Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
Scientists have found that microorganisms in the Arctic permafrost can break down polyphenols, previously thought to be untouchable, producing more greenhouse gas emissions. This new discovery has implications for understanding the role of soil microbes in climate change.
Researchers found that extending treatments to every six weeks instead of every three weeks would require 15,000 fewer infusions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 200 tons per year. This change could improve patient quality of life and result in cost savings for the healthcare system.
Researchers developed a novel reactor design that efficiently converts CO2 emissions from small boilers into methane fuel. The design features a distributed feed and optimal gas mixture composition, resulting in improved temperature control and increased methane production.
Researchers at Princeton University have modeled a supply chain for second-generation biofuels, which are derived from agricultural waste or non-food crops and can produce more sustainable substitutes for fossil fuels. The study found that careful management of the supply chain could result in systems with lower costs and emissions imp...
Researchers developed a method to recycle cement using electric arc furnaces, significantly reducing emissions from concrete and steel production. The process can replace up to half of cement in concrete with recycled cement, producing zero-emission cement if powered by renewable energy.
Replacing diesel school buses with electric ones can yield up to $247,600 in climate and health benefits per individual bus, according to a new study. The benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower rates of adult mortality and childhood asthma.
A worldwide analysis of voluntary carbon offset programs identified trends in renewable energy, forestry, and other technologies. Forestry and land management projects initially increased due to REDD+ programs, but shifted towards nature-positive solutions after 2016.
A new study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand found that wind farms can offset their carbon emissions within two years. The research used data from a Harapaki onshore wind farm in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, and found that the turbine can generate all the energy consumed across its life-cycle within six months.
A study evaluates 14 carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures in Germany, finding ecosystem-based methods like reforestation and seagrass restoration to be low-hurdle options. However, measures like bioenergy with carbon capture storage face significant economic and institutional hurdles.
Researchers at Kyushu University analyzed the carbon footprint of building a wooden house in Japan, estimating 38 tons of CO2 emissions. The team identified electric power sector and steel manufacturing process as major contributors to total emissions.
A new multi-tiered framework models CCS liability after nuclear power plant liability, balancing individual developer risk with industry-shared responsibility. This approach encourages knowledge sharing and communitarian self-regulation, reducing the risk of accidents and promoting timely deployment of critical carbon storage technology.
Researchers found that conferences generate significant carbon dioxide emissions, with delegates burning half their annual CO2 budget in a week. Practical solutions like multihubbing and reducing travel distances are proposed to mitigate these emissions.
A team of researchers found that the current rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase is 10 times faster than at any other point in the past 50,000 years. The study provides new insight into abrupt climate change periods and potential impacts of climate change today.
Wildfires in the Amazon's old-growth forests increased by 152% in 2023, primarily caused by drought, with most of them occurring in Roraima state. This surge in forest fires poses significant risks to the environment and public health.
Research by the University of East Anglia reveals that net zero plans show limited ambition in dealing with residual emissions, which are expected to come from hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and agriculture. The study analyzed national climate strategies for 71 countries, finding that only 26 quantify residual emissions, with m...
A new study reveals that current national targets for removing CO2 from the atmosphere will not be enough to achieve the 1.5 ºC warming limit set by the Paris Agreement. The research finds that carbon dioxide removal methods have a small but vital role to play in achieving net zero and limiting climate change impacts.
A massive open dataset, OpenDAC, has been created to accelerate direct air capture technology development while reducing costs. The database enables the training of an AI model that predicts material interactions with high accuracy, significantly faster than traditional chemistry simulations.
The US-based roadmap aims to reduce carbon emissions from transportation and industrial sectors by reusing existing carbon, not just capturing or sequestering it. Researchers from national laboratories are working to accelerate discovery of transformative technologies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
A new roadmap proposes a holistic approach to reducing net-zero carbon emissions by converting various parts of the economy to run on renewable electricity. The approach includes developing non-carbon fuels, finding non-fossil sources of carbon, and keeping carbon in play through circular economies.
A recent study found that air travel to professional conferences contributes substantially to academia's carbon emissions, with an estimated 42,500 tCO2e released in 2019. To mitigate this issue, researchers suggest prioritizing venue locations near most participants and exploring virtual meeting solutions.
Soil carbon dioxide emissions are more sensitive to climate warming in permafrost-collapsed areas, releasing about 5.5 times more CO2 than non-collapsed areas. The study found that thermokarst formation increases the temperature sensitivity of CO2 release.
