Low-carbon development path based on carbon emission accounting and carbon emission performance evaluation: a case study of Chinese coal production enterprises.

Carbon emission accounting is the basic premise of effective carbon emission reduction and management. This study aimed to establish the carbon emission model and performance evaluation framework of coal mine production enterprises and clarify the low-carbon development path of enterprises. In this study, we took a typical coal production enterprise (K enterprise) in the Shanxi province of China as the research object. We also estimated the carbon emissions of the enterprise mainly according to the Chinese Carbon Emission Accounting Standard (GB/T 32151.11-2018). The triangular model was used to construct the carbon performance evaluation framework. On this basis, we suggested the enterprise's low-carbon development path. The results showed that (1) the carbon emission of K enterprise in 2021 was 36,875.38 tCO2eq; the carbon emission intensity of each ton of coal produced was 0.089 tCO2eq. The critical carbon emissions were electricity consumption and methane fugitive emissions during production. (2) The evaluation indicators for carbon emission performance revealed an imbalance in K enterprise's economic, energy, and environmental development in 2021. The work on energy saving and consumption reduction was relatively weak. (3) Countermeasures for low-carbon development, including a carbon emission ledger, were proposed based on carbon emission accounting and performance evaluation results. This study can help typical underground coal production enterprises in Shanxi province obtain more accurate carbon emission data, providing practical guidance and reference for the same underground coal production enterprises to improve the carbon emission control effect.

How does digital finance reduce carbon emissions intensity? Evidence from chain mediation effect of production technology innovation and green technology innovation.

The digitalization of finance drives economic development and plays a crucial role in energy conservation and carbon emission reduction. Utilizing carbon emissions data from 2011 to 2020, we find that digital finance development can mitigate carbon emissions intensity (CEI) by approximately 0.14 %. Then, we employ a diverse set of robustness and endogeneity tests to assess the reliability of the empirical findings. Moreover, the study delves into how digital finance impacts CEI through production technology innovation (PTI) and green technology innovation (GTI). The results indicate a positive effect of PTI on CEI. GTI exerts a negative influence on CEI. In addition, there is a chain mediation effect between PTI and GTI in the baseline path. Finally, the impact of digital finance on CEI exhibits apparent regional heterogeneity.

Evaluating the carbon total factor productivity of China: based on Cobb-Douglas production function.

This paper introduces a novel methodology for estimating carbon total factor productivity based on the Cobb-Douglas production function. The research method introduced in this article expands upon the framework for assessing total factor productivity through the Solow residual method. It unifies the conceptual and methodological aspects of carbon total factor productivity with those of single factor productivity. Utilizing panel data from various provinces between 2010 and 2021, we computed carbon total factor productivity to understand its implications for China in combating global climate change. We demonstrate that (i) we have introduced a method to handle negative coefficients in the Cobb-Douglas production function by incorporating productivity in lieu of input factors during calculations. (ii) Carbon total factor productivity, encapsulating the geometric weighted mean of labor, capital, and carbon productivity, holds notable economic relevance. Further, it serves as an integrative metric comprising carbon productivity intertwined with the mean labor and capital carbon factors. And (iii) the influence of carbon total factor productivity growth on economic progression remains relatively subdued, with escalating labor force growth posing detrimental effects on several provincial economies. Enhancing carbon total factor productivity emerges as an imperative to harmonize robust economic growth with strategic carbon curtailment. Our analytical framework provides nuanced perspectives on productivity determinants, accentuating the thrust towards sustainable evolution amidst climatic challenges. This investigation bears profound significance for policymakers endeavoring to sculpt a carbon-conscious economic paradigm in consonance with global climatic ambitions.

Do industrial solid waste recycling and technological innovation promote low-carbon development in China? New insights from NARDL approach.

