Thesis on protecting the environment and advocating low-carbon life Urgent!

Low-carbon economy and low-carbon life

Paper abstract: This paper expounds the concepts of low-carbon economy and low-carbon life and the relationship between them. "Low-carbon economy" is a new concept proposed by the international community in response to the catastrophic changes in global climate caused by human beings' massive consumption of fossil energy and large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. It not only means that the manufacturing industry must accelerate the elimination of backward production capabilities with high energy consumption and high pollution, but also means guiding the public to reflect on those bad habits that waste energy and increase pollution emissions. This will fully tap into the huge potential of energy conservation and emission reduction in consumption and living areas. It is pointed out that "low-carbon economy" is not enough only with the support of advanced technology. We must rely on "low-carbon revitalization" to achieve the goal of emission reduction. "Low-carbon life" is a simple, simple, frugal and sustainable lifestyle. To realize "low-carbon life", publicity, guidance and institutional guarantees are indispensable.

Paper keywords: environmental science; low-carbon economy; low-carbon life; sustainable consumption

The concept and formation background of low-carbon economy

2008 June The theme of "World Environment Day" on September 5 is: "Change traditional concepts and promote low-carbon economy." "Low-carbon economy" is a new concept proposed by the international community in recent years in response to the catastrophic changes in global climate caused by humans' massive consumption of fossil energy and large emissions of carbon dioxide. Its core is based on the market mechanism and through the formulation and innovation of institutional frameworks and policy measures. Form clear, stable and long-term guidance and encouragement to promote the development and application of energy-efficiency-improving technologies, energy-saving technologies, renewable energy technologies and greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies, and promote the entire social economy to move towards high energy efficiency, low energy consumption and low carbon emissions. paradigm shift.

In the 21st century, global oil and gas resources continue to tighten, and the pressure to ensure energy security is gradually increasing. Global environmental capacity bottlenecks have emerged. At the same time, climate change has become the largest "market failure" problem faced by mankind in history. In this context. The UK took the lead in proposing the concept of "low-carbon economy" and promulgated the "Energy White Paper (The Future of British Energy - Creating a Low-Carbon Economy)" in 2003. Now, developed countries in Europe and the United States are vigorously promoting the "low-carbon revolution" with high energy efficiency and low emissions as the core, and focusing on the development of "low-carbon technologies." Major adjustments have been made to industry, energy, technology, trade and other policies. To seize opportunities and the commanding heights of the industry. Japan is a pioneer in promoting the “low-carbon economy”. Huge sums of money are invested every year to develop "low-carbon technologies": the U.S. Senate proposed the "Low-Carbon Economy Act" in 2007, and the U.S. government formulated a low-carbon technology development plan. All this has created pressure and challenges for our country.

Our country is now in a stage of accelerating industrialization, urbanization, and modernization. Infrastructure construction is huge. Energy demand is growing rapidly. The reality of the prominent characteristics of "high-carbon economy" has become a major constraint on my country's sustainable development. How to find a way to ensure rapid economic and social development. We must not repeat the old path of Western developed countries that seek development at the expense of the environment, and at the same time not blindly let Western countries lead the way. This is an issue we must face.

Low-carbon economy from a technical perspective

Ensuring energy security and responding to climate change are undoubtedly the two most important goals to be achieved by the "low-carbon economy".

The "low carbon economy" advocated by the UK. It promotes the diversification of energy forms, energy sources, and transportation channels through the formulation and implementation of energy efficiency standards and related policy measures for products and services in industrial production, construction, transportation and other fields, and through a series of institutional frameworks and incentive mechanisms.

Especially the development and utilization of clean energy such as alternative energy and renewable energy to achieve the goals of low energy consumption and low carbon emissions. Ultimately achieving the goal of supporting sustainable economic and social development with less energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

2.1 Uncertainty of carbon dioxide emissions from new energy sources

From the perspective of technological innovation, the ideal form of a “low-carbon economy” is to fully develop solar photovoltaic power generation, wind power generation, and hydrogen power generation. energy and biomass technology. Generally speaking, solar photovoltaic power generation, wind power generation, hydrogen energy, etc. are called new energy or alternative energy. Biomass energy is a renewable energy among alternative energy sources.

Although wind power has developed rapidly in recent years. The technology has made breakthroughs to a certain extent, but its current cost is still higher than coal power and hydropower.

