Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.8
3.9
Journals
Sustainability
Special Issues
Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water...
sustainability-logo
Submit to Sustainability Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2024) | Viewed by 25233

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Junyuan Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Resources and Environment, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
Interests: ecological restoration; wastewater treatment; soil remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Fei Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Interests: regression simulation of multi-media environmental pollution; intelligent management of regional environmental risks; environmental economic assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As urbanization undergoes economic development, it is inevitable that this economic development is likely to have a negative impact on the future ecological environment. Many powerful green technologies have been developed for effective soil and water pollution remediation and ecological restoration. Furthermore, to achieve the goal of the carbon-peaking and carbon-neutrality strategy, carbon abatement and sequestration technologies have become a research hotspot. There have been advanced approaches to environmental pollution remediation and the potential control processes for CO2 emissions. However, too much attention has been paid to the study of the technologies themselves, and there is limited understanding of the macro-relationships between the application of these powerful technologies and regional economic development, ecological planning and related policies and regulations. The development of regional economy and the restoration of ecological function are fundamental ways to solve the problem of environmental pollution threatening human health.

Based on the current knowledge, it is important to further optimize the existing pollutant removal and CO2 abatement pathways, develop ecological restoration measures, construct methodology frameworks regarding sustainability assessment and life cycle evaluation, and explore macro-policy regulations. The Research Topic aims to report the latest findings on pollutant removal and CO2 abatement in the soil and water spheres, as well as significant measures for regional economy and ecology.

This Research Topic welcomes reviews, perspectives, and research articles discussing various aspects of pollutant removal in the soil and water sphere, and CO2 abatement.

This Research Topic will publish high-quality research papers or reviews that have not been published previously. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

(1) Innovations in soil remediation and water ecological restoration.

(2) The soil’s biogeochemical characteristics and its effects on the soil–plant–microbe interactions.

(3) Risk assessment methods.

(4) Carbon abatement technology and carbon footprint.

(5) Relevant mathematical models of the above topics.

(6) Ecological planning and ecological function restoration measures.

(7) The new sustainable solutions and macro-policy regulations to enhance remediation success and achieve the goal of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategy.

(8)  Regional economy and sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Junyuan Guo
Prof. Dr. Fei Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil remediation
  • water ecological restoration
  • contamination risk assessment
  • carbon abatement and carbon footprint
  • ecological planning and regional economy
  • ecological function restoration
  • macro-policy regulation

Published Papers (20 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 2851 KiB  
Article
Study of the Remediation Effect and Mechanism of Biochar-Loaded nZVI on Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil
by Cuiqing Duan, Jun Ren, Ling Tao, Hanru Ren, Miao Wang and Baoqiang Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16753; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416753 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 700
Abstract
Soil heavy metal pollution has become an important environmental problem in the world. Therefore, it is particularly important to find effective remediation methods for heavy metal contaminated soil. Biochar (BC) is a kind of soil heavy metal passivator with a wide range of [...] Read more.
Soil heavy metal pollution has become an important environmental problem in the world. Therefore, it is particularly important to find effective remediation methods for heavy metal contaminated soil. Biochar (BC) is a kind of soil heavy metal passivator with a wide range of applications. It also has a good effect on the control of soil heavy metal pollution. However, BC does not have sufficient fixation capacity for para-anionic contaminants. Nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) has a strong reducing ability, which can make up for this defect of BC. Therefore, to improve the passivation effect of heavy metals, nanomaterial modification is proposed to optimize biochar performance. Nanoparticles are used as carriers to impregnate biochar (BC). Biochar-supported nano-ferric zero-valent materials are prepared to repair soil contaminated by heavy metals. Results show that the physicochemical properties of modified biochar are significantly optimized. At 5%, the modified biochar (1:3) treatment group had the best remediation effect on Cd-contaminated soil, which significantly promoted soil catalase activity. The modified biochar (3:1) treatment group had the best remediation effect on As-contaminated soil, and significantly increased soil pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), and available Fe content. Modified biochar (1:3) with 3% added content was used to repair actual composite heavy metal contaminated soil, and the relative percentage content of Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb residue state increased by 10.28%, 7.81%, 7.44%, 9.26%, and 12.75%, respectively. The effects of nZVI@BC on the remediation effect and soil enzymes of Cd- and As-contaminated soil under different factors such as mass ratio of carbon and iron and dosage were studied. The remediation mechanism of Cd- and As-contaminated soil was clarified, and a good solidification and stabilization effect was obtained. This provides a theoretical basis for nZVI@BC remediation of soil contaminated by Cd and As. It has good application value in the treatment and remediation of complex heavy metal contaminated soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3009 KiB  
Article
Prediction of CO2 Emissions Related to Energy Consumption for Rural Governance
by Xitao Yu, Jianhong Cheng and Liqiong Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416750 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 675
Abstract
In the context of rural revitalization, many industries have begun to shift towards rural areas. Industrial agglomeration not only brings economic growth to rural areas, but also increases local carbon emissions. This is particularly evident in some industrialized rural areas with high energy [...] Read more.
