The influence of economic determinants on CO2 emissions in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries

CO2 emissions in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries are precisely influenced by economic determinants, requiring a comprehensive perspective. The BRI can augment its prospects for sustainable development by acknowledging the obstacles it faces and promoting global collaboration. Examining the CO2 emission (CO2e) in BRI countries in response to economic determinants such as financial development (FD), income distribution (ID), foreign direct investment (FDI), economic complexity index (ECI), and economic growth (EG) will determine the study's long-term and short-term impacts. This study introduces a novel concept of CO2es by employing panel data from 1991 to 2020. Thus, the CD, Kao, Pedroni, FMOLS, and pooled mean group-autoregressive distributed lag (PMG-ARDL) tests are utilized to assess cointegration. According to empirical findings, economic determinants (ECI, EG, FDI, and ID) have a statistically significant short-run and long-run impact on CO2e in BRI countries. Policymakers in BRI countries should integrate monetary development, FDI, and CO2es to foster EG, attract FDI, and promote sustainable development through regulatory frameworks.

Dynamic role of medium- and high-tech industries and environmental policy stringency in environmental sustainability: fresh insights from Dynamic Seemingly Unrelated Regression (DSUR) analysis

Since the last two decades, carbon neutrality has become a primary target of all economies. Governmental environmental policies stand as the most potent tools in the arsenal when it comes to tempering the effects of climate change. Fostering the adoption of green energy sources and embracing energy efficiency principles may assume an essential role in upholding the standard of ecological integrity. The primary objective of this inquiry revolves around the meticulous analysis of the intricate interplay between economic growth, the trajectory of industrialization, the up-gradation of industrial sector structure, the integration of green energy paradigms, and the implementation of energy efficiency strategies and environmental policies in the frame spanning from 2000 to 2019. To tackle the matter of cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity, second-generation cointegration estimators, Dynamic Seemingly Unrelated Regression (DSUR) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG), were employed to estimate long-run relationships. The consequences of DSUR and AMG indicate that while economic and industrial growth contributes to environmental degradation, renewable energy usage, and medium-high-tech industries mitigate the carbon emissions in selected countries. Further study results suggest that energy intensity positively impacts environmental degradation, which means energy efficiency helps mitigate CO2 emissions in these countries. This study also reveals that the degree of stringency in environmental policy negatively affects CO2 releases in the selected nations. Consequently, our study recommends the enhancement of the stringency of environmental policies, promoting environmentally friendly energy usage, the efficient use of energy, and the advancement of industries into medium-high-tech industries as effective ways to mitigate climate change in specific developing countries.

Optimisation of LED luminaires renewal interval based on proposed CLO adjustment method

A considerable part of electrical power is consumed in lighting systems. Electrical power usage and, as a result, generation is proportional to CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions result in climate change. Many countries encouraged people to use modern light sources, including LEDs, to increase the efficiency of lighting systems. An LED, during its long life, is subjected to gradual degradation. Its degradation can be understood from its radiant flux decrement. Some standards, including LM 80-08, addressed this issue. Constant lumen output (CLO) drivers are used to deal with LED degradation issues. There is not much scientific research on the topic of CLO. This paper suggests a scientific approach to finding CLO's exact output voltage as a function of time during the LED lifetime, limiting energy consumption to the required value. Also, a method for finding the best time to replace LED luminaires to minimise the financial burden for the owners has been found. By optimising renewal time for LED luminaires, energy usage (CO2 emission) and end-of-life waste will be managed to the required value. In addition, for use in CLOs, the paper suggests adding more specified data to the LM 80-08 report.

