基于土地利用变化的四川省碳排放与碳足迹效应及时空格局

土地利用变化的碳排放与碳足迹研究对了解人类活动对生态环境的扰动程度及其机理、制定有效的碳排放政策具有重要意义。采用1990—2010年四川省能源消费数据和土地利用数据,通过构建碳排放模型、碳足迹及其压力指数模型,对研究区20年来土地利用的碳排放及碳足迹进行了定量分析。结果表明:(1)土地利用变化的碳排放和能源消费碳的足迹呈显著增加趋势。碳排放增加5407.839×10~4t,增长率达143%;能源消费的碳足迹增加1566.622×10~4hm~2,四川全省的生态赤字达1563.598×10~4hm~2。(2)建设用地和林地分别为四川省最大的碳源与碳汇。20年间建设用地的碳排放增加5407.072×10~4t,增长率达126.27%,占碳排放总量的88%以上;林地的碳汇减少10.351×10~4t,但仍占四川省碳汇的96%以上。(3)土地利用碳排放、碳足迹和生态赤字存在明显区域差异。成都平原区碳排放、碳足迹压力最大,生态赤字严重,西部高山高原区和盆周山区碳排放、碳足迹最小,未出现生态赤字;成都、德阳、资阳和内江等地的碳排放、碳足迹压力最大,生态赤字最严重,甘孜、阿坝等地的碳排放、碳足迹最小,未出现生态赤字。(4)土地利用结构与碳排放、碳足迹存在一定的相互关系,趋高的碳源、碳汇比导致土地利用的碳源效应远大于碳汇效应。因此,四川省减排的重点应该在保持或增加现有的林地的同时,主要以降低建设用地的碳排放、碳足迹为主。     

北京市居民食物消费碳足迹

碳足迹作为一种评价碳排放影响的全新测度方法,已被用来衡量人类活动对大气环境和气候变化的影响。食物是人类的首要消费品,其消费的碳足迹反应维持一个区域人口的基本食物需求的碳排放以及对气候变化的影响。在碳足迹理论和模型的基础上,根据北京市食物的供应和消费现状情况,利用生命周期法(Life cycle analysis LCA),计算和分析了北京市居民食物消费的碳足迹。得到北京市居民食消费碳足迹为476.8×104t,约占北京市总碳足迹的6%,人均碳足迹为310.0kgCO2/人,占北京市家庭消费碳排放的23.3%,只占北京市能源消费人均碳排放量的5.96%,反映了居民食物消费对全球气候变化造成的影响有限。食物消费碳足迹最大的为粮食,其次为瓜果蔬菜豆类,总共占到65%以上,而在食物生命周期过程中,食物的再加工炊事过程碳排放最大,超过50%,合理减少食物加工炊事过程中碳排放将是减少食物消费碳排放的重要途径之一。其次为化肥农药施用,占到23.23%,减少食物生产过程中化肥农药使用,提高化肥农药的使用效率,或者进行生态农业尽量不使用化肥农药,北京市每年可减少135.1×104t CO2排放,人均87.84kgCO2/人,是有效的减排途径之一。     

基于碳足迹研究的中国地区工业低碳转型——以山东省为例

行业的低碳发展是工业低碳转型的目标,以工业部门为对象,应用脱钩效应和面板模型分析行业能源消费的碳足迹,对深入研究地区工业低碳转型具有重要现实意义。以山东省为例,分析工业能源消费碳足迹的1997年至2012年样本数据,将工业部门分为高耗能行业、其他行业、战略性新兴行业,展开研究,结果表明:(1)自20世纪90年末代开始节能降耗,山东省工业呈现强负"脱钩"、强"脱钩"、扩张负"脱钩"和弱"脱钩"交替发生,表明对工业节能降耗调控波动大,不利于工业部门均衡有序发展;(2)高耗能行业是能耗大户,高耗能行业与工业在绝大部分年份的脱钩状态相同,表明高耗能行业主导工业总体脱钩状态,是节能减排的主要对象;随着节能降耗的深入,相关政策趋紧,碳足迹边际成本不断升高,应关注锁定效应大的火电行业和碳足迹边际成本高的化学工业;(3)其他行业包含行业多,但总体能耗水平不高,随着节能减排的开展和行业持续发展,能耗将增加,必将承担更多的节能减排,需要关注锁定效应强的金属制品业发展,推动碳生产力系数高的食品饮料业发展;(4)战略性新兴行业碳锁定效应最弱、碳足迹边际成本最低和碳生产力系数最高,是国家大力倡导发展的行业;由于基数低,对工业碳排放态势影响极其有限,应大力推动碳锁定效应弱的新一代信息技术产业、碳足迹边际成本低的新材料行业、碳生产力系数高的节能环保业和新材料行业。     

