Is the availability of different nutrients a critical factor for the impact of bacteria on subterraneous carbon budgets?

Bacteria thriving in underground systems, such as karsts, adapt to use a variety of nutrients. Most of these nutrients derive from superficial processes. This study shows that bacteria are able to differentially induce carbonate precipitation or dissolution depending on the availability of nutrients for growth. Different bacterial strains isolated from caves, representing the most common components of these microbial communities, were cultured with different carbon and nitrogen sources (e.g., acetate, glucose, peptone, humic acids) and induced changes in pH were measured during growth. Carbonate can either precipitate or dissolve during bacterial growth. The induction of carbonate precipitates or their dissolution as a function of consumption of specific carbon sources revealed the existence of an active nutrient cycling process in karsts and links nutrients and environmental conditions to the existence of a highly significant carbon sink in subterraneous environments.     

Development of regional climate mitigation baseline for a dominant agro-ecological zone of Karnataka,India

Setting a baseline for carbon stock changes in forest and land use sector mitigation projects is an essential step for assessing additionality of the project. There are two approaches for setting baselines namely, project-specific and regional baseline. This paper presents the methodology adopted for estimating the land available for mitigation, for developing a regional baseline, transaction cost involved and a comparison of project-specific and regional baseline. The study showed that it is possible to estimate the potential land and its suitability for afforestation and reforestation mitigation projects, using existing maps and data, in the dry zone of Karnataka, southern India. The study adopted a three-step approach for developing a regional baseline, namely: (i) identification of likely baseline options for land use, (ii) estimation of baseline rates of land-use change, and (iii) quantification of baseline carbon profile over time. The analysis showed that carbon stock estimates made for wastelands and fallow lands for project-specific as well as the regional baseline are comparable. The ratio of wasteland Carbon stocks of a project to regional baseline is 1.02, and that of fallow lands in the project to regional baseline is 0.97. The cost of conducting field studies for determination of regional baseline is about a quarter of the cost of developing a project-specific baseline on a per hectare basis. The study has shown the reliability, feasibility and cost-effectiveness of adopting regional baseline for forestry sector mitigation projects.

Controls over soil microbial biomass responses to carbon amendments in agricultural systems: A meta-analysis

Soil microbial biomass (MB) facilitates key ecosystem functions such as soil aggregation and nutrient cycling and makes a substantial contribution to soil organic matter. While agricultural conversion drastically reduces MB, the use of organic amendments is an effective way to rebuild depleted MB. Yet, little is known about broad-scale, global controls over MB responses to organic inputs. We used a meta-analysis to identify the degree to which soil properties, agricultural management, and geographic location regulate MB response (carbon, C_mic; nitrogen, N_mic; and C:N ratio, C:N_mic) to animal manure-based inputs relative to inorganic fertilizers. We show that organic amendments increased C_mic by 36% and N_mic by 27% across all observations. The chemistry of amendments and their application rates were the strongest regulators of C_mic but edaphic properties were also important. C:N_mic averaged 8.6 and was not influenced by organic amendments under any conditions, providing evidence that the physiological requirements of microbes, rather than management or environmental factors, constrain their elemental stoichiometry. Our study indicates that even small quantities of organic amendments can be used to rapidly restore MB across a range of cropping systems but specific responses depend upon the type and rate of inputs as well soil characteristics.     

Integrating carbon footprint into supply chain management: the case of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) in the automobile industry

The purpose of this paper is to improve our understanding of carbon footprint within the context of automobile supply chain management. The case study approach is employed as a research method. Primary data were collected through site visits and extensive interviews with HMC’s corporate and plant management. First, identification and measurement of direct and indirect carbon footprint is critical for mitigating supply chain risks. Second, setting the system boundary of measurement is another important issue to integrate the issue of carbon footprint into supply chain management. Third, developing a map of product carbon footprint facilitates identification and measurement of carbon emissions across the supply chain. Companies today operate in a carbon-constrained world. In particular, the automobile industry is under pressure to take a close look at its product carbon footprint. Managing the downstream consequences of the use of its products and inputs from upstream suppliers is critical for developing carbon risk-mitigated supply chain management. This paper is of benefit to academics and managers by providing a new way to integrate carbon emissions in supply chain management. Since climate change and carbon footprint present challenges to many industries, increasing our understanding of how to integrate carbon footprint in supply chain management is necessary, but has seen little research in the automobile industry.     

从生态旅游到低碳旅游——从理念到实践

阐述了生态旅游、低碳旅游的基本概念,分析了生态旅游存在的不足,提出低碳旅游的量化及建立各项标准及其指标评价体系并将之融入低碳旅游全过程以实现低碳旅游的标准化,重点在于实现低碳理念、低碳参与者及低碳实践3个方面的有机结合,以促进旅游业的可持续发展的可操作性建议.     

