Transitional Road of Resources-exhausted Cities to Low-carbon Economy:Tourism Resources Development——A Case Study of Gejiu City

Tourism is of vital practical significance to low-carbon economic transition of resources-exhausted cities.By taking Gejiu City of Yunnan Province for example,the paper discussed that Gejiu City as the resources-exhausted city should positively develop tourism,particularly industrial heritage tourism,treating tourism development as the breakthrough and motive power of low-carbon economic transition of resources-exhausted cities,so as to walk out a unique road of tourism promoting low-carbon economic development.

Megacity pathways in China under the dual carbon goal:The case of Shanghai

The pathways to achieving carbon neutrality at the city level are diverse due to varying energy supply and demand conditions.Shanghai faces obstacles such as limited land resources,high costs of renewable energy technologies,and instability of renewable energy.These challenges hinder the city’s efforts to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality(dual carbon).Therefore,Shanghai must identify and optimize its development path for renewable energy under the dual carbon goal.We employed the Low Emissions Analysis Platform Shanghai(LEAP-SH)model to simulate the impact of policies,such as industrial upgrading,energy efficiency improvement,energy structure optimization,increased technical innovation on energy,and ecological restoration,on the carbon emission pathways from 2022 to 2060 using five different scenarios.Our results indicate that Shanghai has the potential to achieve carbon neutrality in 2059 by promoting carbon reduction,pollution control,and green expansion.Moreover,we determined that the manufacturing industry;power generation industry;and transportation,storage,and mail services are the three major sectors for emission reduction under the dual carbon goal.Furthermore,the capacity and output of coal-fired power plants will be gradually replaced by offshore wind power in the dual carbon pathway.Finally,this study proposes countermeasures and suggestions for Shanghai to attain the dual carbon goal and high-quality development.

Exploring the effect of a low-carbon city pilot policies on carbon dioxide emission intensity:Based on the PSM-DID method

In 2010,the National Development and Reform Commission launched the low-carbon city(LCC)pilot pro‐gram.The scope of the pilot program was then gradually expanded to address the dilemma concerning eco‐nomic development and low-carbon transition.Selecting the second batch of LCCs in China,this study uses a combination of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences models to determine the effect of LCC pilot policies on CO_(2) emission intensity.We also used the mediation effect model to further investigate its in‐ternal mechanism.The findings of the study are as follows.First,the LCC pilot policy plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions.Second,LCC pilots policies reduce CO_(2) emissions through intermediary paths of output adjustment and technological innovation.Third,our heterogeneity analysis reveals that cities with higher levels of economic growth and better levels of human capital have superior carbon emission reduction effects;lastly,non-resource-based cities have better carbon emission reduction effects.

Structural Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Carbon Emission Spatial Association Network:A Case Study of Yangtze River Delta City Cluster,China

City cluster is an effective platform for encouraging regionally coordinated development.Coordinated reduction of carbon emissions within city cluster via the spatial association network between cities can help coordinate the regional carbon emission management,realize sustainable development,and assist China in achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.This paper applies the improved gravity model and social network analysis(SNA)to the study of spatial correlation of carbon emissions in city clusters and analyzes the structural characteristics of the spatial correlation network of carbon emissions in the Yangtze River Delta(YRD)city cluster in China and its influencing factors.The results demonstrate that:1)the spatial association of carbon emissions in the YRD city cluster exhibits a typical and complex multi-threaded network structure.The network association number and density show an upward trend,indicating closer spatial association between cities,but their values remain generally low.Meanwhile,the network hierarchy and network efficiency show a downward trend but remain high.2)The spatial association network of carbon emissions in the YRD city cluster shows an obvious‘core-edge’distribution pattern.The network is centered around Shanghai,Suzhou and Wuxi,all of which play the role of‘bridges’,while cities such as Zhoushan,Ma'anshan,Tongling and other cities characterized by the remote location,single transportation mode or lower economic level are positioned at the edge of the network.3)Geographic proximity,varying levels of economic development,different industrial structures,degrees of urbanization,levels of technological innovation,energy intensities and environmental regulation are important influencing factors on the spatial association of within the YRD city cluster.Finally,policy implications are provided from four aspects:government macro-control and market mechanism guidance,structural characteristics of the‘core-edge’network,reconfiguration and optimization of the spatial layout of the YRD city cluster,and the application of advanced technologies.