Researchers estimate CO2-equivalent emissions for astronomy meetings in 2019, suggesting preferential virtual meetings and hybrid formats. This approach can reduce long-haul travel and make astronomy more inclusive for underrepresented groups.
A Princeton-led study suggests that co-producing steel and chemicals could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from these industries. By redirecting steelmaking off-gas to chemical production, China can lower its hard-to-abate emissions and meet climate goals.
Research published in Global Change Biology indicates that a single hurricane can down 4.6–9.4% of New England's aboveground forest carbon. The study also shows that current carbon market policies are insufficiently buffered against the risks posed by hurricanes, which could lead to catastrophic emissions
A new study reveals that a single hurricane can wipe out 5-10% of New England's total aboveground forest carbon through tree damage. The research team analyzed the impact of 10 powerful hurricanes on the region's forests and found that future storms could pose a significant risk to carbon offset programs.
Radiologists are proposing actions to reduce their department's greenhouse gas emissions and become more resilient to the effects of climate change. They suggest implementing a coordinated approach, establishing sustainability teams, and optimizing scanner usage to reduce emissions by up to 33% for MRI and CT scans.
The study projects significant economic losses globally, particularly in the tropics, with countries least responsible for climate change facing 60% greater income loss. A transition to renewable energy is crucial to mitigate catastrophic consequences and stabilize the planet's temperature.
A new study found that 19 out of 34 countries failed to fully meet their 2020 climate commitments set in Copenhagen 15 years ago. The study highlights the challenges countries face in reducing emissions while maintaining economic growth, particularly for those unable to meet their targets.
A recent study by the University of California - Riverside found that carbon dioxide is driving an increase in the severity and frequency of wildfires by fueling the growth of plants that become kindling. This process occurs because plants use the extra CO2 to make carbohydrates, leading to an increase in biomass that burns.
A new study by the Complexity Science Hub demonstrates how climate policies can be implemented with minimal economic damage. The researchers used a data set from Hungary to examine what would happen if certain companies were forced to cease production in various scenarios aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%.
Researchers have discovered a greener way to produce ammonia, essential for fertilizers, by developing a new catalyst that works stably at relatively low temperatures. This breakthrough reduces the amount of energy needed to synthesize ammonia, making it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels.
A new study found that remote work could reduce carbon emissions from car travel by nearly 200 million tons annually, but also lead to a 27% drop in public transit fare revenue. This shift may impact urban mobility and require transit agencies to adapt their services.
Researchers at McGill University have developed a novel approach to improve carbon conversion efficiency using waste material from pulp and paper production. This technique reduces both the energy needed for carbon transformation and overall environmental waste.
A new Illinois study reveals that countries with high production levels emit more air pollutants due to domestic and foreign demand. The researchers found a significant increase in carbon monoxide emissions from China to South Korea, emphasizing the need for global cooperation to address pollution.
A Bay Area monitoring network has recorded a small but steady decrease in CO2 emissions, primarily due to the adoption of electric vehicles, which translates to a yearly drop in vehicle emission rates. However, to meet California's ambitious carbon reduction goals, the yearly decrease needs to be much greater.
Tourism to Yellowstone National Park produces over a billion kilos of CO2 emissions each year, primarily from air travel. The study emphasizes the need for strategies to decrease these emissions and mitigate climate change.
A new study found that AI systems produce much less CO2e per page of text generated compared to human writers and illustrators. DALL-E2 emits approximately 2,500 times less CO2e than a human artist for illustration tasks. The authors suggest collaboration between AI and human efforts for the most beneficial outcome.
University of Illinois Chicago engineers have developed a new ammonia production process that meets several green targets. The process combines nitrogen gas and ethanol with a charged lithium electrode, producing ammonia at low temperatures and regenerating materials with each cycle. If scaled up, the process could produce ammonia at 6...
A new study finds landfill point source emissions have an outsized impact and opportunity to tackle US waste methane. Landfills are responsible for 14.3% of US methane emissions, emitting the equivalent of nearly 23 million gasoline-powered vehicles per year.
The experts recommend setting standards for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM2.5, and ventilation rate to ensure adequate indoor air quality in public spaces. A CO2 concentration level of 800ppm is proposed with a focus on removing and diluting human-emitted pollutants.
