Search Results (1,556)

Against the escalating challenges of global climate change and intensifying resource-environment constraints, exploring the green effects of industrial spatial organization has become crucial. Utilizing panel data from the Yangtze River Delta cities spanning 2011–2023, this study empirically examines the nonlinear impact of manufacturing-producer services co-agglomeration on urban green efficiency. The results reveal a significant U-shaped relationship: co-agglomeration initially suppresses efficiency due to coordination costs and congestion effects, but after crossing a specific threshold, the resulting scale economies and knowledge spillovers dominate and begin to promote green enhancement. Mechanism tests indicate that industrial upgrading serves as a direct mediating channel, while the mediating effect of green technological innovation exhibits a time lag. Further heterogeneity analysis shows that this U-shaped pattern is particularly pronounced in cities with low agglomeration levels, those not designated as low-carbon pilots, and non-resource-based cities. This study uncovers the nonlinear dynamics and key boundary conditions of the green effects arising from industrial co-agglomeration, providing an empirical basis for implementing differentiated regional spatial coordination policies. Full article

Carbon emission reduction in the construction industry is pivotal for global carbon emission reduction, yet the lack of coordination mechanisms within the sector limits its effectiveness. This study examines the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2010 to 2022, capturing the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and key influencing factors of carbon emission efficiency in the construction industry (CEECI) to achieve coordinated emission reduction. Using the super-efficiency Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model and the Malmquist–Luenberger (ML) index, the study analyzes changes in CEECI, revealing significant regional variations: downstream, midstream, and upstream regions demonstrated average values of 1.10, 1.00, and 0.68, respectively. Resource redundancy is a major issue affecting CEECI, with energy redundancy rates exceeding 20%. The ML index indicates continuous improvement in CEECI, with technological change (TC) contributing the most to this improvement, as shown by index decomposition. Spatial analysis using Moran’s index (Moran’s I) revealed significant positive spatial autocorrelation, with distinct “high-high” (H-H) and “low-low” (L-L) clustering patterns, suggesting that regions with high CEECI positively influence their neighbors. Finally, we built a spatial econometric model to identify key influencing factors, including industrialization level, construction industry production level, energy consumption structure, human resources, and internal innovation levels, which directly or indirectly impact CEECI to varying degrees. These findings highlight the importance of regional coordination and targeted policy interventions to enhance carbon emission efficiency in the construction industry, addressing resource redundancy and leveraging technological advancements to contribute to global carbon reduction goals. Full article

Green total factor productivity (GTFP), as an important indicator considering both economic development and environmental protection, has prompted countries around the world to actively explore ways to improve it in the context of the global transition to a green economy. The Low-Carbon City Policy (LCCP) implemented by the Chinese government, along with the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone Policy (NBDCPZ), which serve as key carriers of green regulation and digital innovation, respectively, play an important role in improving green total factor productivity (GTFP) and achieving high-quality economic development. This study aims to deeply explore whether there is a collaborative enabling effect of the Low-Carbon City Policy (LCCP) and the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone Policy (NBDCPZ) on green total factor productivity (GTFP) and to reveal the internal mechanism by which they improve GTFP through green technological innovation and industrial agglomeration. Specifically, based on the panel data of 269 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2022, a “dual-pilot” policy is constructed through LCCP and NBDCPZ, and a multi-period difference-in-differences model (DID) is used to evaluate the collaborative effect of the “dual-pilot” policy on GTFP. The results show that the “dual-pilot” policy has a significant collaborative effect on green total factor productivity (GTFP), and its enabling effect is more obvious than that of the “single-pilot” policy. These conclusions still hold after a series of endogeneity and robustness tests. Mechanism analysis shows that the “dual-pilot” policy can also improve green total factor productivity (GTFP) through green technological innovation and industrial agglomeration. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the collaborative enabling effect of the “dual-pilot” policy is influenced by geographical location and population density. Specifically, the “dual-pilot” policy significantly promotes green total factor productivity (GTFP) in coastal cities and those with high population density. These research results provide a scientific basis for formulating green development policies in China and other countries, as well as a direction for subsequent research on the collaborative enabling effect of multiple policies. Full article

Flexible and wearable pressure sensors are essential for monitoring of human motion and are distinguished by their increased sensitivity and outstanding mechanical robustness. In this study, we systematically engineered a flexible and wearable pressure sensor with a multilayer conductive architecture, arranging a sponge substrate coated in a consecutive manner with a barium zirconium titanate thin film, followed by polypyrrole, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and eventually polydimethylsiloxane. The foundation of additional conductive pathways is enabled via the utilization of a porous framework and the hierarchical arrangement, causing the achievement of an excellent sensitivity of 9.71 kPa^–1 (0–9 kPa), a rapid 40 ms response time, and a fast 60 ms recovery period, combined with a particularly low detection limit (125 Pa) and an extended pressure range from 0 to 225 kPa. Furthermore, the integration of a rough and porous barium zirconium titanate/barium titanate thin film is expected to deliver a voltage output (1.25 V) through piezoelectric working mechanisms. This study possesses the potential to provide an innovative architecture design for advancing the development of future electronic devices for health and sports monitoring. Full article

