Pub Date : 2024-05-30DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad4513
Shohei Tokito, Yuya Nakamoto and Tesshu Hanaka
Although durable goods with low energy consumption are being promoted to achieve a decarbonised society, from the perspective of life-cycle assessment, the choice of new durable goods may increase CO2 emissions. To address this problem, research has been conducted on product replacement based on life-cycle optimisation (LCO), a method for identifying a replacement life span that minimises life-cycle CO2 emissions. However, several additional assumptions complicate the analysis of replacement patterns of products and conditional formulas because cumulative emissions do not increase linearly when considering energy mix and technology improvement, and it is difficult to extend the model to optimisation methods in previous LCO studies. This study developed a new LCO approach by applying the shortest path problem to graph theory. Our methodology can contribute to the following: (i) it is computationally inexpensive; (ii) it is intuitively easy to add complex conditions, such as various policy scenarios and parameter changes; and (iii) once the graph of replacement patterns is defined, the optimal solution can be derived using existing solution methods, such as the Dijkstra algorithm. As a case study, we focused on vehicle replacement, which is a major source of CO2 emissions and is being electrified. In particular, we identified vehicle switching paths that minimise life-cycle CO2 emissions by considering changes in Japan's energy mix and alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) characteristics. We determined that the optimal vehicle replacement path method to reduce CO2 emissions is to switch first to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and then to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Thus, we suggest that the transition to electric vehicles requires a step-by-step process. This methodology is not only conducive to AFV deployment for decarbonisation but can also be applied to other products, such as air conditioners and lighting. Thus, various transition policies could be formulated using our methodology.
{"title":"An application of the graph approach to life-cycle optimisation of vehicle electrification","authors":"Shohei Tokito, Yuya Nakamoto and Tesshu Hanaka","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad4513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad4513","url":null,"abstract":"Although durable goods with low energy consumption are being promoted to achieve a decarbonised society, from the perspective of life-cycle assessment, the choice of new durable goods may increase CO2 emissions. To address this problem, research has been conducted on product replacement based on life-cycle optimisation (LCO), a method for identifying a replacement life span that minimises life-cycle CO2 emissions. However, several additional assumptions complicate the analysis of replacement patterns of products and conditional formulas because cumulative emissions do not increase linearly when considering energy mix and technology improvement, and it is difficult to extend the model to optimisation methods in previous LCO studies. This study developed a new LCO approach by applying the shortest path problem to graph theory. Our methodology can contribute to the following: (i) it is computationally inexpensive; (ii) it is intuitively easy to add complex conditions, such as various policy scenarios and parameter changes; and (iii) once the graph of replacement patterns is defined, the optimal solution can be derived using existing solution methods, such as the Dijkstra algorithm. As a case study, we focused on vehicle replacement, which is a major source of CO2 emissions and is being electrified. In particular, we identified vehicle switching paths that minimise life-cycle CO2 emissions by considering changes in Japan's energy mix and alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) characteristics. We determined that the optimal vehicle replacement path method to reduce CO2 emissions is to switch first to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and then to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Thus, we suggest that the transition to electric vehicles requires a step-by-step process. This methodology is not only conducive to AFV deployment for decarbonisation but can also be applied to other products, such as air conditioners and lighting. Thus, various transition policies could be formulated using our methodology.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141192432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-30DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad484b
Ramiz Gorkem Birdal
Electricity consumption is expected to increase considerably in the next few years, so forecasting and planning will become more important. A new method of forecasting electricity loads based on air pollution is presented in this paper. Air pollution indirect effects are not incorporated in current evaluations since they rely primarily on weather conditions, historical load data, and seasonality. The accuracy of electricity load forecasting improved by incorporating air pollution data and its potential effects, especially in regions where air quality heavily impacts energy consumption and generation patterns. This robust prediction model is capable of capturing the complex interactions between air pollution and electricity load by integrating innovative environmental factors with historical load data, weather forecasts, and other features. As part of the second contribution, we use metaheuristic algorithms to optimize hyper parameters, which provide advantages such as exploration capability, global optimization, robustness, parallelization, and adaptability making them valuable tools to improve machine learning models' performance and efficiency. The study found that the correlation coefficient (R) between predicted and real electricity demand and supply was high, at 0.9911. Beyond that this approach reduces MAPE by up to 19.5% when CNN and particle swarm optimization are combined with utilizing innovative air pollution variables. As a result, the optimization results were robust compared to state-of-the-art results based on statistical metrics such as RMSE and MAPE. Lastly, we emphasize the importance of factoring in air pollution effects when forecasting and managing electricity loads; future research directions include developing integrated modeling frameworks that reflect the dynamic interaction between air quality, energy consumption, and renewable energy generation.
