Applying CES to assembly and comparing carbon footprints

A Carbon Emission Signature (CES) and a Carbon Emission Label have been proposed for manufactured products in previous CIRP (Collège International pour la Recherche en Productique) annals. This paper considers two things: (1) an example of a CES calculation for assembly with CO₂ emissions and (2) the need for a transparent method of calculation. In comparing carbon footprint calculations for 17 websites, the results are found to vary more than threefold depending upon the site used and even more between different methods illustrating the need for standardisation in emission calculations for carbon accounting.     

SME application of LCA‐based carbon footprints

Following a brief introduction about the need for businesses to respond to climate change, this paper considers the development of the phrase ‘carbon footprint’. Widely used definitions are considered before the authors offer their own interpretation of how the term should be used. The paper focuses on the contribution small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make to the economy and their level of influence in stimulating change within organisations. The experience of an outreach team from the Engineering Department of a UK university is used which draws on the experience of delivering regional economic growth projects funded principally through the European Regional Development Fund. Case studies are used including the development of bespoke carbon footprints for SMEs from an initiative delivered by the outreach team. Limitations of current carbon footprints are identified based on this higher education‐industry knowledge exchange mechanism around three main themes of scope, the assessment method and conversion factors. Evidence and discussions are presented that conclude with the presentation of some solutions based on the work undertaken with SMEs and a discussion on the merits of the two principally used methodologies: life‐cycle analysis and economic input–output assessment.     

Compromises of Bali Roadmap

Abstract

The Bali Roadmap, as the breakthrough on inter-governmental negotiation of climate change mitigation, having brought United States on track, is still a result of compromises. The major compromises of the Bali Roadmap are centered around three issues of quantifying emission reduction targets, developing countries’ obligations as well as quantifying developed countries’ financial assistance in developing countries’ capacity building on climate change. It is found that the rationalities behind these compromises are the national interests. Due to the fact, achieving cohesion among all nations in climate change actions is very difficult. Therefore, the Bali Roadmap may lead to a tough way with distant hope. However, technology innovation and well-designed economic instruments would be helpful and supportive for further international negotiation and cooperation.     

Carbon Embodied in International Trade of China and Its Emission Responsibility

Abstract

Carbon emissions embodied in international trade of China during 1997–2007 are accounted by input–output method based on Chinese input–output table and global trade analysis project database. It is revealed that carbon emissions embodied in imports and exports both increased during 1997–2007, but carbon emissions embodied in exports are greater than those embodied in imports, China is a net export nation in embodied carbon. The net exports of embodied carbon account for about 10.82% of the total carbon emissions in 1997, dropped to 7.15% in 2002, increased to 13.13% in 2006, and slightly dropped to 12.64% in 2007. Low-end position of international industry division is an objective factor of being a net exporter of embodied carbon for China, and usage of a large amount of obsolete energy-using equipments wasted much energy and increased carbon emissions embodied in exports. Importers should take more responsibilities for carbon emissions embodied in trade, and China should take a certain responsibility for unreasonable energy dissipations too.     

Environmental Capital,Negative Externality and Carbon Finance Innovation

Abstract

In the context of global climate change, the internalization of negative externality, which is brought about by the traditional mode of economic growth, has become an inevitable choice. In order to achieve the internalization, it is necessary to make innovations on the market mechanism and system, find the value of environmental capital, establish a new mode of economic growth based on environmental capital, and then transform the environmental capital, an exogenous factor of economic growth, into an endogenous factor. Of this, the key of market mechanism and system innovation is the financial innovation that is based on environmental capital and negative externality; the government defines the initial property right of environmental resources and establishes environment energy trading market, so as to guide enterprises to trade environmental resources (represented by carbon emission permit trading) based on the Clean Development Mechanism, and to vigorously develop environmental finance and carbon finance.     

Empirically Analysis of the CO2 Emissions Embodied in Exports of China

Abstract

In this paper, using the input-output model, the author first calculated the CO₂ emissions embodied in exports of China in 2002 and 2007. Then, the author empirically analyzed problems existing in the composition of exported products and analyzed its possible reasons. The research results of this paper are as follows: Since China’s entry into WTO, the CO₂ emissions embodied in exports of China have been increasing rapidly; the value of exported products of high-carbon emissions industries accounts for a relatively higher proportion to China’s total exports value because China’s carbon intensive products have a certain competitive advantage. Additionally, this paper has put forward relevant suggestions based on these results.     

氮沉降对陆地生态系统土壤有机碳含量影响的Meta分析

研究已证实大气氮沉降的增加显著影响了土壤有机碳的含量,然而其变化幅度在不同的实验样地具有较大的差异.基于在我国开展的49个模拟氮沉降野外实验的408组数据,利用Meta分析、Meta回归和线性回归等方法系统研究了样地气候、土壤属性以及氮素施用参数对施氮后土壤有机碳含量的影响.结果表明,样地的年均温（MAT）和年均降水量（MAP）与施氮后土壤有机碳含量变化幅度显著正相关（P<0.05）.在MAT或MAP较低（MAT<3℃,MAP<500 mm）的样地中,施氮后土壤有机碳含量显著下降;而在MAT或MAP较高（MAT>3℃,MAP>500 mm）的样地中,施氮后土壤有机碳含量则显著升高.土壤属性方面,在C：N较高（>15）或酸性（pH<6.5）土壤中,施氮后土壤有机碳积累明显（P<0.05）;而在C：N较低（≤15）以及中性或碱性（pH≥6.5）土壤中,施氮后土壤有机碳变化不明显（P >0.05）.此外,施氮后草原生态系统土壤有机碳含量明显下降（-5.34%）;而湿地生态系统土壤有机碳含量变化不明显;森林生态系统土壤有机碳表现出明显积累（10.52%）,特别是阔叶林生态系统（13.10%）.所有的因子中,土壤C：N是影响施氮后土壤有机碳变化幅度的主导因子.在施氮类型方面,施加硝酸铵或尿素后土壤有机碳含量显著升高,而施加硝态氮对其影响不显著.综上所述,在精确评估、预测和分析氮沉降对土壤有机碳含量的影响时,应综合考虑样地的气候、土壤属性以及氮素施用参数等因素对实验结果的影响.     

