Zhuang Guiyang
Abstract: The theme of World Environment Day in 2008 is "Changing traditional ideas and promoting low-carbon economy". All parts of the world practice the concept of low-carbon economy in cities and compete to develop low-carbon cities. Shanghai, Baoding and other cities began to pilot low-carbon economy demonstration zones. In view of China's huge development and emission reduction potential, it is a great strategy to take the road of industrialization and urbanization with low-carbon cities as the mainstay.
The first is to establish a low-carbon economy demonstration province (region) with the nature of a special zone.
With the rapid warming of climate change and the deepening of international action to deal with climate change, the concept of low-carbon economy has attracted more and more attention from the world. The United Nations Environment Programme has set the theme of World Environment Day in 2008 as "changing traditional ideas and promoting low-carbon economy", hoping that the concept of low-carbon economy will quickly become the knowledge of decision makers at all levels.
In addition to the European Union countries such as Britain, it is expected that the low-carbon economy will continue to lead the world economy in the post-industrial revolution era. Japan, with its long-term accumulated energy efficiency and technological advantages, and its strong technology in the development and utilization of new and renewable energy, proposes to make Japan the first low-carbon society in the world. The United States has always attached great importance to the importance of technological progress in the future economic competition, constantly promoted the research and development and innovation of a new generation of clean energy technologies, and advocated the establishment of various mechanisms, including the International Clean Energy Technology Fund, in order to gain greater national interests in the future low-carbon economic competition.
At present, many big cities in the world have begun to practice the concept of low-carbon economy on a city basis, and are proud of building and developing low-carbon cities. At the beginning of 2008, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched a "low-carbon city" development demonstration project in Chinese mainland, taking Shanghai and Baoding as pilot cities, hoping to sum up feasible models in the fields of building energy conservation, renewable energy and manufacturing and application of energy-saving products in these two pilot cities, and then promote them to the whole country one after another.
From a global perspective, the practice of low-carbon economy in various places is spontaneous and bottom-up, but there is a lack of clear concept definition, economic methodology description and comprehensive evaluation system. In view of China's huge development and emission reduction potential, the international community urgently hopes to carry out research and demonstration on low-carbon economy in China, share information and accumulate experience.
In fact, the transition to a low-carbon economy should be a comprehensive optimization from industrial structure to energy structure, and a comprehensive transformation from production mode to lifestyle. In March, 2008, the research report jointly issued by the Urban Development and Environment Research Center of China Academy of Social Sciences, the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Royal Institute of International Affairs clearly suggested to the governments of China and the EU member states: explore the establishment of low-carbon economy demonstration provinces (regions) with the nature of special zones in the economically prosperous east and underdeveloped west of China, so as to make them international models of the low-carbon industrial process in China, thus demonstrating the vitality of low-carbon economy, which is no less significant than the special economic zones of that year.
Secondly, cities are scrambling to build low-carbon economy business cards.
At present, although the relevant departments have not made specific provisions on the bid and acceptance of low-carbon economic demonstration zones, there is a high voice for developing low-carbon economy and launching low-carbon pilot projects. With the active attention and promotion of domestic academic circles and social forces, at present, in addition to Beijing, Shanghai and Baoding, Zhuhai, Hangzhou, Tangshan, Jilin and other places have expressed strong interest in taking the lead in creating low-carbon economic demonstration zones and low-carbon cities in China.
In the process of building a "low-carbon city", Shanghai attaches great importance to the investigation and statistics of building energy consumption, and chooses pilot projects from large commercial buildings such as office buildings, hotels and shopping malls to make energy consumption public and conduct energy audits to improve the energy efficiency of large buildings. At the same time, the property management personnel of public buildings are trained to improve their energy-saving operation ability.
Baoding draws lessons from the development model of "Silicon Valley" in California, USA, and puts forward the idea of building "China Electric Valley". Relying on Baoding National High-tech Zone's new energy and energy equipment industrial base and well-known leading enterprises at home and abroad in the region, it will build seven industrial parks, namely photovoltaic, wind power, power transmission and transformation equipment, new energy storage, high efficiency and energy saving, power electronic devices, power automation and power software. "China Electric Valley Low-carbon Baoding" has become a new bright spot and brand in Baoding's industrial development and urban construction, and ushered in a brand-new development situation in Baoding.
Hangzhou proposes to take the lead in building a "low-carbon industry" and a "low-carbon city" in China, and regards it as a highlight of the strategy of building a city around the environment in the planning of the top ten new cities along the Yangtze River in Hangzhou, so as to optimize the ecological environment and enhance the urban functions. Hangzhou, which focuses on urban transportation, is the first urban bus week and car-free day in China, and takes the lead in shouting the slogan of "green travel". Moreover, Hangzhou promises to give priority to the development of public transport, give play to the leading role of the government and accelerate the construction of "six major transport systems".
