importance of integrated fiscal and energy policies in achieving sustainable climate risk management across the European Union Full article

Livestock farming represents one of the primary sources of ammonia (NH₃) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂), having a significant environmental impact. Reducing emissions and recovering gas systems from these livestock buildings necessitate measuring gas concentrations to mitigate environmental impacts using an accurate, high-cost portable device. This study aims to evaluate the concentration of NH₃ and GHGs in a semi-open dairy farm located in southern Sicily, a region with a hot climate. The measurement campaign was carried out during the spring of 2025. The concentrations of NH₃, CH₄, CO_2, and N₂O were measured in different barn areas (i.e., manger, feeding alley, and service alley) using a portable gas detector (GASMET GT5000) based on Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) technology. Statistical analysis revealed that NH₃ concentrations were highest in the feeding alley, while CH₄ concentrations peaked at the manger. N₂O levels stayed low because there was no straw. Future research should investigate gas concentrations across different seasons (e.g., winter, summer) to analyze gas patterns under different climatic conditions. Additionally, the use of an accurate portable device enables further investigations into other barn typologies within the Mediterranean area to assess how farm construction and management practices influence gas production. Full article

Climate change mitigation involves carbon sequestration that can be supported by Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) and counted as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in national climate change strategies. Integrating these allows for the determination of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration at the national level. The case for Egypt and other nontropical dryland nations is made in this systematic review article through consideration of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) protocol challenges and initiatives. Improvements are indicated based on the literature, encompassing the academic literature as well as organizational reports and governmental policy documents. Agricultural MRV protocols depending on soil organic carbon (SOC) measurements are specifically considered, delineating the challenges and barriers for SOC MRV methods. Considering the impacts of climate zones affecting soils and providing as much standardization as possible for MRV protocols will improve the accuracy and generalizability of data. Measurements in carbon sequestration monitoring based on SOC MRV protocols need to be informed by soil experts alongside climatologists and policymakers in a multidisciplinary approach. Full article

Electricity generation is the largest contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This review synthesizes life cycle assessment (LCA) evidence for major power generation technologies published from 2015 to 2025. Using a structured screening approach, it identifies consistent cross-technology patterns and the methodological factors driving variation in reported results. Unabated coal and oil show the highest life cycle intensities; natural gas varies widely with methane management; and nuclear, geothermal, hydropower, wind, and solar power generally fall one to two orders of magnitude lower. Differences arise mainly from upstream processes, siting conditions, and system boundary definitions. Key mitigation levers include plant efficiency improvements, methane abatement, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and low-carbon manufacturing. The review also highlights how emerging policies—including the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and China’s carbon-footprint standards—are integrating life cycle and Scope-2 accounting. Standardized, AR6-aligned LCA practices and transparent upstream data remain essential for credible, comparable electricity-sector decarbonization. Full article

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG), accounting for approximately 81% of total emissions, with methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases contributing the remainder. Rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, driven primarily by fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and transportation, have surpassed the Earth’s natural sequestration capacity, intensifying climate change impacts. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) offers a portfolio of solutions to mitigate these emissions, encompassing pre-combustion, post-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and direct air capture (DAC) technologies. This review synthesizes advancements in CO₂ capture materials including liquid absorbents (amines, amino acids, ionic liquids, hydroxides/carbonates), solid adsorbents (metal–organic frameworks, zeolites, carbon-based materials, metal oxides), hybrid sorbents, and emerging hydrogel-based systems and their integration with utilization and storage routes. Special emphasis is given to CO₂ mineralization using mine tailings, steel slag, fly ash, and bauxite residue, as well as biological mineralization employing carbonic anhydrase (CA) immobilized in hydrogels. The techno-economic performance of these pathways is compared, highlighting that while high-capacity sorbents offer scalability, hydrogels and biomineralization excel in low-temperature regeneration and integration with waste valorization. Challenges remain in cost reduction, material stability under industrial flue gas conditions, and integration with renewable energy systems. The review concludes that hybrid, cross-technology CCUS configurations combining complementary capture, utilization, and storage strategies will be essential to meeting 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Full article

