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Hu J, Wu J, Zhao C, Wang P. Challenges for China to achieve carbon neutrality and carbon peak goals: Beijing case study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258691. [PMID: 34780491 PMCID: PMC8592409 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
China has set a goal to achieve peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. To achieve the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, China needs to address the challenge of the large and still growing CO2 emission base. This paper investigated the energy consumption and CO2 emission in Beijing from 2020-2035 based on the energy elasticity coefficient and contribution value of the sub-energy increment (CVSI) method. Beijing is one of the first cities in China to propose the "carbon peak" target as of 2020. From 2020 Beijing will strive to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. The results show that in 2035 the CO2 emission in Beijing may drop to 50% of 2020. This decline would be affected by economic growth, energy efficiency and the proportion of renewable energy use. Beijing's energy supply mainly comes from outside the region. Therefore, for Beijing, in addition to increasing the proportion of renewable energy sources outside the region, its own energy acceptance also needs to be strengthened, including strengthening energy storage construction, actively researching and promoting carbon capture and utilization of gas-fired units, which are effective ways to achieve carbon neutrality target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Energy and Low-Carbon Development, Economics and Management School, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Energy and Low-Carbon Development, Economics and Management School, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan Zhao
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering School, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering School, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China
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2
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Abstract
The unequal spatial distribution of ambient nitrogen dioxide ([Formula: see text]), an air pollutant related to traffic, leads to higher exposure for minority and low socioeconomic status communities. We exploit the unprecedented drop in urban activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and use high-resolution, remotely sensed [Formula: see text] observations to investigate disparities in [Formula: see text] levels across different demographic subgroups in the United States. We show that, prior to the pandemic, satellite-observed [Formula: see text] levels in the least White census tracts of the United States were nearly triple the [Formula: see text] levels in the most White tracts. During the pandemic, the largest lockdown-related [Formula: see text] reductions occurred in urban neighborhoods that have 2.0 times more non-White residents and 2.1 times more Hispanic residents than neighborhoods with the smallest reductions. [Formula: see text] reductions were likely driven by the greater density of highways and interstates in these racially and ethnically diverse areas. Although the largest reductions occurred in marginalized areas, the effect of lockdowns on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic [Formula: see text] disparities was mixed and, for many cities, nonsignificant. For example, the least White tracts still experienced ∼1.5 times higher [Formula: see text] levels during the lockdowns than the most White tracts experienced prior to the pandemic. Future policies aimed at eliminating pollution disparities will need to look beyond reducing emissions from only passenger traffic and also consider other collocated sources of emissions such as heavy-duty vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaige Hunter Kerr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052;
| | - Daniel L Goldberg
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
- Energy Systems Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439
| | - Susan C Anenberg
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
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3
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Ait Bihi Ouali L, Musuuga D, Graham DJ. Quantifying responses to changes in the jurisdiction of a congestion charge: A study of the London western extension. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253881. [PMID: 34197519 PMCID: PMC8248659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper quantifies behavioural responses to changes in the jurisdiction of a congestion charge, with a successive focus on (i) an extension and (ii) a reduction in the size of the charging zone. We exploit the unanticipated nature of both the implementation and removal of London's Western Expansion Zone (WEZ) as quasi-natural experiments to test whether individual responses to policies are asymmetric. We use the UK Department of Transport Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) data, which records traffic flows for seven transport modes (including cars, buses, bicycles, heavy and light goods vehicles). Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find that the introduction of the WEZ led to a 4.9% decline in road traffic flows in the new congestion charge area. These results are robust to different model specifications. HGVs traffic did not significantly change post-WEZ, which indicates that their road demand is price inelastic. The removal of the WEZ led to no significant variations in traffic. This result indicates asymmetry in behaviour with persistent changes in post-intervention traffic demand levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Ait Bihi Ouali
- Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Davis Musuuga
- Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J. Graham
- Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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4
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony A Laverty
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Goodman