In the context of rural revitalization, many industries have begun to shift towards rural areas. Industrial agglomeration not only brings economic growth to rural areas, but also increases local carbon emissions. This is particularly evident in some industrialized rural areas with high energy consumption. To accurately implement rural environmental governance, this study selected population, energy consumption, coal proportion, urbanization rate, and other factors as the influencing factors of carbon emissions. The grey correlation analysis method was used to obtain the correlation coefficient of the influencing factors. Then, the relationship between carbon emissions and economic growth, energy consumption, and other influencing factors was analyzed from multiple perspectives. In addition, this study constructed an energy consumption carbon emission prediction model based on deep learning networks, aiming to provide reference data for rural greenhouse gas emission reduction. These results confirmed that the correlation coefficients of the influencing factors of carbon emissions were all higher than 0.6, indicating that their carbon emissions were highly correlated. These test results on the dataset confirm that the RMSE values of the proposed model are all around 0.89, indicating its good prediction accuracy. Therefore, the proposed carbon emission prediction model can provide scientific and reasonable reference data for rural air governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1904 KiB  
Article
Construction and Application of Ecological Remediation Technology for Sandy Soils in Northwest China
by Jing Jiang, Qian Wang, Jinmei Zhao, Jun Zhang, Bo Dong and Xin Huang
Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14730; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014730 - 11 Oct 2023
Viewed by 814
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of three ecological restoration methods: PRS, OLRS, and NRM, on the soil quality and ecological environment of the cold plateau area in northwest Sichuan, China. Over a period of 3 years, these restoration modes were applied, and their [...] Read more.
This study investigated the impact of three ecological restoration methods: PRS, OLRS, and NRM, on the soil quality and ecological environment of the cold plateau area in northwest Sichuan, China. Over a period of 3 years, these restoration modes were applied, and their effects on soil enzyme activity, organic carbon, and nitrogen were critically analyzed. The results demonstrated that PRS was the most effective restoration method, enhancing soil water content, organic activity, and enzyme content the most, followed by OLRS and NRM, respectively. In the 0~60 cm soil layer, each restoration model was able to improve the vegetation characteristics, and the modification effects were PRS > ORRS > NRM > UMD in descending order. After the restoration, the summer surface temperature decreased from 41.3 °C to 23.1 °C. The average moisture content of the soil increased from 3.11% to 5.86%. The average moisture content of the soil increased from 3.11% to 5.86%, and the bulk density decreased from 1.47 g/m3 to 1.40 g/m3, resulting in a more rational soil structure. This research offers invaluable insights into the nutrient restoration mechanism of sandy lands, emphasizing the significant role of appropriate vegetation restoration measures in ecological restoration. The findings further suggest the potential application of the PRS model for optimal soil repair effects in similar ecological settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1708 KiB  
Article
Research on the Factors Influencing CO2 Emission Reduction in High-Energy-Consumption Industries under Carbon Peak
by Hongxing Zhang and Shuanbao Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13437; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813437 - 07 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1101
Abstract
In the context of reaching peak carbon emissions, it is crucial to develop carbon reduction strategies for high-energy-consuming industries as part of a broader societal transition from dependence on high-pollution energy sources to low-pollution alternatives. This study focuses on carbon emission reduction in [...] Read more.
In the context of reaching peak carbon emissions, it is crucial to develop carbon reduction strategies for high-energy-consuming industries as part of a broader societal transition from dependence on high-pollution energy sources to low-pollution alternatives. This study focuses on carbon emission reduction in the non-ferrous metal industry, which is known for its significant energy consumption. It employs the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model to conduct empirical analyses from three perspectives: carbon emission decomposition, regionalization analysis, and carbon emission prediction. The objective is to explore the carbon emission characteristics of high-energy-consuming industries in China and provide theoretical support for future policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions in these industries. The findings reveal that the economic scale of the non-ferrous metal industry has a positive correlation with carbon emissions, while carbon emission coefficients exhibit a negative correlation. Moreover, in the prediction scenarios considered, the increase in carbon emissions resulting from the economic-scale factor accounted for 75.28%, 87.46%, and 65.21% respectively, indicating that it has the most significant influence among all factors analyzed. The study further demonstrates that under stable and active emission reduction scenarios, the future potential for carbon dioxide emission reduction in the non-ferrous metal industry is estimated to reach 858.47 million tons and 1384.65 million tons, respectively. These figures represent twice and three times the emissions recorded in 2021. By analyzing the factors influencing emission reduction, targeted regulations can be implemented to develop practical and effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions in the industry. From the analysis conducted, it can be deduced that high-energy-consuming industries, particularly the non-ferrous metal industry, exhibit relatively high levels of carbon emissions. Consequently, it is imperative to implement proactive measures to reduce these emissions. Additionally, the industry’s carbon emissions are heavily influenced by changes in economic scale due to its high dependence on it. This highlights the importance of considering economic factors when devising strategies to mitigate carbon emissions. Furthermore, the potential for improvement in the non-ferrous metal industry’s energy structure and carbon emission coefficients is limited. Simply relying on technological innovation alone may not suffice to achieve significant emission reduction goals. Therefore, it becomes crucial for the government to develop tailored emission reduction targets and policies based on the industry’s specific circumstances to attain optimal results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 2992 KiB  
Article
Microbial–Plant Collaborative Remediation of Cd-Contaminated Wastewater and Soil in the Surrounding Area of Nuclear Power Plants and Risk Assessment
by Wei Wei and Yan Song
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11757; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511757 - 30 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 943
Abstract
The continuous development of China’s nuclear industry has caused an increasingly serious problem of heavy metal pollution in the ecological environment. A survey of the current situation shows that the quality of China’s groundwater bodies and their surrounding ecological environment has been severely [...] Read more.
