Focus

Industrial zones come clean due to green drive

By Li Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-11 08:21

Cautious approach

Although the "low-carbon concept" has become a popular tag for authorities across China, officials in pilot areas were extremely cautious when talking to China Daily. Some even refused to be interviewed, saying that the issue is "too sensitive".

Facing the trade-off between environment and income, those who did comment said they need clearer signals from the central government.

"To put it frankly, which one do you want: low carbon or GDP?" asked Wu Hong, who works for the development and reform commission in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, who believes that turning green will surely result in a slowdown of economic growth.

Wu Changhua, Greater China director for The Climate Group, a British-based think tank, agreed and added: "I've met many Chinese officials who are really inspired by green practices, but when they sit down to consider their application it is impossible for them to ignore the pressures of GDP growth and carve out their own way."

When China adopted binding targets to control pollution and improve energy efficiency in 2006, officials' careers were no longer solely determined by economic achievements. Instead, they became responsible for reaching greener goals.

The carbon intensity target will feature heavily in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), bringing mounting pressure for civil servants like Wu Hong in Guangzhou and Xu in Hangzhou.

Guangdong, South China's economic engine and net energy importer, is already feeling a "sense of urgency" to transform its growth path after suffering blackouts in recent years, said Wu Hong.

However, putting the brakes on a model that has worked for almost three decades to head in a new direction not only requires courage, he said, but also the ability to endure short-term economic loss.

In that sense, the low-carbon efforts could bring opportunities to cities like Guiyang to rush ahead.

Wang at Renmin University said he believes cutting carbon intensity (carbon emissions divided by GDP) does not necessarily contradict with economic growth: "If you can't reduce absolute emissions, expanding GDP will have the same effect," Wang said.

"China is still in the industrialization process and is not likely to reduce absolute carbon emissions for a moment," he said. "But to reduce carbon intensity, what we can do is slow down the pace of emissions growth while seeking larger increases in GDP. That is more pragmatic.

"However, that would require officials making the right choice on which industries to foster," he added.

Wang's team is helping Guiyang to draw up its low-carbon development plan and has discovered that extending the value chain of its aluminum fabrication industry would significantly increase the added value of products and result in few extra carbon emissions.

The city can also cash in on its rich tourism resources and mild summer climate to boost the low-emissions service industry, which can contribute about 26 percent toward fulfilling the city's carbon intensity target.

"As a third-tier city, Guiyang can avoid the carbon lock-in experienced by some well-developed cities and regions," added Wang.