Energy And Environmental Policy In China: Towards A Low-carbon Economy (new Horizons In Environmental Economics)

This pioneering book provides a comprehensive, rigorous and in-depth analysis of China's energy and environmental policy for the transition towards a low-carbon economy. This unique book focuses on concrete, constructive and realistic solutions to China's unprecedented environmental pollution and rising greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and energy security as a result of steeply rising oil imports. It provides an up-to-date factual analysis of China's efforts and commitments to improve energy efficiency, to cut pollutants and to increase the use of renewable energy to create a low-carbon economy. The author explores many of the policies and measures that China has put in place to save energy and reduce emissions, as well as examines new policies and measures in order for China to be successful. Energy and Environmental Policy in China will prove to be of great value to practitioners and policy makers, as well as to academies and students in the areas of economics, environmental studies, Asian studies, regional and urban studies, law, political science and sociology. 'energy And Environmental Policy In China Represents The Culmination Of Zhang's Ideas On The Subject Over The Last Decade. This Book's Main Goal Is To Create A Policy Time Line For China's Future Carbon Emission Reductions By The Middle Of The 21st Century. In Addition, Zhang Wishes To Document The Considerable Strides In Increasing Energy Efficiency Made By China In The Past Several Decades. The Book Does Answer Crucial Questions Relating To China's Carbon Policies And Presents A Reasoned Way Forward For China In International Negotiations.'- Richard Louis Edmonds, The China Quarterly--publisher. Introduction -- Effective Environmental Protection In The Context Of Government Decentralization -- Is It Fair To Treat China As A Christmas Tree To Hang Everybody's Complaints? : Putting Its Own Energy Saving Into Perspective -- Assessing China's Carbon Intensity Pledge For 2020 : Stringency And Credibility Issues And Their Implications -- In What Format And Under What Time Frame Would China Take On Climate Commitments? : A Roadmap To 2050 -- The Us Proposed Carbon Tariffs, Wto Scrutiny And China's Responses -- Conclusions: China In The Transition To A Low-carbon Economy. Zhongxiang Zhang. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 145-164) And Index. The chapters collected here are revised papers and presentations the author has given at various symposia. Zhang, an economist affiliated with the East-West Center, addresses broad energy, climate, and environmental issues in China and presents realistic solutions for problems in these areas. Some of the issues considered include effective environmental protection in the context of government decentralization, China's carbon intensity pledge for 2020, the proposed US carbon tariffs, and WTO scrutiny of China's responses. A conclusion summarizes issues in energy conservation and pollution control, renewable energy, nuclear power, clean coal technologies, and China's specific climate commitments towards 2050. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Cover 1 Copyright 4 Contents 7 Figures 8 Tables 9 Boxes 10 Abbreviations 11 Preface 13 1. Introduction 17 2. Effective environmental protection in the context of government decentralization 23 3. Is it fair to treat China as a Christmas tree to hang everybody’s complaints? Putting its own energy saving into perspective 55 4. Assessing China’s carbon intensity pledge for 2020: stringency and credibility issues and their implications 83 5. In what format and under what time frame would China take on climate commitments? A roadmap to 2050 99 6. The US proposed carbon tariffs, WTO scrutiny and China’s 119 7. Conclusions: China in the transition to a low-carbon economy 141 References 161 Index 181