Posted on 15 November
2010
Beijing, China – Addressing
carbon emissions and urban development will
be crucial if China is to continue to improve
well-being without costing the planet, says
a new report launched today.
The “China Ecological
Footprint Report 2010”, jointly published
by WWF and China Council for International
Cooperation on Environment and Development
(CCICED), explores the country’s challenges
and opportunities in an increasingly resource-constrained
world.
Over the past three
decades China’s per capita income has grown
by more than 50 times as a result of economic
development. However, rapid industrialization,
urban development and intensive agriculture
have increased the pressure on nature.
“Our environment is
the basis for life and human development.
Due to rapid social and economic development
in recent years, environmental issues are
increasingly becoming a bottleneck for future
economic growth,” said Zhu Guangyao, Secretary
General of CCICED. “The next twenty years
will be critical for China to realize sustainable
development. With this in mind, it is the
goal of the Chinese government to accelerate
the formation of a resource efficient and
environmentally-friendly society.”
A world consuming resources
and producing wastes at Chinese levels for
2007 would need the equivalent of 1.2 planets
to support its activities, compared to 0.8
of a planet at 2003 Chinese consumption
levels. The global average in 2007 was 1.5
planets, meaning that it would take 1.5
years for the Earth to regenerate the resources
used and to absorb the CO2 emitted that
year.
Carbon emissions and
individual wealth have become the major
factors influencing China’s Ecological Footprint.
“Raising awareness of
China's footprint is a crucial step in China's
efforts to improve the well-being of its
people without jeopardizing their future,”
said Jim Leape, WWF International Director
General. “This analysis tells us that to
achieve its goal of a ‘harmonious society,’
China must find ways to grow its economy
while protecting the natural systems upon
which the economy, and society, depend –
from the Yangtze River to the Amazon forest.”
In 2008, carbon footprint
associated with energy demand for buildings,
transport, consumption of goods and provision
of public services account for more than
half of China’s Ecological Footprint in
29 of China’s 31 provinces. In the municipalities
of Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin, and in
the industrialized province of Shangdong
this portion exceeds 65 percent.
“The analysis clearly
indicated the importance of China moving
quickly to a low carbon development model
and the crucial role that will be played
by energy efficiency, cleaner energy and
the push to sustainable cities,” Leape said.
There are clear differences
between rural and urban areas, primarily
due to income gaps and consequent variations
in consumption and energy utilization.
"Crucial role that
will be played by energy efficiency, cleaner
energy and the push to sustainable cities."
The analysis suggests
that for provinces where per capita GDP
exceeds RMB 30,000 (approximately US$ 4,500),
Ecological Footprint increases in parallel.
In China high-income segments of population
are overwhelmingly located in cities, and
Ecological Footprint of cities is 1.4 to
2.5 times greater than rural areas.
In 2008 Beijing had
the greatest footprint per person and Yunnan
has the smallest. Between 1985 and 2008
Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong and
Chongqing have seen the greatest overall
growth in their footprint per person.
There are, however,
promising signs of China’s attempt to achieve
sustainable development. The rate of increase
in Ecological Footprint has slowed down
in most Chinese provinces during 2005-2008
in comparison to 2000-2005. In Beijing,
this trend is attributed to a more stable
rate of urbanization, together with energy
conservation measures and to the transition
from a manufacturing to a service economy.
“Today China’s global
influence is greater than at any time in
recent history and by reducing pressure
on natural resources through better management
and increased efficiency, the country can
play an important role in sustaining the
global environment while gaining competitiveness,”
Leape said.
