Air Pollution and Trade: The Case of China

We estimate the effects of trade on air pollution in China. To address endogeneity concerns, we use an instrumental variable strategy that treats the Great Recession as an exogenous shock that differentially affected China’s coastal provinces, which export a greater volume of manufacturing as they are closer to navigable waters. In our empirical analysis, we employ annual data on emissions of sulfur dioxide as well as smoke and dust at the province level from 2003 to 2015 to measure air pollution intensity (the ratio of air pollution to GDP), and we also use fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations data derived from satellite imagery as a robustness check. We find that a decrease in trade intensity (the ratio of trade to GDP) by 10 percentage points (a negative trade shock similar to what occurred during the Great Recession) increases sulfur dioxide emissions intensity by about 38 percentage points. Emissions of the other two air pollutants grow by similar proportions.

IMPLEMENTATION OF LOW CARBON CITIES PROJECT IN BANDAR BARU BANGI, SELANGOR

During the United Nations Climate Conference (COP15) in 2009, Malaysia pledged to reduce the country's carbon emissions by up to 40% by 2020 compared to 2005. Meanwhile, in the Paris Agreement in 2015, the pledge was renewed to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 45% in 2030. Thus, the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (MEGTW) has launched a low carbon cities framework known as the ‘Low Carbon Cities Framework and Assessment System’ (LCCF) to realize the pledge. Following the launch, the Selangor State Government has determined that the LCCF be adopted in urban planning policies in all Selangor local authorities in order to contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions intensity. Bandar Baru Bangi is a city under the administration of the local authority of Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) which implements the LCCF project to achieve a carbon reduction target of 45%, subsequently emerging as a low carbon city that is sustainable and comfortable to live in by 2035. This article discusses the implementation experience of the LCCF project in the city as well as the achievement of carbon reduction as a result of its implementation.

Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Emissions of the Main Stream Area of the Yellow River Basin in Gansu, China

In 2021, The People’s Republic of China proposed goals for peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060, in the 15 counties (districts) of the Main Stream Area of the Yellow River Basin in Gansu that plays an important role in ecological protection and green development. Next the CO2 equivalents were converted according to the IPCC2 standard, the total agricultural GHG emissions was calculated, the relationship with the agricultural output value was analyzed, and the discretization of the space was analyzed by the coefficient of variation and standard deviation. Firstly, the total agricultural GHG emissions in 15 counties (districts) of the Main Stream Area of the Yellow River Basin increased 55.54% in 2000–2019, and 2.35% annually, roughly divided into three stages: the rapid growth period (2000–2008), the slow decline period (2009–2014) and the rapid decline period (2015–2019). The economic efficiency is significantly improved, with an average annual decline of 6.49%, roughly divided into three stages: the slow-descent stage (2000–2004), the period of slow-growth stage (2005–2008) and the period of fast-decline (2009–2019). Secondly, based on the characteristics of the total GHG emissions, Maqu County has the largest GHG emissions increase, from 26.8842 kt in 2000 to 38.9603 kt, in 2019, an increase of 44.92%, while the smallest GHG emissions, in Anning District, decreased 87.33% from 111 t in 2000 to 14.1 t in 2019; In the rate of increase in the total GHG emissions, Dongxiang County had the largest rate of increase from 2000 to 2019, an increase of 160.28% and an average annual increase of 4.90%. The smallest rate of decrease in GHG emissions was seen in Chengguan District, where they decreased 92.11% from 2000 to 2019, an average annual decrease of 11.93%. The characteristics of agricultural GHG emissions intensity is a significant declining trending and agricultural production efficiency has been significantly improved. Finally, to provide a basis for the formulation of differentiated agricultural energy conservation and emissions reduction policies, reduce agricultural GHG emissions intensity and reduce the use efficiency of resources by formulating differentiated emission targets, tasks and incentive measures.

India will defy external pressure over climate policy

Significance The G7 wants leading emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to achieve net-zero emissions by around mid-century, preferably 2050. India’s targeted Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to action against climate change includes reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35%, relative to 2005 levels, by 2030. Impacts India will steadily reduce its palm oil imports. Coal will continue to dominate India’s energy mix in the medium term. Delhi will try to step up cooperation over clean energy with key partners such as Washington.