Spatiotemporal Differentiation of Urban Spatial Form and Carbon Emissions in Poyang Lake City Group

In response to the inherent requirements of low-carbon land spatial planning in Jiangxi Province and the lack of existing research,this paper explored the mechanism of spatial form elements of Poyang Lake urban agglomeration on urban carbon emissions.Based on generalized linear regression and geographically weighted regression models,this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of carbon emissions,the spatiotemporal relationship between urban form index and carbon emissions,and the spatial differentiation of the intensity of dominant factors from 63 county-level administrative units in the Poyang Lake city group from 2005 to 2020.The results showed that:①The carbon emissions of urban agglomerations around Poyang Lake are generally increasing,and the spatial distribution of carbon emissions is characterized by high-value concentration in the middle and low-value agglomeration in pieces;②The main driving factor for the spatial heterogeneity of carbon emissions was the expansion of built-up area;③Improving urban compactness and optimizing urban form could effectively reduce urban carbon emissions.The results showcased the correlation between urban spatial landscape pattern and the spatiotemporal distribution of carbon emissions,which could make the low-carbon land spatial planning in the Poyang Lake city group more reasonable and practical.

Review of Research on the Evaluation Index System of Low-carbon City in China

In order to promote the research on the evaluation index system of low-carbon city,this paper reviewed and summarized the current evaluation index systems in recent years and the concepts of lowcarbon city in China.The current evaluation index systems of low-carbon city in China could be divided into two types:two class index system and three class index system.The establishment of different index systems basically adheres to the scientific,systematic,operable and dynamic principles,and the target value and weight of evaluation index could be confirmed in multiple ways.This paper analyzed the existing problems in the evaluation index systems of low-carbon city,and came up with some suggestions and advice to promote relevant research.

A review of low-carbon city construction research in China

Based on the analysis on the global warming and environmental deterioration,low-carbon concept has received more and more attention from governments,experts and scholars at home and abroad.The British government first put forward the concept of low-carbon economy,and after that the Japanese government proposed the construction of low-carbon society.In our country,experts and scholars began to research on low-carbon city from 2007.This paper looks through the practical and theoretical studies on low-carbon city construction of the domestic experts and scholars.The current background of lowcarbon city construction is first introduced.To clarify fundamental connotation,characteristics and target of China's low-carbon city is very important.Therefore,this paper summarizes the research progress of the low-carbon city construction from the necessity,the connotation and characteristics of target.Then,we should pay attention to choosing the right index,combining the region characteristics with the current development model and evaluation indexes system,to reflect and improve carbon emissions.Finally,the paper gives an overview of suggestions by experts and scholars on the construction of low carbon city.

Study on Low-carbon City Planning Strategies Based on Urban Greenhouse Gas Inventory

From the perspective of urban greenhouse gas inventory, this paper analyzed the composition and tendency of urban greenhouse gas inventory of Guangzhou, and compared greenhouse gas inventory of representative international cities. Taking Guangzhou Haizhu Eco-city for example, this paper from the perspective of urban-rural planning put forward the low-carbon development paths and strategies such as increasing carbon sink, industrial transformation, spatial restructuring, traffic organization, green civil engineering and resource utilization, and green building for the main carbon-emitting fields such as industry, energy supply, transport, building and waste disposal.

Interpretation of Low-carbon City Planning and Design——A Case Study of Gaochun Zijin Science and Technology Special Community

It is an important and unique approach of achieving sustainable urban development to save and use energy intensively, reduce carbon emission, and take the low-carbon development road. Taking Gaochun Zijin Science and Technology Special Community for example, this paper introduced planning measures for building a low-carbon city, including building a green network, compound utilization of urban spaces, establishing green transportation, using renewable resources, development of green architecture, so as to provide references for the future researches on the low-carbon urban development.

Approach and Strategy of Constructing Low-carbon Communities

The developing focus of low-carbon society is constructing low-carbon cities which are based on the construction of low-carbon communities.The main ways of constructing low-carbon communities conclude low carbonization of planning and designing,low carbonization of construction materials,low carbonization of community environment,low carbonization of energy system,low carbonization of energy use and low carbonization of life style.The basic strategies of constructing low-carbon communities contain enhancing propaganda and education,strengthening technical innovation,cultivating low-carbon culture,advocating public participation and consolidating leadership in organizations.

