1 China’s Energy Transition Strategy in the Context of Global …
13
shape (Ministry of Transportation 2017). It was also related the change in people’s
consumption pattern and life style, as could be seen in the popular ownership of
private cars. The number of private cars in 2015 was over ten times that of 2005
(Wang 2016). This trend had pushed up oil imports, which posed increasing threat to
energy security. Meanwhile, it had led to substantial increase in pollutants and CO 2
emissions (the proportion of carbon emissions rose by 9.5%), worsening urban air
pollution, thus becoming a major contributor to carbon emissions.
The Growth in CO 2 Emissions from Road Freight and Shipping Slowed Down
The growth of energy use from trucks and ships slowed down, with growth rate
less than 50% (other transportation modes witnessed over 100% increase in energy
consumption), and there was no significant rise in carbon emissions. This was closely
associated with economic transition. In 2015, the tertiary industry as a percentage of
GDP exceeded 50% for the first time. As the tertiary industry required less physical
goods than the other two during that period, the overall demand for freight transport
and shipping cooled down.
1.3.3.2 Building
The Proportion of Energy Consumption in Building Fell, Among Which
the Energy Consumption of Space Cooling/Heating and Hot Water Systems
Increased Significantly
The share of energy consumption from building dropped by 6.0% over a decade,
which was a stark contrast to the industrial sector. This was largely due to improved
building energy efficiency. In the building passive system, space cooling/heating saw
the greatest increase in energy consumption, and occupation ratio of the hot water
system showed the highest increase (up by 4.9%). This change was mainly driven by
rising living standards of residents, pursuit for quality of life, the need for personal
hygiene, and the continuous upgrading of regional hot water supply.
Appliances Saw Lower Proportion in Energy Consumption, but with Surging
CO 2 Emissions
Despite only 19% growth rate in energy use, home appliances reported 158% growth
rate in CO 2 emissions, with a spike in carbon emissions per unit of energy consumption. This was mainly because during the replacement of traditional home appliances, most of the traditional biomass-based devices ceased to exist (e.g.: wood fire
stoves replaced by rice cookers, gas stoves, etc.), while biomass was considered
carbon neutral. This accounted for the dramatic rise in carbon emissions despite
small changes in total energy use.
13
shape (Ministry of Transportation 2017). It was also related the change in people’s
consumption pattern and life style, as could be seen in the popular ownership of
private cars. The number of private cars in 2015 was over ten times that of 2005
(Wang 2016). This trend had pushed up oil imports, which posed increasing threat to
energy security. Meanwhile, it had led to substantial increase in pollutants and CO 2
emissions (the proportion of carbon emissions rose by 9.5%), worsening urban air
pollution, thus becoming a major contributor to carbon emissions.
The Growth in CO 2 Emissions from Road Freight and Shipping Slowed Down
The growth of energy use from trucks and ships slowed down, with growth rate
less than 50% (other transportation modes witnessed over 100% increase in energy
consumption), and there was no significant rise in carbon emissions. This was closely
associated with economic transition. In 2015, the tertiary industry as a percentage of
GDP exceeded 50% for the first time. As the tertiary industry required less physical
goods than the other two during that period, the overall demand for freight transport
and shipping cooled down.
1.3.3.2 Building
The Proportion of Energy Consumption in Building Fell, Among Which
the Energy Consumption of Space Cooling/Heating and Hot Water Systems
Increased Significantly
The share of energy consumption from building dropped by 6.0% over a decade,
which was a stark contrast to the industrial sector. This was largely due to improved
building energy efficiency. In the building passive system, space cooling/heating saw
the greatest increase in energy consumption, and occupation ratio of the hot water
system showed the highest increase (up by 4.9%). This change was mainly driven by
rising living standards of residents, pursuit for quality of life, the need for personal
hygiene, and the continuous upgrading of regional hot water supply.
Appliances Saw Lower Proportion in Energy Consumption, but with Surging
CO 2 Emissions
Despite only 19% growth rate in energy use, home appliances reported 158% growth
rate in CO 2 emissions, with a spike in carbon emissions per unit of energy consumption. This was mainly because during the replacement of traditional home appliances, most of the traditional biomass-based devices ceased to exist (e.g.: wood fire
stoves replaced by rice cookers, gas stoves, etc.), while biomass was considered
carbon neutral. This accounted for the dramatic rise in carbon emissions despite
small changes in total energy use.