Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
A $19 million research project will investigate the connection between grazing management decisions and soil health, aiming to improve soil resilience and productivity. The project, led by Noble Research Institute, will provide farmers and ranchers with tools to measure outcomes of soil health in grazing land environments.
A previously unknown source of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide has been found in East Siberian Yedoma permafrost. The discovery highlights the significance of thawing permafrost as a globally important positive feedback to climate change.
A study estimates that 55% of organic matter removed during wastewater treatment is refractory, leading to high greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers propose a new perspective on carbon neutrality in the industry by leaving non-toxic recalcitrant organic matter in the wastewater.
A study by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona found that spending revenues on climate projects increases social acceptability of carbon taxes. The research also revealed that providing information on carbon taxes can increase acceptability, while the perception of fairness is a stronger factor in acceptability than effectiveness.
The global plastics supply chain has a significant impact on the climate, with production accounting for 96% of total greenhouse gas emissions. The use of coal-based energy in plastic production is driving this growth, with emissions quadrupling since 1995 and causing health issues like air pollution and asthma.
The state of Georgia could dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by using onsite electric power, creating new jobs and a healthier public. CHP systems can be 85-90% efficient, reducing peak demand on the grid and providing ultra-high system efficiencies, cleaner air, and more affordable energy.
A new study led by the University of Pittsburgh reveals that 360 million metric tonnes of new plastic were produced in 2018, with only 9% being recycled. The research found that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production are staggering, accounting for 350 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
A new international study by IIASA reveals that rapid emissions cuts in the next few decades can avoid temperature overshoot, plateauing global temperatures around the time of net-zero emissions. This approach also yields long-term economic benefits, with projected GDP increases of up to 2% in scenarios that avoid overshoot.
A recent study by NTU Singapore has found a strong link between increasing air pollution and the rise of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer. The study also discovered that declining smoking rates are associated with lower incidence of lung squamous cell carcinoma.
Researchers at MIT created a computational tool to minimize embodied carbon in truss structures by choosing between timber and steel. The analysis suggests that substituting materials or changing the structure can significantly reduce emissions, with potential savings of up to two times current levels.
A study published in Frontiers in Energy Research found that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could reduce commercial aviation's CO2 emissions by between 4% and 23% by 2050. The researchers used a model-based approach to analyze data and considered five future SAF scenarios and two passenger-demand projections.
By 2050, renewable electricity is expected to become the cheapest form of energy globally, accounting for up to three-quarters of all demand. This shift can be achieved through accelerated electrification of industries, such as steel production and transportation, which can reduce energy consumption and lower carbon intensity.
A study at the University of Plymouth found that retrofitting an existing building with a green wall reduced heat loss by 31.4%. The study suggests that living walls can provide significant energy savings and help reduce carbon emissions in existing buildings.
A team of scientists from GIST developed an AI-based approach to analyze and extract user behavior data, estimating the optimal demand response management for each household. The study showcases how AI can improve electricity consumption, leading to lower prices and a smaller carbon footprint.
A new study found that providing free green electricity and public transport can reduce home energy emissions by 13.4% and motor fuel emissions by 23.8%. This approach is more effective than redistributing carbon tax revenue among the population to address poverty.
A Berkeley Lab study shows how battery-electric trains can cut carbon dioxide emissions by over half, eliminating premature deaths and health costs associated with diesel freight trains. The analysis suggests that retrofitting diesel-electric trains with batteries is a cost-effective solution with multiple benefits.
Researchers at Cornell University developed a novel method to track microbes and understand their role in processing soil carbon. The study found that different types of bacteria have varying strategies for assimilating carbon, categorized into guilds based on their access to food.
Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design found that adding carbon emission labels can influence online shoppers to choose more sustainable shipping options. The study showed that slow shipping options result in lower emissions but longer delivery times, with an 81% reduction in emissions possible.
A study by Technical University of Munich found that major tech companies significantly underreported CO2 emissions from their value chain, with 50% of emissions omitted in 2019. The researchers developed a method to identify reporting gaps and estimated the omitted emissions at 751 megatons carbon dioxide equivalents.
Researchers from Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) propose a radical approach to accelerate the energy transition. By using fossil power plants at full capacity and building solar infrastructure, they aim to minimize cumulative CO2 emissions and complete the energy transition within five years.
