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low- carbon transition pathway in the building sector, the barriers to implementing the transition, and also the potential negative impacts resulting from the
transition pathway.
Policies for a low- carbon transition in the building sector
China’s low- carbon transition in the building sector is defined by an enabling
set of overarching plans, objectives, and programmes. China’s national medium
and long- term technology development programme (2006–2020) proposes
building energy- efficiency and green building as priority goals for a low- carbon
transition in the building sector. Overarching commitments to the Paris Agreement are highlighted in China’s NDCs, which also placed emphasis on enhancing green building in the whole life cycle of the building sector. Most recently,
the National New- type Urbanization Plan (2014–2020) offered a lifestyle guideline that promotes ‘green production and consumption to be part of the mainstream urban economic life’. The plan proposed to ‘greatly increase the
proportion of energy- saving and water- saving products, recycled products and
green buildings’ to achieve improved building energy conservation. China also
issued a series of work plans that were closely related to building construction
work, which sets a clearer vision for the pathway for low- carbon transition in
the building sector from the supply side.
For promoting energy efficiency in the building sector, both new green building and retrofitting programmes were established. The 13th Five- Year Plan for
Building Energy Efficiency and Green Building Development, released by the
China State Council and the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development (MOHURD) in 2017, set up exact targets for increasing the proportion of
green building and energy- efficient buildings in existing buildings stocks. By
2020, the energy efficiency level of new buildings in urban areas is planned to
increase by 20% compared with 2015. The proportion of urban green building
in new building developments is intended to be increased to 50%, while the
proportion of green building materials used should exceed 40%. Over 500
million square metres of existing residential buildings should receive energysaving renovations. Furthermore, the Energy Development Strategy Action
Plan (2014–2020), released by the China State Council in 2014, has strengthened the actions required to achieve the target for controlling energy consumption and improving energy efficiency. This includes upgrading energy- efficiency
design standards for residential buildings, accelerating the construction of green
buildings and the renovation of existing buildings, setting up energy consumption limits for public buildings, a green building rating and labelling system, promoting energy appliances and green lighting, and reforming heat metering and
transformation of existing buildings.
Several policies have been implemented to increase the use of green energy
in the building sector. The 13th Five- Year Plan for Energy Conservation and
Emission Reduction Programme, released in 2017, sets targets specifically for
ultra- low energy consumption and zero energy consumption, including the use
low- carbon transition pathway in the building sector, the barriers to implementing the transition, and also the potential negative impacts resulting from the
transition pathway.
Policies for a low- carbon transition in the building sector
China’s low- carbon transition in the building sector is defined by an enabling
set of overarching plans, objectives, and programmes. China’s national medium
and long- term technology development programme (2006–2020) proposes
building energy- efficiency and green building as priority goals for a low- carbon
transition in the building sector. Overarching commitments to the Paris Agreement are highlighted in China’s NDCs, which also placed emphasis on enhancing green building in the whole life cycle of the building sector. Most recently,
the National New- type Urbanization Plan (2014–2020) offered a lifestyle guideline that promotes ‘green production and consumption to be part of the mainstream urban economic life’. The plan proposed to ‘greatly increase the
proportion of energy- saving and water- saving products, recycled products and
green buildings’ to achieve improved building energy conservation. China also
issued a series of work plans that were closely related to building construction
work, which sets a clearer vision for the pathway for low- carbon transition in
the building sector from the supply side.
For promoting energy efficiency in the building sector, both new green building and retrofitting programmes were established. The 13th Five- Year Plan for
Building Energy Efficiency and Green Building Development, released by the
China State Council and the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development (MOHURD) in 2017, set up exact targets for increasing the proportion of
green building and energy- efficient buildings in existing buildings stocks. By
2020, the energy efficiency level of new buildings in urban areas is planned to
increase by 20% compared with 2015. The proportion of urban green building
in new building developments is intended to be increased to 50%, while the
proportion of green building materials used should exceed 40%. Over 500
million square metres of existing residential buildings should receive energysaving renovations. Furthermore, the Energy Development Strategy Action
Plan (2014–2020), released by the China State Council in 2014, has strengthened the actions required to achieve the target for controlling energy consumption and improving energy efficiency. This includes upgrading energy- efficiency
design standards for residential buildings, accelerating the construction of green
buildings and the renovation of existing buildings, setting up energy consumption limits for public buildings, a green building rating and labelling system, promoting energy appliances and green lighting, and reforming heat metering and
transformation of existing buildings.
Several policies have been implemented to increase the use of green energy
in the building sector. The 13th Five- Year Plan for Energy Conservation and
Emission Reduction Programme, released in 2017, sets targets specifically for
ultra- low energy consumption and zero energy consumption, including the use