{"title":"Air pollution impact on forecasting electricity demand utilizing CNN-PSO hyper-parameter optimization","authors":"Ramiz Gorkem Birdal","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad484b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad484b","url":null,"abstract":"Electricity consumption is expected to increase considerably in the next few years, so forecasting and planning will become more important. A new method of forecasting electricity loads based on air pollution is presented in this paper. Air pollution indirect effects are not incorporated in current evaluations since they rely primarily on weather conditions, historical load data, and seasonality. The accuracy of electricity load forecasting improved by incorporating air pollution data and its potential effects, especially in regions where air quality heavily impacts energy consumption and generation patterns. This robust prediction model is capable of capturing the complex interactions between air pollution and electricity load by integrating innovative environmental factors with historical load data, weather forecasts, and other features. As part of the second contribution, we use metaheuristic algorithms to optimize hyper parameters, which provide advantages such as exploration capability, global optimization, robustness, parallelization, and adaptability making them valuable tools to improve machine learning models' performance and efficiency. The study found that the correlation coefficient (R) between predicted and real electricity demand and supply was high, at 0.9911. Beyond that this approach reduces MAPE by up to 19.5% when CNN and particle swarm optimization are combined with utilizing innovative air pollution variables. As a result, the optimization results were robust compared to state-of-the-art results based on statistical metrics such as RMSE and MAPE. Lastly, we emphasize the importance of factoring in air pollution effects when forecasting and managing electricity loads; future research directions include developing integrated modeling frameworks that reflect the dynamic interaction between air quality, energy consumption, and renewable energy generation.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141192095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-17DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad4d43
Jie Wang, Kuan Wang, Shuangjin LI, Huiyong Song, Shuang MA, Weiwu Han, Di Pang
Landscapes of lakes have a significant impact on people's perceptions of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES), as well as on their overall sense of well-being. However, there is limited understanding of how best to manage land landscapes and how different approaches influence these perceptions. To explore these questions, a case study of China's Qiandao Lake was conducted, using a survey of 416 tourists and residents based on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) framework. The relationship between CES and Human Well-Being (HWB) was examined using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), followed by the application of the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) method to identify which aspects should be targeted in management strategies. The results revealed several key findings. Firstly, there were significant differences in satisfaction with CES between tourists and residents. Tourists showed higher satisfaction levels in spiritual service, aesthetic service, inspiration, and education and science aspects. In contrast, residents prioritized cultural heritage and sense of place, indicating a deeper connection to the cultural and historical elements of their environment. Secondly, age, education, and income levels played important roles in shaping perceptions of CES. Thirdly, the study underscored the impact of CES on HWB, with aesthetic service having the greatest influence on tourists' HWB, and spiritual service having the most impact on residents' HWB. Lastly, using the IPA model, indicators with low satisfaction but high importance were identified, suggesting areas for improvement, particularly in cultural integration and unique environmental features. These research findings provide scientific and theoretical support for the management and landscape planning of lake ecosystems.