A Life cycle assessment (LCA) is widely used to evaluate the carbon reduction potential of polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic systems. However, in existing LCA methods, most studies use static attenuation models and fixed lifecycle boundary frameworks. Therefore, this study proposes a dynamic LCA framework that considers the attenuation rate changes in photovoltaic systems and the energy gain during the recovery phase. The innovation of this method lies in its ability to more accurately reflect the carbon emissions and energy recovery period (EPBT) of photovoltaic systems under different operating and attenuation scenarios. In addition, this article expands the application scope of the LCA by introducing new boundary conditions, providing a new perspective for the lifecycle assessment of photovoltaic systems. A practical carbon emission calculation model was established using the full lifecycle data within this boundary, and the quantitative relationship between the EPBT and power generation was derived. A three-dimensional dynamic coupling model was developed to integrate these three key parameters and continuously characterize the dynamic behavior of the system throughout its entire lifecycle. This model explicitly addresses the attenuation of photovoltaic modules in three scenarios: low (1%), baseline (3%), and high (5%) attenuation rates. The results show that under low attenuation, the average EPBT is 4.14 years, which extends to 6.5 years under high attenuation and only 2.37 years under low attenuation. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the model in representing the dynamic evolution of photovoltaic systems, providing a theoretical basis for subsequent environmental performance evaluations. Full article

Housing stock is observed to be associated with high carbon emissions, high fuel poverty and low comfort levels in the UK. Retrofitting the housing stock is one of the best solutions to address these problems. This paper directly corresponds with human and planetary health in terms of climate change, human health and mental health by addressing the challenges of housing retrofit at scale. Retrofitting houses can also contribute to social equity, reduced use of planetary resources and better financial and physical comfort. Despite the availability of the right technology, government grants and the potential to acquire supply chain and skilled labour, the progress of retrofit is extremely poor. Importantly, the UK is off track to achieve net zero by 2050, and the housing stock contributes 18.72% of the total emissions. The problem is further exacerbated by the 30.4 million units of housing stock. Robust strategies are required to retrofit the housing stock at scale. The study uses a qualitative modelling method under the diffusion of innovations theory to formulate a retrofit-at-scale strategy for the UK. Findings recommend focusing on skill development, show homes, research and innovation, supply chain development, business models, government grants and regulatory tools in a trajectory from 2025 to 2050. The proposed strategy is aligned with the segments of the diffusion of innovation theory. Although the analysis was performed with reference to the UK, the findings are transferable, considering the broader and urgent concerns related to human and planetary health. Full article

The transition to renewable energy technologies is one of the most important ways to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of affordable and clean energy (SDG7); industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG9); responsible production and consumption (SDG12); and climate action (SDG13). The widespread use of renewable energy technologies in developing countries will reduce dependence on imported fossil resources, increase industrial competitiveness, and support low-carbon development. Despite all their advantages, the integration of renewable energy technologies into industrial and domestic systems in developing countries remains slow due to a number of barriers. Financial constraints, technical and technological deficiencies, political restrictions and uncertainties, and organizational and managerial inadequacies are some of the barriers to the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies. This study aims to identify, classify, and prioritize the barriers to the implementation of renewable energy technologies by applying multi-criteria decision-making methods in a fuzzy environment, with Türkiye considered as a case study. The relative importance of the barriers identified using the Single-Valued Spherical Fuzzy SWARA method was assessed, and their interconnections and significance were systematically demonstrated. The findings will contribute to the development of policy and management strategies aligned with global sustainability goals, thereby facilitating a more effective and equitable transition to clean and resilient energy systems. Full article

In the context of the global pursuit of the ‘carbon neutrality’ objective, Chinese enterprises are proactively advancing green development and low-carbon transformation. Among these efforts, climate transition risks have emerged as a crucial factor affecting strategic enterprise decisions and long-term competitiveness. This study utilizes a sample comprising Chinese A-share listed enterprises over the period from 2012 to 2024 to construct an enterprise climate transition risk index using text analysis methods. It empirically investigates this index’s impact on enterprise green innovation by adopting panel data analysis method to construct a fixed effects model and further examines the moderating roles of institutional investors’ shareholding and enterprise environmental uncertainties in response to climate transition risks. The research findings indicate the following: First, climate transition risks significantly enhance enterprise green innovation. The validity of this conclusion persists following a series of robustness and endogeneity tests, including replacing the explained variable, lagging the explanatory variable, controlling for city-level fixed effects, and applying instrumental variable methods. Second, both institutional investors’ shareholding and enterprise environmental uncertainties exert a significant positive regulatory effect on the relationship between climate transition risk and green innovation, indicating that external monitoring and heightened risk perception jointly enhance enterprises’ responsiveness in driving green innovation. Thirdly, heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive impact of climate transition risks on green innovation is notably amplified within non-state-owned enterprises and manufacturing enterprises. By examining the dual regulatory mechanisms of ‘external monitoring’ and ‘risk perception’, this study broadens the study framework on the relationship between climate risks and enterprise green innovation, offering new empirical evidence supporting the applicability of the ‘Porter Hypothesis’ within the context of climate-related challenges. Furthermore, it provides valuable implications for policymakers in refining climate information disclosure policies and assists enterprises in developing forward-looking green innovation strategies. Full article