The continuous development of China’s nuclear industry has caused an increasingly serious problem of heavy metal pollution in the ecological environment. A survey of the current situation shows that the quality of China’s groundwater bodies and their surrounding ecological environment has been severely affected. China has started to devote more attention to the issue of nuclear emissions and pollution. In view of this, this study takes an area contaminated by nuclear power plant emissions as the object of research and uses plant–microbe synergy to remediate the cadmium-contaminated environment. Cadmium-tolerant strains were isolated from the soil and identified as Serratia marcescens. The morphological characteristics of the cadmium-tolerant strains were observed with electron microscopy in the presence or absence of cadmium ions. The removal of Cd2+ from wastewater was analyzed in four experimental groups: Cd2+ removal from Cd2+-contaminated wastewater by combining a Cd-tolerant strain with Cd-flower, Cd-tolerant strain with Cd-flower, Cd-flower with alkali treatment, and Cd-tolerant strain with alkali treatment. This study innovatively treated Cd ion concentrations of 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 300 mg/L. The results showed that the cadmium-tolerant strains were more densely concentrated in the treated Phyllostachys than in the untreated condition. This indicates that the Cd-tolerant strains were effectively enhanced by the alkali treatment of Phyllostachys spp. and that the adsorption of Cd ions to the Cd-tolerant strains was improved. In the presence of Cd2+ flowers only, the best removal of Cd2+ was achieved at a concentration of 50 mg/L, with a removal rate of 74.10%; the addition of Cd-tolerant strains resulted in a removal rate of 91.21%. When the alkali treatment was applied to the flat bamboo flowers, the removal rate was 84.36% when the concentration of Cd2+ was 100 mg/L. Then, when the cadmium-tolerant strain was added to the treated flat bamboo flower group, the maximum removal rate was 89.74% when the concentration of Cd2+ was 100 mg/L. The cadmium ion content of Cd2+ increased positively with increasing experimental time. In addition, the quasi-secondary correlation coefficients for cadmium ions in Lobelia were all greater than 0.9905, indicating that the adsorption kinetics were significantly correlated with the quasi-secondary kinetics. The analysis of heavy metal enrichment in Lobelia was divided into four groups, with Lobelia showing the best tolerance and cadmium adsorption capacity at a cadmium concentration of 20 mg/L. The results of super-enrichment coefficients showed that the enrichment coefficients of Lobelia ranged from 1.03 to 1.97, with values greater than 1. All these results indicate that the combination of cadmium-tolerant strains and plants can effectively remediate nuclear-contaminated soil and wastewater, thus improving soil availability and water regeneration, and improving the human living environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 747 KiB  
Article
Legal System of Soil Pollution Remediation in China and Its Regulation and Guidance to Soil Pollution Remediation
by Zhuyi Liu, Yuhan Yin, Yun Zhang and Shangeng Shi
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11504; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511504 - 25 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1498
Abstract
Faced with increasingly serious soil pollution problems, China has passed the Chinese Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law (hereinafter referred to as the Law on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution) and established a series of soil pollution remediation systems. However, there [...] Read more.
Faced with increasingly serious soil pollution problems, China has passed the Chinese Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law (hereinafter referred to as the Law on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution) and established a series of soil pollution remediation systems. However, there are still some shortcomings in the current legal system for soil pollution remediation, which cannot fully solve the problems faced in soil remediation activities. The research focuses on the legal system for soil pollution remediation. This study analyzes the development process of relevant systems, focusing on the analysis of the Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law, including the basic content and process of soil pollution prevention and control work. On this basis, this study summarizes the legal structure and practice of soil pollution control in China and analyzes the problems existing in the implementation of China’s soil pollution remediation legal system, such as imperfect remediation standards and insufficient public participation. Then, the relevant policies of EU countries are summarized and analyzed. Combined with the actual situation of China, suggestions are put forward to improve the legal system of soil pollution remediation in China and strengthen soil remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3128 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Ecological Planning and Evaluation of Towns from the Perspective of Sustainable Development
by Yang Li, Jingjing Pei and Fang Zhang
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11153; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411153 - 17 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 962
Abstract
On 22 December 2000, the State Council of China officially released the National Outline for Ecological and Environmental Protection. In order to further implement the concept of the Outline, the State Environmental Protection Administration of China proposed to comprehensively promote the creation of [...] Read more.