基于碳足迹的江西生态补偿标准时空格局

碳足迹是一种测度碳排放影响的新方法,可利用区域碳足迹和碳承载力的差值来确定区域生态补偿标准.通过构建碳足迹、碳承载力与生态补偿标准模型,研究江西省及11地市生态补偿标准的时空变化.结果表明: 2000—2013年,江西省碳足迹呈现快速增长趋势,年均增长率为8.7%,碳承载力呈波动变化趋势,各年份均有碳盈余,但净碳盈余呈波动下降趋势.南昌和九江对江西省总碳排放贡献率较大,赣州、吉安和上饶对碳吸收贡献较大.2013年,江西碳盈余生态补偿额为22.73亿元,赣州、吉安、抚州和上饶可优先获得较高的生态补偿额度.研究结果可为江西省生态补偿机制建立以及CO₂排放权的有偿转让等提供一定的科学依据.     

春玉米-晚稻与早稻-晚稻种植模式碳足迹比较

量化作物生产的碳足迹有助于为农业生态系统温室气体减排提供理论依据。利用生命周期法研究了我国南方地区稻田春玉米-晚稻水旱轮作种植模式和早稻-晚稻连作种植模式下粮食生产的碳足迹,并定量分析粮食生产过程中各种碳排放源的相对贡献。结果表明,与早稻-晚稻的连作模式相比,春玉米-晚稻轮作模式的单位面积碳排放降低了6724 kg CO₂-eq/hm²,单位产量的碳足迹降低了0.56 kg CO₂-eq/kg。春玉米比早稻少排放6228 kg CO₂-eq/hm²;与早稻-晚稻模式中晚稻碳排放相比,春玉米-晚稻轮作模式晚稻碳排放降低了497 kg CO₂-eq/hm²。早稻-晚稻种植模式的碳足迹主要来源于甲烷（CH₄）,其碳排放为9776 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（54.8%）,氮肥生产和施用的碳排放为2871 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（16.1%）,灌溉电力消耗的碳排放2849 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（16.0%）。春玉米-晚稻轮作模式的碳足迹主要来源于CH₄的碳排放4442 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（39.9%）,氮肥生产和施用的碳排放2871 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（25.8%）,灌溉电力消耗的碳排放1508 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（13.6%）。该模式中晚稻的碳足迹组成情况与春玉米-晚稻模式的碳足迹相似。但是,对于春玉米而言,其碳足迹主要来源氮肥生产和施用的碳排放1436 CO₂-eq/hm²（50.1%）,氧化亚氮（N₂O）的碳排放为579 kg CO₂-eq/hm²（20.2%）,CH₄的碳排放为378 CO₂-eq/hm²（13.2%）。同时,相比于早稻-晚稻中晚稻的产量（6333 kg/hm²）,春玉米-晚稻轮作模式下的晚稻产量（7270 kg/hm²）提高了14.8%。因此,引入春玉米-晚稻轮作模式有利于提升稻田生产力,降低稻田连作系统碳排放和碳足迹。     

