The co-benefits of clean air and low-carbon policies on heavy metal emission reductions from coal-fired power plants in china

China has implemented a series of measures to address air pollutants and carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants, which can mitigate toxic heavy metal simultaneously. By integrating plant-level information energy activity data, we investigated the co-benefits clean low-carbon policies by compiling detailed inventory historical mental (i.e., Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Sb, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se) for China's plants during 2005–2020. Several scenarios were then designed assess evolution each plant with consideration given coal washing rate, pollution control devices, operational hours lifetime. The total decreased 12.9 thousand tons in 2005 8.8 2020, was mainly due widely installation upgraded end-of-pipe devices decommissioning small emission-intensive especially Sichuan, Jiangsu Zhejiang. Scenario analysis shows that reducing lifetime 20 years is most effective measure reduce national HM emissions, but effects differ between regions. This study provides insights precise co-control both metals highly important meeting requirements Minamata Convention neutrality.