On 22 December 2000, the State Council of China officially released the National Outline for Ecological and Environmental Protection. In order to further implement the concept of the Outline, the State Environmental Protection Administration of China proposed to comprehensively promote the creation of ecological demonstration areas. As the most basic independent administrative unit in China, township administrative regions are a key bridge connecting cities and rural areas. The comprehensive ecological planning of townships is an important means to promote rural urbanization and promote rural environmental protection work. It is also a concrete manifestation of the scientific development concept and sustainable development (SD) concept in rural work. The research focused on Yuntai Town, Changshou District, Chongqing as the research object and analyzed the physical geography information and socio-economic situation of Yuntai Town. Then, based on the reference of previous achievements, a comprehensive ecological environment evaluation index system was constructed, and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to evaluate the evaluation indicators. In order to improve the objectivity of AHP, a fuzzy analysis method was used in the experiment to improve the process. On the basis of studying the actual situation of Yuntai Town and based on the established evaluation index system, this study offers targeted suggestions for the deficiencies in the comprehensive ecological planning of Yuntai Town. The establishment of a comprehensive ecological planning and evaluation index system in Yuntai Town has theoretical and practical significance for the SD of the town. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3278 KiB  
Article
Treatment Performance of Municipal Sewage in a Submerged Membrane Bioreactor (SMBR) and Mechanism of Biochar to Reduce Membrane Fouling
by Jianying Jiang and Junyuan Guo
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9239; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129239 - 07 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1220
Abstract
Submerged membrane bioreactors (SMBRs) are a promising technology for municipal sewage treatment, but membrane fouling has limited their development. In this study, biochar (BC), which has a certain adsorption capacity, was added to an SMBR to investigate its potential in treating municipal sewage [...] Read more.
Submerged membrane bioreactors (SMBRs) are a promising technology for municipal sewage treatment, but membrane fouling has limited their development. In this study, biochar (BC), which has a certain adsorption capacity, was added to an SMBR to investigate its potential in treating municipal sewage and alleviating membrane fouling. The results showed that the average removal rates of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 94.38%, 59.01%, 44.15% and 83.70%, respectively. After BC was added and operation was stable, the ratio of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids to mixed liquor suspended solids (MLVSS/MLSS) was maintained between 0.78 and 0.81. The concentrations of soluble microbial products (SMPs) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) were stabilized between 63.05 ± 8.49 mg/L and 67.12 ± 1.54 mg/L. Trans-membrane pressure (TMP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that BC reduced the TMP by reducing the thickness and compactness of the cake layer on the membrane surface. The high-throughput sequencing results showed that the microorganisms associated with biofilm formation (proteobacteria, γ-proteobacteria and α-proteobacteria) were significantly reduced in the BC-enhanced SMBR system. BC promoted the enrichment of functional microorganisms such as Chloroflexi, Acidobacteriota, Anaerolineae and Planctomycetes. Compared with traditional anti-fouling methods, the results of this study may provide a low-cost membrane fouling mitigation method for industrial applications of SMBRs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1126 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Carbon Emission Transfer under Carbon Neutrality and Carbon Peaking Background and the Impact of Environmental Policies and Regulations on It
by Xiaowan Yang, Xiaoyu Guo and Yanan Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7528; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097528 - 04 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1250
Abstract
In recent years, with the increase in global carbon dioxide content, the negative impact of the greenhouse effect has become increasingly significant. Moreover, countries have gradually recognized the importance and urgency of carbon emission (CE) reduction. Under the dual-carbon background, CE transfer has [...] Read more.
In recent years, with the increase in global carbon dioxide content, the negative impact of the greenhouse effect has become increasingly significant. Moreover, countries have gradually recognized the importance and urgency of carbon emission (CE) reduction. Under the dual-carbon background, CE transfer has received increasing attention. The study of its characteristics can help carry out CE reduction. Therefore, the study analyzes the characteristics of CE transfer, hoping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, environmental policies and regulations have a significant impact on CE transfer. CE transfer under different environmental policies and regulations varies greatly. The relationship between environmental policies and regulations and CE transfer needs to be specifically analyzed. Therefore, a theoretical model is built based on environmental policies and regulations and CE transfer. This model is used to analyze the impact of different environmental policies and regulations on CE transfer. The measurement is tested via numerical simulation. The results show that good environmental policies and regulations can effectively reduce global CE. This study also compares and analyzes the relationship between differences in environmental policies and regulations and carbon leakage (CL). The results show that positive environmental policies and regulations can reduce CL, thus achieving the goal of carbon emission reduction. The above results show that in the context of dual carbon, appropriate environmental policies and regulations can reasonably regulate CE transfer and CL level. This can reduce the global emissions of carbon dioxide and the negative impact of the greenhouse effect on the world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2399 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Carbon Emissions and Emission Reduction from Coal-Fired Power Plants Based on Dual Carbon Targets
by Haitao Hou, Bo Xie and Yingying Cheng
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7369; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097369 - 28 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1597
Abstract
The emission of greenhouse gases poses enormous pressure on current carbon emissions and carbon reduction. Accurate quantification of carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants is of great significance for achieving the dual carbon goal. To enable enterprises to better understand their carbon emissions, [...] Read more.
