Does China's digital economy contribute to low-carbon transition?

The digital economy,as a new emerging economic form,has become an important power for realizing Chinese-style modernization and promoting green development in China.This paper measures the digital economy and low-carbon transition index based on the data of 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2020 and analyzes the mechanism and path of the digital economy affecting low-carbon transition using the fixed effect panel data model and the threshold effect model.It is found that,(1)The digital economy and low-carbon transition in China are various in different regions,with characteristics of being unbalanced and insufficient.(2)The digital economy significantly promotes low-carbon transition,with the greatest influence in the Central region,followed by the Eastern region and the Western region.Under different dimensions,the development of informatization and digital transactions promote low-carbon transition,but the development of the internet plays an inhibiting role.(3)The higher the degree of urbanization and environmental regulation,the greater the influence of the digital economy on low-carbon transition.

China's low-carbon transition for addressing climate change

This study discusses high-carbon characteristics, the unsustainability of China's development, and the fact that China needs to transform its development mode. China's low-carbon transition must include industry structure adjustment, energy saving and efficiency increases, energy structure improvement, carbon sink development, adaptation capability, and low-carbon pilot schemes.Low-carbon urbanization is a key measure in China's low-carbon transition. China's urbanization faces high-carbon risks. Thus, this study presents a roadmap for transforming urbanization into a low-carbon one. The transition to low-carbon urbanization is a common trend in the developing world. There is a lot of room for international cooperation.

Mass-Based Environmental Factor and Energy Assessment of Microwave-Assisted Synthesized Transition Metal Nanostructures

This paper describes mass-based energy phase-space projection of microwave-assisted synthesis of transition metals (zinc oxide, palladium, silver, platinum, and gold) nanostructures. The projection uses process energy budget (measured in kJ) on the horizontal axes and process density (measured in kJg−1) on the vertical axes. These two axes allow both mass usage efficiency (Environmental-Factor) and energy efficiency to be evaluated for a range of microwave applicator and metal synthesis. The metrics are allied to the: second, sixth and eleventh principle of the twelve principle of Green Chemistry. This analytical approach to microwave synthesis (widely considered as a useful Green Chemistry energy source) allows a quantified dynamic environmental quotient to be given to renewable plant-based biomass associated with the reduction of the metal precursors. Thus allowing a degree of quantification of claimed “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” synthesis with regard to waste production and energy usage.

Deflagration to detonation transition in weakly confined conditions for a type of potentially novel green primary explosive:Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)/RDX hybrid nanocomposites

The properties of the combustion and deflagration to detonation transition(DDT)of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)/RDX hybrid nanocomposites,a type of potentially novel lead-free primary explosives,were tested in weakly confined conditions,and the interaction of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)nanothermite and RDX in the DDT process was studied in detail.Results show that the amount of the Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)nanothermite has a great effect on the DDT properties of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)/RDX nanocomposites.The addition of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)nanothermite to RDX apparently improves the firing properties of RDX.A small amount of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)nanothermite greatly increases the initial combustion velocity of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)/RDX nanocomposites,accelerating their DDT process.When the contents of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)nanothermite are less than 20 wt%,the DDT mechanisms of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)/RDX nanocomposites follow the distinct abrupt mode,and are consistent with that of RDX,though their DDT processes are different.The RDX added into the Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)nanothermite increases the latter's peak combustion velocity and makes it generate the DDT when the RDX content is at least 10 wt%.RDX plays a key role in the shock compressive combustion,the formation and the properties of the DDT in the flame propagation of nanocomposites.Compared with RDX,the fast DDT of Al/Fe_(2)O_(3)/RDX nanocomposites could be obtained by adjusting the chemical constituents of nanocomposites.

Environmental Technical Standards and the Green Transition of China’s Manufacturing Industry

Distinct from the existing literature conforming to the Porter hypothesis which emphasizes the technological innovation mechanism,this paper examines the mechanism of technological transformation through which environmental technical standards influence the manufacturing industry in reducing emissions and improving efficiency(i.e.green transition).Furthermore,drawing upon enterprise samples from the databases of Chinese Industrial Enterprises and Chinese Industrial Pollution Sources from Major Monitored Enterprises,it empirically validates the results of the theoretical analysis.Overall,our research reveals that environmental technical standards can propel manufacturing enterprises to reduce pollution and increase productivity by following an incremental path of technological transformation,thereby achieving a green transition.Moreover,environmental technical standards indirectly promote green technology innovation in the upstream equipment manufacturing enterprises.Heterogeneity analysis further shows that environmental technical standards have a stronger effect of green transition on those companies with higher pollution emission intensity,lower productivity,slower capital renewal and stronger financing capacity prior to implementing the environmental policies.

