Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
Researchers developed a biochar technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from soils and prevent soil degradation. The innovative method uses chicken dung and agricultural waste to produce biochar, which slows down humus mineralization and stalls CO2 emission.
SUNCAT researchers have made significant breakthroughs in converting CO2 into chemicals, fuels, and plastics using electrochemical reduction. By increasing the surface area of copper-based catalysts, they've improved selectivity and efficiency, offering a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Soviet Union's collapse led to a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions due to decreased meat consumption and abandonment of cultivated land. This resulted in a reduction of around 7.61 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from 1992 to 2001.
A study by Dr. Sebastian Jäckle found that conference attendees emit between 0.5-1.5 tons of CO2 per three-day meeting, with plane travel being the worst option. By choosing central venues and video transmission, emissions can be reduced by up to 85%.
A new study by Imperial College London researchers shows that carbon taxes are insufficient to reduce emissions enough to meet the Paris Agreement targets. The study recommends incentivizing strategies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere alongside carbon taxes.
A new study published in Joule finds that taxing carbon emissions would lead to improved energy efficiency, with potential reductions of up to 30% in energy usage by 2100. This innovation could motivate people to develop more efficient ways to use energy, making it easier to solve the climate problem.
Researchers use integrated exploration tools to detect multiple hydrothermal feed zones in Lake Ngozi, Tanzania, by combining bathymetry, thermal mapping and gas emission measurements. The approach provides spatial information on the location of hydrothermal vents, their abundance and current state of activity.
A new study reveals that phosphorus-deficient soils reduced projected carbon dioxide uptake by 50% in the Amazon compared to current estimates. The Amazon Basin plays a critical role in mitigating climate change, but outdated assumptions have been used in models, leading to inaccurate predictions.
Researchers suggest that reaching an 80% reduction in building CO2 emissions by 2050 requires highly energy-efficient technologies, new operational approaches, and electrification of fossil fuel-based systems. The study identifies two promising avenues for reducing emissions: energy-saving retrofits and smart software optimization.
A satellite study found that a region in northern tropical Africa emits between 1 and 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon annually, comparable to the emissions of 200 million cars. The research uses data from two NASA satellites and improves understanding of greenhouse gas sources.
Research suggests reusing oil rigs as CO2 storage sites could be 10 times cheaper than decommissioning. This scheme would store natural gas production emissions and help combat climate change by locking away CO2.
A new study by TUM researchers suggests that rainforest growth limits are being tested due to insufficient phosphorus. Trees can only absorb additional carbon dioxide if phosphorous is available, leading to a potential 50% decrease in CO2 absorption under increased atmospheric pressure.
Research suggests that wildfires can effectively 'lock away' carbon for years to come through the production of pyrogenic carbon, or charcoal. This process helps compensate for carbon emissions from fires and could provide a significant buffer against future climate change.
Airships could increase the feasibility of a 100% sustainable world by reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The study proposes using airships to transport cargo and hydrogen, leveraging the jet stream for energy and reducing the need for liquefaction.
Scientists at ETH Zurich developed a new catalyst technology converting CO2 and hydrogen directly into methanol, enabling the production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. The approach has significant potential to close the carbon cycle and produce sustainable methanol on an industrial scale.
Scientists at EPFL Valais Wallis have developed high-performance membranes for carbon capture that surpass post-combustion capture targets. The membranes, based on single-layer graphene with selective layers, show six-fold higher CO2 permeance and high separation factors.
A Drexel University study suggests that reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Rocky Mountain region can save hundreds of lives and billions of dollars. The research predicts that fees on energy producers will lead to a reduction in ozone levels, resulting in improved health outcomes.
Research from the University of Notre Dame finds that private, independent firms have lower carbon emissions and incur fewer EPA penalties than public and private equity-owned firms. The study suggests that increased oversight within public firms may decrease pollution.
Researchers found that sensitive climate models were more likely to experience short periods of cooling and display larger variations in warming over a decade. The study suggests that climate sensitivity plays a crucial role in understanding global warming trends and the potential for hyperwarming scenarios.
A new study reveals that carbon budgets for limiting warming to 1.5°C are more uncertain than thought, with underestimated Earth system feedbacks such as permafrost thawing potentially reducing remaining budgets by 100 GtCO2. The research highlights the importance of considering these factors in climate policy-making.
