What does low carbon economy include?

Low-carbon economy refers to a form of economic development under the guidance of the concept of sustainable development, through technological innovation, institutional innovation, industrial transformation, development of new energy sources and other means, to minimize the consumption of high-carbon energy sources such as coal and oil, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so as to achieve a win-win situation for economic and social development and ecological and environmental protection.

The term "low carbon economy" was first used in the 2003 UK Energy White Paper, "Our Energy Future: Creating a Low Carbon Economy". As a pioneer of the first industrial revolution and a resource-poor island nation, the UK is fully aware of the threats of energy security and climate change, and is moving from a self-sufficient energy supply to one that relies heavily on imports, with 80% of the UK's energy projected to have to be imported by 2020 based on 2003 consumption patterns. And the effects of climate change are already looming.

In August 2010, China's Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) identified eight cities in five provinces to carry out pilot projects to build low-carbon industries. Human society has gradually moved from the agricultural civilization of primitive society to the modern industrial civilization along with the development and utilization of biomass energy, wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric energy, geothermal energy, fossil energy and nuclear energy. However, as the global population rises and the economy continues to grow, the environmental problems and consequences caused by the use of conventional energy sources such as fossil energy continue to be recognized, and the hazards of exhaust pollution, photochemical smog, water pollution and acid rain, as well as global climate change brought about by the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration have been identified as serious problems brought about by the destruction of the natural environment by human beings, their unhealthy production and living styles, and their use of conventional energy sources. the use of conventional energy sources. In this context, "carbon footprint", "low-carbon economy", "low-carbon technology", "low-carbon development", " low carbon lifestyle", "low carbon society", "low carbon city", "low carbon world" and a series of new concepts and policies have emerged. The result of the major changes in energy and economy and even in values may be a new path towards an ecological civilization, where the traditional growth model of the 20th century and before is abandoned, and innovative technologies and mechanisms of the new century are directly applied to achieve sustainable social development through a low-carbon economic model and way of life.