Search Results (3)

Clarifying the temporal and spatial characteristics of regional carbon emissions and low-carbon efficiency is of great significance for the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study calculated the carbon emissions in Sichuan Province from 2015 to 2022 based on four major units: energy activity, industrial production, forestry activity, and waste disposal, and its time evolution characteristics and key sources were investigated. Meanwhile, based on the Super-SBM-Undesirable model, the low-carbon efficiency of Sichuan Province and its 21 cities (states) was evaluated, and its spatial heterogeneity characteristics were investigated. The empirical results reveal the following: (1) energy activity was the main contributor to regional carbon emissions, with thermal power generation and industrial energy terminal consumption as the key sectors. Inter-regional power allocation could indirectly reduce the regional emission intensity. The carbon emissions of industrial production showed significant aggregation in cement and steel production. The forest carbon sink had a significant effect on alleviating the regional greenhouse effect. The carbon emissions of waste disposal were small. (2) From 2015 to 2022, the low-carbon efficiency of Sichuan Province showed an overall upward trend. Chengdu had a high level of economic development, a reasonable industrial organization, and a continuous increase in its urban greening rate. Heavy industrial cities such as Panzhihua and Deyang made great efforts to eliminate backward production capacity and low-carbon transformation of key industries. Therefore, they were the first mover advantage regions of low-carbon transformation. Zigong, Mianyang, Suining, and Leshan enjoyed favorable preferential policies and energy-saving space, and were developmental regions of low-carbon transformation. But they need to actively deal with the problem of industrial solidification. The low-carbon efficiency of plateau areas in western Sichuan was relatively low, but they have unique resource endowment advantages in clean energy such as hydropower, so the development potential is strong. Cities such as Ya’an and Bazhong faced a series of challenges such as weak geographical advantages and the risk of pollution haven. They were potential regions of low-carbon transformation. Full article

Land subsidence, soil erosion, and landscape fragmentation frequently occur in regions of backward production capacity. Therefore, it is imperative to carry out efforts for ecological restoration in these mine-closed regions. The proposal of holistic conservation of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts provides important guidance for ecological restoration. To support the governance of regional ecology, this paper aims to discuss the layout of element governance zoning in four southern towns of Qijiang District, Chongqing. SBAS-InSAR technology, vulnerability assessment, linear trend analysis, and suitability evaluation were used to divide the mountain, water, forest, and farmland management areas. Regional comprehensive management work was implemented according to the severity of each element’s existing ecological questions. Eventually, a comprehensive management pattern of mountains, rivers, forests, and farmlands can be obtained. The results show that the mountain management area is 8.03 km² (3.24% of the total management area), the hydrological management area is 212.07 km² (85.80% of the total management area), the forest management area is 7.04 km² (2.84% of the total management area), and the farmland management area is 20.07 km² (8.12% of the total management area). In light of the current circumstances, this study advocates for the implementation of three integrated governance approaches, with a focus on managing hydrological factors. These approaches include ridge-based mountain, water, and forest governance, valley-based mountain, water, and farmland governance, and undergrowth economy-based water, forest, and farmland governance. This study explores the spatial layout and priority of the governance areas from the perspective of elements, which provides a new development direction for the current research on the life community based on policy analysis. Full article

The unprecedented slowdown in China during the COVID-19 period of November 2019 to April 2020 should have reduced pollution in smog-laden cities. However, moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) satellite retrievals of aerosol optical depth (AOD) show a marked increase in aerosols over the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BHT) region and most of Northeast and Central China, compared with the previous winter. Fine particulate (PM_2.5) data from ground monitoring stations show an increase of 19.5% in Beijing during January and February 2020, and no reduction for Tianjin. In March and April 2020, a different spatial pattern emerges, with very high AOD levels observed over 50% of the Chinese mainland, and including peripheral regions in the northwest and southwest. At the same time, ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) satellite-derived NO₂ concentrations fell drastically across China. The increase in PM_2.5 while NO₂ decreased in BTH and across China is likely due to enhanced production of secondary particulates. These are formed when reductions in NOx result in increased ozone formation, thus increasing the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. Support for this explanation is provided by ground level air quality data showing increased volume of fine mode aerosols throughout February and March 2020, and increased levels of PM_2.5, relative humidity (RH), and ozone during haze episodes in the COVID-19 lockdown period. Backward trajectories show the origin of air masses affecting industrial centers of North and East China to be local. Other contributors to increased atmospheric particulates may include inflated industrial production in peripheral regions to compensate loss in the main population and industrial centers, and low wind speeds. Satellite monitoring of the extraordinary atmospheric conditions resulting from the COVID-19 shutdown could enhance understanding of smog formation and attempts to control it. Full article