Addressing the growing threat of climate change requires urgent and sustainable solutions for managing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. This review investigates the latest advancements in technologies for capturing and converting CO₂, with a focus on approaches that prioritize energy efficiency, environmental compatibility, and economic viability. Emerging strategies in CO₂ capture are discussed, with attention to low-carbon-intensity materials and scalable designs. In parallel, innovative CO₂ conversion pathways, such as thermocatalytic, electrocatalytic, and photochemical processes, are evaluated for their potential to transform CO₂ into valuable chemicals and fuels. A growing body of research now focuses on integrating capture and conversion into unified systems, eliminating energy-intensive intermediate steps like compression and transportation. These integrated carbon capture and conversion/utilization (ICCC/ICCU) technologies have gained significant attention as promising strategies for sustainable carbon management. By bridging the gap between CO₂ separation and reuse, these sustainable technologies are poised to play a transformative role in the transition to a low-carbon future. Full article

The utilization of sustainable feedstocks offers significant opportunities for innovation in sustainable and efficient processing technologies, targeting a vacuum residue upgrade industry projected to be valued at around USD 26 billion in 2024. This review examines advances in catalytic strategies for upgrading waste-derived products (plastics, tires) and biomass, in addition to heavy oil feedstocks. Particular emphasis is placed on hydrogen addition pathways, specifically, residue hydroconversion facilitated by dispersed nanocatalysts and waste co-processing methodologies. Beyond nanoscale catalyst design and reaction performance, this work also addresses refinery-level sustainability impacts. The advanced catalytic conversion of heavy oil residue demonstrates superior conversion efficiency, significant coke suppression, and improved carbon utilization, while life cycle and illustrative techno-economic comparisons indicate greenhouse gas reductions and a net economic gain of approximately USD 2–3 per barrel relative to conventional refining under scenarios assuming decarbonized hydrogen production. Co-processing of plastics, tires, and biomass with heavy oil feedstocks is highlighted as a practical and effective approach. Together, these findings outline a rational catalytic pathway toward optimized refining systems. Within the framework of the circular carbon economy, these catalytic processes enable enhanced feedstock utilization, integration of low-carbon hydrogen, and coupling with carbon-capture technologies. Full article

Green hydrogen has become a fundamental pillar in the transition towards a low-carbon economy, due to its ability to produce energy without polluting emissions and from renewable sources such as solar and wind. Unlike other hydrogen production technologies, green hydrogen is obtained through water electrolysis using renewable electricity, which makes it a clean and sustainable fuel, ideal for hard-to-decarbonized sectors such as heavy industry and long-distance transportation. The main objective of this review is to analyze the evolution, trends, and knowledge gaps related to the sustainability of green hydrogen, identifying the main research focus areas, scientific actors, and emerging opportunities. To do this, 1935 scientific articles indexed in Scopus and WOS were examined under PRISMA 2020. Among the most relevant results, an exponential growth in scientific production on hydrogen and sustainability is observed, with Asian authors leading due to strong national commitments. The main challenges identified by the scientific community are related to efficiency, profitability, optimization, integration into sustainable energy systems, and emission reduction. Green hydrogen technologies are central to future energy, and success depends on international collaboration, innovation, and stable policies that support large-scale, sustainable clean energy adoption. Full article

