Carbon Emission of Energy Systems

The Paris Agreement put forward the goal of controlling the global temperature rise within 2 °C by the end of the century compared with pre-industrialization, and striving to control it within 1.5 °C. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) pointed out that this goal can only be achieved if the world realizes carbon neutrality by the middle of this century. As the largest source of carbon emissions, greater efforts should be made to promote a green-oriented transition of the energy system, build a clean, low-carbon, safe, and highly-efficient energy network, and deepen reforms of mechanisms and innovation in the energy sector. Although much effort has been made into the development of the energy system, there are still many technical bottlenecks to be broken through before the energy system can satisfy the sustainable development goal. First and foremost, the carbon accounting, management, and finance framework should be built to evaluate the potential of transforming from traditional fossil-fuel based industries to renewable energy based development mode, particularly in high energy consumption and high carbon emission industries. In addition, diversified exploration of green finance and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment to support renewable energy development is urgently needed. Last but not least, climate change has an inseparable relationship with the energy system. The adaptive mechanism of the energy system to climate change should be further studied.

This research topic will feature the latest achievement in the development of energy systems. And it will also reveal the interaction mechanism among socioeconomic development, climate change, and carbon emission of the energy system. The goal of this research topic is to provide a high-level platform for sharing ideas and innovations in the field. And we hope to build a comprehensive framework, including basic theory, cutting-edge technology, and practical application, to map the optimal development pathway of the energy system, and propose the adaptation strategies to climate change.

We welcome all types of manuscripts, including original research articles, review articles, and perspectives. The scope of this research topic will include the following themes, but are not limited to:
• Carbon accounting, management, and finance in high energy consumption and high carbon emission industries
• Green finance and ESG investment supporting green-oriented transition of energy system
• Low-carbon technology in energy system
• Life Cycle Assessment of carbon emission of energy system
• Modelling and optimization of energy system
• Interaction between climate change and energy system