Provincial cattle carbon emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 110833
Author(s):  
Mphethe I. Tongwane ◽  
Mokhele E. Moeletsi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Manure Management ◽  
Enteric Fermentation

scholarly journals Environmental Impact of Rotationally Grazed Pastures at Different Management Intensities in South Africa

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1214
Author(s):  
Hendrik P. J. Smit ◽  
Thorsten Reinsch ◽  
Pieter A. Swanepoel ◽  
Ralf Loges ◽  
Christof Kluß ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Enteric Fermentation ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Grazed Pastures ◽  
Soil C And N

Nitrogen fertilization, irrigation and concentrate feeding are important factors in rotational pasture management for dairy farms in South Africa. The extent to which these factors affect environmental efficiency is subject to current and intense debate among scientists. A three-year field study was conducted to investigate the yield response of different N-fertilizer treatments (0 (N0), 220 (N20), 440 (N40), 660 (N60) and 880 (N80) kg N ha−1 year−1) on grazed pastures and to calculate the carbon footprint (CF) of milk produced. Excessive N-fertilization (N60 and N80) did not increase herbage dry matter and energy yields from pastures. However, N80 indicated the highest N-yield but at the same time also the highest N surpluses at field level. A maximum fertilizer rate of 220 kg ha−1 year−1 (in addition to excreted N from grazing animals) appears sufficient to ensure adequate herbage yields (~20 t DM ha−1 year−1) with a slightly positive field-N-balance. This amount will prevent the depletion of soil C and N, with low N losses to the environment, where adequate milk yields of ~17 t ECM ha−1 with a low CF (~1.3 kg CO2 kg ECM−1) are reached. Methane from enteric fermentation (~49% ± 3.3) and N2O (~16% ± 3.2) emissions from irrigated pastures were the main contributors to the CF. A further CF reduction can be achieved by improved N-fertilization planning, low emission irrigation techniques and strategies to limit N2O emissions from pasture soils in South Africa.

Carbon Footprint Assessment of a Large-Scale Pig Production System in Northern China: A Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 1121-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanqing Zhou ◽  
Hongmin Dong ◽  
Hongwei Xin ◽  
Zhiping Zhu ◽  
Wenqiang Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Manure Management ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Enteric Fermentation ◽  
Pig Production ◽  
Transport Distance ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Crop Planting

Abstract. China raises 50% of global live pigs. However, few studies on the carbon footprint (CF) of large-scale pig production based on China’s actual production conditions have been carried out. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) and actual production data of a typical large-scale pig farm in northern China were used to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or CF associated with the whole process of pig production, including feed production (crop planting, feed processing, and transportation), enteric fermentation, manure management, and energy consumption. The results showed a CF of 3.39 kg CO2-eq per kg of live market pig and relative contributions of 55%, 28%, 13%, and 4% to the total CF by feed production, manure management, farm energy consumption, and enteric fermentation, respectively. Crop planting accounted for 66% of the feed production CF, while feed processing and transportation accounted for the remaining 34%. Long-distance transport of semi-raw feed materials caused by planting-feeding separation and over-fertilization in feed crop planting were two main reasons for the largest contribution of GHG emissions from feed production to the total CF. The CF from nitrogen fertilizer application accounted for 33% to 44% of crop planting and contributed to 16% of the total CF. The CF from the transport of feed ingredients accounted for 17% of the total CF. If the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used for producing the main feed ingredients is reduced from 209 kg hm-2 (for corn) and 216 kg hm-2 (for wheat) to 140 kg hm-2 (corn) and 180 kg hm-2 (wheat), the total CF would be reduced by 7%. If the transport distance for feed materials decreased from 325 to 493 km to 30 km, along with reducing the number of empty vehicles for transport, the total CF would be reduced by 18%. The combined CF mitigation potential for over-fertilization and transport distance is 26%. In addition, the use of pit storage, anaerobic digestion, and lagoon for manure management can reduce GHG emissions from manure management by 76% as compared to the traditional practice of pit storage and lagoon. This case study reveals the impact of planting-feeding separation and over-fertilization on the CF of the pig supply chain in China. The manure management practice of pit storage, anaerobic digestion, and lagoon is much more conductive to reducing the CF as compared to the traditional practice of pit storage and lagoon. Keywords: Greenhouse gas, Life cycle assessment, Mitigation, Pig.

International evidence of changing assurance practices for carbon emissions disclosures

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rina Datt ◽  
Pranil Prasad ◽  
Connie Vitale ◽  
Krishan Prasad
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
North America ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Evidence ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Intensive Growth ◽  
Do So

Purpose The market for the assurance of carbon emissions disclosures is showing intensive growth. However, due to the largely voluntary nature of carbon reporting and assurance, there are currently no clear standards or guidelines and little is known about it. The purpose of this paper is to examine the reporting and assurance practices for carbon emissions disclosures. Design/methodology/approach This study provides evidence on this market, with a sample that includes 13,419 firm-year observations across 58 countries between 2010 and 2017 from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) database. Findings The results show that the demand for carbon emissions reporting comes mainly from North America, the UK and Japan. Recently, markets such as South Africa have also shown increased demand for carbon reporting. The data also shows that more firms are seeking assurance for their carbon emissions reports. Legitimacy, stakeholder and institutional theories are used to explain the findings of this study. Research limitations/implications The results have important implications for firms that produce carbon emissions disclosures, assurance service providers, legislators, regulators and the users of the reports and there should be more specific disclosure guidelines for level and scope of reporting. Originality/value Amongst the firms that do provide assurance on their carbon emissions reports, a majority do so using specialist assurance providers, with only limited assurance being provided. The results further show that a myriad of assurance frameworks is being used to assure the carbon emissions disclosures.

