Evaluating greenhouse gas emission reductions in a synthetic fibre industrial plant with a PET-recycling processing unit

ABSTRACT

This paper reports a greenhouse gas inventory of a synthetic fibre industrial plant from 2008 to 2014. Using long-term inventory data, a mathematical model was designed to forecast tCO₂e emission on a monthly basis, which is important for the company’s business with others that set emission targets for suppliers. Based on the inventory results, statistical analyses were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of greenhouse gas emission reductions resulting from boiler fuel changes. The inventory methodology follows the Clean Development Mechanism. Indirect emission reductions are calculated. These are not considered in the methodology. The viability of the company’s entering the voluntary carbon credit market is calculated on the basis of successful emission reductions.     

绿色住宅的固碳技术与应用

该文提出了绿色住宅的固碳机制,总结和分析了绿色住宅的实用固碳方法和技术措施,建议优化采用生物固碳、生态建筑材料、废品再造等三个方面的实用技术,逐步拓展绿色住宅固碳技术的应用范围和深度.在此基础上,结合实例进一步提出了绿色住宅在、美学、法规方面的保障措施,以强化绿色住宅的减排效果.     

Carbon sequestration potential of spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora subspecies Variegata) in South East Queensland,Australia

The objectives of this study were to determine the carbon sequestration potential of spotted gum forest plantation in the South East Queensland region and to determine the suitability of the whole area to carbon sequestration endeavour. This information is indispensable to stakeholders when considering land use options particularly carbon sequestration. A process-based model and geographic information system were employed in the process. The site has a potential biomass production of 1422–2329?ton?ha^?1 with the carbon dioxide equivalent range from 2539 to 4157?ton?ha^?1 in 100?year of rotation period. The maximum mean annual growth of 19.98?m³ ha^?1 was estimated in the Great Sandy sub-region while the lowest value of 11.46?m³?ha^?1 was predicted in South Burnett sub-region. The findings indicated that the whole region has a high potential carbon sequestration capability but requires further spatial suitability and economic analysis.     

Financing environmental services: the Costa Rican experience and its implications

Costa Rica’s pioneering environmental services program seeks to maintain socially optimal forest cover by compensating landowners for the external benefits provided by their forests. The National Forestry Fund proposes to sell carbon sequestration services to the world market and hydrological services to the domestic market. Revenues from these sales, together with tax revenue, is used to finance environmental service provision through landholder incentives for forest maintenance. The mechanics of these programs are discussed, along with implications for the design and implementation of similar programs.     

建筑节能CDM项目开发对策研究

建筑节能作为建设领域节能减排的重要手段,在资源能源节约方面起到越来越重要的作用,清洁发展机制(CDM)为形势严峻的建筑节能领域节能减排找出一条可行之路.通过对建筑节能CDM项目现状和关键技术进行了研究,分析出建筑节能CDM项目开发主要制约因素,并提出相应的措施与对策.     

Overcoming barriers to implementation of carbon reduction strategies in large commercial buildings in China

With an economic growth in GDP of around 10% per annum in recent years, energy consumption in the building sector in China now accounts for 25% of the total energy use in the whole nation. In large buildings in Beijing and Shanghai the consumption rate, at approximately 190 kWh/m² per annum, is around five times the energy use in residential buildings in those cities. Addressing this ever increasing energy consumption and the consequential green house gas (GHG) emissions must be a priority to achieve low carbon sustainability in China.     

污水厂污泥处理处置工艺碳排放比较

本文对城镇污水厂污泥现行的主流处理和处置工艺碳排放量进行了比较分析,碳减排是未来污泥处理处置技术发展的重要方向,探讨了参与CDM机制的可行性。     

取消化粪池与温室气体减排

在城镇污水处理厂正在普及的地区,化粪池的继续使用导致了温室气体的大量产生和影响污水处理厂运行等问题,我国已有部分地区在试点取消化粪池的工作。从温室气体减排的环境效益和经济效益角度,强调了污水处理厂服务地区取消化粪池的必要性。     

国际典型的温室气体减排计划对比分析

2018年3月国务院机构改革结束了以CO2为主的温室气体(GHG)与SO2、氮氧化物等大气污染物分开管理的局面,同时,温室气体控排正式以环境保护问题被企业和社会重新认读。温室气体减排机制是高耗能企业实现减排目标的重要手段。清洁发展机制（CDM）和核证碳标准（VCS）是典型的国际温室气体减排计划,本文对比研究其开发标准和流程、注册登记系统、第三方资质认可以及与其他GHG计划的联系等,并探讨全国碳市场下的中国自愿减排机制（CCER）的重启问题。     