四氯化碳显色目视比色法测定溶解氧方法的研究

本文介绍了四氯化碳显色目视比色法测定溶解氧方法的研究过程,通过时分析方法中,标准试剂的选择,萃取剂的选择,碘化钾（K1）用量的选择,及稳定性实验,消除干扰实验,环境温度实验,方法准确度及精密度实验,表明此方法快速、准确、分析结果直观、适合应急监测。     

碳排放与能源消费和经济增长的灰色关联分析

中国碳排放问题成为世界关注的焦点问题。研究碳排放与经济增长、能源消费关系有助于实现2020年碳减排目标。选取2001～2009年碳排放与能源消费、经济增长数据,运用灰色关联分析模型,分别计算碳排放与能源消费、经济增长的灰色关联度。研究结果表明,无论是从折线的相似程度还是相对于始点变化速率的接近程度来看,碳排放曲线与能源消费曲线、经济增长曲线十分相似,说明碳排放与能源消费、经济增长之间存在紧密联系。     

Variation characteristics of atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide in summertime at a coastal site in the South China Sea

● Diurnal patterns of CH₄ and CO₂ are clearly extracted using EEMD. ● CH₄ and CO₂ show mid-morning high and evening low patterns during sea breezes. ● Wind direction significantly modulates the diurnal variations in CH₄ and CO₂. Methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are the two most important greenhouse gases (GHGs). To examine the variation characteristics of CH₄ and CO₂ in the coastal South China Sea, atmospheric CH₄ and CO₂ measurements were performed in Bohe (BH), Guangdong, China, in summer 2021. By using an adaptive data analysis method, the diurnal patterns of CH₄ and CO₂ were clearly extracted and analysed in relation to the sea breeze (SB) and land breeze (LB), respectively. The average concentrations of CH₄ and CO₂ were 1876.91 ± 31.13 ppb and 407.99 ± 4.24 ppm during SB, and 1988.12 ± 109.92 ppb and 421.54 ± 14.89 ppm during LB, respectively. The values of CH₄ and CO₂ during SB basically coincided with the values and trends of marine background sites, showing that the BH station could serve as an ideal site for background GHG monitoring and dynamic analysis. The extracted diurnal variations in CH₄ and CO₂ showed sunrise high and sunset low patterns (with peaks at 5:00–7:00) during LB but mid-morning high and evening low patterns (with peaks at 9:00) during SB. The diurnal amplitude changes in both CH₄ and CO₂ during LB were almost two to three times those during SB. Wind direction significantly modulated the diurnal variations in CH₄ and CO₂. The results in this study provide a new way to examine the variations in GHGs on different timescales and can also help us gain a better understanding of GHG sources and distributions in the South China Sea.     

Achievements,challenges and global implications of China’s carbon neutral pledge

China has been committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. China’s pledge of carbon neutrality will play an essential role in galvanising global climate action, which has been largely deferred by the Covid-19 pandemic. China’s carbon neutrality could reduce global warming by approximately 0.2–0.3 °C and save around 1.8 million people from premature death due to air pollution. Along with domestic benefits, China’s pledge of carbon neutrality is a “game-changer” for global climate action and can inspire other large carbon emitters to contribute actively to mitigate carbon emissions, particularly countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) routes. In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, it is necessary to decarbonise all sectors in China, including energy, industry, transportation, construction, and agriculture. However, this transition will be very challenging, because major technological breakthroughs and large-scale investments are required. Strong policies and implementation plans are essential, including sustainable demand, decarbonizing electricity, electrification, fuel switching, and negative emissions. In particular, if China can peak carbon emissions earlier, it can lower the costs of the carbon neutral transition and make it easier to do so over a longer time horizon. China’s pledge of carbon neutrality by 2060 and recent pledges at the 26^th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) are significant contributions and critical steps for global climate action. However, countries worldwide need to achieve carbon neutrality to keep the global temperature from growing beyond the level that will cause catastrophic damages globally.     

Dissolved methane in anaerobic effluent: Emission or recovery?

Various anaerobic processes have been explored for the energy-efficient treatment of municipal wastewater. However, dissolved methane in anaerobic effluent appears to be a barrier towards the energy and carbon neutrality of wastewater treatment. Although several dissolved methane recovery methods have been developed, their engineering feasibility and economic viability have not yet been assessed in a holistic manner. In this perspective, we thus intend to offer additional insights into the cost-benefit of dissolved methane recovery against its emission.