Recycling waste is crucial for consolidating resources and promoting sustainable development, serving a pivotal role in achieving the objectives of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Nonetheless, most existing research has primarily focused on municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling, often neglecting the significant volume of industrial solid waste (ISW). This study aims to explore the asymmetric effects of industrial solid waste recycling and technological innovation on the low-carbon development. To this end, this study selects GDP and carbon intensity as indicators representing economic growth and environmental quality. A variable that can enhance GDP growth while reducing carbon intensity signifies its contribution to low-carbon development. By collecting data from China over the period of 1985-2020, non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) models of GDP and carbon intensity are established to discover whether the low-carbon development can be achieved by enacting ISW recycling and technological innovation. The results show the asymmetric shocks of ISW recycling and technological innovation on economic growth and environmental quality. In the long run, both ISW recycling and technological innovation promote low-carbon development. In the short run, technological innovation proved to be detrimental to economic growth and environmental quality. This paper also highlights the inhibitory effect of the labor force on economic growth. The "pollution haven hypothesis" is supported by the finding that foreign direct investment reduces carbon intensity. Additionally, the Granger test revealed the direction of the variables' causality. Based on empirical findings, policymakers can protect the environment and create economic value simultaneously through waste recycling and technological innovation, thereby realizing low-carbon development.

Impact of global value chain embedding on decoupling between China's CO2 emissions and economic growth: Based on Tapio decoupling and structural decomposition.

With the increasing fragmentation of global production, China's participation in cross-border production sharing activities has had a considerable impact on the nation's economy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This study applied the Tapio model to quantitatively evaluate the decoupling between CO2 emissions and economic growth in China, dividing the decoupling index based on global value chains (GVCs) and domestic production within the IO framework, and introducing structural decomposition analysis (SDA) to analyze the GVC-related factors to the decoupling. The relevant research results are fourfold. (1) From 2000 to 2018, China achieved weak decoupling between emissions and economic growth. Domestic and GVC effects each had a negative impact on the decoupling; however, after 2008, the GVC effect had a promotional effect and the negative domestic effect declined. (2) Emission intensity was the primary factor promoting decoupling through domestic and GVC effects, while the scale of final demand was the main hindrance. And the negative effects of GVC-related factors declined following the economic crisis. (3) The regional and sectoral structures of GVC production (58.44 % and 56.08 %) had promotional roles in the changes in GVC effects, while GVC production linkages (-20.19 %) had hindering effects. Various factors contributed to the hindering effect from the 2008 to 2011 index, whereas from the 2011 to 2018 index, all factors contributed to the promotional effect. (4) From 2000 to 2018, the average annual global value chain effect promoted the low-carbon development of China's labor-intensive and knowledge-based manufacturing. In order for GVCs to play a positive role in decoupling, China should promote trade facilitation through international platforms, support the advancement of production technology, reasonably guide China's industries to participate in the regional and industrial links of GVCs, and develop strategic emerging industries.

Evaluation for the effect of low-carbon city pilot policy: evidence from industry in China.

The investigation of the implementation effect of the low-carbon city pilot (LCCP) policy in promoting industrial low-carbon development is important for economic growth and carbon reduction in China. This paper takes the industry sector as an independent investigation object, and aims to examine the effectiveness of the policy in improving industrial low-carbon development. The industrial total factor carbon emission efficiency index (ITFCEE) is constructed to measure the level of industrial low-carbon development by the global frontier directional distance function. From the perspective of the multiple participants of the policy, we analyze the mechanisms of the policy, and construct the time-varying difference-in-difference model to test how LCCP policy impacts the ITFCEE. We conclude that (1) LCCP policy improves significantly the ITFCEE. (2) Heterogeneity analysis results show that the positive influence of LCCP policy is significant in cities with high industrial carbon emission intensity, high industrial structure upgrading, and high government expenditure. (3) The result of the mechanism analysis is that LCCP policy can benefit the ITFCEE by promoting enterprise green technology innovation, public environment concern, government technology support, and administrative regulation.