The emission of greenhouse gases poses enormous pressure on current carbon emissions and carbon reduction. Accurate quantification of carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants is of great significance for achieving the dual carbon goal. To enable enterprises to better understand their carbon emissions, this study constructs a carbon emission model and carbon emission data accounting model for coal-fired power plants. Case data calculations and a carbon emission reduction analysis were conducted. The experiment showcases that the carbon sensitivity of the inner side of the boiler under control conditions is higher than that of the operating parameters controlled on the inner side of the steam turbine, with a maximum total value of 16.67 g/MJ; the annual average low calorific value of coal remains between 16,000 kJ/kg; the activity level of coal remains between 30,000 TJ; and the oxidation probability of coal char during combustion fluctuates, with a maximum of 99.8%. In the calculation of coal-fired carbon emissions, the fitting difference between the emissions of generator unit 1 and generator unit 2 is maintained within 2%. Overall, the CO2 emissions of power plants involved in the study are generally high. The model built through this study has well analyzed the carbon emissions of power plants. It is of great significance for the actual carbon emission reduction of coal-fired power plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1665 KiB  
Article
Research on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Methods of SBR and Anoxic Oxic Urban Sewage Treatment System
by Mei Bai, Wen Li and Jin Xu
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7234; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097234 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1169
Abstract
With the rising awareness of environmental protection, more sewage treatment plants have been built. However, this is also one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. This study carried out a series of sewage treatment experiments to analyze the factors affecting the [...] Read more.
With the rising awareness of environmental protection, more sewage treatment plants have been built. However, this is also one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. This study carried out a series of sewage treatment experiments to analyze the factors affecting the greenhouse gas emissions of the two commonly used treatment processes in the current urban sewage treatment: the A/O and SBR methods. The experimental results showed that the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the A/O method was 415.63 gCO2-eq/m3, and the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the SBR method was 879.51 gCO2-eq/m3. The N2O emission factor in the A/O method experimental group was 0.76% of the nitrogen content in the influent. In the aerobic section, when the content of dissolved oxygen was in the range of 1.30~2.10 mg/L, and the content of dissolved oxygen was 1.90 mg/L, the minimum N2O emission factor was reduced to 0.29% of the nitrogen content of the influent. In the SBR experimental group, the ammonia oxidation rate of sewage decreased rapidly as the temperature decreased, thus affecting the discharge rate of N2O. At 25 °C, the biological enzyme activity of nitrifying bacteria was higher, thus promoting denitrification and generating more greenhouse gases. The research results provide reference for strengthening the management of sewage treatment plants and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from sewage treatment plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2459 KiB  
Article
The Spatiotemporal Dynamic Impact Mechanism of Soil Greenhouse Gases under Precipitation Based on Environmental Law
by Wei Zhang and Fang Zhang
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6959; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086959 - 20 Apr 2023
Viewed by 910
Abstract
There is a chain reaction between precipitation patterns and atmospheric greenhouse gases. Understanding the impact mechanism of the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil greenhouse gases under precipitation changes is of great significance, allowing for a more accurate assessment of soil greenhouse gas budgets under [...] Read more.
There is a chain reaction between precipitation patterns and atmospheric greenhouse gases. Understanding the impact mechanism of the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil greenhouse gases under precipitation changes is of great significance, allowing for a more accurate assessment of soil greenhouse gas budgets under future precipitation patterns. In view of this, the research uses sensors to collect environmental sample data and gas concentration data, using Conv-LSTM to achieve data analysis. The research also introduces the kernel DM model to optimize the gas distribution modeling problem. Compared to manual periodic monitoring or gas monitoring using a single mobile robot, the gas distribution model used in this study is innovative. The innovation lies in its ability to capture global gas flow trends in data sampling and predictive analysis. The results show that when soil moisture changes between 5% and 35%, the soil carbon dioxide gas flux after the water addition treatment takes a 20% soil moisture level as the inflection point, showing a trend of first increasing, and then decreasing. This indicates that the mathematical model proposed in this study is effective in collecting and analyzing environmental data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1102 KiB  
Article
Research on the Sustainable Development Path of Regional Economy Based on CO2 Reduction Policy
by Ju Qiu, Shumei Wang and Meihua Lian
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6767; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086767 - 17 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 999
Abstract
With the rapid growth of China’s economic growth, a large number of greenhouse gas emissions have led to a significant increase in environmental pressure. Currently, China has not yet achieved a good balance between greenhouse gas emissions and economic growth. To improve the [...] Read more.
