3 Low-Carbon Transition (Peaking) of Chinese Cities: The Case …
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The city’s chronic smog in recent years has also, in some measure, tarnished the
reputation of the city and the country as a whole.
2. The Revolution of Energy Production and Consumption has Put Higher Demand
for Beijing’s Energy Conservation and New Energy Utilization.
The pattern of energy use in Beijing is undergoing major shifts, with the service
industry and residential consumption making up over 60% of the total and
becoming major energy consumers. Unlike others, such consumption is scattered across the large expanse of the city, thus calling for intensive research
on more energy-saving tools and measures. In the meantime, hampered by its
resource endowment, long cycle of project construction and other factors, the
city struggles to increase the uptake of new and renewable energy. Therefore, it’s
essential to promptly roll out projects for the utilization of new and renewable
energy. Advancing the revolution of energy production and consumption represents the ultimate solution and key avenue for building ecological civilization
and securing low-carbon growth. It’s important to shift away from the traditional energy strategy that prioritizes energy supply to guide and regulate energy
demand with the aim of building ecological civilization, and vigorously boost
new and renewable sources of energy.
3. The Strategic Positioning of Beijing and Coordinated Development of BeijingTianjin-Hebei Region Puts Higher Demands for Low-carbon Development
Green and low-carbon development is part and parcel and a strategic measure
for Beijing to strengthen the city’s strategic positioning as the “four centers”
of China, to build a world leading harmonious and livable city, and to promote
the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. During the
period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, energy conservation, emission reduction and
carbon reduction has been indispensable for accelerating the transfer of noncapital functions of Beijing, boosting the quality and efficiency of economic
growth, and intensive treatment of “metropolitan malaise”. All these require
greener and lower carbon footprint of the city.
4. The National and Beijing’s Commitment to Emission Reduction Determines the
Urgency of Building an International Low-carbon City
During the 2014 APEC Beijing Meeting in Beijing, China and the United States
issued the Joint Statement on Climate Change, in which China pledged to
peak carbon dioxide emissions by around 2030. At the first China-US ClimateSmart/Low-carbon Cities Summit, Beijing set a goal of peaking emissions
10 years ahead of the rest of the country. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
bidding report also clearly stated the goal of neutralizing carbon emissions from
the 2022 Winter Olympics. To honor its commitment to the Winter Olympics,
Beijing must fully embrace the notion of sustainable development, create a better
ecological environment and score new achievements of green and low-carbon
development of Beijing.
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The city’s chronic smog in recent years has also, in some measure, tarnished the
reputation of the city and the country as a whole.
2. The Revolution of Energy Production and Consumption has Put Higher Demand
for Beijing’s Energy Conservation and New Energy Utilization.
The pattern of energy use in Beijing is undergoing major shifts, with the service
industry and residential consumption making up over 60% of the total and
becoming major energy consumers. Unlike others, such consumption is scattered across the large expanse of the city, thus calling for intensive research
on more energy-saving tools and measures. In the meantime, hampered by its
resource endowment, long cycle of project construction and other factors, the
city struggles to increase the uptake of new and renewable energy. Therefore, it’s
essential to promptly roll out projects for the utilization of new and renewable
energy. Advancing the revolution of energy production and consumption represents the ultimate solution and key avenue for building ecological civilization
and securing low-carbon growth. It’s important to shift away from the traditional energy strategy that prioritizes energy supply to guide and regulate energy
demand with the aim of building ecological civilization, and vigorously boost
new and renewable sources of energy.
3. The Strategic Positioning of Beijing and Coordinated Development of BeijingTianjin-Hebei Region Puts Higher Demands for Low-carbon Development
Green and low-carbon development is part and parcel and a strategic measure
for Beijing to strengthen the city’s strategic positioning as the “four centers”
of China, to build a world leading harmonious and livable city, and to promote
the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. During the
period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, energy conservation, emission reduction and
carbon reduction has been indispensable for accelerating the transfer of noncapital functions of Beijing, boosting the quality and efficiency of economic
growth, and intensive treatment of “metropolitan malaise”. All these require
greener and lower carbon footprint of the city.
4. The National and Beijing’s Commitment to Emission Reduction Determines the
Urgency of Building an International Low-carbon City
During the 2014 APEC Beijing Meeting in Beijing, China and the United States
issued the Joint Statement on Climate Change, in which China pledged to
peak carbon dioxide emissions by around 2030. At the first China-US ClimateSmart/Low-carbon Cities Summit, Beijing set a goal of peaking emissions
10 years ahead of the rest of the country. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
bidding report also clearly stated the goal of neutralizing carbon emissions from
the 2022 Winter Olympics. To honor its commitment to the Winter Olympics,
Beijing must fully embrace the notion of sustainable development, create a better
ecological environment and score new achievements of green and low-carbon
development of Beijing.