Growth, Morphology and Respiratory Cost Responses to Salinity in the Mangrove Plant Rhizophora Stylosa Depend on Growth Temperature

Mangrove plants, which have evolved to inhabit tidal flats, may adjust their physiological and morphological traits to optimize their growth in saline habitats. Furthermore, the confined distribution of mangroves within warm regions suggests that warm temperature is advantageous to their growth in saline environments. We analyzed growth, morphology and respiratory responses to moderate salinity and temperature in a mangrove species, Rhizophora stylosa. The growth of R. stylosa was accelerated in moderate salinity compared with its growth in fresh water. Under warm conditions, the increased growth is accompanied by increased specific leaf area (SLA) and specific root length. Low temperature resulted in a low relative growth rate due to a low leaf area ratio and small SLA, regardless of salinity. Salinity lowered the ratio of the amounts of alternative oxidase to cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondrial respiratory chain in leaves. Salinity enhanced the leaf respiration rate for maintenance, but under warm conditions this enhancement was compensated by a low leaf respiration rate for growth. In contrast, salinity enhanced overall leaf respiration rates at low temperature. Our results indicate that under moderate saline conditions R. stylosa leaves require warm temperatures to grow with a high rate of resource acquisition without enhancing respiratory cost.

Harnessing the power of AI and IoT for real-time CO2 emission monitoring

Global CO2 emissions have been an essential topic of the environmental discussion. Still, empirical data is needed to support arguments that high-quality government actions could reduce these emissions. By analyzing data from 137 nations from 2000 to 2020, we offer strong evidence that state policies focused on promoting healthy ecosystems, sustainable economic growth, and transcendent legislative changes are capable of decreasing CO2 emissions. Based on our findings, there are essentially three critical institutional factors that need to be improved for environmental policies to be efficient: the concept of law, which protects citizens' intellectual property rights; citizens' speech, which allows them to participate in elections and represent themselves freely, and the management of corruption. Policies aimed at promoting economic growth, lowering oil and gas use, enhancing the usage of green energy by the public and private sectors, and enhancing such institutional factors are all necessary components of a climate-friendly financial strategy.

Towards sustainable development: Examining renewable energy consumption in E-7 countries

In the contemporary landscape, sustainable development became major challenge for the economy which is tackled if environmental issues are resolved. In this regard, this study investigate renewable energy, institutional quality, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth on environmental pollution in E-7 countries (Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and Turkey). Utilizing annual data from 2002 to 2023, selected the panel Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) after applying stationary process. The results depict that there is short and long run relationship among the selected variables, CO2 emissions exhibit an asymmetrical response to positive and negative shocks in exogenous variables. A one-percent change in FDI, GDP, IQ and EC reduce the carbon emission. Our research concludes with policy recommendation that prioritize priorities economic growth and environmental sustainability. To achieve a healthy environment and sustainable growth in the E7 countries, it is essential to strengthen institutional frameworks, encourage green investments, and foster technical innovation.

Efficient arsenic removal from water using iron-impregnated low-temperature biochar derived from henequen fibers: performance, mechanism, and LCA analysis

The present study aims to investigate the low-energy consumption and high-efficiency removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions. The designed adsorbent Fe/TBC was synthesized by impregnating iron on torrefaction henequen fibers. Isothermal adsorption experiments indicated maximum adsorption capacities of 7.30 mg/g and 8.98 mg/g for arsenic(V) at 25.0 °C and 40.0 °C, respectively. The interference testing showed that elevated levels of pH, HCO3- concentration, and humic acid content in the solution could inhibit the adsorption of arsenic by Fe/TBC. Characterization of the adsorbent before and after adsorption using FTIR and SEM-EDS techniques confirmed arsenic adsorption mechanisms, including pore filling, electrostatic interaction, surface complexation, and H-bond adhesion. Column experiments were conducted to treat arsenic-spiked water and natural groundwater, with effective treatment volumes of 550 mL and 8792 mL, respectively. Lastly, the life cycle assessment (LCA) using OpenLCA 2.0.3 software was performed to treat 1 m3 of natural groundwater as the functional unit. The results indicated relatively significant environmental impacts during the Fe/TBC synthesis stage. The global warming potential resulting from the entire life cycle process was determined to be 0.8 kg CO2-eq. The results from batch and column experiments, regeneration studies, and LCA analysis indicate that Fe/TBC could be a promising adsorbent for arsenic(V).

