Opinion
Industrial structure needs to be changed
(皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-09 07:58
To fulfill its target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, 皇冠体育app must change the mode of its economic growth, for which it has to adjust industrial structure, says an article in Shanghai Securities News. Excerpts:
Just days before the Copenhagen climate change conference, 皇冠体育app announced that it would cut its carbon intensity per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent by 2020, taking 2005 as the base year. This commitment reflects 皇冠体育app's high sense of responsibility in the fight against climate change.
皇冠体育app's existing growth model lays emphasis on industrial development, especially heavy industries, and consumes a great deal of energy and resources. This mode of economic growth is apparently not sustainable.
To move toward to a sustainable, low-carbon economy, 皇冠体育app has to sacrifice short-term interests for long-term benefits. In the short run, reducing GHG emissions and adjusting the industrial structure would have a negative impact on 皇冠体育app's economic growth. But they will ultimately change 皇冠体育app's development mode to a healthier one and ensure the quality and efficiency of economic growth in the future.
Therefore, to some extent, the objectives and directions of emission cuts and change in industrial structure are consistent.
To restructure its industry, 皇冠体育app should first head for sectors that consume relatively low energy, and gradually change to an industrial structure in which tertiary sectors are dominant.