低碳建筑新时代的机遇

资源短缺和人们日益关注碳排放的问题将对与建筑环境相关的各行业产生重大影响。为此,世界各地陆续探究以监管手段、经济上的奖惩、碳交易、碳税等措施处理有关问题。碳交易的运作模式源自美国专为处理地区污染问题而设的碳排放权交易。2009年12月在哥本哈根举行的气候峰会说明了,要达成关于减少CO2排放的全球共识是很困难的。然而,由于城市居民已开始感受到气候变化所带来的影响,这次峰会可能会激发地区或城市采取行动。城市的决策过程往往较国家甚或全球政治组织的决策更为迅速有效。城市大可从其建筑环境入手,为应对气候变化出一份力。外界对建造业有所期望,而建造行业在这个低碳建筑新时代充满机遇。本文探讨的问题还包括政策及订价的配合,以及先行者的机遇。     

低碳城市理念视角下的绿地系统优化策略之探讨——以岳阳市为例

在全球变暖,环境危机加剧的今天,低碳城市发展是一种必然趋势,而实现低碳城市发展的途径除了通过技术手段的节能减排外即是增加碳汇,城市绿地系统的规划建设即是实现这一途径的最有效的方法。该文以城市绿地系统为研究对象,从低碳城市理念视角出发,归纳绿地系统之于低碳城市的碳汇与减排效应,总结基于低碳城市理念的绿地系统优化策略,之后以岳阳城市为例,分析其现状绿地系统固碳释氧功能与存在问题,并分别从强化绿道和生态廊道、构建绿色网络布局模式、发展城市立体绿化及采用多元低碳措施等方面探讨低碳城市理念指导下的城市绿地系统优化策略,以期对我国绿地规划建设有所启示与借鉴。     

Formation, transformation and transport of black carbon (charcoal) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Black carbon (BC) is ubiquitous in terrestrial environments and its unique physical and chemical properties suggest that it may play an important role in the global carbon budget (GCB). A critical issue is whether the global production of BC results in significant amounts of carbon (C) being removed from the short-term bio-atmospheric carbon cycle and transferred to the long-term geological carbon cycle. Several dozen field and laboratory based studies of BC formation during the burning of biomass have been documented. Findings are difficult to interpret because they have been expressed in an inconsistent manner, and because different physical and chemical methods have been used to derive them. High error terms documented in many of these studies also highlight the problems associated with the quantification of the amount of biomass C consumed in fire, the amount of residue produced and the constituents of that residue. To be able to estimate the potential for BC as a carbon sink, issues regarding its definition, the methods used in its identification and measurement, and the way it is expressed in relation to other components of the carbon cycle need to be addressed. This paper presents BC data in a standard way; BC production as a percentage of the amount of C consumed by fire (BC/CC), which can be readily integrated into a larger carbon budget. Results from previous studies and new data from Australian ecosystems were recalculated in this way. As part of this process, several BC estimates derived solely from physical methods were discarded, based on their inability to accurately identify and quantify the BC component of the post-fire residue. Instead, more focus was placed on BC estimates obtained by chemical methods. This recalculated data lowered the estimate for BC formation in forest fires from 4% to 5% to <3% BC/CC. For savannah and grassland fires a value of <3% is consistent with reported data, but considerable variation among estimates remains. An updated flow-chart linking the sources, fluxes and pools of BC formed in the terrestrial environment with the aquatic and marine environments, and estimates of mean residence times for BC are also presented.     

The carbon footprint of urban green space—A life cycle approach

Cities play an important role in the global carbon cycle. They produce a large proportion of CO₂ emissions, but they also sequester and store carbon in urban forests and green space. However, sequestration by urban green space is difficult to quantify and also involves emissions. The carbon footprint analysis is an established method for systematically quantifying carbon sinks and sources throughout the lifetime of goods and services. We applied this method to an urban green space project in Leipzig, Germany. To the best of our knowledge it is the first application in this field. We simulated carbon sequestration by growing trees and contrasted it with all related carbon sources, from construction and maintenance over the lifetime of 50 years. In addition, we explored alternative design and maintenance scenarios. Total net sequestration was predicted to be between 137 and 162 MgCO₂ ha⁻¹. Park-like design and maintenance is less effective than forest-like design and maintenance. Much uncertainty is linked to tree growth and tree mortality. Increasing annual tree mortality from 0.5 to 4% reduces sequestration by over 70%. In conclusion, urban green space can act as a carbon sink and the design and maintenance have a strong influence on the carbon footprint. The carbon footprint analysis is a valuable tool for estimating the long-term environmental performance of urban green space projects. Compared to emissions from people, the overall potential for carbon mitigation is limited, even in cities such as Leipzig with widely available space for new urban green space.     

Charcoal addition to soils in NE England: a carbon sink with environmental co-benefits?

Interest in the application of biochar (charcoal produced during the pyrolysis of biomass) to agricultural land is increasing across the world, recognised as a potential way to capture and store atmospheric carbon. Its interest is heightened by its potential co-benefits for soil quality and fertility. The majority of research has however been undertaken in tropical rather than temperate regions. This study assessed the potential for lump-wood charcoal addition (as a substitute for biochar) to soil types which are typically under arable and forest land-use in North East England. The study was undertaken over a 28 week period and found:

i)

No significant difference in net ecosystem respiration (NER) between soils containing charcoal and those without, other than in week 1 of the trial.

ii)

A significantly higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux from soils containing large amounts of charcoal than from those untreated, when planted with ryegrass.

iii)

That when increased respiration or DOC loss did occur, neither was sufficiently large to alter the carbon sink benefits of charcoal application.

iv)

That charcoal incorporation resulted in a significantly lower nitrate flux in soil leachate from mineral soils.

v)

That charcoal incorporation caused significant increases in soil pH, from 6.98 to 7.22 on bare arable soils when 87,500 kg charcoal/ha was applied.

