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.     

中国碳捕集、利用与封存技术发展与展望

实现“双碳”目标是我国应对气候变化的重大决策,也是我国生态文明建设的重要内容。碳捕集、利用与封存（Carbon Capture,Utilization and Storage,CCUS）技术是实现“双碳”目标的关键性技术,也是我国达成二氧化碳零排放的保障性措施。本文简要介绍了CCUS主要环节的技术流程,概括了我国CCUS技术的发展历程。从技术水平、国家政策、示范项目情况等多个角度,总结了现阶段我国CCUS技术的整体研究与发展水平。并根据我国能源供给模式、工业发展水平等因素,分析并阐明了我国CCUS技术发展的必要性,以及现阶段CCUS技术发展所面临的挑战。最后本文还从行业角度出发,将CCUS技术与油气、建筑、农业、化工多种重点行业结合,提出了具体可行、互促互利的CO₂转化利用模式,为实现CCUS的商业化运行、保证CCUS技术的可持续发展提供了思路。     

生态沟渠-生物滞留池组合控制农村径流污染

生态沟渠和生物滞留池因其良好的径流污染控制能力和生态效益,日益受到广泛关注和应用,但单一的生态沟渠或生物滞留池在农村径流污染控制中常存在氮磷去除效果不稳定和基质易堵塞等问题.将两者串联构建组合系统,利用生态沟渠预处理去除部分污染物,可降低生物滞留池污染负荷和减轻基质堵塞;同时在生物滞留池中设置淹没区并添加天然载体碳源提升系统脱氮效果.研究了载体碳源、降雨强度和干湿交替等条件对生态沟渠-生物滞留池组合系统控制农村径流污染的影响.结果表明,投加稻草和木屑两种天然载体碳源分别将生物滞留池段的TN去除率提升19.9%和20.4%.模拟降雨强度从小雨增至大雨时,外加碳源组合系统COD、 NH⁺₄-N、 TN和TP去除率平均下降17.0%、 16.8%、 20.4%和17.2%,其中生态沟渠段对4种污染物的去除贡献平均降低16.3%、 13.0%、 24.2%和22.1%.干湿交替运行可提高系统的污染物去除效果,相较连续进水,干旱3周后木屑组TN平均去除率提升12.3%.微生物群落分析结果显示,木屑组和稻草组生物滞留池样品的α多样性高于对照组;投加载体碳...     

典型喀斯特城市湖库溶解性有机质成分特征及来源解析

为探索喀斯特城市湖库溶解性有机质（DOM）成分特征及来源信息,以我国贵阳市重要喀斯特湖库——红枫湖、百花湖、松柏山水库和阿哈水库为研究对象,分析了表层水体溶解性有机碳（DOC）、叶绿素a（Chla）和DOM光学参数(a₂₅₄、a₂₈₀、a₃₅₀、 E2∶E3、S_275-295、 FI、β:α、 BIX、 HIX)的空间差异,同时利用荧光吸收峰（B、 T、 A、 M、 C、 D、 N）和三维荧光平行因子分析（EEM-PARAFAC）解释DOM各成分丰度及占比状况,并运用Spearman相关分析及主成分分析（PCA）揭示DOM参数的相关性和主要环境过程.结果表明,喀斯特城市湖库ρ（DOC）和ρ（Chla）范围分别为4.24～11.9 mg·L^-1和0.32～19.7μg·L^-1,松柏山水库腐殖质(a₂₅₄)和芳香类蛋白质(a₂₈₀)较高,导致相对分子质量(E2∶E3和S_275-295)高于其它湖...     

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.