A Mechanism for Digital Finance to Drive Green and Low-Carbon Development

Given the global focus on green and low-carbon development and the increasing prominence of digital finance,it is particularly important to explore how to leverage digital finance to achieve these environmental goals.This study,through mechanism analysis,deeply examines how China’s digital finance promotes green and low-carbon development and elucidates the positive interaction between digital finance and the green industry.The study found that digital finance,through more flexible and efficient financial functions,alters the cost structure of carbon emissions,and reduces the risks and costs of green investments,thereby creating a cooperative green mechanism benefiting all parties,and guiding social groups toward a green and low-carbon transformation.Additionally,the rapid development of digital finance has strengthened the implementation of environmental protection policies,effectively promoted the expansion of the environmental protection industry,and established the green ethos as a mainstream concept in financial development.This study aims to provide reference perspectives and suggestions,assist policymakers in promoting the green and lowcarbon development of digital finance,and offer insights into the integrated development of digital finance and the green environmental protection industry.

The Low-Carbon Transition of Energy Systems:A Bibliometric Review from an Engineering Management Perspective

As a major solution to climate change,the low-carbon transition of energy systems has received growing attention in the past decade.This paper presents a bibliometric review of the literature on the low-carbon transition of energy systems from an engineering management perspective.First,the definition and boundaries of the energy system transition are clarified,covering transformation of the energy structure,decarbonization of fossil fuel utilization,and improvement in energy efficiency.Second,a systematic search of the related literature and a bibliometric analysis are conducted to reveal the research trends.It is found that the number of related publications has been growing exponentially during the past decade,with researchers from China,the United Kingdom,the United States,Germany,and the Netherlands comprising the majority of authors.Related studies with interdisciplinary characteristics appear in journals focusing on energy engineering,environmental science,and social science related to energy issues.Four major research themes are identified by clustering the existing literature:(1)low-carbon transition pathways with different spatiotemporal scales and transition constraints;(2)low-carbon technology diffusion with a focus on renewable energy technologies,pollution control technologies,and other technologies facilitating the energy transition;(3)infrastructure network planning for energy systems covering various sectors and regions;and(4)transition-driving mechanisms from the political,economic,social,and natural perspectives.These four topics play distinct but mutually supportive roles in facilitating the low-carbon transition of energy systems,and require more in-depth research on designing resilient low-carbon transition pathways with coordinated goals,promoting low-carbon technologies with cost-effective and reliable infrastructure network deployment,and balancing multi-level risks in various systems.Finally,business models,nongovernment actors,energy justice,deep decarbonization,and zero-energy buildings are recognized as emerging hot topics.

Green Chemistry Allometry Test of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Transition Metal Nanostructures

Microwave irradiation is considered an important approach to Green Chemistry, because of its ability to rapidly increase the internal temperature of polar-organic compounds that lead to synthesis times of minutes rather than hours when compared to conventional thermal heating. This works describes a dual allometry test for the discrimination between the solvents and reagents used in the microwave-assisted synthesis of transition metal (zinc oxide, palladium silver, platinum, and gold) nanostructures. The test is performed in log-log process energy phase-space projection, where the synthesis data (kJ against kJ·mol-1) has a power-law signature. The test is shown to discriminate between recommended Green Chemistry, problematic Green Chemistry, and Green Chemistry hazardous solvents. Typically, recommended Green chemistry exhibits a broad y-axes distribution within an upper exponent = 1 and lower exponent = 0.5. Problematic Green Chemistry exhibits a y-axes narrower distribution with an upper exponent = 0.94 and lower exponent = 0.64. Non-Green Chemistry hazardous data exhibits a further narrowing of the y-axes distribution within upper exponent = 0.87 and lower exponent = 0.66. In all three cases, the y-axes is aligned to original database power-law signature. It is also shown that in the x-axes direction (process energy budget) the grouped order of magnitude decreases from four orders for recommended Green Chemistry solvent and reagent data, through two orders for non-Green Chemistry hazardous material and down to one order for problematic Green Chemistry.

