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Country-specific net-zero strategies of the pulp and paper industry

Author

Listed:
  • Min Dai

    (Fudan University)

  • Mingxing Sun

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bin Chen

    (Fudan University)

  • Lei Shi

    (Nanchang University)

  • Mingzhou Jin

    (The University of Tennessee at Knoxville)

  • Yi Man

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Ziyang Liang

    (Fudan University)

  • Cecilia Maria Villas Bôas Almeida

    (Universidade Paulista, UNIP)

  • Jiashuo Li

    (Shandong University)

  • Pengfei Zhang

    (Shandong University)

  • Anthony S. F. Chiu

    (De La Salle University)

  • Ming Xu

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Huajun Yu

    (Fudan University)

  • Jing Meng

    (University College London)

  • Yutao Wang

    (Fudan University
    IRDR International Center of Excellence on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University
    Fudan University
    Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming (SIEC))

Abstract

The pulp and paper industry is an important contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions1,2. Country-specific strategies are essential for the industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, given its vast heterogeneities across countries3,4. Here we develop a comprehensive bottom-up assessment of net greenhouse gas emissions of the domestic paper-related sectors for 30 major countries from 1961 to 2019—about 3.2% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions from the same period5—and explore mitigation strategies through 2,160 scenarios covering key factors. Our results show substantial differences across countries in terms of historical emissions evolution trends and structure. All countries can achieve net-zero emissions for their pulp and paper industry by 2050, with a single measure for most developed countries and several measures for most developing countries. Except for energy-efficiency improvement and energy-system decarbonization, tropical developing countries with abundant forest resources should give priority to sustainable forest management, whereas other developing countries should pay more attention to enhancing methane capture rate and reducing recycling. These insights are crucial for developing net-zero strategies tailored to each country and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 for the pulp and paper industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Min Dai & Mingxing Sun & Bin Chen & Lei Shi & Mingzhou Jin & Yi Man & Ziyang Liang & Cecilia Maria Villas Bôas Almeida & Jiashuo Li & Pengfei Zhang & Anthony S. F. Chiu & Ming Xu & Huajun Yu & Jing Me, 2024. "Country-specific net-zero strategies of the pulp and paper industry," Nature, Nature, vol. 626(7998), pages 327-334, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:626:y:2024:i:7998:d:10.1038_s41586-023-06962-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06962-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Xuemei Xie & Yuhang Han & Hao Tan, 2024. "Greening China’s digital economy: exploring the contribution of the East–West Computing Resources Transmission Project to CO2 reduction," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.

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