The development of agricultural new productive forces (ANPFs) represents a vital pathway to overcoming the bottlenecks of agricultural modernization and reshaping agricultural competitiveness. As sustainable development and green transformation have become global priorities, the formation of ANPFs is increasingly viewed as a key engine for promoting resource-efficient agriculture, low-carbon production, ecological protection, and resilient food systems. Using panel data from 16 prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province, China, spanning the period 2010–2023, this study employs the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method to measure the levels of ANPFs and sustainable agricultural development (SAD). A panel data model is then applied to examine the impact of ANPFs on SAD, while a mediation-effect model is used to test the underlying transmission mechanisms. Finally, a spatial econometric model is employed to assess the spatial spillover effects between ANPFs and SAD. The results reveal that ANPFs exert a significant and robust positive impact on Anhui’s SAD, with the strength of this effect decreasing gradually from central to southern and northern regions. Further analysis indicates that the driving influence of ANPFs operates through three key mediating pathways: the improvement of new-type infrastructure, the enhancement of agricultural scientific and technological innovation, and the advancement of agricultural digital transformation. Moreover, ANPFs demonstrate a positive spatial spillover effect, suggesting that the development of new productive forces in one region promotes agricultural modernization in neighboring areas. These findings demonstrate that ANPFs not only enhance productivity but also contribute to sustainable agricultural development. Accordingly, strengthening ANPFs development can serve as an effective strategy for promoting long-term agricultural sustainability, indicating that central Anhui should be prioritized as a core hub for fostering ANPFs, enabling the gradient diffusion of infrastructure, innovation capacity, and digital services toward southern and northern Anhui. Strengthening regional coordination mechanisms will further amplify the spatial spillover of ANPFs, thereby advancing high-quality agricultural development across the province. This study provides new evidence for how ANPFs can support sustainable agricultural transformation, offering policy insights for green growth, food security, and rural revitalization. Full article

During the global low-carbon transition, technology transfer serves as a crucial channel for the dissemination of knowledge and innovations, which is essential for increasing overall Green Total Factor Energy Efficiency (GTFEE). Leveraging the establishment of national technology transfer centers (NTTCs) in China as a quasinatural experiment, this study employs a multiperiod difference-in-differences (DID) framework and utilizes data from 280 prefecture-level cities (2006–2022) to identify the causal effect of technology transfer on GTFEE. The results demonstrate that this policy substantially boosts city-level GTFEE. Mechanistic tests reveal that technology transfer improves GTFEE primarily via improvements in industrial structure, innovations in green technology, and the accumulation of human capital. Furthermore, well-functioning markets positively moderate the policy effect, not only strengthening the direct impact but also reinforcing the two transmission mechanisms. Heterogeneity analysis reveals a more pronounced impact in municipalities with nascent digital economies, stronger intellectual property protection, nonresource-based profiles, and those serving as transportation hubs. These findings provide empirical support for improving national technology transfer systems and advancing regional green development, offering policy insights for achieving synergistic economic-environmental progress. Full article

The oily wastewater produced by transformer oil leakage contains pollutants such as mineral oil, metal particles, aged oil and additives, which can disrupt the dissolved oxygen balance in water bodies, pollute soil and endanger human health through the food chain, causing serious environmental pollution. Effective oil–water separation technology is the key to ecological protection and resource recovery. This paper reviews the principles, influencing factors and research progress of traditional (gravity sedimentation, air flotation, adsorption, demulsification) and new (nanocomposite adsorption, metal–organic skeleton materials, superhydrophobic/superlipophilic modified films) transformer oil–water separation technologies. Traditional technologies are mostly applicable to large-particle-free oil and are difficult to adapt to complex matrix wastewater. However, the new technology has significant advantages in separation efficiency (up to over 99.5%), selectivity and cycling stability (with a performance retention rate of over 85% after 20–60 cycles), breaking through the bottlenecks of traditional methods. In the future, it is necessary to develop low-cost and efficient separation technologies, promote the research and development of intelligent responsive materials, upgrade low-carbon preparation processes and their engineering applications, support environmental protection treatment in the power industry and encourage the coupling of material innovation and processes. Full article

Despite growing interest in sustainable supply chains, we still know relatively little about how environmental requirements transmitted from key customers along the supply chain affect firms’ productivity and long-run economic sustainability. To address this gap, we introduce the notion of green supply chain pressure, downstream customers’ explicit green and low-carbon requirements on suppliers, and examine its implications for firm-level productivity and the mechanisms involved. Using a panel of Chinese A-share listed firms over 2014–2024, we construct a novel text-based index of green supply chain pressure by combining supply-chain relationship data with MD&A disclosures of major customers. Firm-level economic sustainability is measured by Levinsohn–Petrin total factor productivity, with Olley–Pakes estimates used for robustness. Fixed-effects regressions with industry–year and city–year controls show that stronger green supply chain pressure is associated with significantly higher productivity. Mediation analysis reveals that this effect operates partly through three resource-intensive adjustment channels: (i) a higher share of green patents in total innovation, (ii) capital deepening via a higher share of digital and intelligent fixed assets in total net fixed assets, and (iii) human capital upgrading through a larger proportion of highly educated employees. Interaction models further indicate that financing constraints critically condition these gains: the productivity effect of green supply chain pressure is stronger for firms with greater financial slack, and for high-tech, green-attribute and larger firms. Overall, the results highlight supply chain-based governance as a powerful complement to formal regulation for promoting long-run economic sustainability at the firm level. Full article