2 Research on Urbanization and Low-Carbon Development in China
45
local governments worked together to shut down a great many enterprises that were
energy intensive, highly polluting and with low capacity, and rampped up investment in pollution treatment and ecological improvement. These policies proved to
be effective in driving energy conservation and emission reduction.
From the regional standpoint, urbanization in east China is relatively fast, especially in some coastal areas, which saw a high level of urbanization. Cities like
Shanghai and Guangzhou have even come to the later stage of urbanization. In
contrast, the central China is trailing way behind, despite the relatively high urbanization level in some economically developed cities or regions. West China, due to its
mostly poor natural conditions, fares much worse in this regard, with only a handful of
exceptions (Houkai 2014). After reform and opening up in 1978, the per capita GDP
of the east grew considerably faster than that of the central and western regions, and
that of the central region was faster than that of the west. East China got a head start
in its development thanks to its geographical location at the coast, attracting a large
number of industrial enterprises. As the region flourished, it came to lend a helping
hand to its central and western peers. Starting 2000, central China has witnessed
a declining proportion of its primary industry, and its secondary industry exceeded
50% of local GDP in 2008. West China also underwent industrial restructuring, with
the share of the primary industry falling gradually. But its secondary industry has
never passed the 50% mark. In a word, the level of urbanization in China is marked
by a tiered pattern, higher in the eastern region and lower in the west, which corresponds to the greater carbon emissions in the east and less emissions in the west.
This is largely consistent with the geographical distribution of China’s economic
development.
2.2.3 Future Trend of China’s Urbanization and Carbon
Emissions
The National Plan for a New Type of Urbanization (2014–2020)
1 indicates that
China’s urban share of population would hit 60% by 2020, a goal that has been
attained ahead of time in 2019. By the end of 2019, 60.60% of China’s population lived in cities, which translated to 848.43 million permanent urban residents,
an increase of 17.06 million over the previous year. The number of rural residents
stood at 551.62 million, 12.39 million less than that at the end of the previous year.
At present, a gap still exists between urbanization in China and that in major developed countries. Over 90% of Japanese population are urban dwellers, over 80% in
the United States, and around 75% in Germany. According to the 17th Report on
China’s Urban Ccompetitiveness
2 issued by the National Academy of Economic
1 In March 2014, The CPC Central Committee and State Council issued The National Plan for a
New Type of Urbanization (2014–2020).
2 In June 2019, CASS and Economic Daily jointly released the 17th Report on China’s Urban
Ccompetitiveness issued by the National Academy of Economic Strategy of CASS.
45
local governments worked together to shut down a great many enterprises that were
energy intensive, highly polluting and with low capacity, and rampped up investment in pollution treatment and ecological improvement. These policies proved to
be effective in driving energy conservation and emission reduction.
From the regional standpoint, urbanization in east China is relatively fast, especially in some coastal areas, which saw a high level of urbanization. Cities like
Shanghai and Guangzhou have even come to the later stage of urbanization. In
contrast, the central China is trailing way behind, despite the relatively high urbanization level in some economically developed cities or regions. West China, due to its
mostly poor natural conditions, fares much worse in this regard, with only a handful of
exceptions (Houkai 2014). After reform and opening up in 1978, the per capita GDP
of the east grew considerably faster than that of the central and western regions, and
that of the central region was faster than that of the west. East China got a head start
in its development thanks to its geographical location at the coast, attracting a large
number of industrial enterprises. As the region flourished, it came to lend a helping
hand to its central and western peers. Starting 2000, central China has witnessed
a declining proportion of its primary industry, and its secondary industry exceeded
50% of local GDP in 2008. West China also underwent industrial restructuring, with
the share of the primary industry falling gradually. But its secondary industry has
never passed the 50% mark. In a word, the level of urbanization in China is marked
by a tiered pattern, higher in the eastern region and lower in the west, which corresponds to the greater carbon emissions in the east and less emissions in the west.
This is largely consistent with the geographical distribution of China’s economic
development.
2.2.3 Future Trend of China’s Urbanization and Carbon
Emissions
The National Plan for a New Type of Urbanization (2014–2020)
1 indicates that
China’s urban share of population would hit 60% by 2020, a goal that has been
attained ahead of time in 2019. By the end of 2019, 60.60% of China’s population lived in cities, which translated to 848.43 million permanent urban residents,
an increase of 17.06 million over the previous year. The number of rural residents
stood at 551.62 million, 12.39 million less than that at the end of the previous year.
At present, a gap still exists between urbanization in China and that in major developed countries. Over 90% of Japanese population are urban dwellers, over 80% in
the United States, and around 75% in Germany. According to the 17th Report on
China’s Urban Ccompetitiveness
2 issued by the National Academy of Economic
1 In March 2014, The CPC Central Committee and State Council issued The National Plan for a
New Type of Urbanization (2014–2020).
2 In June 2019, CASS and Economic Daily jointly released the 17th Report on China’s Urban
Ccompetitiveness issued by the National Academy of Economic Strategy of CASS.