In addition, wind power does not emit carbon dioxide during the power generation process. The thermal power generation process emits a large amount of carbon dioxide. Therefore it is believed that wind power does not emit carbon dioxide. This is actually a misunderstanding! Compared with thermal power generation, wind power emits no or very little carbon dioxide during the power generation process. However, carbon dioxide must be emitted during the manufacturing and maintenance of wind power equipment. We cannot just compare the carbon dioxide emissions in the power generation process, but we should compare the carbon dioxide emissions in the entire process per unit of electricity generated by thermal power generation and wind power generation. It can be seen that the concept that wind power generation and electric vehicles do not pollute the environment and do not emit carbon dioxide is not very scientific.

At this stage, the cost of solar power generation is 5 to 10 times that of coal power and hydropower. As a secondary energy source, hydrogen energy is still far from its commercialization goal. The technology is still very immature.

Should realize. On the one hand, the current cost of new energy development is high due to inadequate technology; on the other hand. Due to the uncertainty of carbon dioxide emissions from new energy sources.

Without calculating the full carbon dioxide emissions, we cannot easily say that new energy is an energy source with low carbon dioxide emissions.

2.2 Consequences of promoting grain biomass fuel

Bioenergy is a renewable energy source. Developing biomass energy technology seems to be "killing two birds with one stone." It not only solves the problem of fossil energy substitution and shortage, but also improves the environment. But judging from the results of its current implementation, it seems to have caused more problems than it has solved.

After the introduction of the new policy for the development of biomass energy in the United States, American grain farmers have expanded the planting area of ??corn. Land used for other crops may also be converted to corn. According to statistics, in 2007, the corn planting area and output in the United States hit the highest record since 1944, and as much as 1/5 of the corn produced was used to produce ethanol gasoline. Such strong demand has of course also caused corn prices to rise. 2007 alone. Domestic corn prices in the United States have increased by 50%. In addition, planting space is occupied by corn. The supply of soybeans is reduced. Prices also started to rise. Therefore, Bush's new energy policy has attracted criticism from many people.

Joan Ziegler, an expert at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warned. The practice of converting food into fuel in some countries is a "crime against humanity."

This approach will exacerbate food shortages worldwide. Raising food prices will make it unaffordable for more poor people. The policy of converting food crops into biofuels will undoubtedly worsen the increasingly serious global food shortage problem and will definitely cause larger-scale famine in the world.

In China, pork and cooking oil prices soared in 2007. A very important reason is the rise in feed prices, and soaring grain prices have affected not only China. One U.S. energy policy has such a big impact on food prices around the world. It can be said that the implementation of the US biofuel policy has objectively formed a competition for food between the 800 million car owners and the 2 billion poorest people in the world. Ironically, the plan to develop biomass energy has not brought any relief to the problem of fossil energy tension. Instead, it has intertwined old and new problems, causing more troubles to mankind.

However, this does not mean that technological innovation and the development of new energy are not important to the "low-carbon economy". Rather, we should advocate "low-carbon life" while promoting "low-carbon economy". In other words, "low-carbon life" should be an important part of "low-carbon economy".

Low-carbon economy should rely on low-carbon life

One of the important meanings of "low-carbon economy" not only means that the manufacturing industry must accelerate the elimination of backward production with high energy consumption and high pollution ability, and it also means guiding the public to reflect on those bad habits that waste energy and increase pollution. This will fully tap into the huge potential of energy conservation and emission reduction in consumption and living areas.

Under the system and concept of market economy, production in the "low-carbon economy" with high energy efficiency and low energy consumption technology is still the pursuit of maximum profits. Therefore, mass production is inevitable, and the products produced must eventually be sold, and the more sold, the better. However, mass production will inevitably produce a lot of pollution and carbon emissions. Although the unit energy consumption has been reduced. However, the total energy consumption has greatly increased due to mass production. Carbon dioxide emissions will not decrease much and may even increase. For example, through decades of hard work, the fuel consumption of cars traveling 100km has dropped by about 50%, but because the total number of cars has increased dozens of times. Apparently pollution and CO2 emissions have also increased many times.

So say. "Low-carbon economy" is not enough only with the support of advanced technology. Only by relying on "low-carbon life" can we achieve the true goal of energy conservation and emission reduction.

3.1 "Low-carbon life" is a sustainable lifestyle

"Low-carbon life" is a simple, simple and frugal lifestyle. People's basic necessities of life are related to carbon dioxide emissions and even climate change. For example, the energy content of a piece of A4 paper is close to 0.1kW·h electricity, and its carbon dioxide emissions can be calculated from this.

If the vast majority of people can live in a low-carbon, moderate consumption manner. Then the realization of a "low-carbon economy" is possible. What kind of lifestyle depends on what kind of economy.

