Government Leaders in Chinese and American Cities Drive Energy Efficiency
As the world’s largest energy consumers and emitters of carbon dioxide, the United States and China are working to become more energy efficient. Local governments in both nations have a great capacity to implement sustainability initiatives, and are the drivers of energy efficiency and low-carbon practices.
The Next Frontier in China: Cities with Populations 1-10 Million
Legislative and economic reforms based on China’s Western Development Strategy have boosted development in the country’s Western and Central provinces, especially in smaller, industrializing cities. In the first quarter of 2012, GDP growth in China was highest among cities with populations of 1-10 million. These cities reported GDP growth rates of 12-16%, whereas GDP for cities like Beijing and Shanghai – which have populations of 15-20 million – only grew by 7%. A rising middle class in these smaller but fast-growing cities is creating more demand for real-estate, automobiles, luxury goods and other retail industries. To make sure China can handle this growth sustainably, local leaders are giving thought to careful energy planning.
Eco-Cities Exchange Promotes Sustainable Growth
Small cities near major city centers are also urbanizing in the United States. While U.S. growth rates and population sizes are smaller than in China, cities in both countries face the same challenge of meeting economic goals while maintaining environmental sustainability. Recognizing this, the United States and China are building U.S.-Chinese city partnerships to promote “eco-cities.”
In October 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy led a delegation of 23 mayors and high-ranking ministry officials from 16 Chinese cities to California in a “U.S.-China Eco-Cities Mayoral Exchange.” Delegates represented cities across China with populations of 1-7 million people. In this exchange, officials from Chinese cities undergoing rapid development learned about sustainable urban planning, the deployment of clean technologies, and other energy efficiency initiatives from their U.S. counterparts and in return, shared their experiences with U.S. officials.
Chinese and American Local Officials Exchange Energy Efficiency Ideas
The Chinese delegation met with senior officials in the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, and San Jose. In each city, U.S. officials discussed how local governments are incorporating energy efficiency and renewable energy use into the built environment through land use, transportation planning, water efficiency, and waste management.
“The U.S. and China should strengthen and partake in more exchanges [like this one],” reflected Zhai Changsheng, vice mayor of the city of Dezhou, Shangdong Province.
This is the fourth exchange the Alliance has led on behalf of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This year, DOE also partnered with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to showcase the deployment of clean technologies from the private sector. As a result of this visit, many delegates said they would pursue business opportunities with U.S. firms deploying clean technologies.
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