To control both total volume and intensity of energy consumption is an important means to address tighter resource constraints and reduce emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases from the source. It is also an effective way to change the pattern of economic development. After years of efforts, the control of total volume and intensity of energy consumption in China has shown overall positive momentum. Particularly in the first half of this year, China's energy consumption per unit of GDP saw a decrease of 2% on a year-on-year basis. In this context, an increase, rather than a decrease, of energy consumption intensity in some provinces (regions) has naturally attracted social attention.
Reasons for the above situation are complicated. A city, as an important carrier to achieve the dual-carbon goal, should seek coordinated development of urban economy, the society and ecology in daily governance, and integrate production factors such as capital, land, labor, technology, information and knowledge in the process of moving towards the dual-carbon goal. Therefore, the control of carbon emissions based on the law of urban governance is an important reference path to achieve the goal of "dual carbon" scientifically, efficiently and prudently. We suggest that attention can be given to the following three aspects:
The first is to properly deal with the "acceptance" of reducing urban carbon emissions. According to research, carbon peak in developed countries is generally achieved naturally in the process of economic development, rather than being assigned as a task, while China has taken the initiative to set out the timeline target for carbon peak. Compared with developed countries, China is in face of much more difficulties in achieving carbon peak target, and will face great challenges and huge pressure of carbon neutrality in the future, in view of the actual conditions of large-scale heavy chemical industry and high proportion of coal. Therefore, local governments have put forward a series of requirements for energy consumption control, structural adjustment and safety guarantee, particularly emphasizing a "safe carbon emission cut" and an avoidance of the campaign style which will impact economic and social stability.
The second is to grasp the law of urban development. In the practical work of "dual carbon", cities’ development stage and industries shall be accurately positioned to make sure basic production and life are carried out in accordance with objective laws, and rigid energy demands of residents' life, urban operation and service industry development, including various civil buildings and urban public transportation, are well satisfied. At the same time, based on development plans of each region, the growth of energy demand during the 14th and 15th Five-Year Plan Periods shall be accurately forecast, and green products and new energy technologies shall be promoted to help tap the potential of energy saving. In addition, with a philosophy of "supporting development", the energy demand from advanced manufacturing, modern service industries and science & innovation industries with low energy load shall be given priority, based on the current situation of energy consumption in pillar industries.
The third is to properly deal with the relation between the work of the 14th and 15th Five-Year Plans. To achieve the carbon peak by 2030, we have to make overall plans for energy consumption and carbon emissions during the 14th and 15th Five-Year-Plan periods, and make sure carbon emissions can reach a plateau and decline steadily. Based on the above work, the energy consumption and carbon emissions in 2025 and 2030 shall be figured out. Then major projects and low-carbon transformation of energy structure shall be planned out in advance. In the two five-year-plan periods respectively, the layout of scientific research and innovation shall speed up in key areas in order to lay a foundation for carbon neutrality after carbon peak. The key areas include energy saving, far-off sea wind power, energy storage and smart grid, controlled nuclear fusion power generation, green hydrogen production, zero-carbon steel making, bio-based polymer chemical industry, biomass aviation fuel, nuclear-powered vessels, carbon capture and storage and carbon dioxide utilization, etc.
Issued on Oct. 28, 2021
Liu Hanbin, researcher of the Center for Research of Environmental Economy, Fudan University Wang Xintong, postgraduate of School of Economics, Fudan University