Low-carbon development pathways for resource-based cities in China under the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

Resource-based cities are important strategic bases for securing resources in China and have made great contributions to the country's economic development. Long-term extensive resource development has made resource-based cities an important region constraining China from achieving comprehensive low-carbon development. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the low-carbon transition path of resource-based cities for their energy greening, industrial transformation, and high-quality economic development. This study compiled the CO2 emission inventory of resource-based cities in China from 2005 to 2017, explored the contribution to CO2 emissions from three perspectives (driver, industry, and city), and predicted the peak of CO2 emissions in resource-based cities. The results show that resource-based cities contribute 18.4% of the country's GDP and emit 44.4% of the country's CO2 and that economic growth and CO2 emissions have not yet been decoupled. The per capita CO2 emissions and emission intensity of resource-based cities are 1.8 times and 2.4 times higher than the national average, respectively. Economic growth and energy intensity are the biggest drivers and main inhibitors of CO2 emissions growth. Industrial restructuring has become the biggest inhibitor of CO2 emissions growth. Based on the different resource endowments, industrial structures, and socio-economic development levels of resource-based cities, we propose differentiated low-carbon transition pathways. This study can provide references for cities to develop differentiated low-carbon development paths under the "double carbon" target.

Studying financial development with low-carbon architecture development and green technological innovation: sustaining SDG-9.

In order to accomplish Sustainable Growth Goal 9, this research analyzes in detail how green technological innovation, low-carbon architectural improvement, and more significant financial growth all work together to reach the goal. This research meticulously integrates secondary data from reputable sources to examine the relationship between economic growth, technological innovation in the built environment, and environmental sustainability from 1994 to 2019. For economic insights, the World Bank's World Development Indicators is a go-to resource, while Yale University's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a go-to for environmental metrics. Our research is based on this synthesis of multi-dimensional data, which enables an in-depth investigation of the interplay between financial development, sustainable architecture, and technical progress toward SDG-9. This research employs quantitative and qualitative methodologies to shed light on the intricate interaction between these elements, making it useful for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders dedicated to directing sustainable development paths.

Carbon emissions and low-carbon development in Olefin industry.

Olefin industry as a vital part in economic development is facing a problem of high CO2 emission. In this work, for the global and China's olefin industry under different development scenario, the carbon emission is predicted after the revealing of carbon footprint in different olefin routes. The results show that the carbon footprint of the natural gas liquids (NGLs)-derived route is highly lower than that of the oil- and coal-derived routes. The carbon emission from the global olefin industry in 2015 is 553 million ton CO2 (MtCO2). In 2030, it will be ranged between 739 and 924 MtCO2 under different scenarios. Under sustainable development scenario, 15% reduction space is existed, whereas 6% growth is observed under the hybrid-development scenario compared to the business-as-usual situation. In the case of China, its carbon emission is 120 MtCO2 in 2015. Its potential carbon emission in 2030 will increase to 264-925 MtCO2, depending on the rest new capacity from low-carbon or high-carbon routes. The large gap implies the significant influence of the development route choice. However, if most new capacity is from the existed planned olefin projects, the carbon emission will be ranged between 390 and 594 MtCO2. Finally, the low-carbon roadmaps as well as polices are proposed for sustainable development of olefin industry.

Green credit and low-carbon development in China: Fresh evidence on spatial spillover insights.

The promulgation and execution of green credit (GC) policies have had a significant influence on the development of the economy and society, and their impact on low-carbon development (LCD) needs to be taken seriously. On the basis of elaborating the mechanism of the role of GC on LCD, this study constructs a panel fixed effects (FE) model to test the direct impact of GC on LCD by using Chinese provincial-level data from 2007 to 2020. An intermediary effect model is constructed to investigate its indirect effects. A dynamic SDM is further constructed to examine the spatial effects of GC on LCD in neighbouring regions. The results show that GC is helping China to achieve LCD. GC can promote LCD through promoting green innovation, optimizing energy structure and upgrading industrial structure. It is crucial to acknowledge that all three pathways are essential channels of influence and should not be disregarded. GC not only fosters LCD in the local areas, but also has a positive spatial spillover effect in adjacent regions. Based on the above conclusions, this study proposes policy recommendations such as increasing support for GC, smoothing the transmission channel from GC to LCD, and establishing a synergistic linkage mechanism between interregional credit and environmental governance. This study provides valuable insights for China to realize LCD, as well as for other countries to actively engage in energy conservation and emission reduction efforts.

