Guangzhou Mayor Wan Qingliang convened a municipal government executive conference on the afternoon of August 2, which considered and, in principle, adopted the Guidelines for the Development of the Low-carbon Economy in Guangzhou (2011-2015).
The guidelines have been drawn up in a bid to cope with climate changes, promote eco-friendly economic development, and build a resources-conserving and environmentally-friendly society. They call for a greater commitment to the low-carbon economy and strong efforts to conserve resources, protect the environment, and preserve the ecosystem through the following ten specific projects: promoting the low-carbon economy, using energy in a highly efficient manner, developing and applying low-carbon technologies, growing the carbon sequestration industry, boosting the rate of integrated utilization of resources, promoting eco-architecture, encouraging low-carbon modes of transportation, building demonstration-purpose low-carbon industrial parks, fostering the low-carbon market, and promoting low-carbon consumption practices.
The conference reiterated the importance of transforming the modes of economic growth in the post-crisis era, the significance of the low-carbon economy for establishing Guangzhou as a central city of the nation, and the necessity of advancing the city's low-carbon economy. It also called forth solid efforts to execute the 10 projects and achieve the goal of "a good beginning in the first year, a firm foundation in three years, and substantial results in five years."
According to officials at the conference, the municipal government will work out a detailed scheme and enact related policies in accordance with the guidelines and form a task force headed by the mayor for promoting the development of the low-carbon economy.
Training programs in relation to low-economy economy are also planned for government officials at all levels, and publicity campaigns will be launched to raise public awareness of low-carbon economy and to promote low-carbon transportation, architecture, and lifestyles.
Source: english.gz.gov.cn
