China 177
Even though mixed quantitative and qualitative methods have been applied
in this research, the outcomes have been limited by missing data for some of the
target areas, such as Shanghai and other cities in southern areas. This may
create barriers to the comparative analysis of transition risks and uncertainties
among different climate zones. Currently there are overarching energy efficiency
objectives at the national level, and some city- level energy efficiency initiatives
in Beijing and Shanghai, but limited guidance on energy efficiency actions in
different climate zones. The preferences and indoor behaviour of stakeholders
are not well understood at the higher policy levels, thus a ‘blanket’ approach is
taken to address energy efficiency issues in the same manner in all regions. More
time needs to be taken to understand buildings’ end users in different climatic
zones and to design policies that reflect the different conditions and behaviour
in order to maximise the impact of energy efficiency measures. Overall, this
research has listed and discussed certain implemental and consequential risks in
the green transition, but there is still uncertainty about what the priority risks
are that need to be addressed in the present and future green transition.
There were some limitations to this study, as the risk and uncertainties assessment assumed that there were no drastic changes in the political environment
and regulations. Stakeholders did not make reference to the impacts of political
factors on green transitions. This could be due to the fact that China’s political
system has been stable over past decades and there has been strong policy
support from the central government to push forward decarbonisation efforts.
However, there are still uncertainties linked to how provincial government may
implement national policies considering the varied socio- economic conditions
and institutional capacity across provinces.
Moving forward, there are synergies linked with promoting energy efficiency
pathways and addressing broader environmental initiatives and challenges. For
instance, energy efficiency efforts can be promoted to reduce air pollution in
Chinese cities. Air pollution is linked to emissions from energy generation and
consumption for both private and industrial uses. Decarbonising the energy
systems and improving energy efficiency in the energy system, as well as the transport sector, will therefore also lead to reducing air pollutants in cities. Additionally, China’s Nationally Determined Contributions for the Paris Agreement
specifically promote a ‘low- carbon way of life’ through behavioural changes that
are directed at society and public institutions. Changes can occur through educating citizens to have more green, sustainable, and healthy ways of life, along with
promoting low- carbon consumption patterns. Public institutions, including government buildings, hospitals, higher education campuses, and military buildings,
are to take lead on promoting low- carbon initiatives and reducing waste.
This chapter introduces key elements to understand China’s low- carbon
transition trajectory. However, there are other related but hidden drivers of
China’s low- carbon transition, such as technology transfers from other advanced
economies, which in turn created a wave of technological start- ups. For
instance, local governments and fierce competition among regions created
business- friendly environments driving the rise of the PV industry.
Even though mixed quantitative and qualitative methods have been applied
in this research, the outcomes have been limited by missing data for some of the
target areas, such as Shanghai and other cities in southern areas. This may
create barriers to the comparative analysis of transition risks and uncertainties
among different climate zones. Currently there are overarching energy efficiency
objectives at the national level, and some city- level energy efficiency initiatives
in Beijing and Shanghai, but limited guidance on energy efficiency actions in
different climate zones. The preferences and indoor behaviour of stakeholders
are not well understood at the higher policy levels, thus a ‘blanket’ approach is
taken to address energy efficiency issues in the same manner in all regions. More
time needs to be taken to understand buildings’ end users in different climatic
zones and to design policies that reflect the different conditions and behaviour
in order to maximise the impact of energy efficiency measures. Overall, this
research has listed and discussed certain implemental and consequential risks in
the green transition, but there is still uncertainty about what the priority risks
are that need to be addressed in the present and future green transition.
There were some limitations to this study, as the risk and uncertainties assessment assumed that there were no drastic changes in the political environment
and regulations. Stakeholders did not make reference to the impacts of political
factors on green transitions. This could be due to the fact that China’s political
system has been stable over past decades and there has been strong policy
support from the central government to push forward decarbonisation efforts.
However, there are still uncertainties linked to how provincial government may
implement national policies considering the varied socio- economic conditions
and institutional capacity across provinces.
Moving forward, there are synergies linked with promoting energy efficiency
pathways and addressing broader environmental initiatives and challenges. For
instance, energy efficiency efforts can be promoted to reduce air pollution in
Chinese cities. Air pollution is linked to emissions from energy generation and
consumption for both private and industrial uses. Decarbonising the energy
systems and improving energy efficiency in the energy system, as well as the transport sector, will therefore also lead to reducing air pollutants in cities. Additionally, China’s Nationally Determined Contributions for the Paris Agreement
specifically promote a ‘low- carbon way of life’ through behavioural changes that
are directed at society and public institutions. Changes can occur through educating citizens to have more green, sustainable, and healthy ways of life, along with
promoting low- carbon consumption patterns. Public institutions, including government buildings, hospitals, higher education campuses, and military buildings,
are to take lead on promoting low- carbon initiatives and reducing waste.
This chapter introduces key elements to understand China’s low- carbon
transition trajectory. However, there are other related but hidden drivers of
China’s low- carbon transition, such as technology transfers from other advanced
economies, which in turn created a wave of technological start- ups. For
instance, local governments and fierce competition among regions created
business- friendly environments driving the rise of the PV industry.