Assessing the nexus between green investment and low-carbon development of the transportation industry: does industrial structure and renewable energy matter?

Based on the background of comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, this paper selects panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2019, uses the panel fixed effects model and panel threshold effect model, and discusses the nonlinear correlation mechanism between green investment, industrial structure, renewable energy, and low-carbon development of the transportation industry. The results show that, firstly, industrial structure and renewable energy can significantly promote the low-carbon development of the transportation industry, while green investment has a restraining effect on it (the main reason is that currently its scale is small and its investment in the transportation industry is relatively low). Secondly, industrial structure and renewable energy have a negative moderating and threshold effect in the process of green investment restraining low-carbon development of the transportation industry. Thirdly, these threshold effects have obvious regional heterogeneity characteristics. Based on this, decision-makers should not only continue to expand the scale of green investment and optimize resource allocation but also fully utilize the threshold characteristics of industrial structure and renewable energy in different regions to develop different strategies and achieve the promotion of green investment in low-carbon development of the transportation industry as soon as possible.

[Measures for waste and by-product recycling and circular economy of whole industry chain of traditional Chinese medicine resources facing carbon peak and carbon neutrality (dual carbon) goals].

It has become a common consensus that resource conservation and intensive recycling for improving resource utilization efficiency is an important way to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality(dual carbon). Traditonal Chinese medicine(TCM)resources as national strategic resources are the material basis and fundamental guarantee for the development of TCM industry and health services. However, the rapid growth of China's TCM industry and the continuous expansion and extension of the industrial chain have exposed the low efficiency of TCM resources. Resource waste and environmental pollution caused by the treatment and discharge of TCM waste have emerged as major problems faced by the development of the industry, which has aroused wide concern. Considering the dual carbon goals, this paper expounds the role and potential of TCM resource recycling and circular economy industry development. Taking the typical model of TCM resource recycling as the case of circular economy industry in reducing carbon source and increasing carbon sink, this paper puts forward the suggestions for the TCM circular economy industry serving the double carbon goals. The suggestions mainly include strengthening the policy and strategic leading role of the double carbon goals, building an objective evaluation system of low-carbon emission reduction in the whole industrial chain of TCM resources, building an industrial demonstration park for the recycling of TCM resources, and promoting the establishment of a circular economy system of the whole industrial chain of TCM resources. These measures are expected to guide the green transformation of TCM resource industry from linear economic model to circular economy model, provide support for improving the utilization efficiency and sustainable development of TCM resources, and facilitate the low-carbon and efficient development of TCM resource industry and the achievement of the double carbon goals.

The impact of green taxation on green low-carbon development in Yangtze River Delta region of China-based on mediating effect model and spatial Durbin model.

Promoting green low-carbon development is an important task in the construction of ecological civilization of China. The leadership has proclaimed green low-carbon development as the top national priority for development. Green low-carbon economy has become the high point of global industrial competition. Green taxation, as a tool for environmental regulation, plays an important role in the construction of ecological civilization. Therefore, this paper investigates the impact of green taxation on green low-carbon development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region of China, using data of 41 cities from 2011 to 2021 in the YRD region. We construct a green low-carbon development index with the combined weight CRITIC-entropy method, and employ a mediating effect model and a spatial Durbin model based on double fixed effects in this study, which intends to provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of a sound tax policy system that is conducive to the green low-carbon development. The results show that (1) there is an evident spatial dependence of green low-carbon development in the YRD region; (2) green taxation has a significant positive effect on green low-carbon development through rationalization of industrial structure and advance of industrial structure; and (3) the positive impact of green taxation on green low-carbon development in the region is characterized by spatial spillover and heterogeneity. Specifically, green taxation significantly promotes green low-carbon development in the core area, but such green taxation dividend has yet to be realized in the expansion area.

Assessing financial inclusion co-movement with low-carbon development index: implications for regional development.

