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Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2018) | Viewed by 72139

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kuishuang Feng

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Guest Editor

Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Interests: spatial ecological-economic modeling; sustainable production and consumption; scenario analysis; evaluation of environmental issues
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Bin Chen

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Guest Editor

State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Interests: urban carbon metabolism; ecological modeling; environmental science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Shaojian Wang

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Guest Editor

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Urbanization and Geo-simulation, School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Interests: sustainable development; exergy efficiency; carbon emission accounting; environmental impact; urban planning; spatial analysis and statistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbon emissions from anthropogenic activities and their impact on climate change are one of the main challenges for achieving environmental sustainability. Carbon footprint, as an environmental sustainability indicator, has been frequently studied to quantify the environmental performance of a product, individual, company, city, or country, using environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA). Different LCA approaches have been developed to assess the environmental impacts of goods and services throughout their whole life cycle—that is from resource extraction, production, use and disposal—or cradle to grave. These approaches include the bottom-up process-based LCA approach and the top-down input–output-based LCA approach and both have advantages and disadvantages, in terms of system boundaries and detail of production processes. However, we need both approaches to be able to investigate the carbon implications of human activities at different scales, e.g., individual consumption, company operation, regional development. In addition, a win-win or trade-offs analysis between carbon footprint and other environmental indicators (e.g., water footprint, land footprint) may provide important information to decision makers for achieving overall environmental sustainability.

We invite researchers to contribute original research as well as review articles that address the topics of carbon footprint, including carbon accounting, win-win or trade-offs with other environmental issues, and carbon mitigation.

Prof. Kuishuang Feng
Prof. Dr. Bin Chen
Dr. Shaojian Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

Life cycle assessment (LCA)
Environmental input–output analysis
Sustainable supply chain management
Low carbon policies
Carbon inequality
Sustainable consumption and production

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 850 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Using Pareto Optimization to Support Supply Chain Network Design within Environmental Footprint Impact Assessment

by Tsai Chi Kuo and Yile Lee

Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020452 - 16 Jan 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4473

Abstract

A product environmental footprint is a multi-criteria measure for environmental sustainability. Most of these environmental criteria are either synergies (non-trade-offs) or compromises (trade-offs) within environmental metrics. This forms a multi-objective problem of supply chain network design. The product environmental footprint is an aid or tool that enterprises may use to measure and improve the life cycle environmental performance of their products. In this research, a multi-criteria method, Pareto optimization, is used to design a supply chain network based on the results of a product environmental footprint. In Pareto optimization, two objectives are formulated: Environmental impact and cost. Using the results of this research, designers will be able to choose a material with a lower environmental impact and supply chain managers will be able to select suppliers with lower environmental impacts. A case study of industry practice is also analyzed. It shows an environmental footprint is useful for the supply chain design network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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24 pages, 2147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mindfulness and Climate Change Action: A Feasibility Study

by Maggie Grabow, Thomas Bryan, Mary M. Checovich, Alexander K. Converse, Cathy Middlecamp, Margaret Mooney, Elisa R. Torres, Samuel G. Younkin and Bruce Barrett

Sustainability 2018, 10(5), 1508; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051508 - 10 May 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 8000

Abstract

Pro-environmental behaviors and the cultural shifts that can accompany these may offer solutions to the consequences of a changing climate. Mindfulness has been proposed as a strategy to initiate these types of behaviors. In 2017, we pilot-tested Mindful Climate Action (MCA), an eight-week adult education program that delivers energy use, climate change, and sustainability content in combination with training in mindfulness meditation, among 16 individuals living in Madison, WI. We collected participant data at baseline and at different times across the study period regarding household energy use, transportation, diet, and health and happiness. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the various MCA study practices including measurement tools, outcome assessment, curriculum and related educational materials, and especially the mindfulness-based climate action trainings. MCA was well-received by participants as evidenced by high adherence rate, high measures of participant satisfaction, and high participant response rate for surveys. In addition, we successfully demonstrated feasibility of the MCA program, and have estimated participant’s individual carbon footprints related to diet, transportation, and household energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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17 pages, 2098 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Re-Examining Embodied SO₂ and CO₂ Emissions in China

by Rui Huang, Klaus Hubacek, Kuishuang Feng, Xiaojie Li and Chao Zhang

Sustainability 2018, 10(5), 1505; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051505 - 10 May 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4353

Abstract

CO₂ and SO_2, while having different environmental impacts, are both linked to the burning of fossil fuels. Research on joint patterns of CO₂ emissions and SO₂ emissions may provide useful information for decision-makers to reduce these emissions effectively. This study analyzes both CO₂ emissions and SO₂ emissions embodied in interprovincial trade in 2007 and 2010 using multi-regional input–output analysis. Backward and forward linkage analysis shows that Production and Supply of Electric Power and Steam, Non-metal Mineral Products, and Metal Smelting and Pressing are key sectors for mitigating SO₂ and CO₂ emissions along the national supply chain. The total SO₂ emissions and CO₂ emissions of these sectors accounted for 81% and 76% of the total national SO₂ emissions and CO₂ emissions, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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14 pages, 1691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring the Direct and Indirect Effects of Neighborhood-Built Environments on Travel-related CO₂ Emissions: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

by Wenyue Yang, Shaojian Wang and Xiaoming Zhao

Sustainability 2018, 10(5), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051372 - 28 Apr 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

