Ali Cheshmehzangi - Chinas Sustainability Transitions: Low Carbon and Climate-Resilient Plan for Carbon Neutral 2060

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This book is the first monograph on the topic of Chinas carbon neutrality plan. Here, we explore barriers, challenges, opportunities, and progresses that are part of Chinas ongoing low carbon development, future net-zero pathways, and ultimate carbon neutrality goals. Like other countries, Chinas next steps are challenging. Therefore, we set out some critical views, positive suggestions, and potential directions to fast-forward the next steps of carbon reductions, GHG emission reductions, and innovative solutions for a carbon neutral China. We find todays challenges to become larger challenges of tomorrow. This is if they are not resolved, or they become neglected through the never-ending cycle of growth and development.

This book highlights some key lessons from other countries for China and from China for other countries. In particular, we highlight the impacts of socio-economic and environmental crises on humanity and the planet. In doing so, we explore sustainability transitions that are low carbon and climate-resilient against the current crises and prolonged climate change challenges. With robust willingness and innovation, we believe new pathways could develop to become success stories of the next few decades. We are part of a history that could become humanitys long-term pride and a generous gift that should be passed to the next generationsthat is, to achieve the true ideals of sustainable development.

Chinas Sustainability Transitions is vital to its future economic and social development and environmental and climate change strategies. In recent years, Chinas role at the global level has become more significant, and we expect it to be even more so in the coming years. For instance, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is now identified as the largest infrastructure development in human history. Therefore, we can argue that China, being the main actor and initiator of this global initiative, plays a major part in the future stages of global development. It has already become a role model for many countries of the global south and has become more influential than ever before. Chinas recent attempts to low carbon and climate-resilient development are critical for the next steps of sustainability transitions. These would continue to happen in structured processes and systematic methods for enabling carbon reductions and towards sustainable and high-quality urbanisation. The next steps of the deep decarbonisation plan and towards carbon neutrality will be challenging but vital to China and the globe. In this regard, we value the importance of comprehensive thinking in the forthcoming steps.

Since the decarbonisation plan has become a major global agenda, cities and communities have become the main focus areas. Broadly speaking, we have no better options than shifting our current modes of development towards low carbon and then carbon neutral futures. Chinas paradigm shift, pathways towards changes in energy systems, and its many transitions could become a unique model of sustainable development. Such transitions speed and pace are no longer a country-level agenda but indeed a global climate action plan, which requires more attention by multiple stakeholders, all the way from the political bodies to the general public.

Undoubtedly, the next steps are going to be very challenging. However, if we set todays path in the right direction, we could realise the values of sustainability transitions and those that could lead towards a carbon neutral society. While we are far from such achievements, we believe we already have the capacity and capability of achieving a carbon neutral globe. To discuss these further, we delve into generalities and details of low carbon and climate-resilient pathways and those that could lead us towards the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality. If we fail in the next steps, we may struggle to overcome the mounting challenges and fix todays prolonged problems. If we succeed, we might re-write humanity with better prosperity, enhanced health, and sustainable futures.

We would like to thank our project interns for the project titled Low carbon and Climate-resilient Progress in China (LCPC), including Mr. Haowei Lan, Ms. Yuyuan Chen, and Mr. Yida Chen. All three are from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. We also show our special appreciation to Ms. Li Xing from Xiamen University, China, for her support in data collection and data analysis.