Work

Leveraging integrated modeling methods to assess key technologies and predict air quality for synergistic pollution and carbon reduction in Beijing

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: As China’s capital, Beijing has significantly improved its air quality, yet the synergistic reduction of atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases remains a critical challenge. This study develops and applies a novel integrated modeling framework that couples the long-range energy alternatives planning system (Beijing), marginal abatement cost analysis, and the WRF-Chem air quality model. This approach simulates Beijing’s energy-emission pathways from 2030 to 2050, techno-economically evaluates 37 mitigation technologies, and quantifies their resultant air quality impacts. Our findings identify an enhanced energy mix scenario as optimal, achieving reductions of 59.29% in CO₂ and 81.34% in NO x . Key measures included battery-electric trucks (transportation), building envelope retrofits (buildings), and photovoltaic power expansion (electricity). The comprehensive implementation of selected technologies could lead to reductions in both PM 2.5 and NO 2 concentrations by 6% and 24%, respectively, although wintertime ozone levels would increase by 10%. The findings highlight the need to strengthen targeted end-of-pipe control measures for dust and volatile organic compounds alongside carbon reduction efforts, in order to maximize the co-benefits of climate change mitigation and air quality improvement.

Source: Environmental Research Communications

DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ae6397