"Low-carbon life" not only includes many details of energy-saving technological improvements in the manufacturing and construction industries, but also includes many energy-saving details in people's daily habits. For China, currently the world's most populous country, the amount of energy and carbon dioxide emissions wasted in each person's life seems relatively small. And once calculated with numerous population multipliers. Just a huge amount.

Nowadays in many developed countries. Many people have consciously accepted the low-carbon lifestyle that supports the low-carbon economy. They are willing to give up enjoyment and start from the little things in life. From turning off the heat to giving up driving to work. Today Europeans are increasingly fond of traveling by train. One main reason is that the per capita carbon emissions caused by high-speed trains are only 1/10 of those of airplanes.

Simple life is also becoming the norm for more Chinese people’s family life. Some citizens whose income has already entered the middle class will wear old clothes and go to the morning market to buy cheap vegetables. Get around by bike. Use the oldest cell phone. Habits such as turning off the gas for a minute before boiling eggs, flushing toilets with laundry water, turning off lights, and using double-sided paper for printing have long been deeply rooted in the most educated classes, thus bringing peace of mind.

However, there are not many people who can consciously accept the guidance of sustainable consumption values ??and achieve moderate consumption. The pursuit of high consumption is still the main theme of social life. In most cases, low-carbon economy is only a concept in people's minds. Low-carbon life is only at the embarrassing paper stage.

In real life, the proportion of "face consumption" and "luxury consumption" at the expense of massive energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is too high. On the one hand, we are striving to achieve a "low-carbon economy", on the other hand, we are constantly squandering money. These are the result of consumerist culture.

Consumerist culture is always stimulating you to buy the latest mobile phones, TVs, clothes, and shoes: the bombardment of commercial advertisements incites the public's desire for consumption in waves, turning people into Tools of business profit. Many young people who have just joined the workforce can use their monthly income to buy a new mobile phone or a brand-name leather bag without blinking an eye. China now eliminates an average of nearly 70 million mobile phones every year, generating a large amount of electronic waste. Many young women’s homes are filled with various styles of shoes and bags. But I still have to buy newer styles. Today, when "low-carbon life" is advocated, the slogan "You can earn money and spend it" no longer symbolizes the concept of modernization. And it symbolizes a barbaric consumption method that wastes resources.

The lifestyle of mass production, mass consumption, and mass waste is going the opposite direction of human civilization and seriously restricts the implementation of sustainable development strategies. It not only pollutes the ecological environment, but also pollutes people's minds. It is this infinite expansion of consumer desire that has caused the world's shortage of energy and resources.

3.2 "Low-carbon life" must have institutional guarantees

June 13, 2008. For the first time, Hubei Province announced the energy audit results of some provincial office buildings. The average electricity consumption per square meter per year for 20 provincial office buildings, including the Provincial Department of Construction, Department of Transportation, and National Development and Reform Commission, is 80kW·h, which is an average of 80kW·h per square meter per year. 3-4 times that of residential buildings. Prior to this, the General Office of the State Council and the Hubei Provincial Government both issued notices on energy conservation and consumption reduction and the construction of conservation-oriented institutions, and also made some specific requirements.

The fundamental reason why the regulations of government departments cannot achieve obvious results. The reason is that the energy saving of public servants is purely a reflection of personal ethics and understanding. Even if there are some specific requirements, they are only flexible. There is no rigid system constraint to force people to save energy. If the government has institutional guarantees for energy conservation requirements, then public servants who fail to conserve energy will be punished by organizational, economic, administrative and other aspects. This will greatly promote the effective implementation of energy conservation measures at the government level.

On June 16, 2008, "Liberation Daily" reported that Shanghai has made concrete office energy-saving measures, such as formulating "Wear cool clothes to work in summer. No double-dressing and no tie except for matters required by etiquette." ", "No elevators below the fourth floor of office buildings", "Carpooling and buses for official travel" and other regulations are specifying office energy-saving measures and taking the lead in implementing them among public servants. This should be seen as a move towards institutionalization in the general direction. If these systems are supplemented by disciplinary measures, they will be more realistic and easier to operate.

Nationwide environmental and sustainable development publicity and education has been carried out for many years, and the public’s environmental awareness has improved to a certain extent. In addition to moral educational guidance, there must also be institutional constraints. Before June 1, 2008, many people doubted the operability of the "plastic restriction order", but after it was promulgated, it was understood by the general public and achieved practical results.

In short, the widespread implementation of "low-carbon life" will curb the spread of "high-carbon economy" and promote the development of "low-carbon economy". To achieve the goal of "low carbon economy".

Propaganda, guidance and institutional guarantees for “low-carbon life” are indispensable