Carbon Neutrality-oriented Approach to Mid-and Long-term Low-Carbon Transition Towards the New Climate Change Goals

Green and low-carbon transition has become an important development direction for future global economy and society.President XI Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to incorporate the goal of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality into the overall plan for economic and social development and ecological civilization construction.This is a major strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee in consideration of both the international and domestic situations,and has been highly praised by the international community.It will contribute to the pursuit of the goals of high-quality development and ecological progress,inject strong impetus into the international response to climate change and the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement,and add new momentum to the post-epidemic global green recovery as well as the building of a community for all life on earth.However,the realization of the dual carbon target is very challenging,facing with multiple constraints such as technology,capital and system.At the same time,it needs to coordinate the relationships between short-term and long-term,development and emission reduction,and international and domestic.This paper organically combines the long-term low-carbon development strategy with the two phased goals of socialist modernization,and puts forward the timetable,roadmap and priorities for China's dual carbon targets.Moreover,it provides countermeasures and suggestions to promote the orderly implementation of the dual carbon strategic goals from six aspects:industrial structure,energy structure,technological innovation,regional coordination,institutional policies and international cooperation.

TRANSITION TOWARDS GREEN FACILITY MANAGEMENT: BRIDGING THE KNOWLEDGE GAPS OF FACILITIES MANAGERS

The building industry has experienced a widespread transition towards green buildings and consequently a growing need for green facilities professionals to maximize green building potential in terms of energy efficiency,water conservation and waste reduc-tion in their operational stage.Green buildings have unique technological systems that require facility managers to have relevant knowledge and skills to conduct proper facilities management and maintenance planning to maximize the potential of green buildings.It is important,then,to investigate whether knowledge gaps for facil-ity managers exist with respect to green buildings,and if so,how these knowledge gaps could be bridged.Though several studies have investigated the operation and maintenance processes of green buildings,few studies considered facility managers’knowledge and skills regarding green facility management(GFM).Set in the context of Singapore,this study aims to holistically investigate the knowledge and skills of managing green buildings in the community of facility managers,including their per-ceived differences between green and conventional buildings,the difficulty of GFM,the knowledge gaps of GFM and the underlying reasons,as well as how the gaps could be bridged.A total of 90 survey responses were collected and eight interviews with key stakeholders were conducted,which indicate facility managers believe green build-ings do have special features that require unique knowledge and skills,and currently knowledge gaps do exist hindering the transition towards GFM.Therefore,this paper derives plausible solutions to bridge the knowledge gaps,such as establishing holistic subsidies for those facility managers participating in training programs of GFM.This study provides references for researchers and relevant governmental departments to better understand industry professionals’knowledge gaps in the transitioning process towards a green built environment,and to make better policy decisions bridging the knowledge gaps and thereby facilitating the green transition process.

Exploration into Technical Manners of Landscape Projects in Beijing "Green" Rail Transit System

Nowadays,Rail Transit System has become one of the most important transportation means for the residents in Beijing.Construction of good urban rail transit landscape has also attracted increasing attentions from designers and residents.The paper tries to explain that by taking sustainable landscape technological means and including plant utilization into all components of Beijing rail transit system the surrounding environment and inner environment of the subways could be expected to be improved.

Establishing a Carbon-Neutrality Oriented Economic System through Green, Low-carbon, and Circular Development

Carbon neutrality requires a profound socio-economic revolution.Since the 21;century,China has been promoting social&economic transformation,and put forward a series of strategic directions for development transformation.As China enters the new era of socialism,building a green,low-carbon and circular economic system has become an important direction for future economic development and transformation.This paper analyzes the relationship between the green,low-carbon and circular economic system and carbon neutrality,and points out that green development,low-carbon development and circular development will greatly reduce carbon emissions of economic development and help realize the carbon goal through co-benefit effect,structural adjustment and resource recycling.Finally,the paper puts forward some suggestions for promoting the transformation of the economic system to green,low-carbon and circular development.

Green and Low-carbon Development Strategy for Large Energy Enterprises

Green and low-carbon development is the critical countermeasure to cope with climate change and to promote energy production and consumption revolution.China National Offshore Oil Corporation(“CNOOC”)has thoroughly implemented the requirements of the country’s ecological civilisation construction,highlighting the mission and responsibility of large central energy enterprises.Combined with the characteristics of its industry,CNOOC put forward a green low-carbon development strategy.CNOOC has put into practice the concept and practice of green and lowcarbon development by optimising the design of management systems,innovating energy conservation and emission reduction management and practice,promoting the construction of a green manufacturing system,and strengthening the supply of low-carbon clean energy.The main path and direction of the follow-up of the sustainable development are clearly defined.These practices provide a useful reference for promoting the transformation of China’s economic development mode to being more green and low-carbon,constructing an ecological civilization and development that is sustainable.

Discussion on Natural Gas＇s Key Role in China＇s Energy-mix Transition

The evolution history of energy utilization around the world shows that a clean and low-carbon utilization of energy is the inevitable approach for dealing with climate change and for constructing a harmonious ecosystem.This paper focuses on the strategy options in China's energy-mix transition period based on an analysis of the global energy development trend.It is proved that using clean energy forms is critical to the realization of an energy transition in the country.As a result,natural gas is a practical choice,and structural reforms may help to bring its potential into full play.

