Input-Output Analysis for Energy and Environmental Systems

Improving industrial energy efficiency (IEE) is crucial for reducing CO₂ emissions. Green finance (GF) provides an essential economic instrument for investment in IEE improvement. However, previous studies have not reached a consensus on whether GF can promote energy efficiency. In addition, more research is needed in the industrial sector. Therefore, this study focused on the industrial level to investigate GF’s impact on IEE and its heterogeneity using a two-way fixed effects model. The moderating effect, threshold effect, and spatial lag models were used to test the various effects of GF on IEE. In addition, the spatial clustering characteristics of IEE were analyzed. The results indicate the following: GF can significantly promote IEE, positively improves IEE in the central and eastern areas, and has a negative impact in the western area; the marketization level (ML) is an important channel through which GF can further improve IEE; GF’s impact on IEE exhibits a single threshold effect of the level of economic development (EDL) and green credit (GCL); GF promotes local IEE improvement but prevents neighboring IEE improvement; and IEE shows four types of clusters, but only in about one-third of the provinces. Based on these results, several recommendations are provided. Full article

Rice production is the agricultural activity with the highest energy consumption and carbon emission intensity. Water and fertilizer management constitutes an important part of energy input for rice production and a key factor affecting greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields. Water–fertilizer integration management (AIM) is an automated water and fertilizer management system for large-scale rice production, which can effectively save water and fertilizer resources. At present, the energy utilization and environmental impact of AIM in rice production are not clear. To clarify whether AIM is a water and fertilizer management measure that combines energy conservation and carbon emission reduction, a comparative study between the widely used farmers’ enhanced water and fertilizer management (FEM) in China and AIM was conducted in this paper. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the rice yield, carbon emission, energy utilization, and economic benefits of the two management methods. The results showed that AIM reduced water and fertilizer inputs, energy inputs, and economic costs by 12.18–28.57%, compared to FEM. The energy utilization efficiency, energy profitability, and energy productivity under AIM were improved by 11.30–12.61%. CH₄ and N₂O emissions and carbon footprint were reduced by 20.79%, 6.51%, and 16.39%, respectively. Compared with FEM, AIM can effectively improve the utilization efficiency of water and fertilizer resources and reduce carbon emissions. This study presents a mechanized water and fertilizer management approach suitable for large-scale rice production systems in China. By analyzing rice yield, resource utilization efficiency, and environmental benefits, AIM can serve as a crucial management strategy for enhancing productivity, economic returns, and environmental conservation within profitable rice production systems. In the future, further investigation into the impact of AIM on the microbial mechanisms underlying rice yield formation and greenhouse gas emissions is warranted. Full article