Guidance On Low-Carbon Economy Hesitates In The Game

　　 Up to now, the closely watched Guiding Opinions on the Development of Low Carbon Economy (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions) has not yet been issued. The reporter of Caijing recently learned that the Opinions have been reported to relevant departments, but have not been approved.

Previously, it was widely predicted that the Opinions would be issued at the end of 2009. 2010“ two sessions(NPC and CPPCC) ”During the period, Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that the Opinions were still stepping up research and demonstration, but did not give a specific time for its introduction.

Xu Huaqing, director of the Energy Environment and Climate Change Research Center of the Energy Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, who participated in the formulation of the Opinions, told reporters, "The Opinions have been put on hold for the time being, and the time for its introduction has been postponed."

It is reported that the Opinions were mainly drafted by the Department of Climate Change Response of the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance and other ministries and commissions assisted in the study and formulation of the Opinions.

The main contents of the Opinions include low carbon Economics Define the concept, plan the development of China's low-carbon economy, carry out pilot demonstration of low-carbon economy, pilot carbon emission intensity assessment system, explore the system and mechanism for controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and explore carbon emissions trading in specific regions or industries.

Zhuang Guiyang, director of the Climate Change Economics Research Office of the Institute of Urban Development and Environment of the Academy of Social Sciences, who was exposed to the first draft of the Opinions, told reporters, "It has not been published for so long, and if it is to be published, it must be revised, because there have been many changes in the current situation."

Prepare for the launch

At the World Climate Conference held in Copenhagen in 2009, the Chinese government promised to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40% - 45% by 2020 compared with 2005, while non fossil energy accounted for about 15% of primary energy consumption, on the basis of retaining the existing energy conservation and emission reduction goals.

The 2009 Central Economic Work Conference also clearly proposed that under the big thinking of adjusting the structure to promote transformation, we should promote energy conservation and emission reduction, and carry out low-carbon economy pilot projects.

On March 5, 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council pointed out in the government work report that one of the key tasks in 2010 is to actively respond to climate change. We will vigorously develop low-carbon technologies, promote energy-efficient technologies, and actively develop new and renewable energy. Strive to build an industrial system characterized by low carbon emissions and consumption pattern.

During the "Two Sessions" in 2010, the proposal of the Jiusan Society - "Suggestions on Promoting China's Low Carbon Economic and Social Development" was highly recognized by the National Development and Reform Commission and was listed as the "No. 1 Proposal" of this CPPCC session. The proposal points out that the low-carbon development path should be identified as a major strategy for economic and social development, and the low-carbon economy should be regarded as a new economic growth point, and the low-carbon development path with Chinese characteristics should be regarded as a major strategy to address climate change and promote economic development. When included in the "12th Five Year Plan", it should consider a longer-term plan, readjust the economic structure, plan the layout of industrial development Transform the development mode, optimize the energy structure and improve the efficiency of energy utilization.

With the gradual rise of low-carbon economy to the national strategic level, people from all walks of life have reached the consensus that the development of low-carbon economy is an irreversible trend. However, the controversy surrounding the "low-carbon economy" is still heard, and the related issues are still controversial, which also reflects the reason why the Opinions are difficult to issue.

Wu Changhua, President of the Greater China Region of the Climate Change Organization, was skeptical of the release of the Opinions

In addition, Wu Changhua also questioned the drafting department of the Opinions. The main responsibility of the Department of Climate Change Response of the National Development and Reform Commission is to study climate change issues and deal with climate change. "Low carbon economy is a problem of the whole economic development, and it is inappropriate for (the Department of Climate Change) to act as the drafter."

Pan Jiahua, director of the Institute of Urban Development and Environment of the Academy of Social Sciences, believes that the issuance of the Opinions has been delayed again and again because people from all walks of life are not particularly clear about the definition of low-carbon economy.

However, Pan Jiahua also pointed out that the NDRC's attitude is cautious because the Opinions have not been published yet. "It is worthless to present the Opinions too hastily, and then defects will soon appear."

"The difficulty in issuing the Opinions depends on the understanding, and one of the reasons why the Opinions is difficult to produce is that the high-level government has different understanding of low-carbon economy." Zhuang Guiyang analyzed.

Some experts interviewed by the reporter said that the Opinion is more about promoting the development of low-carbon economy as a national strategy, making statements at the political level, highlighting the importance of developing low-carbon economy. The Opinion will not have specific indicators.

The concept needs to be clarified

At present, China has not clearly defined the connotation and extension of low-carbon economy. Xu Huaqing believes that one of the reasons is that the concept of the Opinions has not yet been clarified.

In February 2003, the concept of low-carbon economy first appeared in the white paper "Our Future Energy - Creating a Low Carbon Economy" issued by the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair. With the conclusion of the Bali Road Map, international action to address climate change has been deepening, and the low-carbon economic development path has attracted more and more international attention.