湖泊景观对人们的文化生态系统服务 (CES) 感知及其整体幸福感具有重要影响。然而,人们对如何以最佳方式管理陆地景观以及不同方法如何影响这些感知的认识还很有限。为了探讨这些问题,我们基于千年生态系统评估(MA)框架,对 416 名游客和居民进行了调查,并对中国千岛湖进行了案例研究。研究采用结构方程模型(SEM)对 CES 与人类福祉(HWB)之间的关系进行了检验,随后应用重要性-绩效分析(IPA)方法确定了管理策略应针对的方面。研究结果揭示了几个重要发现。首先,游客和居民对 CES 的满意度存在显著差异。游客在精神服务、审美服务、启发和科教方面的满意度较高。相比之下,居民优先考虑文化遗产和地方感,这表明他们与环境中的文化和历史元素有更深的联系。其次,年龄、教育程度和收入水平在影响人们对 CES 的看法方面发挥了重要作用。第三,研究强调了 CES 对 HWB 的影响,其中美学服务对游客的 HWB 影响最大,而精神服务对居民的 HWB 影响最大。最后,利用 IPA 模型,确定了满意度较低但重要性较高的指标,指出了需要改进的地方,尤其是在文化融合和独特环境特征方面。这些研究结果为湖泊生态系统的管理和景观规划提供了科学理论支持。
{"title":"Exploring the relationship between cultural ecosystem services and human well-being of Qiandao Lake in China: insights from tourists and residents","authors":"Jie Wang, Kuan Wang, Shuangjin LI, Huiyong Song, Shuang MA, Weiwu Han, Di Pang","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad4d43","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad4d43","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Landscapes of lakes have a significant impact on people's perceptions of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES), as well as on their overall sense of well-being. However, there is limited understanding of how best to manage land landscapes and how different approaches influence these perceptions. To explore these questions, a case study of China's Qiandao Lake was conducted, using a survey of 416 tourists and residents based on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) framework. The relationship between CES and Human Well-Being (HWB) was examined using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), followed by the application of the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) method to identify which aspects should be targeted in management strategies. The results revealed several key findings. Firstly, there were significant differences in satisfaction with CES between tourists and residents. Tourists showed higher satisfaction levels in spiritual service, aesthetic service, inspiration, and education and science aspects. In contrast, residents prioritized cultural heritage and sense of place, indicating a deeper connection to the cultural and historical elements of their environment. Secondly, age, education, and income levels played important roles in shaping perceptions of CES. Thirdly, the study underscored the impact of CES on HWB, with aesthetic service having the greatest influence on tourists' HWB, and spiritual service having the most impact on residents' HWB. Lastly, using the IPA model, indicators with low satisfaction but high importance were identified, suggesting areas for improvement, particularly in cultural integration and unique environmental features. These research findings provide scientific and theoretical support for the management and landscape planning of lake ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140964181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-17DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad4d42
Mengrong Shu, Kaida Chen, Yuanrong He, Yansong Wang
The original purpose of resilience design for traditional architectures is to be coordinated with and adapted to the natural environment. The natural environmental resilience of traditional dwellings refers to the ability of the dwellings to maintain the residents’ comfort, safety, and health in the face of natural environmental challenges including various disasters. In the process of designing traditional dwellings, the wisdom contributed to improving living environment conditions is of significant reference value. Therefore, this paper reviews the main literature on the resilience of traditional dwellings to the natural environment in Fujian of China. A topical review framework is proposed to cover the resilience performance of traditional dwellings in Fujian under various natural environmental conditions. Specifically, it is divided into two aspects: internal comfort resilience and external disaster-resistance resilience, based on which researchers in related fields can establish a clearer classification of resilience research in their future studies. In terms of internal comfort resilience, this paper focuses on relevant perspectives such as humidity, temperature, brightness, noise, etc. In terms of external disaster-resistance resilience, this paper summarizes the adaptability of traditional dwellings in the face of disasters triggered by natural hazards such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and typhoons. Based on this framework, this paper reviews the current research status, discusses the limitations and shortcomings in this research area, and proposes corresponding prospects for future research.