Concordia researcher Seth Wynes estimates that permanent adoption of lockdown-era schedules could cut carbon dioxide emissions from team travel by 22%, reducing overall annual emissions. Implementing these changes could also have co-benefits, such as reduced injuries and improved player rest.
A team of researchers at the University of Copenhagen has identified a group of proteins, called CURT1, that control the development of green leaves in plants. This discovery sheds new light on photosynthesis, which is essential for life on Earth and could lead to more efficient CO2 absorption.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new approach to modify the surface of copper catalysts, improving the conversion of carbon dioxide into useful fuels. The technique involves coating the copper with thin films of ionomers, which steer the reaction towards generating carbon-rich products.
Researchers from Australian National University warn that Australia's hydrogen strategy lacks distinction between green and blue hydrogen, which could increase emissions. Large-scale investment in fossil fuel-based hydrogen with carbon capture technology may be risky due to substantial fugitive emissions.
Researchers tracked methane emissions from the region's 10,000 oil and gas wells, finding that they fell by half between 2015 and 2020. Despite this decline, methane leaks remained high, accounting for about six to eight percent of produced natural gas.
A new study by University of Pittsburgh researchers links econometric models with production profitability to predict the impact of demand shocks on carbon intensity. Small shocks are predicted to displace heavy crudes with higher carbon intensity, but the relation may be counterintuitive.
Researchers from NTU Singapore found significant increases in pollutant emissions at major international seaports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emissions rose by over 100% in some ports, with container ships and dry bulk carriers experiencing the largest spikes.
Researchers predict that targeted transport measures in Cairo will reduce health-damaging pollutants by up to 55% and global warming emissions by an average of 12.4%. Better vehicle inspection and maintenance, as well as improved public transport infrastructure, are key strategies identified in the study.
Scientists at KAUST have created catalysts that can convert CO2 into valuable hydrocarbons, such as gasoline-grade isoparaffins, with high selectivity rates. The development paves the way for a circular carbon economy and drop-in fuels from CO2.
Expanding the EU's Emissions Trading System to cover road transport and heating fuels could be a cost-effective way to reduce emissions, but may affect consumers. Thoughtful policy design is crucial to relieve burdens and ensure equitable distribution of costs.
Researchers explore harnessing China's wind energy to produce carbon-free green hydrogen at a lower cost than coal-derived black hydrogen. Shifting from black to green hydrogen could reduce 100 million tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2030.
Chemists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a method to produce cement by milling instead of burning lime, reducing CO2 emissions. The process could be implemented on an industrial scale, but further development is needed.
A life cycle assessment of carbon capture at Amager Bakke incineration plant reveals that the technology reduces CO2 emissions from incineration but decreases electricity production by 50%. The overall net energy efficiency is not affected, but heat output increases by 20%.
A new Stanford-led study suggests that decreasing oil demand leads to larger-than-expected carbon reductions, as the impact varies depending on market factors. The research takes into account the global oil market's structure, including perfect competition, oligopoly, and cartel scenarios, to estimate climate benefits.
A group of global healthcare and tech companies has pledged to decarbonize the NHS supply chain by 2045, aiming to support the NHS's ambition to become the world's first net zero health service. The International Leadership Group for a Net Zero NHS has urged suppliers to commit to reducing their operations' carbon footprint by 2045.
A new study highlights the need for sustainable dietary choices to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing discretionary foods like sweets, pastries, and processed meats can help lower emissions, which contribute to climate change.
A team of researchers at Texas A&M University has developed a method to turn carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals through reduction reactions. This process could provide a path to repurpose excess CO2, reducing its negative environmental impact.
A new study suggests that aviation could consume up to one-sixth of the remaining temperature budget to limit warming to 1.5°C by 2050. Reducing CO2 emissions annually is crucial to avoid further warming.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a plant that can produce carbon-neutral liquid fuels from sunlight and air. The technology has been tested successfully and is now mature enough for industrial applications.
The Global Carbon Project predicts an increase of 4.9% in global carbon emissions in 2021, with fossil carbon emissions set to grow more than they fell in 2020. The report highlights the need for immediate global action on climate change as world leaders meet at COP26 in Glasgow.