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Rachel Aldred
- Active Travel Academy/School of Architecture and Cities, University of Westminster, London, UK
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Chen K, Wang M, Huang C, Kinney PL, Anastas PT. Air pollution reduction and mortality benefit during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Lancet Planet Health 2020; 4:e210-e212. [PMID: 32411944 DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.23.20039842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
To control the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, China undertook stringent traffic restrictions and self-quarantine measures. We herein examine the change in air pollution levels and the potentially avoided cause-specific mortality during this massive population quarantine episode. We found that, due to the quarantine, NO2 dropped by 22.8 µg/m3 and 12.9 µg/m3 in Wuhan and China, respectively. PM2.5 dropped by 1.4 µg/m3 in Wuhan but decreased by 18.9 µg/m3 across 367 cities. Our findings show that interventions to contain the COVID-19 outbreak led to air quality improvements that brought health benefits which outnumbered the confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 in China
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Meng Wang
- University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Conghong Huang
- University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Paul T Anastas
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, New Haven, CT, USA
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Chen K, Wang M, Huang C, Kinney PL, Anastas PT. Air pollution reduction and mortality benefit during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Lancet Planet Health 2020; 4:e210-e212. [PMID: 32411944 PMCID: PMC7220178 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(20)30107-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Meng Wang
- University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Conghong Huang
- University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Paul T Anastas
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, New Haven, CT, USA
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Wei M, Sun B, Wang H, Xu Z. A multi-attribute decision-making model for the evaluation of uncertainties in traffic pollution control planning. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019; 26:17911-17917. [PMID: 29103117 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0631-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of traffic emissions control efficiency from various levels is a key issue while selecting an optimal plan for the sustainable development of urban transportation. The conventional multi-criteria evaluation methods cannot deal with the determination and uncertainty of each indicator, and ignore influence of the decision-maker's risk attitude on the evaluation results. This study proposed the use of a multi-attribute decision-making model to evaluate the traffic pollution control operational efficiency by integrating 11 hybrid-type indicators related to the plan implementation, traffic flow, and emissions. It also revealed the relationship between the preference of each decision-maker on these evaluation indicators and the threshold changes in the emissions control efficiency ranking. Case studies performed on the four plans showed that the evaluation value of emissions control efficiency for each plan was related to the decision-maker's risk attitude, and the efficiency ranking was decided by their threshold contact degrees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Wei
- School of Transportation, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
| | - Bo Sun
- School of Transportation, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- School of Civil Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Han Wang
- School of Transportation, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zhihuo Xu
- School of Transportation, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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Weerakkody U, Dover JW, Mitchell P, Reiling K. Topographical structures in planting design of living walls affect their ability to immobilise traffic-based particulate matter. Sci Total Environ 2019; 660:644-649. [PMID: 30641393 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Traffic-generated particulate matter (PM) pollution is a serious threat to human health and the environment, especially in urban settings. Recent studies have revealed the effectiveness of living walls in the reduction of this pollution; these systems use variable planting designs and their topographical dynamics might have an impact on PM dry deposition. This present study, employing an experimentally manipulable living wall system using box (Buxus sempervirens L.) plants, examined whether plants arranged in a design with heterogeneous topography have a differential PM removal capacity compared to plants in a design with homogenous topography. Two planting designs using 'short' and 'tall' plants, were simultaneously used on this living wall and equally exposed to traffic-based PM for 5 consecutive days. PM accumulation on leaves was estimated using an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope and ImageJ image analysis software. The experiment was replicated four times changing the position of each design on the wall, and any variation in PM capture levels on leaves belonging to different designs were identified using a Generalised Linear Mixed-effect Models (GLMM). The planting design with topographical heterogeneity resulted in significantly higher PM densities (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) on leaf surfaces compared to a design with homogenous topography, indicating that topographical heterogeneity has a strong positive impact on the ability of plants to immobilise PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udeshika Weerakkody
- The Green Wall Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Education, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DF, United Kingdom.
