Chinese cities adopt low carbon initiative

Chinese cities Shanghai and Baoding have joined a new WWF initiative promoting low carbon development in China’s urban areas. The Low Carbon City Initiative will focus on increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, renewable energy and manufacturing more efficient products. WWF aims to break the link between rapid economic growth and increasing carbon emissions.

“Cities are an important segment of China’s economic development but many face the challenges of low energy efficiency and degraded environmental quality,” said Dr. Li Lin, Head of Conservation Strategies at WWF-China. “The Low Carbon City Initiative is about finding a sustainable development mode for China’s urban areas - through studying current energy production and utilisation patterns and developing new economic approaches for cleaner growth. Shanghai and Baoding are WWF’s pilot projects to show how all Chinese cities can have a green energy future.”

Initially the energy consumption of selected public buildings will be monitored. The statistics will be audited and made public, followed by training in ways to increase energy efficiency. Additionally, WWF will foster policy research to promote eco-building and set up demonstration projects in Shanghai.

In Baoding, WWF will work with local organisations to implement sustainable development projects such as a Solar Energy Demonstration City and a production base for renewable energy technologies. In addition, it will support the establishment of an information network to spread knowledge of renewable energy. WWF will promote low carbon development policies, best practice demonstration and energy saving campaigns in other cities throughout China.

“Exploring the path towards a low carbon city development is promising yet challenging, and requires more participation and support from governments, research institutes, companies and international organisations. We hope the Low Carbon City Initiative can forge effective collaboration contributing to China’s goal of reducing 20 per cent of energy consumption by the end of the 11th Five-year Plan,” said Li Junfeng, Deputy Director of the Energy Research Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission.

WWF Asia Pacific Programme Director Isabelle Louis said “With a rapid economic development and increasing energy consumption, China is playing a crucial role in global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. The Low Carbon City Initiative is an example where government, business and NGOs are already coming together to demonstrate clear actions for climate change solutions.”