Download The Study on the Development of Low-Carbon Economy in China

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The Study on the Development of Low-Carbon Economy in China
GUO Songzhen
Henan Institute of Engineering, P.R.China, 450007
[email protected]
Abstract: With the increasement of the conflict between the resources environment, population growth
and ecomomy growth, it is especially important for us to develop the low-carbon economy based on low
energy consumption, low pollution and low emission. From the aspects of global climate change,
sustainable development of Chinese economy, carbon tariff and industrial structures, this paper analyzes
the necessity of developing low carbon economy and puts forward the covering countermeasures so as
to promote the healthy development of low carbon economy in China.
Keywords: Low carbon economy, Sustainable development of economy, Climate refugees, Renewable
energy source
1 Introduction
Due to the global population growth, global economic growth and the aggravation of environmental
pollution, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been increasing sharply which
leads to the problem of global warming. Global warming is not only a health threat to us humans, but
also can seriously destroy the bio-diversity and the survival an developing environment which we
depend on so much. Under the background of global warming, developing the low-carbon economy has
become the focus of the world. Low-carbon economy is an economic pattern characterized by low
energy consumption, low emission and less polluting, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emission by
calling upon people to try to reduce “carbon” emission both in life and in production. Generally
speaking, it is in fact a green economy characterized by higher energy efficiency and a clearner energy
structure. Meanwhile, having mastered the core low-carbon technology, some developed countries have
successively proposed the strategies of developing low-carbon economy. To some extent, the core
low-carbon technology has become the key factor to win in the industry competition, technology
competition and economic growth competition. In order to relieve the pressure of reducing emissions
and realize the sustainable development of Chinese economy, we should develop the low-carbon
economy positively.
2 The Necessity of Developing a Low-carbon Economy in China
2.1 The basic approach to tackle the global climate change
Recently, the green-house effect caused by carbon emissions leads to the global warming. And the
desertification as well as the rising sea levels have been doing great harm to our living environment.
According to The Guardian, there will be 150 million climate refugees to flee their homes by 2050 in
the world. And the island countries such as Tuvalu, Maldives and so on will have to sink into the sea and
disappear from the world forever. According to the latest research conducted by the Cold and Arid
Region Environment and Engineering Institution, in recent 50 years, the average tempertures of west
China has risen to 0.2 every ten years, which made 82% of the glaciers in melting state [1] and made
the extreme weather events increase dramatically. To some extent, the things melted are not only the
glaciers,but also the future of all human beings. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change declared that 80% of the Himalayan glaciers could disappear in less than 30 years [2],
which may cause serious water shortage in Asia. Undoubtedly, the global warmng changed the
environment and the change of our environment will influence the whole world. Therefor, we should
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develop low-carbon economy positively for the sake of improving our living environment and saving
our earth.
2.2 The inherent requirement of achieving sustainable development of economy in China
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving
the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations.
Due to the difference of resource gift, there are large demands for the fossil fuels such coal and oil. And
the consumption of coal occupies 2/3 of all the primary energy. Being a kind of non-renewable high
carbon energy, coal will cause serious air pollution. In addition, owing to the restriction of equipment,
technology, energy and the management, the amount of GDP in China is higher than that of other
industrial countries and its energy efficiency is only 1/4 of other industrial countries[3]. Therefore, we
should take advantage of this opportunity to enlarge the investment in both the technological innovation
and the development and utilization of the important secondary energy and the renewable energy such as
wind energy, solar energy, water energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, and ocean energy and so on.
Only by doing this, can we reduce green-house gas emissions and achieve the sustainable development
of China economy.
2.3 The necessary means to cope with carbon tariffs
In order to protect the interests of the EU countries, the former French President, Jacques Chirac,
proposed to impose carbon tariffs on imports from developing countries which do not adopt the Kyoto
Protocol. And some developed countries has begun to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions for
domestic enterprises, which must pay for the amount of emissions exceeding the limits. Undoubtedly,
the carbon tarrifs will play an positive role in protecting the environment, but on the other hand, it will
become a new kind of green trade barrier which leads to trade protectionism under the guise of
environmental care. Although China and other developing countries absolutely opposed the imposition
of carbon tariffs,stating that carbon tariffs would violate the rules of the WTO and the spirit of the Kyoto
Protocol, on June 26, the U.S. Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by the House of representative,
which allows the U.S. President, starting in 2020, to impose a tariff on imports of carbon-intensive
goods, such as steel, cement, glass and paper, from countries that have not taken steps to reduce their
own carbon emissions. Since 2010, the EU has been making its carbon tariff plans. If it becomes true,
the goods made in China will be imposed 26% tariff which can make the exports of China reduce by
21% [4]. Therefore, in order to cope with the carbon tafiff and ensure the healthy developmeng of
international trade in China, we should take effective measures to develop the low-cabon economy.