Intervening in the built environment is a key way for land-use and transport planning and related policies to promote low-carbon development and low-carbon travel. It is of significance to explore and recognize the actual impact of the neighborhood built environment on travel-related CO₂ emissions. This study calculated the CO₂ emissions from four purposes of trips, which were within the urban region, using Travel O-D Point Intelligent Query System (TIQS) and 1239 residents’ travel survey questionnaires from 15 neighborhoods in Guangzhou. It measured the direct and indirect effects of built environments on CO₂ emissions from different purposes of trips by developing structural equation models (SEMs). The results showed that for different purposes of trips, the effects of the neighborhood built environments on CO₂ emissions were inconsistent. Almost all built environment elements had significant total effects on CO₂ emissions, which were mainly indirect effects through mediators such as car ownership and trip distance, then affecting CO₂ emissions indirectly. Most of the direct effects of neighborhood built environments on CO₂ emissions were not significant, especially those from non-commuting trips. These findings suggest that in the process of formulating low-carbon oriented land-use and transport planning and policies, the indirect effects of the built environments should not be ignored, and the differences of the effects of the neighborhood built environments among different purposes of the trip should be fully considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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15 pages, 1372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Footprint Estimation Tool for Residential Buildings for Non-Specialized Users: OERCO2 Project

by Jaime Solís-Guzmán, Cristina Rivero-Camacho, Desirée Alba-Rodríguez and Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora

Sustainability 2018, 10(5), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051359 - 27 Apr 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 5418

Abstract

Existing tools for environmental certification of buildings are failing in their ability to reach the general public and to create social awareness, since they require not only specialized knowledge regarding construction and energy sources, but also environmental knowledge. In this paper, an open-source online tool for the estimation of the carbon footprint of residential buildings by non-specialized users is presented as a product from the OERCO2 Erasmus + project. The internal calculations, data management and operation of this tool are extensively explained. The ten most common building typologies built in the last decade in Spain are analysed by using the OERCO2 tool, and the order of magnitude of the results is analysed by comparing them to the ranges determined by other authors. The OERCO2 tool proves itself to be reliable, with its results falling within the defined logical value ranges. Moreover, the major simplification of the interface allows non-specialized users to evaluate the sustainability of buildings. Further research is oriented towards its inclusion in other environmental certification tools and in Building Information Modeling (BIM) environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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19 pages, 7123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulating the Impact of Carbon Taxes on Greenhouse Gas Emission and Nutrition in the UK

by Cesar Revoredo-Giha, Neil Chalmers and Faical Akaichi

Sustainability 2018, 10(1), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010134 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6296

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with food consumption have become particularly pertinent issues given recent warnings that the planet recently has experienced its hottest year. One way proposed to reduce those emissions is through a carbon consumption taxes. This study uses consumption, nutrient and GHG emission data to estimate the impact of two ad-valorem taxes: one applied by food category and another by the carbon emission of the products. The results suggest that the carbon consumption tax scenarios would reduce GHG emissions by a greater quantity relative to the ad-valorem tax scenario; however, the intake of important nutrients will also decrease in these scenarios. Therefore, creating an environmentally sustainable and nutritious diet through taxation is challenging and requires compromise between the nutrition and environmental sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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2862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Value-Added-Based Accounting of CO₂ Emissions: A Multi-Regional Input-Output Approach

by Hongguang Liu and Xiaomei Fan

Sustainability 2017, 9(12), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9122220 - 1 Dec 2017

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6121

Abstract

In the era of globalization and international trade, the production-based CO₂ emissions accounting system, proposed by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, can easily lead to a “carbon leakage” issue. Thus, the accounting of consumption-based carbon emissions and carbon emissions embodied in international trade has received considerable research attention. Nevertheless, researchers also indicated that the consumption-based principle has some weaknesses, for example, it leads the producers inert on reducing carbon emissions while gaining economic benefits. To share carbon emissions responsibilities between producers and consumers is widely recognized. So, setting an income-based emissions accounting method as to producer is a necessary complement for accounting national carbon emissions. This study promoted a model, called the value-added-based accounting of CO₂ emissions method, to account for anthropogenic CO₂ emissions within the context of the economic benefit principle. Based on the global multi-regional input-output table and national carbon emissions database, we calculated the national/regional carbon emissions based on the value-added accounting approach as well as the amount of global carbon emissions embodied in value-added chains. If the results are served as a supplement for calculating the amount of CO₂ emissions reduction that a country is responsible for, problems such as carbon leakage and resistance to improving the energy efficiency of exporting sector may be solved, because all the supply chains emissions associated with the economic growth of a country would be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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2266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Analysis of Multiple Vehicle Fuel Pathways in China

by Tianduo Peng, Sheng Zhou, Zhiyi Yuan and Xunmin Ou

Sustainability 2017, 9(12), 2183; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9122183 - 26 Nov 2017

