18 Feb 2008 - 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.
Tan Rui, Communication Officer, WWF-China
