Exploring greener development for Chinese cities

In what could show Chinese cities new ways to grow greener, the cities of Shanghai and Boading have teamed up with WWF in a new Low Carbon City Initiative.

The aim of the partnership is to explore ways to unlink rapid economic growth and energy consumption as a way of reducing the adverse environmental impacts of urban development.

“Cities are an important segment of China’s economic development, but many face the challenges of low energy efficiency and degraded environmental quality”, says Dr. Li Ling, Head of Conservation Strategies at WWF-China.

“Shanghai and Baoding are WWF’s pilot projects to show how all Chinese cities can have a green energy future”

The Low Carbon City Initiative will at first focus on improving energy efficiency in buildings, expanding the use of renewable energy and manufacturing of efficiency products.

WWF will collaborate with the Shanghai Construction and Communication Commission and the Shanghai Institute of Building Science to measure the energy consumption of some public buildings such as offices, hotels and malls.

Once the results are analyzed and publicized, training will be organized on improving the efficiency of these buildings.

WWF will encourage policy research to promote eco-building and set up demonstration projects in Shanghai.

In Baoding, WWF will work with the National Renewable Energy Industrial Production Base and the Administration of Baoding National Hi-Tech Industry Development Zone, to support the design and implementation of sustainable development projects such as a Solar Energy Demonstration City.

It will also work to establish a network for information exchange on policy, to improve co-operation on renewable energy technology and to promote investment and export interest in renewable energy products.

WWF will also promote low carbon development, best practice demonstration sites and energy savings campaigns in other cities throughout China.

“Exploring the path towards a low carbon city development is promising yet challenging, and requires mores participation and support from government, research institutes, companies and international organizations”, said Li Junfeng, Deputy Director of the Energy Research Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission.

A technical advisory group will provide technical and policy support to ensure the initiative will be implemented in harmony with the social and economic development of China.

“As a major emitter with massive energy consumption, China will play a crucial role in any global effort to reduce CO2 emissions. Low carbon cities are the key to ensure tat China’s industry and urban areas develop in a sustainable way”, said WWF Asia Pacific Programme Director Isabelle Louis.