稻田微氧层和还原层土壤有机碳矿化对氮素添加的响应

田间条件下,淹水稻田由于上覆水中溶解氧的扩散作用,使其表层土壤存在约1 cm厚的微氧层,这个特殊层次中碳氮转化的特征尚未明晰.以亚热带典型稻田土壤为对象,采用100 d室内模拟培养试验,结合¹³C稳定同位素示踪和磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)分析技术,研究稻田土壤微氧层(0～1 cm)和还原层(1～5 cm)外源新鲜有机碳(¹³C-水稻秸秆)和原有土壤有机碳矿化对氮肥施用[(NH₄)₂SO₄]的响应规律及其微生物过程.结果表明,氮素添加使土壤总CO₂和¹³C-CO₂累积排放量分别提高11.4%和12.3%;培养结束时,氮素添加下还原层比微氧层土壤总有机碳含量和¹³C回收率分别降低2.4%和9.2%.培养前期(5 d),氮素添加提高还原层微生物总PLFAs,且细菌和真菌PLFAs响应一致,但对微氧层微生物丰度无显著影响;氮素添加对微氧层和还原层总¹³C-PLFAs丰度均无显著影响...     

土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性和有机碳含量的影响

探究不同土地利用方式下土壤团聚体的粒径分布、稳定性及有机碳在各粒径团聚体中的分布规律,以期为重庆地区土壤结构的改善及土壤有机碳库的维持及提高提供依据.以重庆市北碚区6种土地利用方式(针阔叶混交林、竹林、果园、旱地、水田和荒草地)为研究对象,采用湿筛法对土壤进行粒径分组,对比分析了6种土地利用方式处理下土壤团聚体和团聚体有机碳在0～20、20～40、40～60和60～100 cm土壤剖面中的分布规律.结果表明,不同土地利用方式下,土壤的结构和肥力水平存在显著的差异.在0～100 cm土层土壤的各粒径团聚体中,6种土地利用方式的团聚体粒径均以 0. 25 mm为主;其中,竹林 0. 25 mm团聚体含量最高,其次是荒草地,旱地与果园含量最低.不同土地利用方式下0. 25～2 mm的粒径团聚体主要分布在0～20 cm土层(28. 78%～50. 08%),而0. 053～0. 25 mm和0. 053 mm的粒径团聚体主要集中在40～60cm土层.在整个土壤深度内,竹林和荒草地的土壤团聚体MWD和GMD均高于其他土地利用方式,即二者的土壤团聚体稳定性较强.土壤团聚体稳定性与土壤团聚体有机碳呈极显著正相关(r=0. 569,P 0. 01),在0～100 cm土层中,土壤0. 25～2 mm和0. 053 mm粒径的有机碳含量较高,其中0. 25～2 mm的最高,平均含量为56. 54 g·kg~(-1).除旱地土壤各粒径团聚体有机碳含量在20～40 cm土层内最高,其他土地利用方式下土壤各粒径团聚体内有机碳含量均随土壤深度的增加而降低,表现出显著的表层富集现象.总体上,6种土地利用方式下,竹林和荒草地在各土层中的土壤团聚体稳定性较好,且在各土层中,竹林土壤各粒径团聚体有机碳含量最高.     

燃煤锅炉颗粒物化学组成排放特征

本研究收集了兰州市不同吨位燃煤锅炉颗粒物排放样品,分析并评估了锅炉烟气中水溶性无机离子、碳质组分、水溶性有机物(WSOC)以及多环芳烃(PAHs)的排放水平、排放特征及其影响因素.结果表明,SO_4~(2-)、Cl~-和Ca~(2+)是燃煤锅炉样品中最主要的水溶性离子,分别占水溶性离子总和的35. 13%、23. 16%和22. 20%.不同吨位燃煤锅炉样品的OCEC及其热解成分谱较为相似,OC1、OC2、OC3、OC4、EC1、EC2和EC3分别占TC的1. 04%、8. 26%、20. 09%、6. 78%、51. 08%、7. 09%和5. 66%,其中EC1的含量最高,是最主要的碳质组分. WSOC/TC和WSOC/OC分别为0. 09±0. 07和0. 23±0. 12,且不同吨位锅炉之间差异较大.菲(Phe)、芘(Pyr)和苯并(k)荧蒽(Bk F)是PAHs的3个主要成分,分别占PAHs总和的16. 69%、11. 93%和10. 66%.不同吨位燃煤锅炉所排放颗粒物中水溶性离子、OCEC以及WSOC均与锅炉吨位大小无明显线性相关,随着吨位的增加PAHs轻组分含量减小.