Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Liquefied Natural Gas and Diesel Tractor-Trailer in China

Many countries, especially China, have extensively promoted liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace diesel in heavy-duty vehicles for to achieve sustainable transport aims, including carbon peaks and neutrality. We developed a life-cycle calculation model for environmental load differences covering vehicle and fuel cycles to comprehensively compare the LNG tractor-trailer and its diesel counterpart in China on a full suite of environmental impacts. We found that the LNG tractor-trailer consumes less aluminum but more iron and energy; emits less nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, nonmethane volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter but more greenhouse gases (GHG) and carbon monoxide (CO); and causes less abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential, and human toxicity potential impacts but more global warming potential (GWP) and photooxidant creation potential (POCP) impacts. Poor fuel economy was found to largely drive the higher life-cycle GHG and CO emissions and GWP and POCP impacts of the LNG tractor-trailer. Switching to the LNG tractor-trailer could reduce carbon dioxide by 52.73%, GWP impact by 44.60% and POCP impact by 49.23% if it attains parity fuel economy with its diesel counterpart. Policymakers should modify the regulations on fuel tax and vehicle access, which discourage improvement in LNG engine efficiency and adopt incentive polices to develop the technologies.

The International Influence of the Emissions Trading System in Mexico

This article aims to give an overview of the international influence of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) in Mexico. It is divided into three parts. First, it briefly examines both the international Climate Change regime through the description of such instruments as the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the 2015 Paris Agreement, and the national regime by reviewing as the 2012 General Law on Climate Change (LGCC), the National Emissions Registry (RENE) and its Regulations, as well as other instruments regarding mitigation from carbon tax and clean energy. Second, it analyzes the legal framework of the pilot phase of the ETS in Mexico (under the cap and trade principle) which seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) only in the energy and industry sectors whose emissions are greater than 100 thousand direct tonnes of CO2. In doing so, it also explains the relevance of implementing an ETS as a cost-effective mitigation measure to achieve the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in order to reduce 22% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 (increasing to 36% if there is international support and financing) and 50% by 2050 as a developing country. Third, it focuses on the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) experience and shows that all its phases must be done gradually by adopting the learning-by-doing approach.

Upcycling and Recycling Potential of Selected Lignocellulosic Waste Biomass

This research aimed to confirm the ability to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by novel composite production using plantation waste on the example of lignocellulosic particles of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.). Furthermore, to characterize the particles produced by re-milled particleboards made of the above-mentioned alternative raw materials in the light of further recycling. As part of the research, particleboards from wooden black chokeberry and raspberry were produced in laboratory conditions, and select mechanical and physical properties were examined. In addition, the characterization of raw materials (particles) on the different processing stages was determined, and the fraction share and shape of particles after re-milling of the produced panels was provided. The tests confirmed the possibility of producing particleboards from the raw materials used; however, in the case of boards with raspberry lignocellulose particles, their share cannot exceed 50% so as to comply with the European standards regarding bending strength criterion. In addition, the further utilization of chips made of re-milled panels can be limited due to the significantly different shape and fraction share of achieved particles.

Nexus Between Green Finance, Energy Efficiency, and Carbon Emission: Covid-19 Implications From BRICS Countries

The threats of climatic change on life, health, and the environment have been regarded by the joint consensus of scholars in the recent decades. With the advancement of global green development, green finance has paved the way for the government to respond to the challenges of climate change by providing mature financial services, appropriate financing, investment, and project funds related to environmental protection. In this context, green finance was proposed, and the relationship between green finance, renewable energy, and carbon emissions in the BRICS countries from 2000 to 2018 was further studied based on the quantile regression model. The presence of cross-sectional dependence in panel results is tested through CD and LM methods. The findings show the negative effect of green finance and non-fossil energy consumption on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, economic growth, trade openness, energy consumption, and foreign direct investment increase the CO2 emissions. Finally, the research results confirm that green finance is the best financial strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Dilemmas around the Energy Transition in the Perspective of Peter Blau’s Social Exchange Theory

The aim of the article is to present the complexity of social mechanisms related to the systemic energy transformation from the perspective of the classical social exchange theory. Considering the direction of actions taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere as obvious, the author of the article analyses the issue through the prism of social and economic dilemmas of the process, focusing on the mechanisms of energy transition in relation to Peter Blau’s exchange theory. The dilemmas of the systemic energy transition are presented in relation to the diverse games of interest that mark the social playing field around the analysed issue. The article outlines the social playing field of energy transition using the example of an economically strong country seeking to strengthen its position and a developing country interested in gaining energy independence. The analysis of the systemic conditions and the political activities carried out made it possible to define possible strategies of action for both countries with reference to the constitutive conditions of power defined by Peter Blau. Contrary to programme declarations of a “just transition”, the analysis made it possible to define the privileged position of economically powerful players and to point to the mechanisms blocking the implementation of the strategy of a developing country. Reference to the classical exchange theory, on the other hand, made it possible to identify the mechanisms indicating the presence in the energy transformation project of both overt and covert projects related to the pursuit of advantage in influencing the shape of the global energy economy.