Fertilizer use and agricultural practices in the paradox of maize crop production and environmental sustainability

The enduring existence of pollution presents a substantial danger to human health, natural systems, and social welfare. Human activities mostly generate greenhouse gas emissions, namely carbon dioxide, which negatively impacts the environment. This study used annual datasets to examine the association between maize crop production, maize yield, fertilizer consumption, agricultural land use, and environmental quality in China. In order to identify the positive and negative shocks with the assessment of short- and long-run dynamics, the study used an asymmetric Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) approach. A Robust Least Squares method was also used to locate the parameters nexus in order to assess the series' robustness. Results from the long-run interaction indicate that the maize crop production and agricultural land use has a positive impact on CO2 emissions with probability values of (0.000), (0.000), and (0.001), (0.780), respectively, via both positive and negative interruptions. Additionally, maize yield exposed a detrimental effect on environmental quality. Results of the robust least squares analysis showed that maize crop production, fertilizer consumption, and agricultural land use had a positive influence on environmental quality, with probability values of (0.000), (0.004), and (0.949), respectively. However, there is an unfavourable relationship between variable maize yields and CO2 emissions. China should play a significant role in seeking to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and adopt the beneficial policies necessary to ensure the environment's long-term sustainability, since these emissions are now a rising issue around the world.

Health-Oriented Emission Control Strategy of Energy Utilization and Its Co-CO2 Benefits: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta, China

Reducing air pollutants and CO2 emissions from energy utilization is crucial for achieving the dual objectives of clean air and carbon neutrality in China. Thus, an optimized health-oriented strategy is urgently needed. Herein, by coupling a CO2 and air pollutants emission inventory with response surface models for PM2.5-associated mortality, we shed light on the effectiveness of protecting human health and co-CO2 benefit from reducing fuel-related emissions and generate a health-oriented strategy for the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). Results reveal that oil consumption is the primary contributor to fuel-related PM2.5 pollution and premature deaths in the YRD. Significantly, curtailing fuel consumption in transportation is the most effective measure to alleviate the fuel-related PM2.5 health impact, which also has the greatest cobenefits for CO2 emission reduction on a regional scale. Reducing fuel consumption will achieve substantial health improvements especially in eastern YRD, with nonroad vehicle emission reductions being particularly impactful for health protection, while on-road vehicles present the greatest potential for CO2 reductions. Scenario analysis confirms the importance of mitigating oil consumption in the transportation sector in addressing PM2.5 pollution and climate change.

A hybrid method of system dynamics and design of experiments for investigating the economic and environmental indicators of electricity industry

Electricity plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of nations. However, heavy reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, as observed in Iran, poses significant environmental challenges. This study proposes a novel hybrid methodology that combines system dynamics modeling and Design of Experiments (DOE) to examine economic and environmental indicators within Iran's electricity sector. The system dynamics model delineates four key subsystems: consumption, production, CO2 emissions, and power trade. By integrating DOE into this framework, various economic and environmental metrics are assessed for the year 2040. Through a comprehensive analysis of variable impacts on these indicators, optimal levels are identified to achieve favorable outcomes. Notably, variables such as the allocation coefficient of export income to capacity development and electricity export price emerge as critical determinants. Due to economic, environmental, and economic-environmental indicators, the most appropriate level of allocation of export income towards capacity development is estimated at 30, 10, and 20 percent, respectively. The study recommends allocating 80 % of the capacity development budget to renewable energy sources and 20 % to thermal power plants to optimize future conditions. In business as usual, the Export CO2 emission damage to export income index will be 0.19. In implementing the proposed scenario, according to the economic-environmental index, this value will decrease and reach 1.73E-06, which indicates the improvement of electricity export from the economic-environmental dimension. This research underscores the importance of balancing economic prosperity with environmental sustainability in electricity industry planning and policy formulation.