This study assesses the relationship between financial inclusion and low-carbon development and its implications for regional development. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to analyse data from a sample of E7 countries from 2001 to 2020. Results show that financial inclusion and low-carbon development are significantly related, indicating that financial inclusion is a significant driver of low-carbon development. Additionally, regional differences between E7 countries in financial inclusion and low-carbon development are identified, highlighting the need for region-specific policies to promote sustainable development. Moreover, findings show that deposits, bank accounts, and ATMs of all E7 economies contribute to environmental and economic growth inputs. The findings have important implications. Therefore, encouraging low-carbon growth via increased financial inclusion may be successful. Access to financial services, financial literacy, and financial innovation are all areas where policymakers might do more to advance the cause of financial inclusion. Accounting for variations in financial inclusion and low-carbon development between regions is important when crafting policies to encourage sustainable development. The economic climate, cultural norms, and institutional structures of a given area must all be considered by policymakers if they are to craft plans that will be successful.

Assessing and prioritizing biogas barriers to alleviate energy poverty in Pakistan: an integrated AHP and G-TOPSIS model.

Biogas is a promising renewable technology to alleviate energy poverty. Pakistan has a capacity of 5 million bio digesters that can be installed in different farming areas. However, this target has never been achieved because many barriers hamper the biogas industry development. In previous studies, some researchers have indicated these barriers in different geographical contexts: however, these barriers are rarely examined in Pakistan. To fulfill the research gap, this study prioritizes potential barriers. Using a literature review and a modified Delphi technique, we identify 25 sub-barriers and catalog them into 5 main categories. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) prioritizes the main barriers and sub-barriers based on potential. Grey Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (G-TOPSIS) ranks the practical alternatives to combat these barriers. The study findings specify that the "financial barrier" is the top-ranked barrier among the main categories, followed by technical, socio-cultural, institutional and administrative, and environmental barriers. The overall ranking shows that the "high starting price tag" is ranked first among all sub-barriers in all categories. It has been proposed that "appropriate financial incentives" and "promotion of customized technology" would be feasible alternative solutions to combat the issues. Based on the research findings, some policy recommendations were suggested for biogas uptake in Pakistan. This study may assist policymakers, stakeholders, and government institutions in accelerating the potential of biogas energy to alleviate energy poverty in rural areas of Pakistan.

Horizontal ecological compensation mechanism and green low-carbon development in river basins: evidence from Xin'an River basin.

The Basin Horizontal Ecological Compensation Mechanism (BHEC) is a significant institutional innovation in China's water environment management, aimed at achieving green, low-carbon, and high-quality development in the basin. This paper examines the current status of the spatial association network of green low-carbon development in Xin'an River basin, using social network analysis based on data from prefecture-level cities between 2006 and 2019. Using a dual difference model, the paper explores the important role of BHEC in promoting green low-carbon development from the perspectives of production and consumption and analyzes the path of BHEC's promotion of green low-carbon development in detail. The results indicate that (1) the green low-carbon development in the Xin'an River basin is universally connected in space, but this connection is uneven among the cities in the basin, presenting a network spatial structure with the central region as the core and the north and south regions approaching the core. (2) BHEC contributes to green low-carbon development, and the "two-wheel drive" of green technology progress and green technology efficiency is essential to improve green low-carbon development. (3) From the perspective of consumption affecting green low-carbon development, the positive impact of BHEC on green low-carbon development is inseparable from the synergistic guarantee of public participation. (4) From the production side of green low-carbon development, the ecological effect, structural effect, and technological effect are significant transmission factors of compensation policies affecting green low-carbon development. (5) The "blood transfusion" pilot policy is more helpful to improve green low-carbon development, and compensation policy has positive spillover effects. Finally, the paper argues that the trans-basin ecological compensation policy is expected to become a long-term mechanism to promote green low-carbon and high-quality development in the basin, providing a theoretical and practical basis for developing countries to achieve green low-carbon development through an ecological compensation system.

Toward a Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy: The Case of Energy Transition in Qatar.