Research on the Low-carbon-high-value Agriculture Technology in the Comprehensive Improvement of Intra-county Environment Pollution——Taking the Development of Cultivation and Breeding Industry in the Ecological Cyclic Agricultural Garden in Shaoshan Irri

The comprehensive improvement strategy of intra-county environment pollution in the city and countryside was searched.By the research method which combined the microscopic view,the macroscopic view with the dynamic perspective,the seriousness of rural water quality,soil and atmospheric pollution in Xiangxiang,Xiangtan and the surrounding areas in Shaoshan irrigated area was revealed.The control measure which was 'four-dimensional pollution in the city and countryside'—— low-carbon-high-value agriculture and the technology innovation was proposed.The low-carbon-high-value technology innovation industrialization demonstration in three parts which included the pre-production,mid-production and post-production deep-processing of cultivation and breeding industry in the ecological cyclic agricultural garden in Shaoshan irrigated area was the driving force.We tried to propel the low-carbon ecological cultivation and breeding industry which included the paddy rice,grass,tree,medicinal herbs and pig,cow,chick,duck,fish.We wanted to relieve the structural unbalance of previous cultivation and breeding industry,'cheap grain hurting the farmers' and the short-leg problem of social-economic-ecological benefit.The results showed that the low-carbon-high-value agricultural system was a poly-generation technology system which promoted the multi-level and grading utilization,saved the energy,reduced the consumption and cleaned the production based on the ecology.

Storage and Density of Soil Organic Carbon in Urban Topsoil of Hilly Cities:A Case Study of Chongqing Municipality of China

Rapid urbanization results in the conversion of natural soil to urban soil,and consequently,the storage and density of the soil carbon pools change.Taking Chongqing Municipality of China as a study case,this investigation attempts to better understand soil carbon pools in hilly cities.First,the vegetated areas in the study area were derived from QuickBird images.Then,topsoil data from 220 soil samples(0-20 cm) in the vegetated areas were collected and their soil organic carbon(SOC) densities were analyzed.Using the Kriging interpolation method,the spatial pattern of SOC was estimated.The results show that the SOC density exhibited high spatial variability in the urban topsoil of Chongqing.First,the SOC density in topsoil decreased according to slope in the order 2°-6° < 25°-90° < 0°-2° < 6°-15° < 15°-25°.Second,the newly developed areas during 2001-2010 had a lower SOC density than the areas built before 1988.Third,urban parks and gardens had a higher SOC density in topsoil,residential green land followed,and scattered street green land ranked last.For hilly cities,the variability of terrain affects the distribution of SOC.The Kriging results indicate that Kriging method combining slope with SOC density produced a high level of accuracy.The Kriging results show that the SOC density to the north of the Jialing River was higher than the south.The vegetated areas were estimated to amount to 73.5 km2 across the study area with an SOC storage of 0.192 Tg and an average density of 2.61 kg/m2.

Carbon dioxide emissions from cities in China based on high resolution emission gridded data

Based on the China high resolution emission gridded data （I km spatial resolution）, this article is aimed to create a Chinese city carbon dioxide （CO2） emission data set using consolidated data sources as well as normalized and standardized data processing methods. Standard methods were used to calculate city CO2 emissions, including scope I and scope 2. Cities with higher CO2 emissions are mostly in north, northeast, and eastern coastal areas. Cities with lower CO2 emissions are in the western region. Cites with higher CO2 emissions are clustered in the Jing-Jin-Ji Region （such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Tangshan）, and the Yangtze River Delta region （such as Shanghai and Suzhou）. The city per capita CO2 emission is larger in the north than the south. There are obvious aggregations of cities with high per capita CO2 emission in the north. Four cities among the top 10 per capita emissions （Erdos, Wuhai, Shizuishan, and Yinchuan） cluster in the main coal production areas of northern China. This indicates the significant impact of coal resources endowment on city industry and CO2 emissions. The majority （77%） of cities have annual CO2 emissions below 50 million tons. The mean annual emission, among all cities, is 37 million tons. Emissions from service-based cities, which include the smallest number of cities, are the highest. Industrial cities are the largest category and the emission distribution from these cities is close to the normal distribution. Emissions and degree of dispersion, in the other cities （excluding industrial cities and service-based cities）, are in the lowest level. Per capita CO2 emissions in these cities are generally below 20 t/person （89%） with a mean value of 11 t/person. The distribution interval of per capita CO2 emission within industrial cities is the largest among the three city categories. This indicates greater differences among per capita CO2 emissions of industrial cities. The distribution interval of per capita CO2 emission of other cities is the lowest, indicating smaller differences of per capita CO2 emissions among this city category. Three policy suggestions are proposed： first, city CO2 emission inventory data in China should be increased, especially for prefecture level cities. Second, city responsibility for emission reduction, and partition- ing the national goal should be established, using a bottom-up approach based on specific CO2 emission levels and potential for emission reductions in each city. Third, comparative and bench- marking research on city CO2 emissions should be conducted, and a Top Runner system of city CO2 emission reduction should be established.