{"title":"Topical Reviews of Research on Resilience to Natural Environment in Fujian Traditional Dwellings of China","authors":"Mengrong Shu, Kaida Chen, Yuanrong He, Yansong Wang","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad4d42","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad4d42","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The original purpose of resilience design for traditional architectures is to be coordinated with and adapted to the natural environment. The natural environmental resilience of traditional dwellings refers to the ability of the dwellings to maintain the residents’ comfort, safety, and health in the face of natural environmental challenges including various disasters. In the process of designing traditional dwellings, the wisdom contributed to improving living environment conditions is of significant reference value. Therefore, this paper reviews the main literature on the resilience of traditional dwellings to the natural environment in Fujian of China. A topical review framework is proposed to cover the resilience performance of traditional dwellings in Fujian under various natural environmental conditions. Specifically, it is divided into two aspects: internal comfort resilience and external disaster-resistance resilience, based on which researchers in related fields can establish a clearer classification of resilience research in their future studies. In terms of internal comfort resilience, this paper focuses on relevant perspectives such as humidity, temperature, brightness, noise, etc. In terms of external disaster-resistance resilience, this paper summarizes the adaptability of traditional dwellings in the face of disasters triggered by natural hazards such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and typhoons. Based on this framework, this paper reviews the current research status, discusses the limitations and shortcomings in this research area, and proposes corresponding prospects for future research.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140962509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-15DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad4c3f
R. Thawonmas, Yoonhee Kim, Masahiro Hashizume
Background Previous studies suggest that temperature may trigger suicide, with higher ambient temperatures associated with increased risk globally. However, quantification of the attributable suicide burden due to non-optimal temperatures, particularly across specific subgroups like sex, age, and method of suicide, is limited. This study aimed to quantify this attributable burden across Japan and assess variations in these subgroups to enhance understanding and identify high-risk populations. Methods Data on daily suicide counts and mean temperatures were collected for all 47 prefectures in Japan (1973-2015) for a comprehensive, nationally representative analysis. Using time-stratified case-crossover analyses and a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM), we estimated temperature-suicide associations, accounting for long-term trends, seasonality, and day-of-the-week effects, and capturing both nonlinear and delayed impacts of temperature. Overall attributable fractions and fractions attributable to cold (0th-10th percentile), cool (10th-50th), warm (50th-90th), and hot (90th-100th) temperatures were computed. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, age (0-64 years and ≥65 years), and method of suicide (violent or nonviolent). Results Approximately 19.9% of suicides (95% empirical confidence interval (eCI): 18.8, 20.9) could be attributed to non-optimal temperatures, representing the proportion of cases that would not have occurred under optimal temperature conditions, identified at the temperature corresponding to the minimum risk of suicide. The highest fraction (9.9%, 95% eCI: 9.4, 10.4) was observed for warm temperatures (50th-90th percentile). Higher burdens were observed in females (23.7%), individuals aged ≥65 years (31.9%), and violent suicides (22.4%). Conclusions Nearly 20% of suicides in Japan are associated with non-optimal temperatures, particularly during warmer conditions. These findings highlight the importance of integrating temperature considerations into suicide prevention strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly. While focused on Japan, these results advocate future research to explore similar burdens globally, enhancing our understanding of environmental impacts on suicide and informing targeted public health interventions.
