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Circular economy strategies to decarbonize China’s bulk material cycles

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Emission savings from three circular economy strategies aiming to close, slow and narrow China’s bulk material loops have been analysed using an integrated model. This analysis highlights that material recycling delivers substantial emission cuts, but demand reduction is equally crucial for decarbonizing bulk materials.

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Fig. 1: Circular economy strategies for GHG emissions savings.

References

  1. Net Zero By 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector (International Energy Agency, 2021). A report that presents the importance of reducing emissions associated with bulk materials in achieving net-zero emissions.

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This is a summary of: Song, L. et al. China’s bulk material loops can be closed but deep decarbonization requires demand reduction. Nat. Clim. Change https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01782-6 (2023).

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Circular economy strategies to decarbonize China’s bulk material cycles. Nat. Clim. Chang. 13, 1030–1031 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01799-x

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