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF SOIL ORGANIC CARBON IN RESERVED DESERTIFICATION AREA——A Case Study in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) was considered to be a key index in evaluation of soil degradation and soil C sequestration. To discuss the spatial-temporal dynamics of SOC in arable layer in reversed desertification area, a case study was conducted in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, China. Data of SOC were based on general soil survey in 1982 and repeated soil sampling in 2003. Soil organic carbon content (SOCC) was determined by K2Cr3O7-FeSO4 titration method, and soil organic carbon density (SOCD) was calculated by arithmetic average and area weighted average method, respectively. On average, SOCC and SOCD of the arable layer in the study area from 1982 to 2003 had increased 0.51g/kg and 0.16kg/m2, respectively. Considering main soil types, the widest distributed Arid-Sandic Entisols had lowest values and increments of SOCC and SOCD during the study period; while the second widest Los-Orthic Entisols had higher values and increments of SOCC and SOCD, compared to the mean values of the whole region. The results indicated that reversed desertification process was due to the modification of land use and management practices, such as natural vegetation recovery, planting grass, turning arable land to grassland, and soil and water conservation etc., which can improve SOCC and SOCD and thus enhance soil C sequestration.

Development of a Low Carbon Economy in Wuxi City

The development of a Low Carbon Economy is a vital instrument to encounter climate change and take into account the growing challenges of an increasing urbanization in China. Wuxi City in East China’s Jiangsu Province is starting to implement a Low Carbon City Plan for safeguarding a sustainable development of the city until 2020 and beyond. This paper aims at estimating the impact of the Low Carbon City plan for Wuxi’s energy demand and CO2-emissions until 2050. Using an econometric energy supply and demand model to estimate and forecast the Wuxi energy and CO2-balance aggregates until 2050, it compares a scenario without specific Low Carbon City measures to reduce sectoral CO2-intensities to a Low Carbon scenario implementing these measures according to the Low Carbon City Plan until 2020 and beyond. The decomposition of the Kaya-identity reveals that the increase of per capita income has the largest impact on the growth of CO2-emissions and the decrease of energy intensity of Gross Value Added the largest impact on the reduction of CO2-emissions in Wuxi. A decrease of population and CO2-intensity of Primary energy supply only have average contributions. The decrease of energy intensity of Gross Value Added is due to energy efficiency gains in the single economic sectors, but to a large extent due to structural changes of the economy away from energy intensive sectors such as iron and steel, chemical industry or cement industry towards the energy extensive service sectors. A growing residential sector also reduces the industrial share of energy demand. Only following the assumed national trend with a shift from CO2-intensive industries to a CO2-extensive service economy, the Low Carbon goal of a 50% reduction of CO2-intensity of Gross Value Added compared to 2005 cannot be reached in Wuxi. Specific sectoral CO2 -intensity goals have to be successfully observed by the economic sectors in Wuxi, especially by the industry. The promotion of combined heat and power generation also has to contribute to the specific activities in Wuxi.

Toward Carbon-Neutral Water Systems:Insights from Global Cities

Many cities have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality.The urban water industry can also contribute its share to a carbon-neutral future.Using a multi-city time-series analysis approach,this study aims to assess the progress and lessons learned from the greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions management of urban water systems in four global cities:Amsterdam,Melbourne,New York City,and Tokyo.These cities are advanced in setting GHG emissions reduction targets and reporting GHG emissions in their water industries.All four cities have reduced the GHG emissions in their water industries,compared with those from more than a decade ago(i.e.,the latest three-year moving averages are 13%–32%lower),although the emissions have“rebounded”multiple times over the years.The emissions reductions were mainly due to various engineering opportunities such as solar and mini-hydro power generation,biogas valorization,sludge digestion and incineration optimization,and aeration system optimization.These cities have recognized the many challenges in reaching carbon-neutrality goals,which include fluctuating water demand and rainfall,more carbon-intensive flood-prevention and water-supply strategies,meeting new air and water quality standards,and revising GHG emissions accounting methods.This study has also shown that it is difficult for the water industry to achieve carbon neutrality on its own.A collaborative approach with other sectors is needed when aiming toward the city’s carbon-neutrality goal.Such an approach involves expanding the usual system boundary of the water industry to externally tap into both engineering and non-engineering opportunities.