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 7862

Abstract

The Tsinghua University Life Cycle Analysis Model (TLCAM) is applied to calculate the life cycle fossil energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for more than 20 vehicle fuel pathways in China. In addition to conventional gasoline and diesel, these include coal- and gas-based vehicle fuels, and electric vehicle (EV) pathways. The results indicate the following. (1) China’s current dependence on coal and relative low-efficiency processes limits the potential for most alternative fuel pathways to decrease energy consumption and emissions; (2) Future low-carbon electricity pathways offer more obvious advantages, with coal-based pathways needing to adopt carbon dioxide capture and storage technology to compete; (3) A well-to-wheels analysis of the fossil energy consumption of vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) showed that they are comparable to conventional gasoline vehicles. However, importing rather than domestically producing LNG for vehicle use can decrease domestic GHG emissions by 35% and 31% compared with those of conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles, respectively; (4) The manufacturing and recovery of battery and vehicle in the EV analysis has significant impact on the overall ability of EVs to decrease fossil energy consumption and GHG emissions from ICEVs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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5802 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Reduction Strategies Based on an NW Small-World Network with a Progressive Carbon Tax

by Bin Wu, Wanying Huang and Pengfei Liu

Sustainability 2017, 9(10), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101747 - 28 Sep 2017

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4130

Abstract

There is an increasingly urgent need to reduce carbon emissions. Devising effective carbon tax policies has become an important research topic. It is necessary to explore carbon reduction strategies based on the design of carbon tax elements. In this study, we explore the effect of a progressive carbon tax policy on carbon emission reductions using the logical deduction method. We apply experience-weighted attraction learning theory to construct an evolutionary game model for enterprises with different levels of energy consumption in an NW small-world network, and study their strategy choices when faced with a progressive carbon tax policy. The findings suggest that enterprises that adopt other energy consumption strategies gradually transform to a low energy consumption strategy, and that this trend eventually spreads to the entire system. With other conditions unchanged, the rate at which enterprises change to a low energy consumption strategy becomes faster as the discount coefficient, the network externality, and the expected adjustment factor increase. Conversely, the rate of change slows as the cost of converting to a low energy consumption strategy increases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Effect of Eco-City Practices on Urban Sustainability Using an Extended Ecological Footprint Model: A Case Study in Xi’an, China

by Fuyuan Wang and Kaiyong Wang

Sustainability 2017, 9(9), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9091591 - 14 Sep 2017

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5402

Abstract

Planning and construction are well-known practical topics; however, eco-city developments and their sustainable effects on the city are less known. Xi’an is a typical city that has a target to become an eco-city. This city is selected in this case study with the aims of (1) framing eco-practices to enhance the understanding of an eco-city development and (2) evaluating the effect of eco-practices to reveal whether they truly enhance urban sustainability. For the first objective, the framework was constructed in accordance with ecological footprint (EF) theory. For the second objective, environmental pollution was added to an extended EF model. The EF of Xi’an from 1999 to 2014 was calculated and analyzed. The results are as follows: (1) Water pollution control and water area development are core issues in the Xi’an eco-city development. Air pollution control and forest land development also play important roles in the eco-city development; (2) Eco-city practices contribute to the decreases of per capita EF and per capita ecological deficit because of the reduction in the EFs of water area, forest land, and arable land, thereby enhancing urban sustainability; (3) The effect of eco-city practices on the improvement of per capita ecological capacity (EC), the ECs of arable land, water area, pasture land, and forest land are not significant. Based on these results, this study provides practical implications for the promotion of urban sustainability through eco-city development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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Review

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242 KiB

Open AccessReview

Progress and Prospects for Tourism Footprint Research

by Shuxin Wang, Yiyuan Hu, Hong He and Genxu Wang

Sustainability 2017, 9(10), 1847; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101847 - 15 Oct 2017

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 7545

Abstract

The tourism footprint family comprises the tourism ecological footprint (TEF), the tourism carbon footprint (TCF) and the tourism water footprint (TWF). The tourism footprint represents an important tool for quantitatively assessing the impact of tourism activities on the ecosystem of a tourist destination. This paper systematically reviews the relevant literature on TEF, TCF and TWF, analyses and summarizes the main progress and failures in the analytical frameworks, research methods, measurement results, environmental impacts and reductions in the tourism footprint. This paper also proposes areas for further developing the tourism footprint research, including unifying the analytical frameworks and boundaries of the tourism footprint, distinguishing the geographical scope of the tourism footprint effectively, improving the process of analyzing the environmental impact of the tourism footprint, measuring the tourism footprint scientifically and roundly, performing space-time calculations of the tourism footprint, and expanding the tourism footprint family by introducing new members. Accordingly, this paper is devoted to the continued study of the tourism footprint. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Footprint: As an Environmental Sustainability Indicator)

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