主体功能区视角下的碳排放核算——以广东省为例

区域碳排放核算是当前全球气候变化与碳排放研究的核心内容之一。中国于2010年出台《全国主体功能区规划》,主体功能区是以区域开发程度、资源环境基础和未来开发潜力为依据,县域为基本单位的区域规划方案,这为区域碳排放核算和配额分配提供了全新的视角。鉴于县域的能源数据不够完善,基于经济、人口、省级能耗量等数据构建了适用于主体功能区划分的碳排放核算方法,并确保各主体功能区的碳排放总量和分部门碳排放量都与该省的总碳排放量和分部门的一一对应相等。以中国广东省为案例,对其四类主体功能区在2005—2015年间的碳排放情况进行核算分析。研究发现:四类主体功能区的碳排放总量与经济总量呈现高度正相关性;四类地区中碳排放量从大到小依次为优化、重点、农产品、生态开发区。碳排放强度最大的为生态开发区,其次是重点开发区,农产品开发区和优化开发区。重点开发区和优化开发区的碳排放占全省比值达86%,都应作为未来节能减排措施的最主要的作用对象,需加快产业结构升级,扩大新能源技术的应用。农产品开发区和生态开发区应加快发展循环农业,有机低碳农业生态环境友好型产业。     

基于生命周期评价的上海市水稻生产的碳足迹

碳足迹是指由企业、组织或个人引起的碳排放的集合。参照PAS2050规范并结合生命周期评价方法对上海市水稻生产进行了碳足迹评估。结果表明:(1)目前上海市水稻生产的碳排放为11.8114 t CO2e/hm2,折合每吨水稻生产周期的碳足迹为1.2321 t CO2e;(2)稻田温室气体排放是水稻生产最主要的碳排放源,每吨水稻生产的总排放量为0.9507 t CO2e,占水稻生产全部碳排放的77.1%,其中甲烷(CH4)又是最主要的温室气体,对稻田温室气体碳排放的贡献率高达96.6%;(3)化学肥料的施用是第二大碳排放源,每吨水稻生产的总排放量为0.2044 t CO2e,占水稻生产总碳排放的16.5%,其中N最高,排放量为0.1159 t CO2e。因此,上海低碳水稻生产的关键在降低稻田甲烷的排放,另外可通过提高氮肥利用效率,减少氮肥施用等方法减少种植过程中碳排放。     

城市餐饮业食物浪费碳足迹——以北京市为例

食物浪费及其造成的环境影响已成为全球广泛关注的热点。无论从生命周期还是碳足迹的视角来看,食物浪费意味着生产、运输、加工与储存这些被浪费掉的食物过程中所投入的各种资源的浪费以及不必要的温室气体排放。以北京市餐饮食物浪费问题为切入点,在通过问卷调查和称重方法对餐饮食物浪费状况进行调查的基础上,将整个食物生命周期各供应链环节相应的温室气体排放纳入考量,估算了北京市餐饮食物浪费的碳排放量。研究结果表明:北京市餐饮食物浪费总量为39.86×10~4t/a。其中,蔬菜类浪费量最高,约占浪费总量的43.16%,其次为肉类和主食类,分别占食物浪费总量的20.59%和16.66%。北京市餐饮食物浪费所产生的总碳足迹为192.51×10~4—208.52×10~4t CO_2eq。其中,农业生产阶段的碳排放量最大为99.34×10~4t CO2eq,占食物浪费总碳足迹的47.64%。其次是消费阶段的碳足迹77.96×10~4t CO_2eq,占食物浪费总碳足迹的37.39%,再次是餐厨垃圾处理阶段的碳足迹28.54×104tCO2eq,占食物浪费总碳足迹的13.68%。这些不同供应链环节的碳排放比例,为透视食物浪费所带来的环境影响提供了新的认知,也为遏制食物浪费提供了科学的理论依据。     

基于自然-经济综合视角的碳排放强度与生态盈亏多情景模拟研究——以淮海经济区为例

生态盈亏与碳排放强度是衡量生态环境质量与经济发展水平的重要指标,分析两者时空关联并预测未来演进方向对提升区域生态环境质量健康水平具有指导作用。以淮海经济区为研究对象,以2000年、2010年和2020年3期土地利用数据为基础,运用PLUS模型、双变量自相关、耦合协调度及面板计量回归模型等方法,预测并分析淮海经济区2000—2036年3种情景下碳排放强度、生态盈亏的演化特征及时空关联。结果表明：(1)常规发展情景下,淮海经济区生态性呈下降趋势,强耕地保护情景下生态性微有下降,强生态保护情景下,生态性有所上升,自然要素是主导。(2)常规发展情景下,淮海经济区碳排放量逐渐加大,强耕地保护及强生态保护情景下,则呈下降趋势;三种状态下,碳排放强度均呈下降趋势,时间轴2010—2020年降幅较大,空间序河流水系地区碳排放强度降幅较大。(3)淮海经济区碳排放强度与生态盈亏呈负相关关系,低低和低高聚类主要分布在城镇建设用地周边,高低和高高聚类分布在人类干扰较少的自然区域;高高聚类主要位于河流水系交汇区,表明水域有效降低碳排放强度的功能。(4)淮海经济区的碳排放强度与生态盈亏之间的耦合协调度呈东西高、中...     