A study analyzed grocery purchase records of 57,000 US households and identified three ways to reduce food-based carbon footprints: meal planning, using local produce, and reducing meat consumption. The research suggests that 71% of households can decrease their emissions by implementing these strategies.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland introduces an electric soot collector that achieves a 45% fine particle reduction efficiency in logwood-fired masonry heaters. The technology uses natural charges of flames to collect particles, but further optimization is needed for higher reduction efficiencies.
Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute found that CO2 electrolysis can produce formic acid, a promising product for various industries, but generates more CO2 than it consumes. The production process is commercially viable, but depends on a renewable energy mix to have a positive climate effect.
A University of Cambridge study reveals that periodic caterpillar outbreaks improve lake water quality but increase CO2 emissions by altering nutrient cycling and favouring greenhouse gas-producing bacteria. This phenomenon is likely to worsen as climate change expands the insects' range, threatening northern forests.
Scientists from University of Technology Sydney developed energy-related carbon budgets for 12 main industry sectors, showing that it's still possible to limit global warming to 1.5C with timely climate action. The research provides sector-specific emission targets and a holistic model for decarbonization pathways.
International shipping's current climate targets are too lax, with emissions projected to exceed twice the level compatible with limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees. New research calls for significantly stronger targets by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050.
The study finds that universal access to clean cooking services might not be achieved by 2050, despite progress on other SDGs. Low-income households in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia are most at risk of not being able to afford clean cooking.
Researchers review strategies to enhance Cu-based catalysts' performance in CO2 reduction, including surface structure tuning and local environment regulation. The study aims to overcome current challenges and outline future opportunities for efficient CO2 conversion.
The University of Leeds research highlights the need for industry to adopt new technologies that can manufacture materials using renewable electricity. This is crucial to achieving net zero emissions targets by 2050, as current steel and aluminium manufacturing capacities pose a significant barrier to this goal.
Researchers develop an algorithm to find optimal or near-optimal solutions in the space of 'infeasible solutions' to speed up search, alleviating traffic congestion and improving city living. A novel solution to a combinatorial optimization problem in bicycle sharing systems is proposed.
A new study by University of Oxford and Edinburgh suggests that imposing a carbon takeback obligation on the fossil fuel industry could provide an affordable route to net zero emissions. The policy requires extractors and importers to dispose safely and permanently of CO2, with the fraction rising to 100% by 2050.
Researchers found four main drivers of CO2 reduction: subsidised renewable investment, regulation-driven coal closure, rising carbon prices, and energy efficiency measures. Building renewable sources and setting a stronger carbon price were key contributors to the UK's success in reducing emissions.
Historical analysis found no precedent for the rate of coal and gas power decline required to limit climate change to 1.5°C. Rapid declines in fossil fuel use occurred in response to energy security threats, but such cases are less relevant to climate scenarios where continental-size regions are involved.
Researchers estimate that carinata-based SAF can reduce life cycle carbon emissions by up to 68%, making it a promising sustainable alternative for the aviation industry. The production cost of SAF from carinata ranges from $0.12 to $1.28 per liter, lower than petroleum-based fuel.
Researchers warn that global warming could make the Amazon barren, the Midwest tropical, and India too hot to live in by 2500. Climate models project a future where vegetation and crop-growing areas shift towards the poles, leading to drastic changes and potential human fatalities.
Researchers at Kyushu University developed a new, low-cost seismic monitoring system that can detect changes in pore pressure with greater than 99.99% accuracy. The system uses a small seismic source and distributed acoustic sensing technology to monitor subsurface formations over an extensive area at a relatively low cost.
A new study found that consuming sustainably sourced wild meat instead of domesticated livestock reduces greenhouse gas emissions and retains precious tropical forest systems. This can lead to significant financial incentives for forest conservation through carbon credit revenues, totaling millions of dollars per year.
A new study reveals that early human activities, specifically Māori burning practices in New Zealand over 700 years ago, impacted the Earth's atmosphere more than previously known. The increase in black carbon levels in Antarctic ice cores supports this conclusion.
A new model, developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers, identifies coal- and natural gas-fired electricity generation plants suitable for carbon capture technologies. The tool takes into account various factors like plant age, efficiency, location, and technology to explore optimal CO2 reduction strategies at an affordable cost.
A new study by University of Utah researchers found that energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments had limited impact on reducing CO2 emissions. However, policies aimed at improving energy efficiency had no effect, while investment in renewable energy sources led to increased levels of CO2 emissions in the residen...