Two-Tier Synergic Governance of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollution in China’s Megacity, Shenzhen: Impact Evaluation and Policy Implication

Ren

et al. 2022

Effectively reducing manufacturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is a vital strategy for China to curb its rapidly rising carbon footprint. Features of such a reduction in manufacturing include an increase in the share of high-tech manufacturing and optimization of the energy consumption structure. This study aims to analyze the case of Shenzhen, a unique post-industrial innovative manufacturing megacity, for its leading experience in China’s manufacturing transition. Disaggregated manufacturing emissions data of Shenzhen, including 27 sub-sectors in four categories, were collected, and driving factors were identified by the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method. The results suggest that: (1) CO2 emissions from Shenzhen’s manufacturing show a phased difference between 2008–2012 and 2012–2020. CO2 emissions embodied in electricity consumption have increased by over 30% in the former period and have remained stable at a high level of over 90%. (2) Significant heterogeneity of CO2 emissions in various manufacturing sectors is revealed, with the largest emissions sources being factories that make communication equipment, computers, and other electronic equipment. (3) Lower carbon intensity is the primary factor in reducing CO2 emissions, while the economic activity effect of manufacturing possesses a stimulating impact. (4) The marginal impact of restructuring on CO2 emissions is insignificant since the manufacturing and energy structures of Shenzhen have been upgraded to a low carbon level. Therefore, strengthening the power saving management and improving the energy efficiency of the manufacturing, rather than optimizing the manufacturing and final energy structures, will be a necessary potential solution to the problem of how to reduce CO2 emissions in Shenzhen’s manufacturing.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methods and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneity and Decomposition Analysis of Manufacturing Carbon Dioxide Emissions in China’s Post-Industrial Innovative Megacity Shenzhen

Liao

Ren

et al. 2022

“…Nevertheless, LEAP is seldom applied in the study of air pollutant emission since the accounting system lacks an emission factor. In the present work, the customized LEAP-Tangshan (LEAP-TS) model is developed through the sectoral activity and emission data compilation by taking the Technology and Environmental Database (TED) as an emission factor reference [ 12 , 29 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synergic Benefits of Air Pollutant Reduction, CO2 Emission Abatement, and Water Saving under the Goal of Achieving Carbon Emission Peak: The Case of Tangshan City, China

Yang

Zhao

et al. 2022

The study aims to explore the synergic benefits of reducing air pollutants and CO2 and water consumption under the carbon emission peak (CEP) policies at a city level. Air pollutants and CO2 emissions are predicted by the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) model, and the water consumption is forecast by the quota method. Two scenarios are constructed with the same policies, but to different degrees: the reference scenario achieves CEP in 2030, and the green and low carbon scenario achieves CEP in 2025. The prediction results show that air pollutant emissions, CO2 emissions, and water consumption can be obviously decreased by intensifying the CEP policies. The synergic abatement effect was illustrated by the synergic reduction curve. Accelerating the adjustment of economic structure saves the most water, reduces the greatest amount of CO2 emission, and also obtains the best synergic reduction capability between water consumption and CO2 emission. Transforming the traditionally long process of steelmaking toward a short electric process reduces the majority of PM2.5, SO2, and VOC emissions, while consuming more water. The study provides a new viewpoint to assess and optimize the CEP action plan at city levels.

“…A series of studies have explored future development pathways, as well as estimated future emissions and air quality in China by establishing different development scenarios. The area scope of the studies covers national [ 13 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], provincial [ 9 , 28 , 29 ], and city scales [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wu et al [ 30 ] used Guangzhou city as a case to explore the air quality and public health co-benefit under three scenarios with different carbon reduction strengths, and highlighted the importance of promoting peaking carbon dioxide emissions for the improvement of air quality and public health at the city level. Jiang et al [ 31 ] toke Shenzhen city as an example, and combined the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) model with the WRF-CMAQ model to assess the impact of transdepartment and transregional synergic governance on Shenzhen’s greenhouse gas emission reduction and air quality improvement in 2030.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-Benefits of Energy Structure Transformation and Pollution Control for Air Quality and Public Health until 2050 in Guangdong, China

Jiang

et al. 2022

In order to mitigate global warming and improve air quality, the transformation of regional energy structures is the most important development pathway. China, as a major global consumer of fossil fuels, will face great pressure in this regard. Aiming toward achieving the global 2 °C warming target in China, this study takes one of the most developed regions of China, Guangdong Province, as the research area in order to explore a future development pathway and potential air quality attainment until 2050, by developing two energy structure scenarios (BAU_Energy and 2Deg_Energy) and three end-of-pipe scenarios (NFC, CLE, and MTFR), and simulating future air quality and related health impacts for the different scenarios using the WRF-Chem model. The results show that under the energy transformation scenario, total energy consumption in Guangdong rises from 296 Mtce (million tons of coal equivalent) in 2015 to 329 Mtce in 2050, with electricity and clean energy accounting for 45% and 35%. In 2050, the transformation of the energy structure leads to 64%, 75%, and 46% reductions in the emissions of CO2, NOx, and SO2 compared with those in 2015. Together with the most stringent end-of-pipe control measures, the emissions of VOCs and primary PM2.5 are effectively reduced by 66% and 78%. The annual average PM2.5 and MDA8 (daily maximum 8 h O3) concentrations in Guangdong are 33.8 and 85.9 μg/m3 in 2015, with 63.4 thousand premature deaths (95% CI: 57.1–70.8) due to environmental exposure. Under the baseline scenario, no improvement is gained in air quality or public health by 2050. In contrast, the PM2.5 and MDA8 concentrations decline to 21.7 and 75.5 μg/m3 under the scenario with energy structure transformation, and total premature deaths are reduced to 35.5 thousand (31.9–39.5). When further combined with the most stringent end-of-pipe control measures, the PM2.5 concentrations decrease to 16.5 μg/m3, but there is no significant improvement for ozone, with premature deaths declining to 20.6 thousand (18.5–23.0). This study demonstrates that the transformation of energy structure toward climate goals could be effective in mitigating air pollution in Guangdong and would bring significant health benefits. Compared with the end-of-pipe control policies, transformation of the energy structure is a more effective way to improve regional air quality in the long term, and synergistic promotion of both is crucial for regional development.