With the rapid growth of China’s economic growth, a large number of greenhouse gas emissions have led to a significant increase in environmental pressure. Currently, China has not yet achieved a good balance between greenhouse gas emissions and economic growth. To improve the sustainable development of China’s regional economy and effectively control domestic CO2 emissions, research is conducted to analyze the trend of regional economic change based on carbon emission policies. This study looks for suitable paths to achieve sustainable development of the regional economy. In this study, CO2 emissions were incorporated into an economic model to calculate the Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) efficiency value and its growth rate in each region of China. This was done to examine the productivity of each region in China. and it also aims to discuss the driving factors behind it, so as to give relevant policy suggestions that can help China’s sustainable economic development. The ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable RE development. The method used to measure the GTFP efficiency was the slacks-based measure (SBM) based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique. The regression analysis of the relevant drivers was based on the regression analysis of the panel data model. The research results show that the level of urbanization and industrial structure were the main influencing factors for the increase of CO2 emissions. Consequently, macro-regulation can appropriately reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, the implementation of carbon emission reduction policies such as industrial structure optimization, education investment, and market-oriented reform also promote the sustainable development of the regional economy. Therefore, appropriate carbon emission reduction policies can improve the level of sustainable development of the regional economy. It also can ensure the stability of the regional environmental level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2737 KiB  
Article
Coupled Urbanisation and Ecological Protection along the Yellow River Basin in the Context of Dual Carbon
by Liping Wang, Zhongyi Qu, Wei Yang, Enliang Ren and Tao Tang
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5728; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075728 - 24 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1069
Abstract
“Peak carbon and neutrality”, also known as dual carbon, is the key to solving the problems of energy and industrial low-carbon transformation, and is also fundamental to promoting the development of new industries that protect the environment and conserve resources. Among the cities [...] Read more.
“Peak carbon and neutrality”, also known as dual carbon, is the key to solving the problems of energy and industrial low-carbon transformation, and is also fundamental to promoting the development of new industries that protect the environment and conserve resources. Among the cities along the Yellow River Basin, the city of Luoyang in Henan province is strategically vital in the coordinated development of the regional economy. Thus, researching the coupling of urbanisation and ecological protection is an important way to realise the dual carbon goal. To explore the coupling and coordination (CC) between urbanisation and the ecological environment, an index system is built for comprehensively assessing urbanisation and ecological environment (UEE) systems in Luoyang, and a coupling model to measure their coordination degree, quantitatively analyzed the CC process and evolution trend of Luoyang’s UEE, and explored the driving factors causing their changes through regression analysis. The results show that the integrated urbanisation development index of Luoyang ranges from 0.7571–0.9497; however, the contribution of the city’s population to urbanisation is the lowest at only 5.231%. Therefore, it is suggested that the government and other institutions should pay more attention to coordinating the human–land relationship when planning for urban development. The integrated ecological environment development index ranges from 0.7512–0.8266. The contribution ratio of the ecological environment state and pressure on the ecological environment is relatively high, at 27.9% and 48.7%, respectively. Therefore, the city of Luoyang city should reduce the emission of industrial pollutants and improve the environmental level. In addition, the CC degree of UEE of Luoyang ranges from 0.8131–0.9296 during 2016–2021, with an overall trend of steady increase, and the coupling correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9335, with a good overall coupling effect. The results show that Luoyang needs to further accelerate its industrial transformation and upgrading and spatial development strategy, and strive to become an environment-optimised city. This study provides scientific and practical suggestions for the CC development of urbanisation and environment in the city of Luoyang, Henan province, and has reference value for accelerating the realisation of the two-carbon strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2347 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Effect of Modified Biochar on Saline–Alkali Soil Remediation and Crop Growth
by Chunyu Li, Zhichao Wang, Yutao Xu, Jingfei Sun, Xinyi Ruan, Xuanwen Mao, Xiangyun Hu and Peng Liu
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5593; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065593 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2095
Abstract
To solve the problem of soil degradation in coastal saline–alkali land, three different types of biochar (rice straw biochar, magnetic biochar, and humic acid–magnetic biochar) were prepared to remedy the saline–alkali soil under different mixing ratios. The effects of biochar on the growth [...] Read more.