Low carbon economy refers to an economic form in which both carbon productivity and human development have reached a certain level, aiming to achieve the global common vision of controlling greenhouse gas emissions. It is an economic form, and the process of transition to a low-carbon economy is the process of low-carbon development, with the goal of low-carbon and high growth, and the emphasis on development mode. It is highlighted as the competition of low-carbon technology, focusing on the long-term competitiveness of low-carbon products and industries. It is a long-term development vision, and the transformation process is characterized by stages. Finally, low-carbon economy can be realized through technological leapfrog development and institutional constraints, which is manifested in the improvement of energy efficiency, optimization of energy structure, and rationality of consumption behavior.

In Pan Jiahua's view, the so-called low carbon is mainly divided into the following three situations: first, zero carbon, that is, no carbon emissions; Second, meet certain carbon limit targets; The third is relatively low carbon, comparing carbon emissions with certain reference materials. "The core connotation of low-carbon economy should be low-carbon and relatively low-carbon to meet certain goals."

At present, China is in the middle stage of heavy and chemical industry with rapid development of industrialization and urbanization. Based on the current technological level, zero carbon is unrealistic, and absolute zero carbon is also impossible. For China, the latter two low-carbon technologies are practical and feasible. As long as China fulfills its commitment at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference - on the basis of preserving the existing energy conservation and emission reduction goals, the carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will be reduced by 40% - 45% by 2020 compared with 2005, and the proportion of non fossil energy in primary energy consumption will be about 15%, which can be regarded as making substantive efforts for the low-carbon goal.

Wu Changhua believes that "low-carbon economy" is not a new thing, but actually a development path and development ideas. It is related to and not isolated from sustainable development. For China, low-carbon can be incorporated into sustainable development and energy conservation and emission reduction can be implemented according to its own situation.

Zhuang Guiyang pointed out that there are still some misunderstandings about low-carbon economy. For example, developing low-carbon economy must be high cost, low-carbon economy is just what developed countries do, and energy conservation and emission reduction are equal to low-carbon economy. "The understanding of the high-level government on low-carbon economy is not particularly clear, which requires all parties concerned to work harder and unify their understanding," said Zhuang Guiyang.

Hesitate {page_break} in the game

According to the statistics of the International Energy Agency, China's annual greenhouse gas emissions ranked first in the world in 2007, with per capita emissions exceeding the world average by 5%, and about half of the new global carbon dioxide emissions came from China. At the Copenhagen Conference, China was under great pressure due to its prominent emission status and became the focus of attention of all parties.

However, the independent emission reduction announced by China at the meeting did not bring about the success of Copenhagen Conference, and even led to groundless accusations and slanders from some countries.

Compared with the compromise in Copenhagen, the Climate Change Conference to be held in Cancun, Mexico, at the end of 2010 is expected to be more hopeful. The friction and conflict between countries may be alleviated, so as to reach consensus and balance of interests.

The essence of low-carbon game is the balance between emission rights and development rights. Although China's transition to a low-carbon economy is more of a need for its own development, in the treacherous international environment, the issuance of the Opinions is bound to consider how to ease the pressure in international climate politics, reduce friction with other countries, and create a good international development environment, so as to have more say in international climate negotiations, This is also the reason why all parties hesitate about the text of the Opinions.

Although Copenhagen Conference has not made substantive progress, it has made unprecedented mobilization for global emission reduction. Zhuang Guiyang of the Academy of Social Sciences believes that this can be said to be the beginning of the global response to climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy, "The Copenhagen Conference has set the goal of limiting the temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius higher than that before industrialization, which requires China to significantly reduce carbon emissions. For example, the European Union has proposed that China's carbon emissions curve in 2025 should reach the peak. In addition, China's annual carbon emissions surpass the United States and become the first in the world. The pressure is enormous."

In addition to consideration of international factors, the emerging low carbon economy pilot competition is also one of the factors concerned by relevant departments. According to Zhuang Guiyang, in the first draft of the Opinions, it is proposed to carry out low-carbon economy pilot projects at local and industrial levels. "There will certainly be pilot projects, but not too many, and the Opinions did not specify which places to pilot projects." Cities around the country are bound to strive for pilot places in order to obtain policy preferences. "More than 1000 cities in the region want to do pilot projects, which will greatly increase the reputation of the city," Zhuang Guiyang said.

"All places are asking for rankings. There must be something quantitative. The details have not yet come out, and the National Development and Reform Commission dare not give rankings easily," Wu Changhua said. She believes that in such a disorderly state, the Opinions should be issued as soon as possible to give normative guidance, and policies should not always be in a state of absence.

As for the selection of pilot cities, Zhuang Guiyang suggested that "real representative cities should be selected instead of those cities fishing in troubled waters." "In the case of unclear national policies, some cities may have recognized this opportunity, and cities without foresight and passivity should not be selected as pilot cities."

The same voice comes from the industry. Zhang Yongguang, director of Sinopec's Fuel Oil Products and Additives Research Office, told Caijing that China's commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the Copenhagen Conference "may have been partially completed. As for how to proceed with the remaining amount, we need to make plans and implement them in all industries."

Zhou Changyi, Director of the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, told the reporter of Finance and Economics that "the Department of Energy Conservation and other departments should do specific emission reduction calculations, and then the NDRC should integrate the opinions of all departments."