IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p2192-d1604423.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Domain-Specific Question-Answering Systems: A Case Study of a Carbon Neutrality Knowledge Base

Author

Listed:
  • Lei Liu

    (Center for Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources and Geological Processes, Center of Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China)

  • Yongzhang Zhou

    (Center for Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources and Geological Processes, Center of Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China)

  • Jianhua Ma

    (Center for Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources and Geological Processes, Center of Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China)

  • Yuqing Zhang

    (Center for Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources and Geological Processes, Center of Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China)

  • Luhao He

    (Center for Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources and Geological Processes, Center of Earth Environment & Resources, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China)

Abstract

Carbon neutrality is a critical global objective in the fight against climate change. As relevant knowledge and technologies advance rapidly, there is an escalating demand for sophisticated intelligent services. While large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated considerable promise in knowledge processing and generation, their application within the domain of carbon neutrality remains in the early stages of exploration. This study develops a carbon neutrality knowledge base (CN Knowledge Base) using the ChatGLM3 model aimed at enhancing question-answering capabilities in areas such as carbon emission monitoring, policy interpretation, and technical optimization. By refining domain-specific corpora and integrating a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) mechanism, the model’s ability to generate accurate and relevant responses is improved. To evaluate the performance of the proposed system, a comprehensive quantitative comparison is conducted using established evaluation metrics, including BLEU (Bilingual Evaluation Understudy), BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), and METEOR (Metric for Evaluation of Translation with Explicit Ordering). The CN Knowledge Base is benchmarked against leading models such as GPT-4, Gemini, and Bing. The results demonstrate that the CN Knowledge Base outperforms other models in METEOR (0.2697) and is comparable to GPT-4o in both BLEU (0.8755) and BERT (0.8260) Scores (GPT-4o: BLEU: 0.8784, BERT: 0.8404). These findings underscore the knowledge base’s strong adaptability and its ability to generate high-quality, domain-specific content. The study suggests that specialized models can overcome the limitations of general-purpose LLMs, particularly in precise terminology and accurate application of domain knowledge. With continued development, such models could significantly enhance digital and intelligent solutions for carbon neutrality and related fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Liu & Yongzhang Zhou & Jianhua Ma & Yuqing Zhang & Luhao He, 2025. "Domain-Specific Question-Answering Systems: A Case Study of a Carbon Neutrality Knowledge Base," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-23, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2192-:d:1604423
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2192/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2192/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Su, Chi Wei & Liu, Fangying & Stefea, Petru & Umar, Muhammad, 2023. "Does technology innovation help to achieve carbon neutrality?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-14.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sun, Yanpeng & Song, Yuru & Long, Chi & Qin, Meng & Lobonţ, Oana-Ramona, 2023. "How to improve global environmental governance? Lessons learned from climate risk and climate policy uncertainty," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1666-1676.
    2. Wen Chen & Changyi Zhu & Qi Cheung & Siying Wu & Jun Zhang & Jia Cao, 2024. "How does digitization enable green innovation? Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 3832-3854, July.
    3. Jiao, Lei & Zhou, Dongjie & Xu, Runguo, 2024. "Resource dynamics and economic expansion: Unveiling the asymmetric effects of natural resources and FDI on economic growth with a lens on energy efficiency," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Wei Su, Chi & Yue Song, Xin & Qin, Meng & Lobonţ, Oana-Ramona & Umar, Muhammad, 2024. "Optimistic or pessimistic: How do investors impact the green bond market?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Zhang, Weike & Fan, Hongxia & Zhao, Qiwei, 2023. "Seeing green: How does digital infrastructure affect carbon emission intensity?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PB).
    6. Xiong, Su & Luo, Rong, 2023. "Investigating the relationship between digital trade, natural resources, energy transition, and green productivity: Moderating role of R&D investment," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    7. Liu, Fangying & Su, Chi Wei & Tao, Ran & Umar, Muhammad, 2023. "The instability of U.S. economic policy: A hindrance or a stimulus to green financing?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 33-46.
    8. Liu, Fangying & Su, Chi Wei & Tao, Ran & Qin, Meng & Umar, Muhammad, 2024. "Fintech and aluminium: Strategic enablers of climate change mitigation and sustainable mineral policy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    9. Lau, Chi Keung & Mahalik, Mantu Kumar & Rather, Kashif Nesar & Gozgor, Giray, 2023. "The impact of green quality of the energy consumption on carbon emissions in the United States," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 850-860.
    10. Qin, Meng & Wu, Tong & Ma, Xuecheng & Albu, Lucian Liviu & Umar, Muhammad, 2023. "Are energy consumption and carbon emission caused by Bitcoin? A novel time-varying technique," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 109-120.
    11. Zhao, Qian & Ding, Longfei & Pirtea, Marilen Gabriel & Vǎtavu, Sorana, 2023. "Does technological innovation bring better air quality?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 978-990.
    12. Wang, Xiaoqing & Qin, Chuan & Liu, Yufeng & Tanasescu, Cristina & Bao, Jiangnan, 2023. "Emerging enablers of green low-carbon development: Do digital economy and open innovation matter?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).
    13. Xu, Xiaofang & Yu, Wanqing & Zhao, Xingju & Xu, Wei, 2023. "Reassessing the linkage between natural resources and economic growth in China: Delving into the impacts of national resource taxes, renewable energy, financial advancements, and provincial fiscal exp," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    14. Xiaoqing Wong & Wenhao Kang & Jisu Kim & Yingying Xu & Ankang Wang, 2025. "The Criticality of the Digital Economy in Environmental Sustainability: Fresh Insights from a Wavelet-Based Quantile-on-Quantile Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-17, January.
    15. Zheng, ShiYong & Liu, Kang & Li, Yuming & Li, Biqing & Usman, Ahmed, 2024. "How does hydrogen energy technology help to achieve carbon neutrality targets?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    16. Abdinur Ali Mohamed & Fartun Ahmed Sheikh Mohamud, 2024. "The power of financial innovation in neutralizing carbon emissions: the case of mobile money in Somalia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 23151-23174, September.
    17. Bo Shao & Liang Zhang & Syed Ahsan Ali Shah, 2025. "Barriers and Opportunities in Implementing Carbon Neutrality Goals in China’s Heavy Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-25, January.
    18. Ran, Rong & Hua, Lei & Xiao, Junfu & Ma, Li & Pang, Mingyue & Ni, Zhengxing, 2023. "Can poverty alleviation policy enhance ecosystem service value? Evidence from poverty-stricken regions in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1509-1525.
    19. Xie, Xin & Liu, Yufeng & Jiang, Xiaoxi & Wang, Zi Xuan, 2024. "Natural resources utilization, ICT growth, and renewable energy consumption: Pathways to sustainable development in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    20. Nyiwul, Linus & Koirala, Niraj P., 2024. "Renewable energy policy performance and technological innovation in Africa: A Bayesian estimation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2192-:d:1604423. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.