| | - John W Dover
- The Green Wall Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Education, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DF, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Mitchell
- The Green Wall Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Education, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DF, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Reiling
- The Green Wall Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Education, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DF, United Kingdom
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Zhang K, Chen G, Wang X, Liu S, Mak CM, Fan Y, Hang J. Numerical evaluations of urban design technique to reduce vehicular personal intake fraction in deep street canyons. Sci Total Environ 2019; 653:968-994. [PMID: 30759622 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
High-rise deep street canyons usually experience poor ventilation and large vehicular pollutant exposure to residents in near-road buildings. Investigations are still required to clarify the flow and dispersion mechanisms in deep street canyons and explore techniques to reduce such large pollutant exposure. By conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations validated by wind tunnel data and scale-model outdoor field measurements, we investigate the integrated impacts of aspect ratios, first-floor and second-floor elevated building designs, viaduct settings, height variations and wind catchers on the flow, personal intake fraction (P_IF) of CO (carbon dioxide) and its spatial mean value 〈P_IF〉 in two-dimensional (2D) street canyons. Results show that cases with H/W = 5 experience two counter-rotating vortices, much poorer ventilation and 1-2 orders larger 〈P_IF〉 (43.6-120.8 ppm) than H/W = 1 and 3 (3.8-4.3 and 5.6-5.8 ppm). Moreover, in cases with H/W = 5 the height variation results in three vertically-aligned vortices and much weaker wind, subsequently produces greater 〈P_IF〉 (1402-2047 ppm). To reduce 〈P_IF〉 with H/W = 5, various urban designs are evaluated. The first-floor elevated building design creates more effective ventilation pathways than the second-floor elevated type does and reduces 〈P_IF〉 at H/W = 5 by five orders (1402 to ~0.01 ppm) or two orders (43.6 to ~0.1 ppm) in cases with or without the height variation. However, such reductions at H/W = 1 and 3 are only 76.8%-81.4% and 22.4%-36.2% respectively. Wind catchers destroy the multi-vortex flow pattern as H/W = 5, produce a contra-clockwise main vortex and reduce 〈P_IF〉 by 1-2 orders for cases with or without the height variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keer Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Guanwen Chen
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shanhe Liu
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Cheuk Ming Mak
- Department of Building Services Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Yifan Fan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Jian Hang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
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Shaaban K, Abou-Senna H, Elnashar D, Radwan E. Assessing the impact of converting roundabouts to traffic signals on vehicle emissions along an urban arterial corridor in Qatar. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2019; 69:178-191. [PMID: 30235064 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2018.1526137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The type of control at intersections has a major effect on the operation of any urban corridor. Different predefined procedures are available to calculate some of the main operational characteristics, such as capacity, delay, and level of service, in order to select the best type of control. However, there are other important factors that affect major arterials operational characteristics, factors that are not fully addressed, such as the impact of emissions. In this study, a microscopic simulation approach using VISSIM and MOVES was developed to assess the environmental effect of converting four three-lane roundabouts to signalized intersections along a heavily congested urban corridor in Qatar. A decision was made to switch all roundabouts to traffic signals for better operations. Preliminary results indicated that the signal control outperformed the roundabout in the range of 37% to 43% reduction in emissions. A more detailed analysis revealed that roundabout corridor operations' effects on emission rates are divergent from those of signalized corridors, particularly upstream and downstream of the intersections. Immediate roundabout upstream approaches are driver behavior dependent, characterized by substantial coasting at lower speeds and subsequent re-accelerating with less idling, described as acceleration events, which resulted in high emission rates, while signalized corridors are signal timing dependent, characterized by ample idling with less coasting and re-acceleration, resulting in reduced emission rates. The results also revealed that there was no significant difference between emission rates in the vicinity of the two types of control. Both recorded nearly the same emission rate. Implications: A microscopic simulation approach using VISSIM and MOVES was developed to assess the environmental effect of converting four three-lane roundabouts to signalized intersections along a heavily congested urban corridor in Doha, Qatar. Intersection geometries along with the control type have significant impact on emission rates and play a major role in assessing environmental impacts. US EPA MOVES was calibrated to Qatar conditions which can be used to estimate emission factors and quantify vehicular emissions along other corridors in the country. The results can also be beneficial for other countries within the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Shaaban
- a Department of Civil Engineering , Qatar University , Doha , Qatar
| | - Hatem Abou-Senna
- b Center for Advanced Transportation Systems Simulations (CATSS), Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering (CECE) , University of Central Florida , Orlando , FL, USA
| | | | - Essam Radwan
- b Center for Advanced Transportation Systems Simulations (CATSS), Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering (CECE) , University of Central Florida , Orlando , FL, USA
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Xia Y, Fu Z, Tsai SB, Wang J. A New TS Algorithm for Solving Low-Carbon Logistics Vehicle Routing Problem with Split Deliveries by Backpack-From a Green Operation Perspective. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018; 15:E949. [PMID: 29747469 PMCID: PMC5981988 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15050949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In order to promote the development of low-carbon logistics and economize logistics distribution costs, the vehicle routing problem with split deliveries by backpack is studied. With the help of the model of classical capacitated vehicle routing problem, in this study, a form of discrete split deliveries was designed in which the customer demand can be split only by backpack. A double-objective mathematical model and the corresponding adaptive tabu search (TS) algorithm were constructed for solving this problem. By embedding the adaptive penalty mechanism, and adopting the random neighborhood selection strategy and reinitialization principle, the global optimization ability of the new algorithm was enhanced. Comparisons with the results in the literature show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The proposed method can save the costs of low-carbon logistics and reduce carbon emissions, which is conducive to the sustainable development of low-carbon logistics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangkun Xia
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China.
| | - Zhuo Fu
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China.
| | - Sang-Bing Tsai
- Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongshan 528400, China.
| | - Jiangtao Wang
- Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongshan 528400, China.
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