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Y. Wang
program, and the circular economy models demonstration and promotion program.
These campaigns intend to promote green and low-carbon use and recycling of
resources, opening up new space for green development.
4. Green technology innovation and construction of the standard system have
been strengthened
Technological innovation can bolster high-efficiency and intensive use of energy
and resources and is a key measure to promote green transformation. Since reform
and opening-up started, China has implemented the strategy of reinvigorating the
country through science and education and substantially increased investment in
science and technology. In 2014, China overtook Japan and the EU to become the
world’s second largest economy by R&D investment, with its R&D spending making
up nearly one-fourth of the global total. In 2018, China spent nearly RMB 2 trillion
in R&D, which accounted for 2.19% of its GDP, exceeding the average of 2.1% of
fifteen EU countries. Investment in green technology R&D has also increased significantly. From 1990 to 2014, the number of China’s environment-related patents surged
by 60 times, compared to only three times in OECD countries; the growth rate of
green technology patent applications in the last ten years, especially since 2005, has
exceeded that all technology patent applications. In the meantime, China has reduced
the transfer cost and boosted the demonstration and application of green technology
and promoted the use of new technologies for energy conservation, emission reduction, and comprehensive use of resources. Therefore, green technology innovation
has become a powerful driving force of green development. China has promoted
the unification of green development standards, underlined the role of science and
technology in standard setting, and dynamically raised industry-specific green standards. For instance, the actual energy consumption and emission standard for large
coal-fired units in China has been one of the most stringent in the world. Green
product and service labelling or certification systems have been established based
on international experience, including the standards and labels for production equipment and consumer goods similar to the Energy Star program of the U.S. and the
Blue Angel ecolabel of Germany. In a nutshell, the development and diffusion of
green technology has provided strategic support for China’s green transformation.
5. Green consumption and lifestyles have gained popularity
Green consumption plays a vital role in promoting green production and green development. In recent years, China has vigorously encouraged consumers to buy green
and energy-saving products such as high-efficiency light-emitting devices and watersaving products such as water-saving faucets, toilets, and washing machines. It has
increased efforts in promoting new energy vehicles and stepped up the construction
of electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. From 2012 to 2016, total government
procurement of China’s energy-saving/water-saving products amounted to RMB
746 billion. The number of green consumers on Alibaba’s retail platforms surged
by 14 times from 2012 to 2015, accounting for 16% of active users. According to
estimates, high-efficiency and energy-saving air conditioners, refrigerators, washing
Y. Wang
program, and the circular economy models demonstration and promotion program.
These campaigns intend to promote green and low-carbon use and recycling of
resources, opening up new space for green development.
4. Green technology innovation and construction of the standard system have
been strengthened
Technological innovation can bolster high-efficiency and intensive use of energy
and resources and is a key measure to promote green transformation. Since reform
and opening-up started, China has implemented the strategy of reinvigorating the
country through science and education and substantially increased investment in
science and technology. In 2014, China overtook Japan and the EU to become the
world’s second largest economy by R&D investment, with its R&D spending making
up nearly one-fourth of the global total. In 2018, China spent nearly RMB 2 trillion
in R&D, which accounted for 2.19% of its GDP, exceeding the average of 2.1% of
fifteen EU countries. Investment in green technology R&D has also increased significantly. From 1990 to 2014, the number of China’s environment-related patents surged
by 60 times, compared to only three times in OECD countries; the growth rate of
green technology patent applications in the last ten years, especially since 2005, has
exceeded that all technology patent applications. In the meantime, China has reduced
the transfer cost and boosted the demonstration and application of green technology
and promoted the use of new technologies for energy conservation, emission reduction, and comprehensive use of resources. Therefore, green technology innovation
has become a powerful driving force of green development. China has promoted
the unification of green development standards, underlined the role of science and
technology in standard setting, and dynamically raised industry-specific green standards. For instance, the actual energy consumption and emission standard for large
coal-fired units in China has been one of the most stringent in the world. Green
product and service labelling or certification systems have been established based
on international experience, including the standards and labels for production equipment and consumer goods similar to the Energy Star program of the U.S. and the
Blue Angel ecolabel of Germany. In a nutshell, the development and diffusion of
green technology has provided strategic support for China’s green transformation.
5. Green consumption and lifestyles have gained popularity
Green consumption plays a vital role in promoting green production and green development. In recent years, China has vigorously encouraged consumers to buy green
and energy-saving products such as high-efficiency light-emitting devices and watersaving products such as water-saving faucets, toilets, and washing machines. It has
increased efforts in promoting new energy vehicles and stepped up the construction
of electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. From 2012 to 2016, total government
procurement of China’s energy-saving/water-saving products amounted to RMB
746 billion. The number of green consumers on Alibaba’s retail platforms surged
by 14 times from 2012 to 2015, accounting for 16% of active users. According to
estimates, high-efficiency and energy-saving air conditioners, refrigerators, washing