The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive perspective on the development of a long-term low-emission development strategy for Qatar, in line with the Paris Agreement. The methodology used in this paper takes a holistic approach by analyzing national strategies, structures, and mitigation measures from other countries, and synthesizing these with Qatar's unique context in terms of its economy, energy production, and consumption, as well as its energy-related emission profile and characteristics. The findings of this paper identify key considerations and elements that policymakers would need to take into account when developing a long-term low-emission vision for Qatar, with a particular emphasis on its energy sector. The policy implications of this study are significant for policymakers in Qatar, as well as for other countries facing similar challenges in their transition to a sustainable future. This paper contributes to the discourse on energy transition in Qatar and provides insights that can inform the development of potential routes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Qatar's energy system. It serves as a foundation for further research and analysis and can contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable policies and strategies for low-emission development in Qatar and beyond.

What role does digital finance play in low-carbon development? Evidence from five major urban agglomerations in China.

In the epoch of the digital economy, digital finance (DF) has become an indispensable engine driving the high-quality development of the Chinese economy. The issues of how DF can be used to alleviate environmental pressure and how a long-term governance mechanism for carbon emissions reduction be formed have become particularly important. Based on the panel data of five national urban agglomerations in China from 2011 to 2020, this study utilizes the panel double fixed-effects model and chain mediation model to verify the impact mechanism of DF on carbon emissions efficiency (CEE). Some valuable findings are drawn below. First, the overall CEE of the urban agglomerations has potential for improvement, and the CEE and DF development level of each urban agglomeration have regional heterogeneity. Second, a U-shaped correlation is observed between DF and CEE. Technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading have a chain mediating effect in DF affecting CEE. In addition, the breadth and depth of DF have a notable negative impact on CEE, and the digitalization degree of DF shows a significant positive correlation with CEE. Third, the influencing factors of CEE have regional heterogeneity. Finally, this study provides relevant suggestions based on the empirical conclusions and analysis.

Urban growth boundaries optimization under low-carbon development: Combining multi-objective programming and patch cellular automata models.

Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) are a tool to control urban sprawl. However, the way to optimize future urban land uses and fix their boundaries is not clear. This paper presents a new framework to delimit UGBs while accounting for ecological, economic, and carbon storage benefits. Aggregate land-use constraints are included in a multi-objective optimization algorithm to capture non-inferior solutions on the Pareto Surface (PS) under different objective scenarios. A patch-level cellular automata simulation model is then used to spatially allocate these land uses, followed by a new two-step adjustment method to delineate the UGBs. This modeling is applied to Wuhan, China. The results show that: (1) One district (Caidian) will have a strong economic growth under low-carbon development. (2) The maximization of carbon storage reduces losses in ecological benefits, suggesting that carbon storage be considered in urban growth planning. (3) The combined model framework and two-step boundary adjustment method can help urban planners define different UGB scenarios and make science-based policy decisions.

Evaluation of ecological green high-quality development based on network hierarchy model for the demonstration area in Yangtze River Delta in China.

Introduction: The construction of the Yangtze River Delta ecological green development demonstration area aims to take the lead in exploring an eco-friendly development model, demonstrating and leading the higher quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta in China. Methods: Through literature research, expert inquiries, and policy documents as the guidance, this study builds an ecological green high-quality development evaluation system for the demonstration area, including building an index system composed of 4 first-class indicators, 16 second-class indicators and 42 third-class indicators derived from economy, society and environment system, determining the index weight through the network analytic hierarchy process, and establishing the comprehensive evaluation index (CEI) and differential diagnosis index (DDI) of high-quality development, which is based on the relevant theory of statistical comprehensive index. Results: The establishment of this system provides a complete theoretical support and scientific guidance for the comprehensive evaluation of high-quality ecological green development and more balanced development of the demonstration area; and it can point out the development direction for the subsequent development of the Yangtze River Delta. Discussion: However, due to the availability of data, there is still room for further improvement in this paper. In the future research, the model can be used to evaluate the high-quality development level of the demonstration area through the relevant data of the demonstration area.