{"title":"Short-term exposure to ambient temperature and the mortality burden of suicide in Japan","authors":"R. Thawonmas, Yoonhee Kim, Masahiro Hashizume","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad4c3f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad4c3f","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Background Previous studies suggest that temperature may trigger suicide, with higher ambient temperatures associated with increased risk globally. However, quantification of the attributable suicide burden due to non-optimal temperatures, particularly across specific subgroups like sex, age, and method of suicide, is limited. This study aimed to quantify this attributable burden across Japan and assess variations in these subgroups to enhance understanding and identify high-risk populations. Methods Data on daily suicide counts and mean temperatures were collected for all 47 prefectures in Japan (1973-2015) for a comprehensive, nationally representative analysis. Using time-stratified case-crossover analyses and a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM), we estimated temperature-suicide associations, accounting for long-term trends, seasonality, and day-of-the-week effects, and capturing both nonlinear and delayed impacts of temperature. Overall attributable fractions and fractions attributable to cold (0th-10th percentile), cool (10th-50th), warm (50th-90th), and hot (90th-100th) temperatures were computed. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, age (0-64 years and ≥65 years), and method of suicide (violent or nonviolent). Results Approximately 19.9% of suicides (95% empirical confidence interval (eCI): 18.8, 20.9) could be attributed to non-optimal temperatures, representing the proportion of cases that would not have occurred under optimal temperature conditions, identified at the temperature corresponding to the minimum risk of suicide. The highest fraction (9.9%, 95% eCI: 9.4, 10.4) was observed for warm temperatures (50th-90th percentile). Higher burdens were observed in females (23.7%), individuals aged ≥65 years (31.9%), and violent suicides (22.4%). Conclusions Nearly 20% of suicides in Japan are associated with non-optimal temperatures, particularly during warmer conditions. These findings highlight the importance of integrating temperature considerations into suicide prevention strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly. While focused on Japan, these results advocate future research to explore similar burdens globally, enhancing our understanding of environmental impacts on suicide and informing targeted public health interventions.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140977205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-14DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad45c1
B Sridevi and V V S S Sarma
Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) penetrates up to 1000 m of water column in the Indian Ocean resulting in acidification and corrosion of aragonite skeletal material. The shallowest aragonite saturation horizon (ASH) was observed in the Bay of Bengal (BoB; 219 ± 10 m) within the tropical Indian Ocean. The ASH shoaled at the rate of 6.3 ± 5 and 4.4 ± 3 m yr−1 in the past four decades in the BoB and Arabian Sea respectively. As a result, an increase in total alkalinity (TA) was observed at the rate of 0.5 ± 0.3 and 0.25 ± 0.2 μmol kg−1 yr−1 at the depth of ASH in the BoB, and Arabian Sea respectively. While the shoaling rate of ASH remained the same in the Arabian Sea over the past four decades, in contrast, rapid shoaling was observed in the BoB in the recent decades due to higher accumulation of anthropogenic CO2 in the upper ocean associated with an increase in river discharge and decomposition of riverine organic matter. These two processes decreased the pH resulting in corrosion of aragonite skeletal material and increased TA at the depth of ASH in the BoB. Under a business-as-usual scenario, aragonite-secreting organisms will be seriously affected by the middle of this century in the BoB.
{"title":"Rapid shoaling of aragonite saturation horizon in the northern Indian Ocean","authors":"B Sridevi and V V S S Sarma","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad45c1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad45c1","url":null,"abstract":"Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) penetrates up to 1000 m of water column in the Indian Ocean resulting in acidification and corrosion of aragonite skeletal material. The shallowest aragonite saturation horizon (ASH) was observed in the Bay of Bengal (BoB; 219 ± 10 m) within the tropical Indian Ocean. The ASH shoaled at the rate of 6.3 ± 5 and 4.4 ± 3 m yr−1 in the past four decades in the BoB and Arabian Sea respectively. As a result, an increase in total alkalinity (TA) was observed at the rate of 0.5 ± 0.3 and 0.25 ± 0.2 μmol kg−1 yr−1 at the depth of ASH in the BoB, and Arabian Sea respectively. While the shoaling rate of ASH remained the same in the Arabian Sea over the past four decades, in contrast, rapid shoaling was observed in the BoB in the recent decades due to higher accumulation of anthropogenic CO2 in the upper ocean associated with an increase in river discharge and decomposition of riverine organic matter. These two processes decreased the pH resulting in corrosion of aragonite skeletal material and increased TA at the depth of ASH in the BoB. Under a business-as-usual scenario, aragonite-secreting organisms will be seriously affected by the middle of this century in the BoB.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141058704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-13DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad46ef
Wang Lanhui and Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim
Free trade and environmental sustainability are currently top economic and environmental research priorities. While numerous theories connect trade openness with environmental quality, empirical evidence often fails to support these claims. Using data spanning from 1980 to 2020, our study examines the effect of trade openness on CO2 emissions in South Africa. By employing a novel ARDL modeling framework, our analysis confirms the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in South Africa. Our findings reveal that while GDP square enhances environmental quality, trade openness and economic growth have a degrading effect over time. Additionally, the study identifies that energy consumption, FDI, and value-added activities all contribute to environmental degradation. Findings also highlights the influence of institutional quality on the environment, demonstrating that political stability and control of corruption lead to increased CO2 emissions, while the rule of law reduces CO2 emissions. The research suggested that the potential of green economies should be leveraged in developing renewable energy, sustainable development, the recycling industry, and green financing sectors. A shift in economic activity in this direction will thus foster long-term economic growth and sustainable development.