Energy and environmental investigation on photovoltaic system performance by application of square cross-sectional two-phase closed thermosyphon

By increasing solar radiation, the temperature of photovoltaic cells rises, and as a result, the electrical power and lifespan of the panel are reduced. By cooling the panel with two-phase closed thermosyphons (TPCTs), this effect can be minimized. In contrast to typical TPCT, which has a circular cross-section, the thermosyphon used in this study has a square cross-section. In the proposed system, the solar cells place on an aluminum plate to reduce the thermal resistance and improve the heat transfer rate. Investigations have been made on the effects of three different filling ratios, including 25, 45, and 65%. The trial results show that equipped PV panel with square TPCT with a filling ratio of 45% produces the best cooling performance. In this instance, 68.31 kJ of heat energy was transmitted to the tank water. Electrically, the equipped panel has been found to produce up to 3.85% greater output power than a conventional one. A new mathematical model to estimate the performance of equipped PV panel with square TPCT is introduced too. Additionally, the research has looked into how varied tank volumes, solar radiation, and wind velocity affect the temperature difference in tank water. Based on environmental investigations, the proposed solar system is used instead of natural gas and fuel oil, it will prevent the annual emission of 106.3 and 159.4 kg of CO2 per unit area of the panel to atmosphere.

Catalyzing sustainable development: Exploring the interplay between access to clean water, sanitation, renewable energy and electricity services in shaping China's energy, economic growth, and environmental landscape

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflect the shift in global economic conversation toward inclusive growth. The growth can promote inclusivity and widespread sharing of its advancements by concentrating on four key dimensions. (a) Equality of opportunity, (b) sharing prosperity, (3) environmental sustainability/climate adaptation, and (4) macroeconomic stability. We used the Kao cointegration test to study how certain variables are connected over a long period. The relationship between CO2 and GDP per capita, renewable energy and tourism, improved water and sanitation, and access to power all have a positive feedback effect on each other. Based on FMOLS's findings, a 1 % increase in Inclusive growth leads to a 0.342 % (Model 1) and 0.258 % (Model 3) increase in CO2 emissions. An increase of 1 percent in energy consumption per person resulted in a rise of 1.343 % in CO2 emissions in Case 1, 0.524 % in Case 2, and 0.618 % in Case 3. Increasing the tourism sector's proportion of total exports by just one percent will reduce CO2 emissions by 0.221 % (case 1) and 0.234 % (case 3). Based on CCR findings, a 1 % improvement in inclusive growth leads to a 0.403.

Decomposition analysis of electricity generation on carbon dioxide emissions in Ghana

This study analyses the factors driving CO2 emissions from electricity generation in Ghana from 1990 to 2020. Employing Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) techniques, the research decomposes electricity generation into different factors and assesses their impact on CO2 emissions, considering both short and long-run effects. The LMDI analysis reveals that the total CO2 emissions from electricity generation amount to 3.33%, with all factors contributing positively in each subperiod. Notably, fossil fuel intensity, production, and transformation factors exhibit substantial contributions of about 1.16%, 0.49%, and 0.48%, respectively. Contrastingly, the ARDL results highlight that only electricity intensity and production factors significantly increase CO2 emissions by about 0.20% and 0.09% (0.38% and 0.10%) in the short-run (long-run), while other factors contribute to a reduction in electricity generation emissions. Overall, we conclude that electricity intensity and production factors are the primary drivers of CO2 emissions from electricity generation in Ghana. Nevertheless, effective measures to address all decomposition factors is crucial for effective mitigation of electricity generation CO2 emissions.

Towards the prospect of carbon-neutral power system 2060: A Power-Meteorology-Society systematic view

With the target of achieving carbon peaking and neutrality in the power sector in China, both State Grid and China Southern Power Grid have made plans of a rapid increase of renewables in future years towards 2060. However, considering the interactions between the power system and meteorological, society factors, whether those plans would lead to CO2 emission peak in 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060 is still questionable and needs further analysis. Therefore, a Power-Meteorology-Society System is formulated and interactions between these factors will impact the CO2 emission of the power system is studied. Case study shows that these environmental, social factors as well as their interactions will have significant negative impact to the CO2 emission reduction in China's power grid; With current trend of generation and transmission development and higher-than-expected CO2 emission, while the grid could still reach its target of carbon peak in 2030, there will be some challenge for the grid to reach carbon neutrality in the year 2060. Based on that, the authors analyze some potential solutions such as transmission construction, energy storage and the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), and try to find a relatively cost-benefit path to reach carbon-neutrality for the grid in 2060.

