on the chinese carbon reduction target中国碳减排目标.pdfVIP

Sustainability 2010, 2, 1553-1557; doi:10.3390/su2061553 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 /journal/sustainability Communication On the Chinese Carbon Reduction Target Michinori Uwasu 1,*, Yi Jiang 2 and Tatsuyoshi Saijo 3 1 Sustainability Design Center, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan 2 Department of Economics, Antai College of Economics Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 535 Fahua Zhen Rd., Shanghai 200052, China; E-Mail: easyrabbit_yi@ 3 Institute of Social Economic Research, Sustainability Design Center, Osaka University, 6-1 Mihogaoka Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0046, Japan; E-Mail: saijo@iser.osaka-u.ac.jp * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: uwasu@sdc.osaka-u.ac.jp; Tel.: +81-668-794-150; Fax: +81-668-756-271. Received: 30 April 2010; in revised form: 19 May 2010 / Accepted: 27 May 2010 / Published: 2 June 2010 Abstract: In November 2009, China pledged a 40–45% decrease in CO2 emissions per GDP by 2020, as compared with the 2005 level. Although carbon intensity (emission) targets by nature are ambiguous, this study demonstrates that China’s pledge is consistent with the current Chinese domestic agenda that simultaneously pursues economic growth and energy security. The target numbers in the pledge seem reasonable, given the technological feasibility and measures, considered along with the assumption that moderate economic growth will occur. However, the study also argues t