UNDP's latest China Development Report stresses the importance of sustainable development and a low-carbon approach.

Low-carbon policies are imperative for China's future growth, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in its latest China Human Development Report (HDR) released April 15 in Beijing.

The report, China and a Sustainable Future, Towards a Low Carbon Economy and Society, says China has "no other choice" but to shift to a low carbon approach.

The report, produced by UNDP in partnership with Renmin University of China, says only a low-carbon development path can preserve and extend China's human development achievements in the years to come.

The report points out problems in China's current growth model that, if not tackled, will undermine the country's development in the long run.

"China is at a critical juncture where the 'business as usual' growth model is insufficient in meeting the country's emerging challenges and pressures," said Dr. Khalid Malik, UN resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative in China.

"The report's conclusions and recommendations will both be valuable in providing guidelines in shaping the country's rapidly evolving policies on sustainability," said Malik.
"This year's drought in southwest China is an acute reminder of the potential for climate change. If left untackled, climate change will further threaten the livelihoods of the population, particularly among the most vulnerable communities," Malik said.

The publication links carbon reduction to economic development, pointing out that some of China's most economically advanced regions on the east coast among the least carbon intensive in the country.

Zou Ji, the report's lead author and professor with Renmin University acknowledged there would be temporary costs involved in the transition to a low-carbon economy, including job losses, higher prices and fiscal revenue shortfalls. But he said long term gains would include improved living standards, reduced harm to human health and the preservation of vital ecosystems.

But the country faces a huge challenge in implementing a low-carbon approach because of its vast territory and uneven development between regions.

"In less developed regions where a low-carbon transformation will incur excessive costs, they can trade their carbon emissions against tax," Prof. Zou suggested. "We cannot implement a universal standard, but will set different goals for different regions."