A study by Duke University researchers found that manganese stimulates decomposition of soil organic matter and releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
A more sustainable, flexitarian diet can extend the global CO2 budget by 125 gigatons and stay within the 1.5°C limit with a 50 percent chance. Healthy diets also reduce GHG emissions from land use and cut economy-wide prices by 43 percent in 2050.
A new study predicts that Australia's soil will become a net emitter of carbon dioxide, releasing more CO2 into the air than it absorbs. This could account for 8.3% of current emissions and worsen climate change unless farming methods are improved.
A modelling study suggests mass timber can significantly reduce carbon emissions in high-rise US buildings by replacing traditional materials like concrete and steel. The study's findings have significant implications for the construction industry and could pave the way for more sustainable building practices.
Scientists have developed a carbon-negative composite decking material that stores more CO2 than is required to manufacture it. The new material, which is less expensive and meets building codes, could offset up to 250,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually if replaced in the US market.
A groundbreaking scientific drilling project has unearthed the world's longest geological record of the Cretaceous period, spanning over 50 million years. The project, led by Professor Wang Chengshan, has provided crucial insights into paleoclimate research and will continue to aid in predicting future climate trends.
A research team at Lehigh University has received a three-year, $2 million grant from the Department of Energy to develop an alternative concrete binder using low-temperature calcined clays. The goal is to produce a material with properties similar to Ordinary Portland Cement but without greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at SMART and NTU Singapore have developed a method to accurately measure the amount of carbon stored in bogs, which aids peatland restoration efforts. The new method uses satellite data and reduces the need for on-site sampling, making it possible to describe and compare the shape of bogs worldwide.
A new study finds that climate change will further exacerbate projected economic losses from global warming when its impact on global supply chains is factored in. By 2060, total GDP losses could amount to between $3.75 trillion and $24.7 trillion, with supply chain disruptions accounting for a significant proportion of these losses.
A new study predicts that climate change will lead to a significant reduction in natural snow cover days globally, with popular ski hubs moving to remote areas. The European Alps, Australian Alps, and Japanese Alps are expected to experience the most decline, threatening local livelihoods and ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have created a unique way to measure CO2 emissions in streams and rivers, providing valuable information for land use planning and climate action. The adapted sensors can capture frequent measurements, helping understand extreme precipitation events and their impact on water bodies.
Research using historical satellite images shows that methane emissions in Turkmenistan increased following the Soviet Union's collapse, contradicting previous theories. This finding suggests that economic decline led to reduced oversight and more deliberate off-gassing of methane from oil and gas wells.
A new study finds that canals draining Southeast Asia's threatened peatlands release up to 35% of the organic carbon dissolved into these canals as carbon dioxide. This suggests that canal systems are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, potentially surpassing previously estimated amounts from dried-out peat soils.
Scientists develop a new method to calculate the total carbon emissions consistent with the Paris climate targets of 1.5°C and 2°C of global warming. The study estimates emissions budgets that are at least 10% larger than previous models, indicating a need for urgent action to reduce emissions.
A team of researchers at Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Materials Research has made a breakthrough in understanding the relationship between catalyst structures and their reactions. By studying the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) in Tin-Oxide-based catalysts, they uncovered the active surface species responsi...
A new method developed by ETH researchers suggests that the cost of direct air capture (DAC) technologies will not be as cheap as previously anticipated. The estimated costs range from $230 to $540 per tonne, with some technologies expected to cost between $280 and $580 by 2050.
The Zero-Energy Switchable Radiative Cooler (ZESRC) is a temperature-responsive solution that balances building temperatures sustainably. Field experiments demonstrate its effectiveness across seasons, reducing energy consumption by 14.3% compared to other devices.
A new study finds that emergency atmospheric geoengineering would not be able to reverse changes to ocean currents, even with stratospheric aerosol injection. Gradual injections can maintain current temperatures and circulation patterns, but abrupt injections fail to restore critical ocean circulation patterns.
A team of researchers proposes a new method to track the elusive origins of CO2 emissions from streams, accounting for 60% of emissions under alkaline conditions. Using carbonate buffering, scientists can better understand the balance of CO2, water, and carbonate in stream systems.
Mangrove forests in regions like southern India and eastern Australia are affected by human development, leading to a decline in global mangrove carbon stocks. The study predicts an annual rate of carbon emissions from mangrove loss will rise to 3,392 Teragrams by the end of the century.