基于投入产出的中国省际农业水-土-碳足迹流动分析

水-土-碳多要素耦合研究是近年来资源环境领域的热点之一。开展农业水-土-碳足迹流动分析有助于揭示农业生产和贸易带来的跨区域环境影响,对不同区域资源可持续管理和协同减排具有重要意义。以中国30个省级行政区为研究对象,基于投入产出方法科学识别不同省区农业水、土、碳足迹的空间格局、流动特征及关联状况。主要结论如下：（1）省域尺度农业水、土、碳足迹具有较大的空间差异,这归因于自然条件、社会经济、产业结构、耕作方式及种植结构等的区域差异;（2）农业水、土、碳足迹流动主要从西部和北部流向东部和东南部地区,这与农产品市场供需关系密切相关,表明东部和东南部地区农产品消费导致了西部和北部地区资源的虚拟占用和隐含碳排放;（3）农业水、土、碳足迹及其强度之间存在一定程度的关联关系,经济发展状况、地区产业结构、自然条件状况等因素均会影响某一要素或几种要素的消耗强度,进而影响其关联作用;农业水、土、碳足迹流动表现出明显的关联性特征,空间关联网络存在不均衡性,关联渠道有待丰富;（4）建议未来加强农业技术革新,提高机械化、智能化生产水平;通过土地规模化经营实现水土资源的节约集约利用;开展基于水-土-碳跨区域影响的横向农业生态补偿,实现中国省际协同减排和资源优化。     

LCA for assessing environmental benefit of eco-design strategies and forest wood short supply chain: a furniture case study

Purpose

Eco-innovation strategies are increasingly adopted to ensure the minimization of environmental impacts. Nonetheless, only a comprehensive integrated assessment along the life cycle stages of a product may ensure a robust analysis of the benefit of the innovation. The object of the present study is the environmental assessment of furniture prototypes produced using certified wood and integrating eco-design criteria in their conception. The aim of the study was twofold: firstly, to evaluate the environmental profile of the furniture, highlighting possible hot spots of impacts, and secondly, to evaluate the capability of life cycle assessment (LCA) to identify the environmental benefit associated to the adoption of eco-innovation strategies, such as the following: ensuring short supply chain from raw material to production; using wood coming from certified forests (according to PEFC scheme); and the implementation of eco-design principles, also associated with green public procurement requirements.

Methods

LCA has been applied in a case study related to the wood furniture sector in the alpine region of Northern Italy. Every activity was modeled using primary data, related to the inputs and outputs of the processes, provided directly by the designers and by woodworking firms. Input data related to forestry activities and wood extraction were collected and processed in a previous phase of the study. The life cycle of a prototype school desk from the cradle-to-gate perspective was analyzed. A woodworking plant was examined in detail, dividing the whole manufacturing process into four phases: panels production, woodworking, painting and steel parts processing. The system boundaries included all the activities which take place inside the plant as well as energy inputs, transports and ancillary products used.

Results and discussion

The results highlighted that the working phases showing the greatest environmental burdens were the production of solid wood panels and the processing of iron parts. No concerns about chemicals, glues and paints were raised, due to the eco-design principles implemented in the production of the furniture. The choice of a short supply chain allowed for drastic reductions in the impacts associated to long-distance transports. Three sensitivity analyses were carried out to test the robustness of results concerning the following: (1) glue options, (2) drying phase and VOC emissions, and (3) transport options.

Conclusions

This study proves to which extent eco-design criteria implemented in practice improve the environmental performance of products. All positive effects due to decisions taken in school desk design and conception were supported by evidence.     

Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of furniture and bioenergy production from oil palm trunks

The palm oil industry constantly attempts to increase the sustainability along the entire palm oil value chain. One important strategy is to utilize all co‐products. Oil palm trunks, which become available upon replanting of existing plantations, represent an important and increasing flow of underexploited biomass. In recent years, innovative technologies are emerging to use them for producing furniture or plywood or providing bioenergy. We assessed the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of such products and the greenhouse gas emission savings due to replaced alternative products. Although challenging material properties result in a relatively high energy demand and related greenhouse gas emissions in the oil palm wood processing, substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions can arise from producing furniture or bioenergy from oil palm trunks, especially if the process energy demand is met by the energy recovery from oil palm wood‐processing residues.     

Detection of volatile organic compounds released by wood furniture based on a cataluminescence test system

Wood furniture is an important source of indoor air pollution. To date, the detection of harmful substances in wood furniture has relied on the control of a single formaldehyde component, therefore the detection and evaluation of pollutants released by wood furniture are necessary. A novel method based on a cataluminescence (CTL) sensor system generated on the surface of nano‐3TiO₂–2BiVO₄ was proposed for the simultaneous detection of pollutants released by wood furniture. Formaldehyde and benzene were selected as a model to investigate the CTL‐sensing properties of the sensor system. Field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterize the as‐prepared samples. The results showed that the as‐prepared test system exhibited outstanding CTL properties such as stable intensity, a high signal‐to‐noise ratio, and short response and recovery times. In addition, the limit of detection for formaldehyde and benzene was below the standard permitted concentrations. Moreover, the sensor system showed outstanding selectivity for formaldehyde and benzene compared with eight other common volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The performance of the sensor system will enable furniture VOC limit emissions standards to be promulgated as soon as possible. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Environmental performance assessment of hardboard manufacture

Background, aim and scope  The forest-based and related industries comprise one of the most important industry sectors in the European Union, representing some 10% of the EU's manufacturing industries. Their activities are based on renewable raw material resources and efficient recycling. The forest-based industries can be broken down into the following sectors: forestry, woodworking, pulp and paper manufacturing, paper and board converting and printing and furniture. The woodworking sector includes many sub-sectors; one of the most important is that of wood panels accounting for 9% of total industry production. Wood panels are used as intermediate products in a wide variety of applications in the furniture and building industries. There are different kinds of panels: particleboard, fibreboard, veneer, plywood and blockboard. The main goal of this study was to assess the environmental impacts during the life cycle of wet-process fibreboard (hardboard) manufacturing to identify the processes with the largest environmental impacts. Methods  The study covers the life cycle of hardboard production from a cradle-to-gate perspective. A hardboard plant was analysed in detail, dividing the process chain into three subsystems: wood preparation, board forming and board finishing. Ancillary activities such as chemicals, wood chips, thermal energy and electricity production and transport were included within the system boundaries. Inventory data came from interviews and surveys (on-site measurements). When necessary, the data were complemented with bibliographic resources. The life cycle assessment procedure followed the ISO14040 series. The life cycle inventory (LCI) and impact assessment database for this study were constructed using SimaPro Version 7.0 software. Results  Abiotic depletion (AD), global warming (GW), ozone layer depletion (OLD), human toxicity (HT), ecotoxicity, photochemical oxidant formation (PO), acidification (AC) and eutrophication (EP) were the impact categories analysed in this study. The wood preparation subsystem contributed more than 50% to all impact categories, followed by board forming and board finishing, which is mainly due to chemicals consumption in the wood preparation subsystem. In addition, thermal energy requirements (for all subsystems) were fulfilled by on-site wood waste burning and, accordingly, biomass energy converters were considered. Several processes were identified as hot spots in this study: phenol-formaldehyde resin production (with large contribution to HT, fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity and PO), electricity production (main contributor to marine aquatic ecotoxicity), wood chips production (AD and OLD) and finally, biomass burning for heat production (identified as the largest contributor to AC and EP due to NO _X emissions). In addition, uncontrolled formaldehyde emissions from manufacturing processes at the plant such as fibre drying should be controlled due to relevant contributions to terrestrial ecotoxicity and PO. A sensitivity analysis of electricity profile generation (strong geographic dependence) was carried out and several European profiles were analysed. Discussion  Novel binding agents for the wood panel industry as a substitute for the currently used formaldehyde-based binders have been extensively investigated. Reductions of toxic emissions during drying, mat forming and binder production are desirable. The improved method would considerably reduce the contributions to all impact categories. Conclusions  The results obtained in this work allow forecasting the importance of the wood preparation subsystem for the environmental burdens associated with hardboard manufacture. Special attention was paid to the inventory analysis stage for each subsystem. It is possible to improve the environmental performance of the hardboard manufacturing process if some alternatives are implemented regarding the use of chemicals, electricity profile and emission sources in the production processes located inside the plant. Recommendations and perspectives  This study provides useful information for forest-based industries related to panel manufacture with the aim of increasing their sustainability. Our research continues to assess the use phase and final disposal of panels to complete the life cycle assessment. Future work will focus on analysing the environmental aspects associated with plywood, another type of commonly used wood panel.     

