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Future depends on low-carbon economy

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-03 07:46

Countries across the world have to adopt low-carbon economy, widely regarded as the greatest revolution after the Industrial Revolution and the Information Revolution, because it is part of scientific outlook on development, says an article in Outlook Weekly, quoting experts. Excerpt:

An eco-friendly economy will help China remove the threat posed by dwindling resources, environmental pollution and loss of biodiversity. Many metropolises across the world have already started pursuing low-carbon economy (LCE). Britain pioneered the low-carbon solution to energy security and global warming problems, and the European Union, Japan and the US followed its example.

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To effectively implement China's scientific outlook on development, we have to shift our priorities - say goodbye to economic growth that comes at the cost of the environment, and maintain harmonious coexistence between man and nature by seeking recourse to an LCE.

Low-carbon cities can help improve the capability of sustainable growth. China's sustainable development is being increasingly threatened because it still depends on conventional energy sources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. Technological innovation and mechanism reconstruction can boost the shift from industrial society to ecological society. By building an eco-friendly society, China will strengthen its capacity to tackle climate change.

Furthermore, if China becomes an LCE it will have the chance to sharpen its edge in the new round of global competitions. Low-carbon technologies will undoubtedly become the world's leading productive force in the coming decades. China should try every means to grasp key technology in advance, and lay a solid base for the development of LCE and low-carbon industries.

(China Daily 09/03/2009 page9)