自由贸易和环境可持续性是当前经济和环境研究的重中之重。虽然有许多理论将贸易开放与环境质量联系在一起,但经验证据往往无法支持这些说法。我们的研究利用 1980 年至 2020 年的数据,考察了贸易开放对南非二氧化碳排放的影响。通过采用新颖的 ARDL 模型框架,我们的分析证实了南非存在环境库兹涅茨曲线(EKC)假说。我们的研究结果表明,虽然 GDP 方阵会提高环境质量,但贸易开放度和经济增长会随着时间的推移而产生退化效应。此外,研究还发现,能源消耗、外国直接投资和增值活动都会导致环境退化。研究结果还强调了制度质量对环境的影响,表明政治稳定和腐败控制会导致二氧化碳排放量增加,而法治则会减少二氧化碳排放量。研究建议,应利用绿色经济的潜力发展可再生能源、可持续发展、回收行业和绿色融资部门。因此,经济活动向这一方向转变将促进长期经济增长和可持续发展。
{"title":"Unraveling the environmental consequences of trade openness in South Africa: a novel approach using ARDL modeling","authors":"Wang Lanhui and Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad46ef","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad46ef","url":null,"abstract":"Free trade and environmental sustainability are currently top economic and environmental research priorities. While numerous theories connect trade openness with environmental quality, empirical evidence often fails to support these claims. Using data spanning from 1980 to 2020, our study examines the effect of trade openness on CO2 emissions in South Africa. By employing a novel ARDL modeling framework, our analysis confirms the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in South Africa. Our findings reveal that while GDP square enhances environmental quality, trade openness and economic growth have a degrading effect over time. Additionally, the study identifies that energy consumption, FDI, and value-added activities all contribute to environmental degradation. Findings also highlights the influence of institutional quality on the environment, demonstrating that political stability and control of corruption lead to increased CO2 emissions, while the rule of law reduces CO2 emissions. The research suggested that the potential of green economies should be leveraged in developing renewable energy, sustainable development, the recycling industry, and green financing sectors. A shift in economic activity in this direction will thus foster long-term economic growth and sustainable development.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140935761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Currently, the issue of eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms persists in water bodies worldwide, prompting the exploration of various treatment methods. This study conducted a comparative analysis of eutrophic water bodies using ferric chloride-modified zeolite (FMZ) and calcium hydroxide-modified zeolite (CMZ) combined with Elodea nuttallii (E. nuttallii) for removal and purification effects. The results revealed that the addition of E. nuttallii had a sustained inhibitory effect on phosphorus release, maintaining stability with lower Turbidity(Tur) and stabilized pH within the range of 8.5–9. FMZ demonstrated rapid reduction in dissolved phosphorus concentration, achieving a removal rate of 96% within 3 days. The combined plant group of CMZ and FMZ exhibited synergistic effects with E. nuttallii, achieving an impressive total phosphorus (TP) removal rate of 80.13% and a total nitrogen (TN) removal rate of 48.77%. Additionally, chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration decreased from 100.74 ± 24.72 μg l−1 to 49.96 ± 2.08 μg l−1. The phytoplankton community composition indicated that diatoms thrived in low temperatures and high NH4 conditions. Under the same low Total Nitrogen to Total Phosphorus (TN:TP) ratio, high TP concentrations were associated with cyanobacteria dominance, while green algae dominated in other scenarios. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the potential efficacy of CMZ and FMZ combined with E. nuttallii in addressing eutrophic water bodies and mitigating cyanobacterial blooms.
