Low Carbon Economy Development Level Evaluation And Driving Mechanism Research

In21century, especially after2009UN climate conference and2010Climate negotiations in CancunConference, How to cope with “Climate change” has become a hot topic all over the world.“climatechange” can be defined as “change in climate that is caused by direct or indirect human activities, whichwill lead to change in composition of atmosphere”. As the way of economic development will largelydecide the influence of human activities towards climate change, low-carbon way of economicdevelopment has become a worldwide trend in recent years. China, as an important great power in theworld, shall take low-carbon economy as a serious consideration. Based on previous studies，this paper willdiscuss the evaluation method for low-carbon economy development, and decompose the driving factorsof Henan low-carbon economy with structural analysis based on investment-output diagram. Then thedriving mechanism, suggestions and methods for Henan low-carbon economy development were discussed.Conclusions were as follow:(1) The Henan low-carbon economy development experienced improvement in fluctuation. From theanalysis results of1990-2009. The economy was at a low standard. But improved a lot in the past20years.In2007, the low-carbon economy development index was67.15and enter the stage of “middle carboneconomy”. After that, the standard raised a lot as time pass by.(2) The spatial difference of Henan low-carbon economy was obvious. The standard was higher incentral plain core region. The standard was lower down in periphery cities. Cities along the Longhairailway and those located west of Jingguang railway kept a higher standard. In2009. cities in Henan province appears a lower difference in low-carbon economy development than in2005. Some cities such asAnyang, Pingdingshan remains lower than mean standard of low-carbon economy development index.(3) Middle demand effect, technical effect and final demand effect are the main factor that caninfluence Carbon emission. Middle demand effect has great influence on carbon emission. According toSDA decompose result of Henan carbon emission. In1992-1997and1997-2002, Carbon emissiondecreased1,349,400tons and56,648,200tons respectively with the deduction of middle demand, whichshow a positive effect towards carbon emission. In2002-2007, Carbon emission increased113,540,000tons, which showed a negative influence of middle demand effect. It was caused mainly by the change inindustrial structure, especially the enlargement of high energy consumption and high emission industry.Technical effect refers to the deduction of carbon emission by increasing energy utilization technically. Bytechnical measurements, Henan carbon emission decreased81,552,500tons in1992-1997,5,030,700tonsin1997-2002and140,350,000in2002-2007. Great improvements can be realized by technicalmeasurements. Final demand effect refers to the carbon emission brought by production and everyday life,which lead to109,090,000tons increase in1992—1997,118,000,100tons increase in1997-2002and236,245,700tons increase in1997-2002. Negative influence was very obvious for final demand influencefor carbon emission.(4) Diving mechanism can be discussed in economic development standards, industrial structure,energy structure, technical standard and final demand. Among those factors, resource pressure is the mainforce for low-carbon economy development. Economic development is the material bases of low carboneconomy. Adjustment of industrial structure is the fundamental way of low-carbon economy. Low-carbonenergy development is the energy guarantee of low-carbon economy. Improvements in human consumptionis the necessary measurements of low-carbon economy. Environmental protection and carbon sinkincrement is the important measurement of low-carbon economy. Technical development is the key-pointsand core of low-carbon economy development. low-carbon economy development and above factors will influence and promote each other.(5) Henna province shall construct low-carbon policy of its own on exist international and domesticlow-carbon economy policy. This part listed the following suggestions:1. Accelerate legislation oflow-carbon economy and make corresponding laws and regulations;2. Carbon tax, reasonable carbon priceand carbon emission transaction markets shall be set up to promote deduction in carbon emission.3.Optimize industrial structure on the base of fulfillment of final demands.4. Promote new energy and newtechnology development, optimize energy structure and lower carbon emission intensity.