湖北省不同花生轮作种植体系碳氮足迹

明确作物生产过程的主要碳氮排放环节,可为不同花生轮作种植体系实现高产高效与低碳氮排放的协同效益提供有效参考。本研究对湖北省黄冈市油菜-花生轮作、小麦-花生轮作、花生单作3种种植模式生产过程的农资投入和田间管理措施等进行实地调查,核算该3种种植模式的碳足迹和氮足迹。结果表明: 油菜-花生轮作较小麦-花生轮作单位面积碳排放降低7.8%、单位净现值碳排放降低36.9%、单位面积氮排放降低12.5%、单位净现值氮排放降低41.9%;油菜-花生轮作较花生单作单位净现值碳排放和氮排放分别降低19.6%和30.8%;油菜-花生轮作净收益是小麦-花生轮作的1.4倍、花生单作的2.4倍。表明油菜-花生轮作可实现高产高效与低碳氮排放的协同效益,有利于油料作物的绿色高质高效生产。     

家庭能耗与碳足迹研究进展

家庭消费是产生CO₂排放的重要来源之一。随着社会的发展,居民生活水平的提高,由家庭产生的能耗及温室气体排放比例日益增加,家庭的节能减排潜力也随之升高。开展家庭能耗和碳足迹研究,不仅可以为众多家庭提供可持续的生活和消费指导,帮助居民寻求科学有效的节能减排途径,而且对于促进低碳城市建设、缓解全球变暖和能源危机具有重要意义。该文从家庭碳足迹的概念、来源以及计算方法入手;总结了家庭能耗及碳足迹研究6个方面的主要内容:家庭能耗和碳足迹特征以及影响因素,家庭能耗及碳足迹动态变化状况,国家间或地区间家庭能耗及碳足迹对比,家庭碳足迹计算模型,家庭碳排放管理。最后展望了该领域未来的研究重点和发展方向。     

云南省农田生态系统碳足迹时空变化及其影响因素

农田碳足迹研究对农田生态系统管理与农业可持续发展具有重要意义,也可表征农田扩展的生态影响程度。利用县域尺度统计数据与空间分析,对云南省农田生态系统近30年的碳足迹的时空演变进行研究。结果表明:1985—2015年期间,云南省农田生态系统碳排放年均增幅为13.9%,化肥施用引起的碳排放贡献率最大,为56%,2015年的化肥单位面积碳排放达到331.6kg/hm2。云南省农田生态系统碳吸收年均增幅为3.04%,稻谷的碳吸收比例最大,为41%,然而,玉米的碳吸收的增幅最大,为8.76%。云南省农田生态系统存在碳生态盈余,且碳足迹总体呈现增长趋势,年均增长率为16.8%,单位面积碳足迹随年份增加不断增长。从空间上看,云南省农田生态系统碳排放、碳吸收在空间上均呈东南高、西北低的分布格局,而碳足迹在空间上呈现东西部高、中部低的分布格局,三者的空间差异和变化幅度差异都较大。     

Evaluating the cascading-use of wood furniture: How value-retention processes can contribute to material efficiency and circularity