Integrated water management practice in tropical peatland agriculture has low carbon emissions and subsidence rates

Hydrological management in the use of peatland for agriculture is the backbone of its sustainability and a critical factor in climate change mitigation. This study evaluates the application of an integrated water management practice known as the "Water Management Trinity" (WMT), implemented since 1986 on a coconut plantation on the eastern coast of Sumatra, in relation to CO2 emissions and subsidence rates. The WMT integrates canals, dikes, and dams with water gates to regulate water levels for both coconut agronomy and the preservation of the peat soil. The WMT has successfully regulated and maintained an average yearly water table depth of -45 to -51 cm below the surface. The methodology involved a closed chamber method for measuring soil CO2 flux using a portable Infrared Gas Analyzer, conducted weekly over a six-month period to cover dry and rainy season at bi-modal climate condition. Subsidence measurements have been ongoing from 1986 to 2022. The results show bare peat soil has heterotrophic respiration CO2 emissions of 7.77 t C-CO2 ha-1 yr-1, while in coconut plantations 7.99 t C-CO2 ha-1 yr-1, similar to emissions in mineral soils. Autotrophic respiration leads to the overestimation of CO2 emissions on peatland and accounts for 212-424% of the total emissions. The cumulative subsidence from 1986 to 2022 is -56.3 cm, with a soil rise of +0.8 cm in 2022, indicating a flattening rate of subsidence. This is characterized by an increase in bulk density at the surface from 0.072 to 0.144 gr/cm3, with approximately 81% of the subsidence being due to compaction. The statistical analysis found no relationship between water table depth and CO2 emissions, indicating that water table depth cannot be used as a predictor for CO2 emissions. In summary, peatland agriculture has a promising future when managed sustainably using an integrated hydrological management system.

Investigating the potential of nanobonechar toward climate-smart agriculture

Extreme climates and the unpredictability of the weather are significant obstacles to agricultural productivity. This study is the first attempt to explore the capacity of nanobonechar (NBC) for promoting climate-smart agriculture. A pot experiment was performed on maize (Zea mays L.) under a deficit irrigation system (40, 70, and 100% irrigation rates) using different soil application rates of the NBC (0, 0.5, 1, and 2% wt/wt). Additionally, the CO2-C efflux rate and cumulative CO2-C were measured in an incubation experiment. The results indicated the best performance of the 1% NBC treatment under a 70% irrigation rate in terms of the fresh and dry weights of maize plants. Total PO43- and Ca2+ were significantly higher in the plants grown in the NBC-amended soil as compared to the control, showing a gradual increase with an increase in the NBC application rate. The improved productivity of maize plants under a deficit irrigation system was associated with enhanced water-holding capacity, organic matter, and bioavailability of cations (Ca2+, K+, and Na+) and anions (PO43- and NO3-) in the soils amended with NBC. The CO2-C efflux rate and cumulative CO2-C emissions remain higher in the NBC-amended soil than in the un-amended soil, pertaining to the high contents of soil organic matter emanating from the NBC. We conclude that NBC could potentially be used as a soil amendment for promoting maize growth under a water stress condition.

Inorganic carbon is overlooked in global soil carbon research: A bibliometric analysis