{"title":"Management of eutrophication using combined the ‘flock & sink’ mitigation technique and submerged plants restoration: a mesocosm study","authors":"Yutian Liu, Jinfu Liu, Yuwei Chen, Taotao Dai, Wei Li, Jinying Xu, Xiaoliang Zhang, Linsen Tang, Fangwen Zheng and Jiayou Zhong","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad45c0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad45c0","url":null,"abstract":"Currently, the issue of eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms persists in water bodies worldwide, prompting the exploration of various treatment methods. This study conducted a comparative analysis of eutrophic water bodies using ferric chloride-modified zeolite (FMZ) and calcium hydroxide-modified zeolite (CMZ) combined with Elodea nuttallii (E. nuttallii) for removal and purification effects. The results revealed that the addition of E. nuttallii had a sustained inhibitory effect on phosphorus release, maintaining stability with lower Turbidity(Tur) and stabilized pH within the range of 8.5–9. FMZ demonstrated rapid reduction in dissolved phosphorus concentration, achieving a removal rate of 96% within 3 days. The combined plant group of CMZ and FMZ exhibited synergistic effects with E. nuttallii, achieving an impressive total phosphorus (TP) removal rate of 80.13% and a total nitrogen (TN) removal rate of 48.77%. Additionally, chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration decreased from 100.74 ± 24.72 μg l−1 to 49.96 ± 2.08 μg l−1. The phytoplankton community composition indicated that diatoms thrived in low temperatures and high NH4 conditions. Under the same low Total Nitrogen to Total Phosphorus (TN:TP) ratio, high TP concentrations were associated with cyanobacteria dominance, while green algae dominated in other scenarios. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the potential efficacy of CMZ and FMZ combined with E. nuttallii in addressing eutrophic water bodies and mitigating cyanobacterial blooms.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140935756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-13DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad4af2
Masahiro Sugiyama, S. Fujimori, Kenichi Wada, Estsushi Kato, Yuhji Matsuo, Osamu Nishiura, K. Oshiro, Takashi Otsuki
We study Japan’s net-zero emissions target by 2050 in a multi-model framework, focusing on residual emissions and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Four energy-economic and integrated assessment models show similar but stronger strategies for the net-zero target, compared to the previous, low-carbon policy target (80% emissions reduction). Results indicate that around 90% (inter-model median) of the current emissions are reduced through abatement, including improved energy efficiency and cleaner electricity and fuels. Models deploy new options such as CDR based on carbon capture and storage (CCS) (bioenergy with CCS and direct air carbon dioxide capture and storage) and hydrogen to achieve net zero. The scale of CCS-based CDR deployment reaches an inter-model median of 132Mt-CO2/yr. The median hydrogen share of final energy in 2050 increases from 0.79% to 6.9% between the low-carbon and net-zero scenarios. The CDR sensitivity analysis reveals that limiting the use of CDR significantly increases the mitigation costs for net zero. Achieving Japan’s net-zero goal will require exploring methods to reduce residual emissions, including demand-side solutions, and accelerating responsible CDR policies.
