Basic Information

Title: Carbon neutrality and clean air acts can enable China to meet the Minamata Convention goals with substantial cost savings

Author(s): Yujie Pan, Xiaorui Liu, Ziqiao Zhou, Yaqin Guo, Zhuoer Feng, Shuxiao Wang, Qingru Wu, Daiwei Ouyang, Yang Xie*, Kai Wu, Shasha Xu, Chaoyi Guo, Emily Welsch, Chen Huang, Jiashuo Li*

Journal: One Earth

Published: 2024.03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.02.006

Abstract

Despite carbon neutrality targets, coal remains a primary source of energy in China. In addition to the emission of carbon dioxide and the associated warming effects, the burning of coal also releases fine particulate matter and toxic mercury, which worsens air quality, impairs human health, and can prove fatal. To tackle these concurrent challenges, China’s government has established a series of decarbonization targets and air quality controls and signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury. However, implementing multiple, overlapping policies can be costly, may divert funds from elsewhere, waste resources, and eventually undermine progress. A more efficient, synergistic approach is needed. In this work, a computational model is used to compare policy combinations and evaluate their cost effectiveness. The most cost-effective approach is to couple carbon neutrality strategies with air pollution controls. Policymakers should consider synergistic mechanisms when designing measures to address pollution from coal burning.