Analysis on Green Accounting Information Disclosure of Chemical Enterprises Under Low-Carbon Economy

In the current era of low-carbon economy,environmental governance and energy conservation have become major issues,in which chemical enterprises with high pollution and consumption have naturally attracted much attention.The disclosure of green accounting information is indispensable to the continuous development of chemical enterprises and even the whole society.Therefore,based on existing research results,this paper analyzes the existing problems and causes of green accounting information disclosure of chemical enterprises in China under low-carbon economy,and puts forward suggestions for solutions.

Progress in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for green energy:Catalyst engineering,mechanisms,and techno-economic feasibility

Ammonia(NH_(3))is an irreplaceable chemical that has been widely demanded to keep the sustainable development of modern society.However,its industrial production consumes a huge amount of energy and releases extraordinary greenhouse gases(GHGs),leading to various environmental issues.Achieving the green production of ammonia is a great challenge,which has been extensively pursued in the last decade.In this review,the most promising strategy,electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction(e-NO_(3)RR),is comprehensively investigated to give a complete understanding of its development and mechanism and provide guidance for future directions.However,owing to the complex reactions and limited selectivity,a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms is crucial to further development and commercialization.Moreover,NO_(3)^(-)RR is a promising strategy for simultaneous water treatment and NH_(3)production.A detailed overview of the recent progress in NO_(3)^(-)RR for NH_(3)production with nontransition and transition metal based electrocatalysts is summarized.In addition,critical advanced techniques,future challenges,and prospects are discussed to guide future research on transition metal-based catalysts for commercial NH_(3)synthesis by NO_(3)^(-)reduction.

Low-carbon Concepts in the Planning of Residential Communities

It has become a common pursuit of designers to construct comfortable,energy-conserving,high-efficiency and natural living environment since the early 21st century.In the coming low-carbon age,the evolution of low-carbon concepts will surely bring positive influence on the present planning concepts of residential community,and meanwhile,propose higher requirements on the natural and ecological properties of residential community,such as its infrastructure construction,traffic organization,environment greening and so on.Through analyzing relevant concepts of low carbon,the authors studied the development of low-carbon concepts in "human-centered" designs,and its applications in architecture,traffic and green spaces.This study proposed that the improvement of low-carbon society could be started from the design of low-carbon residential communities,so as to satisfy the increasing ecological needs of people on living environment,and play a promotional role in facilitating the sustainable development of society.

Analysis on the Development of Low-Carbon Marine Economy

From the perspective of low-carbon economy,the paper analyzes the factors that influencing the development of low carbon economy.It is showed that the damage of marine ecological environment results in the low ability of oceans in absorbing green gas;environmental pollution leads to lowering capacity of ocean to deal with the wastes;development of related marine industries brings deterioration of marine environment;changes of climate threat the healthy development of marine economy.The paper points out the development routines of marine low carbon economy:accelerating the innovation of energy techniques,exploring marine renewable green energies;planning scientifically and strengthening the protection and repairmen of marine environment;developing marine recycle economy,upgrading resources using efficiency;adjusting marine industrial structures and exploring greatly the marine low carbon industries;guiding industries to chase chances and accelerating the development of low-carbon marine economy.

Developmental Status Quo and Trends of Low-carbon Agriculture

In order to reduce carbon emission in agricultural production,this paper has discussed the developmental trends of low-carbon agriculture in terms of developing precision agriculture,improving the efficiency of fertilizer utilization,scientific use of pesticides,water-saving irrigation,ecological control of pests and diseases,as well as energy conservation and emission reduction by agricultural machinery and other agricultural practices.

Global Trend of Low-carbon Economy and China's Responses

Based on the analysis on the global economic crisis,climate change crisis and their mutual underlying reasons,the authors believe that low-carbon economy has become an inevitable choice to break through the dual crises,coordinate the economic development,and protect the global climate.The global trend of low-carbon economy finds expression in Green Recovery currently,while,in a long run,it will give rise to a new pattern of world competition in politics,economy,technology,trade and finance.The impact of the global trend of low-carbon economy on China can not be overlooked,and it is both a challenge and an opportunity for China＇s future development.Based on comparative studies on the low-carbon economy of China,the U.S.,EU and Japan,the authors conclude that China should blaze a new path of lowcarbon economy development with Chinese characteristics,and the authors have put forward relevant countermeasures for China to address the global trend of low-carbon economy from angles of countries,enterprises and the public