2.4 The motivation and target to optimize the industrial structure
During the period of rapid economic growth, the electric power industry, the steel industry, the
nonferrous metal industry, the building materials industry, the petroleum and chemical industry and the
chemical industry are the pillar industries in China. According to statistics, the growths of the first
industry, the second industry and the third industry in China respectively account for 10.2%, 46.8% and
43.0% of the overall GDP in 2010. And the growth of light industry accounts for 13.6% and the heavy
industry accounts for 16.5% [5]. Our energy structure is dominated by coal, accounting for 70% of total
energy. Being constrained by the energy structure, industrial structure and the core technology, the
energy consumption of the six industries accounts for 70% of the total energy consumed. Therefore,
high-carbon is still the characteristic of the mode of our economic development, which definitely
imposes tremendous pressure on China to reduce emissions. Although China are experiencing a
remarkable economic expansion, China’s existing mode of ecomomic development is still not
sustainable because of its high-carbon emissions. Current growth rates in energy consumption in our
industry will make china be increasingly dependent on coal as well as other high-carbon energies, which
will become an obstacle to China’s sustainable development. Therefore, the first thing for us to do is to
optimize the industrial structure and change the existing mode of economic development so as to
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develop China’s low-carbon economy sucessfully.
3 The Measures to Develop a Low-carbon Economy
The goal of developing a low-carbon economy is to cut the energy consumption per unit of GDP and to
achieve the sustainable development and the modernization construction in China. And by 2050, China
will achieve its strategic goal of separating the carbon emissions from the economic development.
Therefore, we should take effective measures to develop a low-carbon economy so as to improve our
living environment, boost our international competitiveness and relieve the international pressure we are
facing.
3.1 Optimizing the industrial structure and improving the energy efficiency
During the course of industrialization, optimizing the industrial structure and improving the energy
efficiency is the most efficient way to reduce the carbon emissions. Therefore, we should speed up the
development of the carbon-free alternatives as well as the renovation, upgrade to the high-carbon
industry in China. Firstly, we should accelerate the research and development of the core technology
involving low-carbon and carbon fixation. Meanwhile, under the support of the relevant technical
standards, incentive policy and tax system, we should try our best to promote the low carbonization
and realize the increasement of energy efficiency. Secondly, we should explore the developing pattern of
low-carbon economy and perfect the attestation work concerning “Low-carbon Industry in China” and
“Low- carbon Products”. At the same time, we should encourage the development of low-carbon
industry. Thirdly, for the purpose of saving energy and reducing emissions, we should speed up
eliminating the backward production capacity and introduce advanced experience and technologies on
energy management from developed countries. For example, with the help of Rockwell Automation,
Yangzi petrochemical company Ltd. can save energy for 10 million KWH per month and save $74,000
per year. Fourthly, we should develop the third industry and the carbon industry so as to increase forest
carbon sink. Forest is the most efficient terrestrial ecosystem which can absorb, fix and store carbon
dioxide. So in order to achieve the goal that the forest coverage rate will reach 23% by 2020, we should
strictly observe theforest cutting quota system to ensure the sustainable development of forest resources.
And on the other hand, we should start the public ecological forest construction and the urban and
rural greening projects.
