Carbon Footprint Quantification and Reduction Potential of Ecological Revetment in Water Net Region of China: Case Study in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province

With emphasis on constructing low-carbon cities, the renovation of the riverbank highlights energy conservation and carbon reduction. However, methods and standards for quantifying carbon emissions during ecological river channel construction are currently lacking. There is a scientific gap in research into carbon footprint assessment and reduction potential in ecological revetment technologies in water networks of China. This study attempts to clarify the carbon emission factors of different ecological revetment technologies and explore the carbon reduction potential during the construction stage of ecological rivers from the river revetment design, construction process and materials. The results show that in the carbon emission factors of six ecological revetment technologies, building materials have the largest adjusting potential for carbon reduction. The concrete material is responsible for 55.37–95.86% of carbon emissions in six ecological river technologies, with an average proportion of 69.96%. Accordingly, the concrete material emerges as the primary contributor to carbon emissions in ecological river engineering, followed by gasoline truck transportation and earthwork excavation. Moreover, the carbon emissions from ecological frame structures were the largest, followed by those of block structures, gabion structures, planted concrete and interlocking blocks and the wooden stake structure has the smallest carbon footprint. The choice of ecological revetment technologies is not only related to the realisation of regional water conservancy functions, but it also affects the carbon emissions of water conservancy projects. Engineers and decision-makers should pay great attention to the optimal design of the project, selection of low-carbon materials, energy saving and emission reduction in the construction process. This research not only provides guidance for design units in selecting appropriate river revetment technologies but also offers a theoretical foundation and data support for construction units to optimise their construction process management.