Soils are a major player in the global carbon (C) cycle and climate change by functioning as a sink or a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The largest terrestrial C reservoir in soils comprises two main pools: organic (SOC) and inorganic C (SIC), each having distinct fates and functions but with a large disparity in global research attention. This study quantified global soil C research trends and the proportional focus on SOC and SIC pools based on a bibliometric analysis and raise the importance of SIC pools fully underrepresented in research, applications, and modeling. Studies on soil C pools started in 1905 and has produced over 47,000 publications (>1.7 million citations). Although the global C stocks down to 2 m depth are nearly the same for SOC and SIC, the research has dominantly examined SOC (>96 % of publications and citations) with a minimal share on SIC (<4%). Approximately 40 % of the soil C research was related to climate change. Despite poor coverage and publications, the climate change-related research impact (citations per document) of SIC studies was higher than that of SOC. Mineral associated organic carbon, machine learning, soil health, and biochar were the recent top trend topics for SOC research (2020-2023), whereas digital soil mapping, soil properties, soil acidification, and calcite were recent top trend topics for SIC. SOC research was contributed by 151 countries compared to 88 for SIC. As assessed by publications, soil C research was mainly concentrated in a few countries, with only 9 countries accounting for 70 % of the research. China and the USA were the major producers (45 %), collaborators (37 %), and funders of soil C research. SIC is a long-lived soil C pool with a turnover rate (leaching and recrystallization) of more than 1000 years in natural ecosystems, but intensive agricultural practices have accelerated SIC losses, making SIC an important player in global C cycle and climate change. The lack of attention and investment towards SIC research could jeopardize the ongoing efforts to mitigate climate change impacts to meet the 1.5-2.0 °C targets under the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. This bibliographic study calls to expand the research focus on SIC and including SIC fluxes in C budgets and models, without which the representation of the global C cycle is incomplete.

Financial efficiency and CO2 emission in BRICS. Dose digital economy development matter?

When it comes to the environmental costs, environmental economists have tried to study the effects of the foreign direct investment-growth nexus, but they have ignored the crucial role that financial development and technical innovation play. Massive increases in energy consumption have contributed to environmental degradation in the BRICS nations, which have experienced rapid IND due to their robust economies. This study uses data from 1990 to 2021 to examine the relationship between carbon emissions in BRICS member nations and factors such as FDI, technological innovation, and economic growth. Within the panel nations, the results confirm a high cross-sectional reliance. The BRICS countries' financial development, technological innovation, and foreign direct investment all have a negative and statistically significant long-run association with CO2 emissions, according to the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator. On the other hand, economic growth, TI, IND, and energy use all have positive and statistically significant associations with carbon emissions. This study's researchers choose to use the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test to look at the other way around. Economic growth (EG), Digital economic growth (DEG), Financial efficiency (FE), CO2 emissions (CO2), Industrialization (IND), Technological Innovation (TI), Foreign direct investment (FDI) and Inflation are all identified as having a bidirectional long-run causative relationship. In contrast, a unidirectional causal relationship is observed between FDI and CO2 emissions. To entice high-quality FDI, the BRICS member nations must advance their industries, financial institutions, and technological innovation. In addition, these nations need immediate legislative solutions because IND is a major cause of environmental damage.

Sustainable wind energy potential in Sandwip and Kalapara coastal regions of Bangladesh: A way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions

An enormous amount of power is required in a rising nation like Bangladesh, where achieving economic growth without endangering the environment is a burning issue. The majority of people who live in coastal areas of Bangladesh do not have sufficient access to electricity. There are almost 40 million people living along Bangladesh's 724-km shoreline. Furthermore, it is remarkable that coastal regions have year-round winds, strong enough to generate enormous amounts of power. The viability and promise of wind energy in Bangladesh's southern regions are highlighted in this study. The places demonstrate the possibility for cheaper power production at 30 m-40 m altitudes. The rate of electricity does, however, rise with height. The main objective of this study is to analyze the prospect of wind energy in Sandwip and Kalapara coastal areas of Bangladesh. The data from 1990 to 2020 was taken from the database from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) and NASA's NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). These data sources were used to determine the wind power density, wind power output, energy yield, and finally estimate the CO2 emission reduction. In this paper, a novel approach to the wind energy on selected coastal area is presented and realistic calculation of energy output is carried out of the planned wind system. Finally calculated the realistic CO2 emission reduction by using this approach for a sustainable future. Estimation reveals that about 162.43 GWh of electricity can be generated annually by installing 684 wind towers on southern Kalapara (Khepupara) area and about 257.25 GWh of electricity can be generated annually by installing 1024 wind tower on the periphery of Sandwip area. So, if 1,768 wind turbines are installed on the Sandwip and Kalapara coastal region instead of burning fossil fuels, about 1,11,373.29 tons of CO2 will be prevented from being emitted annually.