Zhuhai CPPCC invited domestic experts and institutions to Zhuhai for investigation and evaluation according to the suggestion of Zhuhai CPPCC members on bidding for a low-carbon economy demonstration zone, and concluded that Zhuhai has the conditions to bid for a low-carbon economy demonstration zone in terms of economic base, environmental conditions, industrial structure, land reserve, talent base and convenient foreign exchange. On this basis, Zhuhai CPPCC put forward the chairman's proposal to Zhuhai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and the party secretary and mayor have given instructions. The Municipal Economic and Trade Bureau and the Environmental Protection Bureau have begun to prepare relevant work plans.
From June 5th, 2008 to 10, Wang Yang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, gave instructions to Guangdong to take the lead in developing low-carbon economy. The Policy Research Office of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee has carried out joint research with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Economic and Trade Commission, the Provincial Science and Technology Department, the Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau and the General Office of Zhuhai Municipal Government, and put forward the opinion that Guangdong Province and Zhuhai City should take the lead in developing low-carbon economy.
Cities all over the world are very keen to establish low-carbon economy demonstration zones or low-carbon cities, because low-carbon city business cards can bring many opportunities for urban development. First of all, the development of low-carbon economy is essentially consistent with the country's ongoing construction of a resource-saving and environment-friendly society, which is a concrete manifestation of the implementation and implementation of Scientific Outlook on Development; Secondly, combine energy conservation and emission reduction with eco-city construction, develop a low-carbon economy, promote and coordinate priority development areas in various places, and strengthen local sustainable development; Third, the development of low-carbon economy can create opportunities for international cooperation: at present, under the framework of China-EU strategic cooperation, energy and climate change are the focus of cooperation, and EU member States are taking active actions in developing low-carbon economy and mitigating climate change, hoping to help developing countries develop low-carbon economy through low-carbon economic investment and trade; Fourth, the focus of low-carbon economy is a new round of global competition marked by "low-carbon economy" in the coming decades. Developing low-carbon economy can enhance economic competitiveness.
Third, the connotation of low-carbon city construction
China is in the process of rapid industrialization and urbanization. Effective use of energy, formulation and implementation of China's low-carbon development strategy, and strengthening urban public governance have become the key tasks of the city, which coincides with advocating a low-carbon economy with low energy consumption and low pollution. How to build a low-carbon city?
First of all, we should clarify the connotation of low-carbon city, define the concept of low-carbon city, scientifically define the boundary of urban development, and make efficient use of land and energy.
Secondly, based on the dominant index system of regional environment and resource constraints, the quantitative index system and evaluation standard of low-carbon cities are established and incorporated into the urban planning system and evaluation system.
Third, scientific urban planning is the first step to build a low-carbon city. Because of the rigidity of urban planning in China, once it is formed and implemented, it is difficult to change. Therefore, the planning and design of low-carbon cities should make urban economy have vigorous development vitality, clean environmental quality and ecological protection, convenient and comfortable transportation system, livable green buildings, clean and efficient low-carbon energy and healthy and rational lifestyle.
Fourth, the industrial layout of low-carbon cities should be low-carbon and circular. Cities are the focus of economic growth, and the new industrial layout can inject vitality into the economic development of cities and provide employment opportunities. Implementing circular economy and clean production is the principle and direction that low-carbon city construction must adhere to.
Fifth, low-carbon cities should promote the development of tertiary industry and the utilization of new energy. China's economic structure is bound to change. The key goal is to change the existing model of high resource input, high pollution and low efficiency. One of the effective measures is to actively develop the tertiary industry and "green energy".
Sixth, build a green transportation system, advocate and implement the priority and leading mode of public transportation. The transportation strategy of low-carbon cities can be realized from two aspects: controlling the number of private transportation trips; Reduce the carbon emissions of units and private vehicles.
Seventh, develop green buildings. Green building refers to a building that saves resources (energy, land, water and materials) to the maximum extent, protects the environment and reduces pollution, provides people with a healthy, applicable and efficient space, and lives in harmony with nature. At present, people still have some misunderstandings about green buildings, such as expensive buildings, rigid buildings, green buildings, high-tech buildings and so on.
Eighth, advocate green consumption. Relevant research shows that during the period of 1999-2002, the domestic energy consumption of urban residents has accounted for about 26% of the national energy consumption every year, and 30% of carbon dioxide emissions are caused by residents' living behaviors and the need to meet these behaviors. Cities should advocate and implement low-carbon sustainable consumption mode, and try to reduce the use of products that consume more energy while maintaining a high standard of living.
(Editor Cao Chunling)
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Zhuang Guiyang, a researcher at the Urban Development and Environment Research Center of China Academy of Social Sciences, said. He is the author of Low-carbon Economy: China's Development under the Background of Climate Change.