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of energy intensity and carbon emissions in wastewater treatment in USA, Germany, China and South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 184 ◽  
pp. 873-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongtao Wang ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Arturo A. Keller ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Shijin Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Energy Intensity

scholarly journals Economic Growth And Carbon Emissions In South Africa: An Empirical Investigation

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas M. Odhiambo
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Output Growth ◽  
Bounds Testing ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Long Run

In this paper we examine the causal relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth in South Africa - using the newly developed ARDL-Bounds testing approach. We incorporate energy consumption in a bivariate causality setting between CO2 emissions and economic growth, thereby creating a simple trivariate model. Our empirical results show that there is a distinct unidirectional causal flow from economic growth to carbon emissions in South Africa. We also find that energy consumption Granger-causes both carbon emissions and economic growth. We recommend that energy conservation policies, as well as appropriate forms of renewable energy, should be explored in South Africa in order to enable the country to reduce its carbon emission footprint without necessarily sacrificing its output growth. The results apply irrespective of whether the causality is estimated in the short or in the long run.

scholarly journals Technology Innovation, Economic Growth and Carbon Emissions in the Context of Carbon Neutrality: Evidence from BRICS

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 11138
Author(s):  
Huan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Stirpat Model ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Brics Countries ◽  
The Impact

This study selects the panel data of five BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) from 1990 to 2019 to empirically explore the impact of technological innovation and economic growth on carbon emissions under the context of carbon neutrality. Granger causality test results signify that there exists a one-way causality from technology patent to carbon emission and from economic growth to carbon emission. We also constructed an improved Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model. The regression results manifest that technology patents contribute to the realization of carbon emission reduction and carbon neutralization, while the economic growth of emerging economies represented by BRICS countries significantly improves carbon emissions, but every single BRICS country shows differentiated carbon emissions conditions with their economic development stages. The impact of the interaction term on carbon emissions for the five BRICS countries also presents country-specific heterogeneity. Moreover, the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) test results show that only Russia and South Africa have an inverted U-shaped curve relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions, whereas Brazil, India and China have a U-shaped curve relationship. There exists no EKC relationship when considering BRICS nations as a whole. Further robustness tests also verify that the conclusions obtained in this paper are consistent and stable. Finally, the paper puts forward relevant policy suggestions based on the research findings.

scholarly journals THE LINK BETWEEN CARBON EMISSIONS, AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT AND INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT: EVIDENCE FROM SOUTH AFRICA

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabutho Sibanda ◽  
Hlengiwe Ndlela
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Industrial Output ◽  
Agricultural Output ◽  
Distributed Lag ◽  
Autoregressive Distributed Lag ◽  
Annual Frequency ◽  
The Relationship

This study seeks to establish the relationship between carbon emissions, agricultural output and industrial output in South Africa. It uses data from 1960 to 2017 based on an annual frequency, giving a total of 58 annual observations. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag technique is employed to estimate the model on a bivariate basis. The evidence shows that carbon emissions are not influenced by agricultural and industrial output. Conversely, agricultural output is influenced by carbon emissions and industrial output. The results suggest that climate change resulting from carbon emissions has led to reduced agricultural output, adversely affecting food security. The significant relationship between industrial and agricultural output suggests that a properly functioning industrial sector will cause an increase in the agricultural output. The study’s findings have implications for climate change and manufacturing policies in South Africa.

scholarly journals Carbon Risk Analysis Of The South African Banks’ Lending To The JSE100 CDP Companies

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 123-137
Author(s):  
Alfred Bimha
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Carbon Intensity

There is a pertinent concern over the continued lending to companies that are still pursuing projects that increase the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. South Africa has most of its energy generation being done through coal thermal powered turbines. More so there are a number of new power stations being built in South Africa that are coal powered. Coal on the other hand is deemed as having the highest amount of carbon that contributes to the greenhouse effect which in turn affects the climate leading to climate change consequences. There is also a growing concern on the uptake of renewable energy initiatives by companies that are deemed carbon intensive. Banks are being castigated for not using their economic transformation role to champion the agenda of combating climate change caused by carbon emissions. In this study, the extent of lending in the short and long term to carbon intensive companies by South African banks is examined. Using a sample of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange top 100 companies that participate in Carbon Disclosure Project, an analysis is done through four carbon metrics –carbon intensity, carbon dependency, carbon exposure, carbon risk. The analysis used public information from the banks’ websites, South African Reserve Bank reports and other public databases that contain sustainability information of the JSE100 companies. The analysis was done by comparing the carbon metrics of the recognized seven (7) sectorial industry catergories (SIC) on the JSE, mainly Energy & Materials, Industrials, Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, Financials, IT & Telecoms and Health Care. The major finding of the research is that there is a high carbon risk in short term loans compared to long term loans across the JSE100 companies that are analysed. More so, the Energy & Materials sector seem to have the highest carbon risk compared to the other sectors.

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