China’s Low-Carbon Transition: Current Status and International Insights
- 1 School of Economics and Management, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing, China
- 2 School of Economics and Management, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing, China
- 3 School of Economics and Management, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing, China
- 4 School of Economics and Management, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing, China
Abstract
Amid escalating global climate change, low-carbon transition has become a central global concern. As the world’s largest developing nation and leading carbon emitter, China faces significant pressure to cut emissions while sustaining economic growth. This paper analyzes the current state and challenges of China’s low-carbon transition. Despite recent government initiatives—such as carbon trading schemes and clean energy investments—emission reduction progress remains slow. Challenges include reliance on carbon-intensive industries, limited energy diversity, slow technological innovation, an incomplete policy framework, and low public awareness. International comparisons reveal significant differences in carbon emissions and trends between China and regions like the U.S., EU, and India. The paper also examines low-carbon strategies in the UK, Germany, and Japan, offering recommendations for China to optimize industrial and energy structures, boost technological innovation, refine policies, raise public awareness, and enhance international cooperation to support the sustainable development of China’s low-carbon transition.
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