Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical framework

Under national carbon neutrality targets, energy-producing regions hold significant responsibilities for reducing emissions. Given the diverse economic, industrial, and resource profiles of these regions, tailored strategies are essential for designing regional emission pathways. Currently, a system...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Li Zhang, Mingyu Li, Zhe Zhang, Linyan Li, Jin Yuan, Shuying Zhu, Huili Wang, Min Jia, Jianhui Ruan, Lingyun Pang, Yingying Gu, Shu Ye, Xiaojun Chen, Lirong Zhang, Bofeng Cai, Jinnan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498425000493
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849420262582255616
author Li Zhang
Mingyu Li
Zhe Zhang
Linyan Li
Jin Yuan
Shuying Zhu
Huili Wang
Min Jia
Jianhui Ruan
Lingyun Pang
Yingying Gu
Shu Ye
Xiaojun Chen
Lirong Zhang
Bofeng Cai
Jinnan Wang
author_facet Li Zhang
Mingyu Li
Zhe Zhang
Linyan Li
Jin Yuan
Shuying Zhu
Huili Wang
Min Jia
Jianhui Ruan
Lingyun Pang
Yingying Gu
Shu Ye
Xiaojun Chen
Lirong Zhang
Bofeng Cai
Jinnan Wang
author_sort Li Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Under national carbon neutrality targets, energy-producing regions hold significant responsibilities for reducing emissions. Given the diverse economic, industrial, and resource profiles of these regions, tailored strategies are essential for designing regional emission pathways. Currently, a systematic analysis that simultaneously integrates broader national climate objectives and regional heterogeneity is lacking, hindering the formulation of localized roadmaps. To address this gap, we propose an integrated analytical framework combing top-down and bottom-up approaches. It considers macro-level constraints (socio-economic development) and micro-level feasibility (renewable energy potential and forest carbon sinks), incorporating diverse regional characteristics such as resource endowment, energy consumption patterns, and industrial structures. We apply this approach to an energy-producing region in central China. Our analysis highlights the need for a clean energy transition that maintains energy security and meets growing electricity demands. By 2060, wind and solar power are projected to account for 87% of electricity generation, representing a substantial shift from the current fossil-fuel-dependent structure. Significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved by optimizing the energy structure, enforcing production controls, and deploying advanced technologies across industry, transportation, and buildings. Additionally, enhancing carbon removal strategies will further support emission reduction targets. This framework demonstrates the feasibility of achieving climate objectives in fossil-fuel-dependent regions, providing strategic guidance for integrating regional traits into national decarbonization plans.
format Article
id doaj-art-b9cdbdb7aa444cbca5308056f7e55a9b
institution Kabale University
issn 2666-4984
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
spelling doaj-art-b9cdbdb7aa444cbca5308056f7e55a9b2025-08-20T03:31:48ZengElsevierEnvironmental Science and Ecotechnology2666-49842025-05-012510057110.1016/j.ese.2025.100571Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical frameworkLi Zhang0Mingyu Li1Zhe Zhang2Linyan Li3Jin Yuan4Shuying Zhu5Huili Wang6Min Jia7Jianhui Ruan8Lingyun Pang9Yingying Gu10Shu Ye11Xiaojun Chen12Lirong Zhang13Bofeng Cai14Jinnan Wang15School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, ChinaSchool of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, ChinaCenter for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, ChinaDepartment of Data Science, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaShanxi Coshare Innovation Institute of Energy & Environment, Taiyuan, 030032, ChinaCenter for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, ChinaCenter for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, China; Corresponding author.School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, ChinaCenter for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, ChinaChina Academy of Building Research, Beijing, 100013, ChinaKey Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; College of Recourses and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaCenter for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, ChinaCenter of Biodiversity and Protected Areas, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, China; Corresponding author.Center for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, ChinaCenter for Carbon Neutrality, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100043, China; Corresponding author.Under national carbon neutrality targets, energy-producing regions hold significant responsibilities for reducing emissions. Given the diverse economic, industrial, and resource profiles of these regions, tailored strategies are essential for designing regional emission pathways. Currently, a systematic analysis that simultaneously integrates broader national climate objectives and regional heterogeneity is lacking, hindering the formulation of localized roadmaps. To address this gap, we propose an integrated analytical framework combing top-down and bottom-up approaches. It considers macro-level constraints (socio-economic development) and micro-level feasibility (renewable energy potential and forest carbon sinks), incorporating diverse regional characteristics such as resource endowment, energy consumption patterns, and industrial structures. We apply this approach to an energy-producing region in central China. Our analysis highlights the need for a clean energy transition that maintains energy security and meets growing electricity demands. By 2060, wind and solar power are projected to account for 87% of electricity generation, representing a substantial shift from the current fossil-fuel-dependent structure. Significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved by optimizing the energy structure, enforcing production controls, and deploying advanced technologies across industry, transportation, and buildings. Additionally, enhancing carbon removal strategies will further support emission reduction targets. This framework demonstrates the feasibility of achieving climate objectives in fossil-fuel-dependent regions, providing strategic guidance for integrating regional traits into national decarbonization plans.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498425000493ChinaCarbon peak and neutralityPathwayGreenhouse gas emissionsRegion
spellingShingle Li Zhang
Mingyu Li
Zhe Zhang
Linyan Li
Jin Yuan
Shuying Zhu
Huili Wang
Min Jia
Jianhui Ruan
Lingyun Pang
Yingying Gu
Shu Ye
Xiaojun Chen
Lirong Zhang
Bofeng Cai
Jinnan Wang
Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical framework
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
China
Carbon peak and neutrality
Pathway
Greenhouse gas emissions
Region
title Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical framework
title_full Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical framework
title_fullStr Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical framework
title_full_unstemmed Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical framework
title_short Aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals: An integrated analytical framework
title_sort aligning regional carbon neutrality pathways with national climate goals an integrated analytical framework
topic China
Carbon peak and neutrality
Pathway
Greenhouse gas emissions
Region
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498425000493
work_keys_str_mv AT lizhang aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT mingyuli aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT zhezhang aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT linyanli aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT jinyuan aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT shuyingzhu aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT huiliwang aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT minjia aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT jianhuiruan aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT lingyunpang aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT yingyinggu aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT shuye aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT xiaojunchen aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT lirongzhang aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT bofengcai aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework
AT jinnanwang aligningregionalcarbonneutralitypathwayswithnationalclimategoalsanintegratedanalyticalframework