WAYS TO REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AT PRODUCTION PROCESSES IN CROP

The article provides an overview of the state of the art related to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere during the operation of mobile machine-tractor units in the agricultural sector of the economy. Sources of greenhouse gas emissions are considered. It was revealed that a huge amount of greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere due to intensive soil cultivation, while the emission of CO2, NOX and CH4 is many times higher than the emission of these gases from fuel combustion in the engines of machine and tractor units. However, taking into account the large areas of arable land in the Russian Federation, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases with exhaust gases (OG) of engines is an urgent task. The article discusses the composition of the exhaust gases of a diesel engine and methods of binding environmentally harmful substances, considers ways to reduce the emission of toxic components of exhaust gas. It was revealed that of the gases contributing to the formation of the greenhouse effect on the ground, up to 10% of exhaust gases contain carbon dioxide. In this regard, the ways of reducing the emission of carbon dioxide from the engines of machine-tractor units are being analyzed, the tasks of research on the binding of CO2 in soil and plants are set, by using some chemical fertilizers as substitutes, for heating the soil at the time of sowing and activating the vital activity of beneficial microorganisms in it. It is stated that one of the ways to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere is to search for ways to reduce direct and indirect energy costs during the operation of machine-tractor units, including by reducing crop losses due to incorrectly selected parameters of tractors and agricultural machines, neg

REDUCING TOTAL ENERGY COSTS FOR TECHNOLOGICAL OPERATIONS IN AGRICULTURE - A WAY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS TO THE ATMOSPHERE

The article is devoted to the search for ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when performing technological operations in agricultural production. It is proposed to calculate the efficiency of using machine and tractor units based on the methods of physical economics, when not a monetary unit is used as an indicator of efficiency, but an energy unit, which is an indirect indicator of saving or increasing emissions of carbon dioxide. It is substantiated that a decrease in total energy costs when performing technological operations for the production of grain and other crops directly leads to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Examples of computational experiments are given to identify the most optimal brand of a tractor and optimize the parameters of the working width and speed of the seeding machine-tractor unit K-5250 + Agromaster, leading to a decrease in total energy costs and, accordingly, to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions and carbon sequestration from the air by reducing losses harvest

Agricultural production trends towards carbon neutrality in response to the EU 2030 Green Deal: Economic and environmental analysis in horticulture

The European Green Deal to tackle climate change sets emission reduction targets for 2050. Particular attention has been paid to the agricultural sector, where there is a strong need to reduce carbon emissions and re-establish the natural carbon cycles. The concept of carbon neutrality is emerging in a scenario where it is necessary to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from cultivation to near zero. The quantification of carbon emissions was carried out by the carbon footprint (CF) of conventional, organic and zero residue potato cultivation in Sicily. In order to provide farmers and consumers with answers regarding the most sustainable cultivation regime, the results showed that the organic and zero residue methods have the best results in terms of emissions; the latter instead revealed the positive results in economic terms. It becomes a new model to follow in the pursuit of sustainability as it is based on the reduction of synthesis inputs and is free from the constraints imposed by organic production standards.

Assessment of the risks of using hydrogen instead of carbon-containing fuels in the ferrous metallurgy

The Paris Agreement, adopted in December of 2015 at the 21st session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties and effected from November of 2016, coordinates the efforts of states to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon dioxide. One of its largest emitters to the atmosphere is the metallurgical industry. Among the proposed ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is the widespread use of hydrogen in the ferrous metallurgy. An overview of the problems that the ferrous metallurgy will face when replacing carbon-containing fuels with hydrogen is presented. It was noted that the use of hydrogen in the ferrous metallurgy contains such technological risks as high cost in comparison with currently used fuels and reducing agents; explosion hazard and corrosion activity, the need for a radical reconstruction of thermal units when using hydrogen instead of traditional for the ferrous metallurgy natural, coke and blast furnace gases, as well as solid fuels. It is shown that minimizing these risks is not always possible or economically feasible, and the result of using hydrogen in the ferrous metallurgy instead of carbon-containing fuel from the point of view of reducing greenhouse gas emissions may be low with a significant increase of economic and social risks.

Peculiarities of growth, development and climate-stabilizing significance of pine plantations of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Peculiarities of growth and development of pine forest plantations in the Ukrainian Carpathians by forestry districts: Precarpathian, Mountain Carpathian and Transcarpathian plains and foothills are determined. Mathematical dependences of pine growth and development on age, height and diameter are offered. According to the obtained mathematical empirical dependences, it was established that Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grows and develops better in the Mountain Carpathian forest district. In the Mountain Carpathian Forestry County, the growth of pine is dominated by 2% for the Precarpathian forest district, and in Transcarpathian plains and foothills by 1%. By completeness in the Gorge of Cocarpathian forestry County, the diameter of the pine is higher than the Carpathian forest county on the 3%, and the Transcarpathian plains and the foothills — 1%. Using the Microsoft Excel data analysis package, correlation matrices were constructed and regression and variance analysis of such indicators as: age, height, diameter, phytomass — wood, bark, and crown was performed. Mathematical equations were obtained, which made it possible to establish the biological productivity of Pinus sylvestris L. Using the obtained empirical equations according to the methods of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panelon Climate Change, 2015), G. Matthews (1993) and I.Ya. Liepa (1980) established the carbon-absorbing and oxygen-forming capacity of pine tree plantations at the age of 70 on an area of 1 ha. It is determined that on the area of 1 ha pine plantations absorb the most carbon — 88.9 tons, and produce oxygen — 262.2 tons in the Mountain Carpathian Forestry District, in the Precarpathian Forestry District 76.0 tons of carbon and 224.1 tons of oxygen, in the Transcarpathian plains and foothills Scots pine absorbs 69.5 tons of carbon and produces 204.9 tons of oxygen. The amount of CO2 emissions into the environment in the conditions of the Ukrainian Carpathians is analyzed, it was established that pine forests reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32%.