Prof. YANG Jiakuan from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) paid a visit to the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on July 5, 2022. During his visit, Prof. Yang gave a lecture with the title of “Low carbon technologies and pathways in waste-free city construction”.   

Solid waste is a major source of carbon emissions. Global carbon emissions from solid waste disposal total about 1.6 billion tons (2016, 3-5% of global carbon emissions) and are expected to increase to 2.4 billion tons by 2050. Solid waste has significant potential for carbon reduction.   

In his lecture, Prof. Yang discussed the development trend of solid waste carbon reduction, analyzed the types of solid waste with carbon reduction potential, and proposed pollution and carbon reduction technologies for organic and alkaline solid wastes.    

For the construction of waste-free cities, Prof. Yang suggested carrying out methodological and applied research on solid waste emissions, developing a localized database of carbon emission factors, and implementing carbon inclusion and carbon trading policies.    

The use of low carbon technologies in waste-free city construction will play a significant role in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.   

Prof. Yang is currently the dean of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering of HUST, a doctoral supervisor, a special professor of Changjiang Scholar of the Ministry of Education, an expert of the State Council government allowance, a member of the New Century Talent Support Program of the Ministry of Education, and the director of Hubei Engineering Laboratory for Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Technology. He has presided over the key projects of the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the National Science and Technology Support Program, etc. He has published more than 90 SCI papers (more than 60 first author/corresponding author) in the past five years.