Life cycle assessment of integrated microalgae oil production in Bojongsoang Wastewater Treatment Plant, Indonesia

This study aims to determine the eco-friendliness of microalgae-based renewable energy production in several scenarios based on life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA provides critical data for sustainable decision-making and energy requirement analysis, including net energy ratio (NER) and cumulative energy demand (CED). The Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen Leiden (CML) IA-Baseline was used on environmental impact assessment method by SimaPro v9.3.0.3® software and energy analysis of biofuel production using native polyculture microalgae biomass in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) Bojongsoang, Bandung, Indonesia. The study was analyzed under three scenarios: (1) the current scenario; (2) the algae scenario without waste heat and carbon dioxide (CO2); and (3) the algae scenario with waste heat and carbon dioxide (CO2). Waste heat and CO2 were obtained from an industrial zone near the WWTP. The results disclosed that the microalgae scenario with waste heat and CO2 utilization is the most promising scenario with the lowest environmental impact (- 0.139 kg CO2eq/MJ), positive energy balance of 1.23 MJ/m3 wastewater (NER > 1), and lower CED value across various impact categories. It indicates that utilizing the waste heat and CO2 has a positive impact on energy efficiency. Based on the environmental impact, NER and CED values, this study suggests that the microalgae scenario with waste heat and CO2 is more feasible and sustainable to adopt and could be implemented at the Bojongsoang WWTP.

Exploring the optimal threshold of FDI inflows for carbon-neutral growth in Africa

This study investigates the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and CO2 emissions in Africa, primarily emphasizing carbon-neutral growth. Employing advanced econometric methods like the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), fixed effect, and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS), we identify critical threshold values for key variables, including economic growth, trade openness, human capital, financial development, inflation, and population growth. Our findings indicate that GDP significantly influences the FDI-CO2 emissions relationship as economies expand, shifting from negative to positive, potentially leading to increased carbon emissions. Higher trade-to-GDP ratios are associated with reduced CO2 emissions due to cleaner technologies and greener production practices. Additionally, financial development plays a pivotal role, enabling investment in sustainable technologies. Nations with a more skilled workforce are more likely to adopt sustainable practices. The influence of population growth on CO2 emissions is complex, balancing increased demand with investments in clean technologies. The study recommends that African policymakers prioritize FDI aligned with carbon-neutral growth by promoting sustainability, investing in human capital, and carefully balancing population growth with sustainability.

Forecasting the energy demand and CO2 emissions of industrial sectors in China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region under energy transition

As the world's greatest energy consumer, China's energy consumption and transition have become a focus of attention. The most significant location for regional integration in the north of China is the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, where the industrial sector dominates its energy consumption. Forecasting the energy demand and structure of industrial sectors in China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region may help to promote the energy transition and CO2 emission mitigation. This study conducts a model based on the year 2020 using the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP) software and sets two scenarios (baseline scenario and emission peak scenario) to forecast the future energy demand and CO2 emissions of industrial sectors in China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region until the year 2035. Moreover, the industrial sectors are classified into traditional high-energy-consuming industries, emerging manufacturing industries, daily-related light industries, and other industries. The forecasting results show that (1) The industrial energy demand of the entire Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will grow from 234 Mtce in 2020 to 317 Mtce in 2035, and the corresponding energy structure will shift from coal-based to electricity-based; (2) at the provincial level, all three provinces will experience an increase in industrial energy demand between 2020 and 2035, with Hebei experiencing the fastest average annual growth rate of 2.18% and the largest share of over 80%, and Beijing experiencing the highest average annual electrification rate of 70%; (3) at the industrial sector level, the electricity and natural gas will gradually replace other energy sources as the main energy source for industry. The most representative industrial sub-sector in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces are all traditional high-energy-consuming industries, which will account for more than 90% of the total energy demand in both Tianjin and Hebei by 2035.