Researchers from IIASA and colleagues provide a new tool to clearly communicate insights about carbon budgets, making it easier for policymakers to understand changes in the remaining carbon budget. The study defines the size of the remaining carbon budget by five main factors, including warming expected per ton of CO2 emission.
A new PSU study found that shifting to renewable energy can increase energy poverty, particularly in nations with increasing inequality. Renewable energy consumption reduces carbon emissions more effectively in contexts of increased inequality, whereas it has a lesser impact when inequality is decreasing.
Researchers measured VOC emissions from polyurethane mattresses under simulated sleeping conditions, finding elevated levels of some compounds that could cause eye irritation, headaches, and even cancer. The study emphasizes the need for further research on possible health effects of chronic exposure to VOCs.
Researchers have discovered that pea gin can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and fossil energy consumption. By using peas instead of wheat grain, distilleries can produce carbon-neutral gins with minimal environmental impact.
A new study by the Crowther Lab suggests that global forest restoration could capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions. The study found that there is potential to increase the world's forest land by a third without affecting cities or agriculture, with forests capable of storing 205 billion tonnes of carbon once mature.
Studies suggest that harvested wood products can store up to 441 megatons of CO2 per year by 2030. However, their net carbon sink value is threatened by global emissions and economic fluctuations that can turn them into a source of emissions.
Research finds that wood products globally mitigate only 1% of annual carbon emissions, but countries with large timber industries like Sweden can offset up to 9%. Wood product carbon sequestration is sensitive to economic conditions, and the current UN guidelines create a gap in accounting for uncounted carbon.
The study finds that existing power plants and energy infrastructure will release significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere if not retired early, posing a threat to the 1.5-degree Celsius climate goal. However, the world can still meet the 2-degree goal without early retirement if new fossil fuel sources are not built.
A UCI-led study finds that 'committed' carbon dioxide emissions from existing infrastructure could reach up to 658 gigatons of CO2 if not phased out. This would jeopardize international climate goals set by the Paris accords unless drastic measures are taken.
Researchers at NIST have designed new probes for sensing emission flow rates and developed a measurement method that could potentially improve the accuracy and speed of smokestack emissions audits. The fieldwork results were promising, showing reasonable agreement with laboratory findings.
A new study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics suggests that the climate impact of contrail cirrus, formed from airplane contrails, will triple by 2050. The radiative forcing caused by contrail cirrus will be larger than expected CO2 emissions due to increased air traffic activity.
A new study found that post-Soviet changes in food systems resulted in a net emissions reduction of 7.61 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalents from 1991 to 2011. This decrease was mainly due to the decline in domestic livestock production and soil organic carbon sequestration on abandoned cropland, particularly in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Researchers studied ocean's carbon cycle to improve climate models and predict future changes. They found the ocean absorbs CO2 slower in the 1990s but faster in the 2000s, influencing atmospheric accumulation rates.
A new study found that tropical squid species are unaffected by projected end-of-century CO2 levels, which could lead to an increase in their population. This is surprising given the negative impact of ocean acidification on other marine species.
Researchers at University at Buffalo are developing a new membrane technology to separate carbon dioxide from other gases, which could help reduce emissions in industries such as cement and steel production. The goal is to create a cost-effective solution that captures up to 90% of CO2 from power plant emissions.
A recent study by Technical University of Munich analyzed hardware manufacturers' IPO filings and Bitcoin mining IP addresses to calculate the cryptocurrency's carbon footprint. The research team found that the energy consumption associated with Bitcoin use is real and comparable to cities like Hamburg and Las Vegas.
Researchers created an empirical energy consumption model to estimate Bitcoin's power consumption and associated carbon emissions. The study found that Bitcoin's carbon footprint measures up to that of Kansas City, contributing to global climate change concerns.
A new review finds that agriculture and food systems must undergo significant changes to limit warming to 2 degrees C. Efforts should focus on reducing emissions from agriculture, food loss and waste, and meat and dairy production, while supporting smallholder farmers through climate-smart agriculture and social safety nets.
Scientists have demonstrated that CO2 can outperform water as a fracking fluid, creating complex networks of fractures with significantly higher stimulated volumes. This technology has the potential to make fracking more efficient and reduce its environmental impact.
Researchers Mark Lawrence and Stefan Schäfer of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) warn that the Paris Climate Agreement's centralized approach to addressing global warming has failed. They argue that a more democratic engagement is necessary to reanimate global climate politics.
