Water consumption and biodiversity:Responses to global emergency events

Given that it was a once-in-a-century emergency event,the confinement measures related to the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic caused diverse disruptions and changes in life and work patterns.These changes significantly affected water consumption both during and after the pandemic,with direct and indirect consequences on biodiversity.However,there has been a lack of holistic evaluation of these responses.Here,we propose a novel framework to study the impacts of this unique global emergency event by embedding an environmentally extended supply-constrained global multi-regional input-output model(MRIO)into the drivers-pressure-state-impact-response(DPSIR)framework.This framework allowed us to develop scenarios related to COVID-19 confinement measures to quantify country-sector-specific changes in freshwater consumption and the associated changes in biodiversity for the period of 2020-2025.The results suggest progressively diminishing impacts due to the implementation of COVID-19 vaccines and the socio-economic system’s self-adjustment to the new normal.In 2020,the confinement measures were estimated to decrease global water consumption by about 5.7% on average across all scenarios when compared with the baseline level with no confinement measures.Further,such a decrease is estimated to lead to a reduction of around 5% in the related pressure on biodiversity.Given the interdependencies and interactions across global supply chains,even those countries and sectors that were not directly affected by the COVID-19 shocks experienced significant impacts:Our results indicate that the supply chain propagations contributed to 79% of the total estimated decrease in water consumption and 84%of the reduction in biodiversity loss on average.Our study demonstrates that the MRIO-enhanced DSPIR framework can help quantify resource pressures and the resultant environmental impacts across supply chains when facing a global emergency event.Further,we recommend the development of more locally based water conservation measures—to mitigate the effects of trade disruptions—and the explicit inclusion of water resources in post-pandemic recovery schemes.In addition,innovations that help conserve natural resources are essential for maintaining environmental gains in the post-pandemic world.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of city-level WEEE generation from different sources in China

China stands as one of the leading producers of waste electrical and electronic equipment(WEEE),facing significant challenges in managing the substantial volumes generated.Despite existing regulations,the informal treatment of WEEE persists in some areas due to inadequate recycling networks at the city level.Consequently,there is a critical need for a detailed geographical mapping of WEEE generation to address improper disposal practices effectively.This study introduces the cMAC–EEEs(city Material Cycles and Manufactured Capital–EEEs)database,providing estimates of WEEE generation across approximately 300 prefecture-level cities from 1978 to 2017.It focuses on five commonly used types of electrical and electronic equipment(refrigerators,air conditioners,washing machines,computers,TVs)originating from three key sources(urban residents,rural residents,enterprises).The findings reveal(1)significant spatial variation in WEEE generation within China,with eastern and central city clusters identified as hotspots,particularly for urban residents and enterprises,while the western region exhibits the highest growth rate in WEEE generation,notably among rural residents.(2)The growth in obsolete computers and air conditioners is prominent,especially in rural areas and among enterprises,whereas the generation of obsolete TVs,washing machines,and refrigerators is leveling off and expected to decrease in some urban areas.(3)Enterprises account for a substantial portion of WEEE generation,though uncertainties exist,necessitating further refinement.The study highlights that less developed regions lack adequate recycling facilities,with specific limitations in refrigerators and air conditioners recycling capabilities.To enhance WEEE management,it advocates for increased interregional collaboration and capacity building in less developed areas.Additionally,the regulation of WEEE from private enterprises requires improvement.At the product level,a greater focus on recycling practices for refrigerators and air conditioners is recommended.

国际贸易对环境脆弱性的影响

Owing to the harsh natural environment and unsustainable production system,environmental vulnerability differs substantially among and within regions^([1]).Over the past 20 years,the most environmentally vulnerable countries lost over half of their economic growth potential^([2]).International trade is a double-edged sword for environmental vulnerability.On the one hand,production occurs beyond countries’borders while associated environmental impacts are displaced away from the location of consumption.

Overlooked CO_(2)emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants

China's efforts to mitigate air pollution from its large-scale coal-fired power plants(CFPPs)have involved the widespread use of air pollution control devices(APCDs).However,the operation of these devices relies on substantial electricity generated by CFPPs,resulting in indirect CO_(2) emissions.The extent of CO_(2)emissions caused by APCDs in China remains uncertain.Here,using a plant-level dataset,we quantified the CO_(2)emissions associated with electricity consumption by APCDs in China's CFPPs.Our findings reveal a significant rise in CO_(2)emissions attributed to APCDs,increasing from 1.48 Mt in 2000 to 51.7 Mt in 2020.Moreover,the contribution of APCDs to total CO_(2)emissions from coal-fired power generation escalated from 0.12%to 1.19%.Among the APCDs,desulfurization devices accounted for approximately 80%of the CO_(2)emissions,followed by dust removal and denitration devices.Scenario analysis indicates that the lifespan of CFPPs will profoundly impact future emissions,with Nei Mongol,Shanxi,and Shandong provinces projected to exhibit the highest emissions.Our study emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive assessment of environmental policies and provides valuable insights for the integrated management of air pollutants and carbon emissions in CFPPs.

高排放城市在中国公平低碳转型中的杠杆效应

中国城市在全球碳减排中扮演着核心角色,然而中国城市间巨大的经济发展差异深刻影响了中国城市减排的进程.城际供应链连接了城市的生产和消费,被认为是塑造地区分化和减排疲软的因素之一,但该效应在先前的研究中往往没有得到充分的考虑.本文对2012年中国309个城市的供应链进行建模.利用该模型,我们揭示了城市间存在显著的碳不平等:中国最富裕的10个城市的人均碳足迹相当于美国的水平,而中国一半的城市则低于全球平均水平.然而,这种显著的碳不平等也蕴含着新的减排机遇,即对32个超高排放城市,根据其富裕程度、产业结构和供应链的位置采取不同的减排策略,将可创造高达1.4亿吨的碳配额,距离碳达峰值增加了30%的空间.额外的碳配额足够使经济发展欠发达人口的平均生活水平达到中上收入水平,突出了城市层面的合作机制具有促进公平和减排目标收敛的巨大潜力.

Environmental taxation and regional inequality in China

In order to combat environmental pollution, China enacted the Environmental Protection Tax Law in early 2018. Yet the impacts of the environmental tax on individual regions with different socioeconomic statuses, which are crucial for social justice and public acceptance, remain unclear. Based on a MultiRegional Input-Output(MRIO) table and a nationally regulated tax payment calculation method, this study analyzes the distributional impacts of an environmental tax based upon province’s consumption from both inter-provincial and rural-urban aspects. The national tax revenue based on the current levy mechanism is estimated to be only one seventh of the economic loss from premature mortality caused by ambient particulate matter(PM2.5). The taxation may slightly alleviate urban-rural inequality but may not be helpful with reducing inter-provincial inequality. We further analyze two alternative levy mechanisms. If each province imposes taxes to products it consumes(rather than produces, as in the current mechanism), with the tax rate linearly dependent on its per capita consumption expenditure, this would moderately increase the national tax revenue and significantly reduce inter-provincial inequality.To better compensate for the economic costs of air pollution and reduce regional inequality, it would be beneficial to increase the tax rate nationwide and implement a levy mechanism based on provincially differentiated levels of consumption and economic status.