Page 48 - Low Carbon Development in China and India
P. 48
1.0
Figure 1.4: Energy Intensity Trend: US, Japan, China, India, and the World
Source: Based on BP Stats (2012) and The World Bank (2012)
intensity worldwide. India’s absolute level of CO2 emissions per GDP
is relatively less than that of China, which is about 70 per cent that of
China. Moreover, unlike China, its carbon intensity in 2011 was 1.3 kg
of CO2 per dollar (2005 price), which was almost the same as the level
in 1971.
In future, the fall in the energy intensity in China and India could be
driven by a number of factors, including structural shifts in economic
activity towards services and efficiency improvements in energy-
intensive sectors, such as industry and transportation. It is evident
that with development, agriculture’s share of economic activity has
been substituted by growth in industry and services. The ways in
which China and India develop themselves is of great importance
not only to these two nations and their peoples, but also to the
whole world. It is also possible for China and India to work together
towards low carbon development as they have similar planning based
approaches to economic development and the two countries are
investing considerable time, effort, and resources in building more
sustainable futures.
According to studies which have assessed a number of greenhouse
gas abatement opportunities across major consumer sectors and
across geographic regions, the following demand-side measures need
Chapter 1 Dimensions of Low Carbon Development in China and India 13
Figure 1.4: Energy Intensity Trend: US, Japan, China, India, and the World
Source: Based on BP Stats (2012) and The World Bank (2012)
intensity worldwide. India’s absolute level of CO2 emissions per GDP
is relatively less than that of China, which is about 70 per cent that of
China. Moreover, unlike China, its carbon intensity in 2011 was 1.3 kg
of CO2 per dollar (2005 price), which was almost the same as the level
in 1971.
In future, the fall in the energy intensity in China and India could be
driven by a number of factors, including structural shifts in economic
activity towards services and efficiency improvements in energy-
intensive sectors, such as industry and transportation. It is evident
that with development, agriculture’s share of economic activity has
been substituted by growth in industry and services. The ways in
which China and India develop themselves is of great importance
not only to these two nations and their peoples, but also to the
whole world. It is also possible for China and India to work together
towards low carbon development as they have similar planning based
approaches to economic development and the two countries are
investing considerable time, effort, and resources in building more
sustainable futures.
According to studies which have assessed a number of greenhouse
gas abatement opportunities across major consumer sectors and
across geographic regions, the following demand-side measures need
Chapter 1 Dimensions of Low Carbon Development in China and India 13