Quantile-based assessment of energy-CO2 emission nexus in Pakistan

Nonrenewable energy sources maintain a substantial majority of Pakistan's energy composition, exceeding 70%, posing challenges to achieving sustainability goals for a low-carbon economy. Recognizing this, the study determines the critical thresholds where renewable and nonrenewable energies affect more significantly on CO2 emission over the period from 1972Q1 to 2020Q4. The analysis begins by confirming the stationarity of the data through quantile unit root analysis, followed by an examination of long-term associations using quantile cointegration. For quantile-based impact assessments, we apply quantile regression. To uncover the direction of causality within quantiles, we use a novel approach, quantile causality analysis. Nonrenewable energy sources exhibit a long-term association at disaggregated levels, whereas the same is not true for renewable energy across the quantile distribution. Quantile regression results reveal that renewable energy sources positively impact CO2 emissions, with coal having the highest coefficient, followed by oil and gas, particularly in the upper quantiles, τ = {0.70-0.75}. However, renewable energy sources prove insignificant in decreasing CO2 emissions. Similarly, total energy consumption has a positive influence on CO2 emissions at extremely low quantiles, τ = {0.05-0.30} and high quantiles, τ = {0.65-0.90}, indicating sensitivity to extreme variations. The quantile causality analysis highlights a bidirectional causality relationship among CO2 emissions, total energy consumption, and both renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption across lower and upper quantiles. Policymakers should reallocate funds, provide subsidies, and introduce infrastructure development projects to reduce the burden on nonrenewable energy sources based on this quantile analysis.

How to systematically reduce the carbon emissions of the manufacturing industry? Evidence from four-party evolutionary game analysis

To effectively reduce carbon emissions from the manufacturing industry and promote green and sustainable developments evolutionary game theory is widely used. This study has constructed a four-party evolutionary game model, in which the government, civil environmental protection organisations, manufacturing enterprises, and consumers participate. A local robustness analysis and numerical simulation were used to assess the stability conditions under which the strategic behaviour of the four parties reaches an ideal state, and the influence of government parameter changes on the game system were further analysed. The results show that when the government's penalty is greater, the decision-making time of civil environmental protection organisations and manufacturing enterprises is shortened to varying degrees. When the subsidy coefficient provided by the government increases, civil environmental protection organisations, manufacturing enterprises, and consumers can reduce the time required for the system to stabilise to varying degrees. As the subsidy coefficient increases, the government's strategic choice evolves and strict regulations are loosened. The government should thus actively establish a reward and penalty mechanism, according to its own actual situation, set reasonable punishment and subsidy coefficients, and actively guide the subjective initiative of civil environmental protection organisations to reduce carbon emissions in the manufacturing industry.

An investigation of the nexus between green innovation and environmental sustainability in Vietnam: new evidence from the wavelet analysis

The research investigates the interactions between ecological sustainability and green technologies in Vietnam at different time and frequency dimensions from 1992 to 2019. This study investigates these correlations and their frequency domains by employing innovative multivariate wavelet analysis techniques. The multiple coherencies between green technologies and ecological sustainability suggest one cycle was placed at low frequencies (periodicity of approximately 5-14 years) and spanned from 1996 to 1998. Two significant coexisted cycles at low frequencies were from 2001 to 2004 and 2001 to 2009. The three additional cycles were situated at high frequencies (periodicity of approximately 1-5 years). These cycles ran from 2004 to 2006, 2014 to 2016, and another cycle from 2017 to 2019. The partial wavelet coherency of green technology growth and CO2 emissions suggests that green technology causes alterations in CO2 emissions, and the association is negative from 1996 to 2003 and from 2012 and 2015; both indications are in sync. CO2 emissions pushed from 2004 to 2010, and CO2 emissions pushed anti-phase connectedness from 2016 to 2019. The inconsistency between green technologies and renewable energy use shows that changes in renewable energy consumption are caused by green technology. The relationship is negative from 1996 to 2003, while renewable energy utilization is in step with green technologies pushing from 2011 to 2019. Novel findings in Vietnam in this paper is vital for policymakers to design policies to promote the use of green technologies toward environmental sustainability.