A study reveals that substituting diesel with liquefied natural gas (LNG) in São Paulo can reduce fuel costs by up to 40% and greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2%. LNG is found to be a more environmentally friendly option, with lower emissions of CO2-eq, CH4, and N2O.
A study examines ocean carbon sinks over two decades, finding they may account for 10-40% of atmospheric CO2 buildup. Current carbon cycle models underestimate sensitivity to climate variability, suggesting inaccurate global carbon budget predictions.
Researchers dismiss green growth policies due to limited emissions reductions under optimistic conditions. Degrowth strategies are necessary to achieve safe thresholds, with global GDP growth slowing to less than 0.5% required for 1.5C targets.
A new Stanford study finds that companies claiming 100% renewable energy don't necessarily reduce carbon emissions by 100%. Hourly accounting methods show wind power produces more emissions reductions than solar power in California. The study highlights the need for hourly data to measure environmental benefits accurately.
Researchers investigated emissions from waterpipes using electrical heating elements (EHEs) and charcoal, finding that EHEs reduced some toxicants but increased others. Emissions of acrolein, a highly reactive irritant, were several orders of magnitude higher with EHE use compared to charcoal.
Research found that photosynthesis has increased nearly in constant proportion to rising atmospheric CO2 since the industrial era. Plants are working hard to mitigate climate change by absorbing CO2.
A new climate policy model debuts in Nature Communications, finding that reducing carbon emissions is economically sound due to immediate human health benefits. The study supports the Paris Climate Agreement targets and suggests a target of 2 degrees Celsius is defensible if health benefits are included.
Scientists at KIT and UoT have proposed a method to produce synthetic fuels from CO2 and water using compact plants in buildings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 'crowd oil' concept could replace significant fossil fuel usage for mobility, with potential CO2 savings of up to 30% of Germany's kerosene demand.
A new analysis suggests that eliminating emissions from dirty household fuels like wood, dung, coal, and kerosene could bring India's outdoor air pollution levels below the country's standard. This could reduce air pollution-related deaths by approximately 13% and save around 270,000 lives annually.
A University of Oklahoma-led study found that explosive volcanic eruptions were more frequent during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age and helped keep large ice sheets stable by blocking sunlight. The research suggests that lessons from this period can inform strategies to mitigate climate change, including stratospheric aerosol geoengineering.
A North Carolina State University study finds that compressed wood pellet-fed stoves reduce air pollution by about 90% for a range of contaminants associated with health problems and climate change. The stoves performed well in real-world conditions, with drastic cuts in pollutant emissions.
Scientists warn of ocean acidification's impact on marine life, habitat degradation and biodiversity loss due to rising CO2 levels, threatening ecosystem services and human livelihoods.
China's regional pollution policies are causing unintended spillover effects, increasing air and water pollution in neighboring provinces. The models project a significant increase in pollutants, carbon dioxide emissions, and water consumption outside the capital cities.
Two new studies warn that countries like the US, China, and EU will struggle to meet their emissions targets without significant reductions. The research suggests that even if these high-emitting countries strengthen their commitments, other nations would need to achieve near-zero emissions by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degree...
Scientists have created amorphous softmagnetic alloys with high magnetic properties, technological plasticity, and ultrahigh strength. The new iron-based alloys surpass common industrial analogues in terms of their properties, offering relatively low cost and simplicity of industrial production.
University of Illinois researchers have developed a new electrolysis technology that uses glycerol to reduce the energy consumption of converting CO2 waste into valuable resources. The process reduces energy requirements by 53% and has potential for carbon neutrality or negativity, depending on grid setup.
Researchers from University of East Anglia discovered a protein called NosL that helps assemble the copper-sulfide cluster active site in nitrogenase reductase, an enzyme that destroys N2O. The team's findings may help pave the way for strategies to mitigate the damaging effects of nitrous oxide on the environment.
Researcher Nadine Mengis investigates climate engineering methods' impact on interconnected variables, including solar radiation management and ocean alkalinity enhancement. Her study highlights the need for a holistic approach to understanding these projects' effects.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have conducted the first global assessment of plastic's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, finding that current strategies are insufficient to curb emissions. Recycling and replacing fossil-based energy with renewable sources offer promising solutions, but significant reductions will require unpreceden...
Researchers found that crop residue ratios over 35% enable CBECCS systems to produce electricity with zero greenhouse gas emissions. This technology helps reduce air pollution and offers a carbon-negative alternative for electricity generation.