Consideration of both the carbon sink and environmental benefits observed here suggests that charcoal application to temperate soils typical of North East England should be considered as a method of carbon sequestration. Before large scale land application is encouraged, further large scale trials should be undertaken to confirm the positive results of this research.     

Urban form, biodiversity potential and ecosystem services

Using data from selected areas in five UK cities, we studied the relationships between urban form and the following measures of ecosystem performance: availability and patch characteristics of tree cover, gardens and green space; storm-water run-off; maximum temperature; carbon sequestration. Although most measures of ecosystem performance declined with increasing urban density, there was considerable variability in the relationships. This suggests that at any given density, there is substantial scope for maximising ecological performance. The social status of residents was related to measures of tree cover. Housing type was significantly associated with some types of ecosystem service provision, indicating that the type of development may be important independent of its density. These findings have implications for understanding the distribution of ecosystem services and biodiversity across urban landscapes, and the management of development aimed at meeting UK government housing density targets.     

Changes in land cover and vegetation carbon stocks in Andalusia, Southern Spain (1956-2007)

Land use has significantly changed during the recent decades at global and local scale, while the importance of ecosystems as sources/sinks of C has been highlighted, emphasizing the global impact of land use changes. Land use changes can increase C loss rates which are extremely difficult to reverse, in the short term, opposite to organic carbon (OC) which accumulates in soil in the long-term. The aim of this research is to improve and test methodologies to assess land cover change (LCC) dynamics and temporal and spatial variability in C stored in vegetation at a wide scale. LCCs between 1956 and 2007 in Andalusia (Southern Spain) were selected for this pilot study, assessed by comparison of spatial data from 1956 to 2007 and were reclassified following land cover flows (LCFs) reported in major areas in Europe. Carbon vegetation densities were related to land cover, and C vegetation stocks for 1956 and 2007 were calculated by multiplying C density for each land cover class with land cover areas. The study area has supported important changes during the studied period with significant consequences for vegetation C stocks, mainly due to afforestation and intensification of agriculture, resulting in a total vegetation C stock of 156.08 Tg in 2007, with an increase of 17.24 Tg since 1956. This study demonstrates the importance of LCC for C sequestration in vegetation from Mediterranean areas, highlighting possible directions for management policies in order to mitigate climate change as well as promoting land conservation. The methodologies and information generated in this project will be a useful basis for designing land management strategies helpful for decision makers.     

A comparative analysis of global stakeholders’ perceptions of the governance quality of the clean development mechanism (CDM) and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+)

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the nascent solution of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) are two global market-based mechanisms that link developed and developing countries. This paper provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of global-level stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the governance of the CDM focusing on environmental, social, economic, governmental and institutional participants. The research conducted was by means of an anonymous online survey using an analytical approach based on principles, criteria and indicators (PC&I). It compares these findings with the results of a similar survey conducted by the authors on REDD+. Stakeholders from both developed countries and the developing countries were asked to rate the quality of these mechanisms against 11 performance indicators using a Likert scale (1–5). Overall, the results of CDM stakeholders from both developed and developing countries were very similar, indicating a common perception. The highest and lowest total scores were obtained from institutional and social stakeholders, respectively, demonstrating that these two groups have considerable differences in perceptions from other interests. CDM failed two indicators, ‘equality’ and ‘resources’, and passed all other nine indicators only marginally. The performance of REDD+ was much higher than CDM in all aspects of governance surveyed. The major differences were in ‘equality’ and ‘problem solving’, followed by ‘transparency’ and ‘democracy’. If the CDM is to continue in the post-Kyoto period, some major systemic changes in governance are necessary. Here, there are some lessons to be learnt from REDD+.     

Maximizing financial support for biodiversity in the emerging Kyoto protocol markets

The market mechanisms intended to facilitate lower-cost realization of the Kyoto Protocol’s goals of lowering net emission of greenhouse gases can also help advance the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity. By acknowledging the ability of carbon sinks, such as forests and soils, to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, and by including these activities in the international emissions trading system, the Kyoto Protocol provides a new source of financial support for enhancement and protection of biological habitat. The magnitude of the global benefits for biodiversity from this mechanism will be significantly enhanced if the credit trading system includes forest regeneration and protection in developing countries and the carbon benefits of management practices that lead to increased storage of carbon in agricultural soils. While the impediments to including these two groups of activities, such as measurement difficulties, need further work to be resolved, they are not qualitatively different from the challenges present in all aspects of monitoring environmental protection programs.