To solve the problem of soil degradation in coastal saline–alkali land, three different types of biochar (rice straw biochar, magnetic biochar, and humic acid–magnetic biochar) were prepared to remedy the saline–alkali soil under different mixing ratios. The effects of biochar on the growth of crops in saline–alkali soil were explored through a pot experiment on Chinese cabbage. The experimental results showed that the soil leaching treatment combined with humic acid–magnetic biochar could effectively repair the coastal saline–alkali soil. After adding 5% humic acid–magnetic biochar, the content of soil organic matter was 33.95 g/kg, the water content was 13.85%, and the contents of available phosphorus and available potassium were 9.43 mg/kg and 29.51 mg/kg. After adding 5% humic acid–magnetic biochar, the plant height of Chinese cabbage was 9.16 ± 0.19 cm, and the plant germination rate reached 83.33 ± 5.54%. The incorporation of biochar could effectively increase the chlorophyll content and soluble protein content of pakchoi and reduce the soluble sugar content of pakchoi. The study analyzed the effect of different modified biochar on saline–alkali land restoration and crop growth and explored the action rule of hydrochloric acid magnetic biochar on saline–alkali land restoration, which has important practical value for improving coastal saline–alkali land. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1011 KiB  
Article
Research on Restoration of Heavy Metal Contaminated Farmland Based on Restoration Ecological Compensation Mechanism
by Zheng Cai and Xiuli Yang
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5210; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065210 - 15 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1272
Abstract
In recent years, the development of industrialization has led to heavy metal pollution in many agricultural areas in China. The excessive heavy metals in farmland not only affect the normal growth of crops, but also do great harm to human health, which seriously [...] Read more.
In recent years, the development of industrialization has led to heavy metal pollution in many agricultural areas in China. The excessive heavy metals in farmland not only affect the normal growth of crops, but also do great harm to human health, which seriously restricts the development of ecology and food health in China. In order to improve the problem of heavy metal pollution in rural areas, the current situation of heavy metal pollution in rural areas is analyzed based on the innovative ecological compensation mechanism for remediation, and the external theory, public goods theory and other relevant theories are combined to obtain the ecological compensation strategy for heavy metal farmland soil remediation, and on this basis, the basic framework of ecological compensation for metal farmland remediation is constructed. Finally, effective environmental treatment suggestions are put forward according to the development requirements of ecological compensation in heavy metal farmland areas. The case study shows that different ecological restoration schemes have been adopted for a heavy metal farmland pollution area, and the environment has been improved according to the ecological compensation scheme. The total amount of ecological compensation for heavy metal farmland is CNY 32.35 million, of which the cost of seriously polluted farmland is the highest among the environmental values, with the cost of restoration per acre of CNY 65,000, indicating that the heavy metal areas are more expensive and have more obvious impact on the environment. The research content has important reference significance for the ecological environment treatment of heavy metal farmland pollution areas in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1959 KiB  
Article
Empirical Study on the Impact of Urbanization and Carbon Emissions under the Dual-Carbon Framework Based on Coupling and Coordination
by Chuan Tian, Guohui Feng and Huanyu Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5116; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065116 - 14 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1291
Abstract
At present, there are two modes between urbanization and carbon emissions, namely mechanisms of increasing carbon and mechanisms of decreasing carbon. This paper uses the definition of environmental coupling and coordination to study the effect of the mechanism of reducing carbon emissions in [...] Read more.
At present, there are two modes between urbanization and carbon emissions, namely mechanisms of increasing carbon and mechanisms of decreasing carbon. This paper uses the definition of environmental coupling and coordination to study the effect of the mechanism of reducing carbon emissions in urban construction and empirically analyzes its relationship with carbon emissions under the background of dual-carbon. In addition, through the selection of the relevant index system and the objective design of the parameters in the model of the traditional coupling coordination degree, the temporal and spatial characteristics of the relationship between the two are analyzed. The coupling coordination degree of urbanization construction and the improvement of carbon emission systems in all provinces is generally on the rise. This is specifically reflected in the range of the coupling coordination degree in 2020 (0.1621~0.7334), which is first enhanced and then weakened compared with the previous data (0.1282~0.4868), indicating that the positive promotion effect of regional urban development and cooperation regarding the construction of low-carbon environments is declining. The maximum value of regional spatial autocorrelation reached 0.24, and the regulatory interaction coefficients of carbon reduction technology and regional cooperation were 0.1538 and 0.4807, respectively. This indicated a positive role in promoting the development of regional urbanization, which can accelerate the process of carbon reduction. However, at present, the positive effect of urbanization construction cooperation or carbon emission reduction cooperation is weakening, and the characteristics of spatial imbalance are relatively obvious. Therefore, in the future, administrators should speed up the adjustment of the spatial coordination of urban development and the formulation of relevant carbon emission reduction policies and measures and improve the spatial relevance of the coupling coordination degree so as to achieve the efficient development of a low-carbon economy in the context of dual-carbon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1094 KiB  
Article
Collaborative Governance and Environmental Regulation Measures for Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction in the Yangtze River Basin under the “Double Carbon” Goal
by Yang Li and Lei Zhang
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5094; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065094 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1424
Abstract
The Yangtze River Basin occupies an important position in the overall layout of China’s economic development. However, due to the increasing water pollution, the environment of the Yangtze River Basin continues to deteriorate, which hinders the long-term development and sustainable development goals of [...] Read more.