Scenario analysis for the energy demand and carbon emissions in low carbon city

This paper takes the climate change and low carbon economy development as the study background, based on the analysis of energy demand and carbon emissions status, which is aimed to provide the low carbon development path in Chinese cities. The method of scenario analysis can be used to predict long-term strategy for the uncertainty future development, and it was introduced to the field of social forecasting and public policy research, such as the environmental strategic planning, policy analysis, and support of decision in resource management, which can be used to explore the possible development trend and target of the results from the macro perspective. Scenario analysis has been gradually applied to the study area on low carbon economy, energy forecasting and other fields in recent years, and there have been many research results in different aspects. This paper takes the scenario analysis as basic study theory, spreading out the present situation of its application in low carbon city and some issues that need further study. As a tool for predicting the future development in low carbon city, the method of scenario analysis has been providing a powerful reference for policies and their executants.

Carbon Emission of Regional Land Use and Its Decomposition Analysis: Case Study of Nanjing City, China

Through the matching relationship between land use types and carbon emission items, this paper estimated carbon emissions of different land use types in Nanjing City, China and analyzed the influencing factors of carbon emissions by Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index（LMDI） model. The main conclusions are as follows： 1） Total anthropogenic carbon emission of Nanjing increased from 1.22928 ×10^7 t in 2000 to 3.06939 × 10^7 t in 2009, in which the carbon emission of Inhabitation, mining ＆ manufacturing land accounted for 93% of the total. 2） The average land use carbon emission intensity of Nanjing in 2009 was 46.63 t/ha, in which carbon emission intensity of Inhabitation, mining ＆ manufacturing land was the highest（200.52 t/ha）, which was much higher than that of other land use types. 3） The average carbon source intensity in Nanjing was 16 times of the average carbon sink intensity（2.83 t/ha） in 2009, indicating that Nanjing was confronted with serious carbon deficit and huge carbon cycle pressure. 4） Land use area per unit GDP was an inhibitory factor for the increase of carbon emissions, while the other factors were all contributing factors. 5） Carbon emission effect evaluation should be introduced into land use activities to formulate low-carbon land use strategies in regional development.

Evaluation of carbon emissions associated with land use and cover change in Zhengzhou City of China

Studies on carbon emissions associated with land use and cover change(LUCC)are key to understanding the impact of human activities on regional sustainability.In this study,we analyzed the temporal and spatial changes in carbon emissions associated with LUCC for production,living,and ecological spaces in Zhengzhou City of China.Landsat remote sensing images were used to classify the land use and land cover(LULC)types in Zhengzhou City in 1988,2001,2009,and 2015.Carbon emissions associated with LUCC were evaluated using a spatial gradient model and the niche mechanism.It was found that during 1988-2015,carbon emissions associated with LUCC in Zhengzhou City increased by 17.1×10^(6) t,while the carbon sink resulted from cultivated land,forests,water bodies,and unused land decreased significantly.Most of the increase in carbon emissions associated with LUCC occurred in the center of the city.The peak carbon emissions were located in the northeastern,southeastern,northwestern,and southwestern regions of Zhengzhou City,and carbon emissions varied considerably in the different spatial gradient rings over time.Among the three spaces,carbon emissions associated with LUCC were mainly affected by the living space.The population size and population urbanization rate were negatively correlated with the ecological space and positively correlated with the production and living spaces.Our results highlight that Zhengzhou City should take the new urbanization path of urban transformation development and ecological civilization construction to ensure the realization of the promised carbon emission reduction targets.

Occupational Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Associated with Diesel Motor Operation in an Air-raid Shelter in June 2015, Jinan City, China-An Epidemiological Investigation

Carbon monoxide （CO） is an odorless, colorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbonbased compounds. Exposure to CO can cause various adverse health effects ranging from headache and fatigue to coma and death. Thousands of illnesses and deaths have been documented through CO poisoning surveillance systems and accident investigations each year.