3.2 Developing and utilizing the renewable energy
China is a large country in the world for its renewable energy. Renewable energy refers to non-fossil
energy of wind energy, solar energy, water energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, and ocean energy,
etc. So reasonably develop and utilize the renewable energy is an effective way to develop the
low-carbon economy and to achieve the sustainable development in China. Therefore, we should
increase R&D investment on the new energy and strengthen the development and utilization of the new
energy and renewable energy so as to push the establishment and development of the renewable energy
market. In order to promote the development and utilization of renewable energy, improve the energy
structure, diversify energy supplies, safeguard energy security, protect the environment and realize the
sustainable development of the economy and society, the Renewable Energy Law of People’s Republic
of China was put in practice on January 1st, 2006. And according to this law, Chinese government will
list the development of utilization of renewable energy as the preferential area for energy development
and can promote the construction and development of the renewable energy market. Meanwhile,
Chinese government should encourages economic entities of all ownerships to participate in the
development and utilization of renewable energy and protect legal rights and interests of the developers
and users of renewable energy on the basis of law. In addition, the relevant energy authorities should
prepare and promulgate development guidance catalogs for renewable energy industries. Furthermore, a
special fund should be set up for the renewable energy so as to cut the relevant cost and avoid some
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risks. While at the stage of commercialization, the financial institutions may grant tax benefits or offer
preferential loan with financial interest subsidy to renewable energy development and utilization
projects.
3.3 Expanding cooperation for low-carbon economy
It should be noticed that the climate change is not only an environmental problem but also a political
problem which is vital to the whole world. Since there is a lot of room for cooperation on economic
development and climate change and energy issues, developing low-carbon economy calls for more
cooperation among countries. In fact, it is our duty to tackle the threats of climate change. Therefore,
both the developed countries and the developing countries should have more multilateral and regional
cooperation. Since most of the developed countries have a lot of advanced technology and experience in
developing low-carbon economy, they are now the leaders in low-carbon technology, energy saving
research, environmental protection legislation, etc. Therefore, the developed countries should share
these technology and experience with the developing countries and help them solve the practical
problems in the process of low-carbon economy development. And on the other hand, as one of the
largest developing countries, China should take the opportunity to launch a series of technological and
fiscal support policies to promote the use of non-fossil, renewable energies including wind, solar,
biomass, geothermal and nuclear power, aiming to increase its proportion of renewable energy
consumption to 15% by 2020.
3.4 Advocating low-carbon lifestyle
Following the Copenhagen Conference, China set a target of cutting the nation’s carbon intensity by 45
percent by 2020 compared with the level of 2005, which bring a great challenge for the government and
people of China. In fact, climate change is not only a concern of the government official, but also an
issue that involves everybody. Therefore, saving energy is every citizen’s responsibility. Now more and
more people have been aware of climate change and environmental issues and are willing to live a
low-carbon life.The so called low-carbon life means reducing carbon dioxide emissions at every
opportunity, it is essentially a lifestyle characterized by low energy, low consumption and low cost. The
low-carbon life can help us live a healthy life and can make the environment more beautiful. Meanwhile,
it can cut our daily spending greatly and relieve the pressure on the earth accordingly. In order to ensure
the successful development of low-carbon economy, we should strengthen the propagandism about
low-carbon economy and low-carbon life, popularize the covering knowledge of life and set up the
concept of low-carbon life, healthy life and green life in the society so as to improve people’s awareness
of environmental protection. In addition, the government can launch a series of environmental
campaigns to advocate the whole society to use energy-saving products such as energy-efficient light
bulbs and solar water heaters to replace traditional products so as to reduce the emissions in our life.
4 Conclusion
The sustainable development of low-carbon economy presents China an opportunity to realize the
transformation of economic growth mode, promotion of economic restructuring and the development of
the international trade. Developing low-carbon economy is not only the demand of China to achieve its
own sustainable development, but also the contribution made by China to the global efforts to fight
climate change. Therefore, we should try our best to develop low-carbon economy to push the
development of the global green economy.
References
[1]. Zhang Ke. Drought Crisis: The Guest to Iceberg. CBN.2010: C02. (in Chinese)
[2]. Li Jifeng. Climate Refugees Forced to Flee away Homes. Shangdu Weekly. 2009. (in Chinese)
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[3]. Wang Haiping. Developed Countries’s Dependence on the Market to Fulfill the Agreement. 21cbh.
2010:024. (in Chinese)
[4]. Huang Yinglai, Huang Yingchuan. The EU to Impose Carbon Tariffs Products Made in China to be
the First. Nanfang Daily. 2010:A09. (in Chinese)
[5]. Statistical Communiqué of the People's Republic of China on the 2010 National Economic and
Social Development. National Bureau of Statistics of China.2011.
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