{"title":"Residual emissions and carbon removal towards Japan’s net-zero goal: A multi-model analysis","authors":"Masahiro Sugiyama, S. Fujimori, Kenichi Wada, Estsushi Kato, Yuhji Matsuo, Osamu Nishiura, K. Oshiro, Takashi Otsuki","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad4af2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad4af2","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 We study Japan’s net-zero emissions target by 2050 in a multi-model framework, focusing on residual emissions and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Four energy-economic and integrated assessment models show similar but stronger strategies for the net-zero target, compared to the previous, low-carbon policy target (80% emissions reduction). Results indicate that around 90% (inter-model median) of the current emissions are reduced through abatement, including improved energy efficiency and cleaner electricity and fuels. Models deploy new options such as CDR based on carbon capture and storage (CCS) (bioenergy with CCS and direct air carbon dioxide capture and storage) and hydrogen to achieve net zero. The scale of CCS-based CDR deployment reaches an inter-model median of 132Mt-CO2/yr. The median hydrogen share of final energy in 2050 increases from 0.79% to 6.9% between the low-carbon and net-zero scenarios. The CDR sensitivity analysis reveals that limiting the use of CDR significantly increases the mitigation costs for net zero. Achieving Japan’s net-zero goal will require exploring methods to reduce residual emissions, including demand-side solutions, and accelerating responsible CDR policies.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140983574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bioenergy is increasingly recognized as an effective tool for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, its economic feasibility remains underexplored, particularly when accounting for environmental impacts. This study proposes a quantitative assessment framework to calculate the cost-benefit ratio of biomass power generation and to assess the sustainability of its supporting policy tools, such as feed-in-tariffs (FIT). The framework accounts for benefits through electricity generation and environmental externalities, namely emissions from feedstock production and procurement, such as the transportation of biomass materials. This allows for quantification and a detailed discussion of multiple environmental burdens of biomass energy and economic costs. As a case study, this framework was applied to a hypothetical biomass plant in Japan, which has the fifth-largest biomass market globally. We prepare several scenarios to consider diverse conditions within the Japanese biomass industry, including the types of biomass materials used (pellets vs. chips), their sources (domestic vs. international), and the biomass technologies employed. The results show that using pellets, predominantly imported, significantly increases biomass energy costs. The increase in cost is directly proportional to the quantity of utilized pellets and their transportation distances. However, pellet production location —whether in Vietnam or Canada—doesn't significantly change the overall cost calculations in our study. Our result is consistent across various biomass technologies, showing that the high selling price under the feed-in-tariff system, rather than material type, supply origin, or transportation mode, plays the most critical role in economic feasibility, even when accounting for environmental externalities. Thus, decision-makers must reevaluate the efficacy of FIT policies for wood biomass powers, where fuel costs share a substantial portion. We also discuss its synergies with local industries and trade-offs with other land-use objectives.
{"title":"Feed-In-Tariff Is Key to Japan’s Current Biomass Power’s Viability, Even with Environmental Externalities","authors":"Kosuke Miyatake, Masahiko Haraguchi, Tomoyo Toyota, Yu Nagai, Makoto Taniguchi","doi":"10.1088/2515-7620/ad4a28","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad4a28","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Bioenergy is increasingly recognized as an effective tool for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, its economic feasibility remains underexplored, particularly when accounting for environmental impacts. This study proposes a quantitative assessment framework to calculate the cost-benefit ratio of biomass power generation and to assess the sustainability of its supporting policy tools, such as feed-in-tariffs (FIT). The framework accounts for benefits through electricity generation and environmental externalities, namely emissions from feedstock production and procurement, such as the transportation of biomass materials. This allows for quantification and a detailed discussion of multiple environmental burdens of biomass energy and economic costs. As a case study, this framework was applied to a hypothetical biomass plant in Japan, which has the fifth-largest biomass market globally. We prepare several scenarios to consider diverse conditions within the Japanese biomass industry, including the types of biomass materials used (pellets vs. chips), their sources (domestic vs. international), and the biomass technologies employed. The results show that using pellets, predominantly imported, significantly increases biomass energy costs. The increase in cost is directly proportional to the quantity of utilized pellets and their transportation distances. However, pellet production location —whether in Vietnam or Canada—doesn't significantly change the overall cost calculations in our study. Our result is consistent across various biomass technologies, showing that the high selling price under the feed-in-tariff system, rather than material type, supply origin, or transportation mode, plays the most critical role in economic feasibility, even when accounting for environmental externalities. Thus, decision-makers must reevaluate the efficacy of FIT policies for wood biomass powers, where fuel costs share a substantial portion. We also discuss its synergies with local industries and trade-offs with other land-use objectives.","PeriodicalId":48496,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140994200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}