Over the last 30 years, China has experienced unprecedented economic development, with annual growth averaging around 10 percent. China’s economy is now the world’s second largest. Accompanying this growth, modern  energy,  transport,  and  public  service  infrastructure  is  rapidly being  built  across  the  country  to  serve  the  Chinese  people.  Cities,  of
course, have been an important part of this development and are key elements in transitioning the country into a modern state. Currently, China has 665 million urban residents, up from 191 million just 30 years ago.

Although China’s cities have modernized significantly in recent years, more needs to be done. The most significant challenge will be accommo-dating the 350 million new urban residents expected to migrate to cities in the coming 20 years. Every year, the equivalent of one megacity, such as Shanghai or Beijing, will be created in China. Rapid urbanization will be  accompanied  by  significant  pressure  to  provide  jobs  and  economic opportunities,  housing,  public  services,  and  improved  quality  of  life.

Meeting these needs will, in turn, require extensive efforts to solve current and future problems related to energy efficiency, transport and congestion, solid waste, and water and air pollution.

Adding to these already complex challenges is China’s recent impertive of lowering the carbon intensity of its economy. President Hu Jintao has set a goal of reducing the economy’s carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent in 2020, compared to 2005. For the 12th Five-Year Plan period, a 17 percent reduction target for carbon intensity has been set. Given that cities  contribute  more  than  70  percent  of  energy-related  carbon  emissions, addressing cities’ emissions will be a crucial element of this planned reduction.

In  the  context  of  these  development  challenges,  the World  Bank  is publishing Sustainable Low-Carbon City Development in China. This book provides many practical lessons on sustainable low-carbon development, based  on  World  Bank  experience  and  its  long-term  relationship  with many Chinese provinces and cities. The book provides a framework for actions Chinese cities could and are already taking to promote both economic development and low-carbon growth.

The book starts from the premise that the imperative to reduce carbon intensity is only one of many competing priorities for government officials amidst unprecedented urbanization, modernization, and economic development. The book’s main message is that actions to achieve both carbon emission reductions and local sustainable development are closely
aligned:  cities  that  embark  on  a  low-carbon  transformation  will  also become more livable, efficient, competitive, and ultimately sustainable.


Developing China’s cities into livable and low-carbon cities with economic opportunities and a good quality of life is an important challenge for  China.  The  World  Bank  appreciates  its  ongoing  collaboration  and
partnership with China in addressing its low-carbon development challenges,  and  looks  forward  to  a  continued,  effective  collaboration  on implementing this important development agenda.