The Yangtze River Basin occupies an important position in the overall layout of China’s economic development. However, due to the increasing water pollution, the environment of the Yangtze River Basin continues to deteriorate, which hinders the long-term development and sustainable development goals of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Therefore, this study started from the perspective of the reduction of coordinated pollution carbon. Then, through empirical analysis, the impact of environmental regulation measures in the Yangtze River Basin on industrial pollution control was studied. At the same time, the spatial eigenvector mapping (SEVM) method was used to explore the spatial impact of environmental regulation on carbon emissions. The results showed that the increase in the intensity of environmental regulation would lead to the expansion of the hidden economy, which would lead to the effect of environmental regulation weakening. There was an inverted “U” relationship between per capita real gross domestic product (GDP) and environmental pollution indicators. In addition, the expansion of foreign trade in the Yangtze River Economic Belt hada less inhibitory effect on ecological environmental protection than a promotional one. At the same time, command-type environmental regulation had a “green paradox” effect on carbon emissions in the Yangtze River Basin. The carbon emission reduction effect of implicit environmental regulation was different under different levels of incentive-type environmental regulation. The research showed that the multi-agent governance model could be further constructed from the interaction between the environmental regulation system and the administrative management system. It had a good effect on the coordinated treatment of pollution reduction and carbon reduction under the “double carbon” goal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 936 KiB  
Article
Impact of Urbanisation on the Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Carbon Emissions and the Potential for Emission Reduction in a Dual-Carbon Reduction Context
by Pengcheng Xue, Jiaxin Liu, Binbin Liu and Chuang Zhu
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4715; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064715 - 07 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1401
Abstract
Urbanisation is accelerating under the new economic development trend, but the global warming exacerbated by greenhouse gases has caused a certain degree of constraint on the speed and quality of economic development, among which anthropogenic emissions, mainly from transportation, are more obvious. Therefore, [...] Read more.
Urbanisation is accelerating under the new economic development trend, but the global warming exacerbated by greenhouse gases has caused a certain degree of constraint on the speed and quality of economic development, among which anthropogenic emissions, mainly from transportation, are more obvious. Therefore, based on the background of urbanisation and taking urban agglomerations as the research object, this study investigates the spatial and temporal mechanisms and dynamics of carbon emissions through the construction of carbon emission models, the identification of influencing factors, and the processing of spatial data and proposes relevant measures for carbon emission control mechanisms. This study finds that the improvement of the per capita economic level and the urbanisation rate will correspondingly lead to an increase in carbon emissions and that the spatial distribution of carbon emissions under passenger and freight transport modes shows a pattern of “low at the ends and high in the middle”, with the predicted carbon emission levels remaining balanced over a long period of time, with a variation rate of less than 1%. The model idea proposed in this study can effectively provide new perspectives and ideas for the differentiated formulation of emission reduction policies, and the government ought to focus more on the dynamic changes of urbanised carbon emissions in future development so as to realise the potential of urban emission reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1208 KiB  
Article
Study of Energy Transition Paths and the Impact of Carbon Emissions under the Dual Carbon Target
by Kun Wang, Li Ouyang and Yue Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1967; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031967 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1366
Abstract
In recent years, the world’s environmental problems have become increasingly serious, and energy transition and carbon emission issues have gradually gained attention from various countries. China has promulgated several policies and adopted various reform measures to achieve a comprehensive energy transition and carbon [...] Read more.
In recent years, the world’s environmental problems have become increasingly serious, and energy transition and carbon emission issues have gradually gained attention from various countries. China has promulgated several policies and adopted various reform measures to achieve a comprehensive energy transition and carbon neutrality as soon as possible. Therefore, this study makes researches and forecasts the energy transition and carbon emissions in China under the dual carbon target. A LEAP (Long range Energy Alternatives Planning) model is developed to analyze the energy parameters of Beijing under various scenarios and to provide a quantitative analysis basis for the energy transition path. The obtained experimental results indicate that the energy demand under the partial energy transition scenario and full energy transition scenarios are 68.651 million tons of standard coal and 75.759 million tons of standard coal, respectively, forming an effective control, while the carbon emissions both achieve the carbon peak in 2025 at 81.903 million tons and 80.624 million tons respectively, and achieve 46.588 million tons in 2060. The carbon-neutral pathway reaches the carbon peak in 2025, and approaches full energy transition in 2035, and finally reaches the full energy transition control effect in 2060. To date, most of the relevant studies have been conducted in a qualitative way, and the amount of quantitative analysis is insufficient. At the same time, research on the development path specifically at the city level is relatively insufficient as well. Therefore, the present study can provide a theoretical basis for specifying the promotion method of urban energy transformation and the path of carbon emission reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technology and Related Macro-Policy Regulation for Soil Remediation, Water Treatment, and CO2 Abatement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-20
Back to TopTop