The construction phase of buildings contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet mitigation strategies within the contractor’s scope—particularly those affecting transport, on-site energy use, and waste—remain underexplored in life cycle assessments (LCAs). This study develops a modelling framework to evaluate 20 mitigation strategies targeting modules A4 and A5 of the LCA, using a generalised business-as-usual (BAU) scenario derived from 15 representative archetypes based on 279 built projects and weighted by national construction statistics. Monte Carlo simulations are applied to capture variability in material composition and component distribution, and marginal abatement cost analysis is used to assess cost-effectiveness. The results show that transport-related strategies offer the highest mitigation potential under Danish conditions with minimal or negative costs, while waste strategies provide moderate reductions and often result in net savings. Energy strategies, though impactful in percentage terms, tend to have lower absolute reductions and higher costs. The applicability of strategies varies across building sizes, with economies of scale influencing feasibility. The modelling framework offers a structured basis for comparing mitigation actions by climate benefit and cost-efficiency, supporting strategic planning for low-carbon construction, while recognising that practical implementation depends on project-specific and organisational factors. Full article

Enteric methane (CH₄) emissions from ruminants are one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture. We hypothesized that increasing levels of whole cottonseed (WCS) in diets decreases CH₄ production in ruminants fed low-quality forages without compromising feed digestibility. Dietary lipid supplementation, particularly with oilseeds such as WCS, has the potential to reduce enteric CH₄ production by altering rumen fermentation pathways. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of WCS inclusion in a tropical forage-based diet on in vitro gas and CH₄ production, fermentation characteristics, and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Five treatments were tested using guinea grass hay (GG) supplemented with 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50% of WCS (DM basis). Results after 48 h of incubation showed a quadratic response of total gas production with increasing WCS inclusion (p < 0.01), with the highest values observed at 12.5% and 25% WCS. Methane production from digested DM significantly reduced at 50% WCS inclusion (−10.66% respect to control; p = 0.02), suggesting a mitigation effect without detrimental impacts on IVDMD (p = 0.16), which remained unaffected across all treatments. No effects were found in initial or final pH (p = 0.98 and p = 0.89, respectively) or total protozoa count among treatments (p = 0.99). However, levels of 50% WCS inclusion exceed the recommended limit of fat in ruminant diets (>6% DM). Further in vivo validation trials are recommended to confirm these in vitro results and evaluate long-term impacts on animal performance and CH₄ emissions. This article is a revised and expanded version of Whole cottonseed as an alternative to mitigate in vitro methane emissions on low-quality forage-based diets. Presented at the International Research Symposium on Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation. From Research to Implementation. 21–24 October 2024, Berlin, Germany. Full article

Kitchen waste management strongly affects greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially in small municipalities with limited treatment options. This study assessed alternative strategies for Aya Town, Japan, by integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with Geographical Information System (GIS)-based transport analysis. Six scenarios were designed, ranging from mandatory composting with frequent collection to full incineration at a regional waste-to-energy (WtE) facility. Emissions were estimated from transport, composting, and incineration processes, with sensitivity tests on composting electricity use (20, 50, and 90 kWh per ton) and WtE efficiency (15%, 17.9%, 20%, and 25%). The results showed that reducing collection frequency lowered emissions by about 9% relative to the current system, while decreasing composting participation further reduced emissions. Full incineration yielded the lowest emissions, whereas sensitivity analyses confirmed that facility parameters influenced absolute values but not the relative ranking of scenarios. These findings emphasize the importance of transport logistics, participation rates, and infrastructural context. High-quality compost may justify limited voluntary composting; however, WtE incineration remains the most robust option for climate mitigation in Japan’s incineration-based waste management system. Full article

This study develops a replicable, data-driven framework for subnational climate action, demonstrated through a case study of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The framework integrates a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory with spatial analysis to identify and quantify location-specific mitigation strategies. Using 2019 as the base year, total emissions were 5,387,482 tCO₂e (BASIC+), dominated by stationary energy (40%) and transportation (32%). Under a Business-as-Usual scenario, emissions are projected to reach 6.35 million tCO₂e by 2030, highlighting an urgent need for intervention. As a key mitigation strategy, this research conducts a detailed spatial analysis of solar rooftop potential. The findings reveal a significant opportunity: a conservative 30% adoption rate on suitable rooftops could generate approximately 2070 GWh of clean energy annually, leading to an emissions reduction of over 1 million tCO₂e. Crucially, this single intervention could offset 16% of the province’s projected 2030 emissions. This study presents a viable pathway for subnational entities to contribute to national climate targets, offering a practical blueprint for other cities and regions globally to develop effective, evidence-based climate action plans. Full article