As utilized technical products, durable wood furniture plays an important role in a future circular economy (CE). However, contemporary CE literature predominantly focuses on wood's biochemical properties and its potential as a consumable material within the bio-cycle. This perspective prevents meaningful consideration of CE strategies for the wood products sector, particularly for value-retention processes (VRPs), including reuse, repair, and refurbishment. We adapt and apply the VRP model introduced by the UN International Resource Panel (IRP) to wood furniture products to quantify select environmental benefits made possible through cascading-use, via VRPs (vs. new manufacturing). Unlike traditional life cycle assessment (LCA), this model accounts for impacts incurred and avoided through product life-extension and VRPs, relative to conventional systems of new manufacturing, disposal, and replacement. Three case studies of wood-based chairs are conducted to demonstrate this new application of the VRP model to compare the relative environmental impacts associated with wood furniture that is diverted to cascading-use, prior to recycling. In collaboration with industry partners, new material requirements (kg/unit), energy requirements (kWh/unit), emissions (kg CO2-e./unit), and waste generation (kg/unit) were calculated for newly manufactured chairs (OEM new) and subsequent cascading-use via reuse, repair, and refurbishment. The differing degrees of environmental impact avoidance and material efficiency are presented for each case study product and VRP, to provoke discussion and future research regarding the effective and optimal utilization of technical, durable wooden furniture within a CE.     

Addressing the Carbon‐Crime Blind Spot: A Carbon Footprint Approach

Governments estimate the social and economic impacts of crime, but its environmental impact is largely unacknowledged. Our study addresses this by estimating the carbon footprint of crime in England and Wales and identifies the largest sources of emissions. By applying environmentally extended input‐output analysis–derived carbon emission factors to the monetized costs of crime, we estimate that crime committed in 2011 in England and Wales gave rise to over 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. Burglary resulted in the largest proportion of the total footprint (30%), because of the carbon associated with replacing stolen/damaged goods. Emissions arising from criminal justice system services also accounted for a large proportion (21% of all offenses; 49% of police recorded offenses). Focus on these offenses and the carbon efficiency of these services may help reduce the overall emissions that result from crime. However, cutting crime does not automatically result in a net reduction in carbon, given that we need to take account of potential rebound effects. As an example, we consider the impact of reducing domestic burglary by 5%. Calculating this is inherently uncertain given that it depends on assumptions concerning how money would be spent in the absence of crime. We find the most likely rebound effect (our medium estimate) is an increase in emissions of 2%. Despite this uncertainty concerning carbon savings, our study goes some way toward informing policy makers of the scale of the environmental consequences of crime and thus enables it to be taken into account in policy appraisals.     

减氮施肥对春玉米-晚稻生产系统碳足迹的影响

随着对气候变化和粮食安全的的日益认识,低碳农业引起了人们的广泛关注.低碳农业的研究需要综合考虑作物产量和温室气体排放,改进氮肥管理可能有助于减缓作物生产系统的温室气体排放,同时实现对作物稳产甚至高产的需求.本试验利用生命周期法研究了不同施氮量(150、225、300 kg N·hm^-2)对春玉米-晚稻轮作系统碳足迹的影响.结果表明: 随着氮肥用量增加,两季作物生产过程中温室气体和碳足迹增加.在春玉米生产过程中,氮肥生产和施用引起的温室气体排放对碳足迹贡献最大,占36.2%～50.2%;而在晚稻生产中,甲烷的排放贡献最大,占42.8%～48.0%,并且随氮肥用量增加甲烷排放增加.当氮肥施用量减少25%(225 kg N·hm^-2)和50%(150 kg N·hm^-2)时,春玉米生产的温室气体排放分别下降了21.9%和44.3%,碳足迹分别下降了20.3%和39.1%;晚稻生产的温室气体排放分别下降了12.3%和20.4%,碳足迹分别降低了13.7%和16.7%.氮肥减量对春玉米产量无显著影响,而晚稻产量在225 kg N·hm^-2施肥量下最高.因此,春玉米氮肥用量降低至150 kg N·hm^-2和晚稻氮肥用量降低至225 kg N·hm^-2不仅能够保持作物高产,而且还能大幅度降低作物系统的碳足迹.