ABSTRACT
With the ongoing institutionalization of environmental protection on a global scale, building a fair and efficient global climate regime has been high on the political agenda of many countries. Since the release of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007, and particularly since the formulation of the Bali Roadmap, the notion of a low-carbon economy has captured worldwide attention and has become a trend within the international community. With the inception of this new revolution, the UK and other European countries have led the way in advocating the development of a low-carbon economy, while Japan has also committed to building a low-carbon society. Additionally, many countries around the world are striving to build low-carbon cities. Although there is no development model for countries to look to as a guide for this transition, policy-makers and entrepreneurs have already started to implement changes in the areas of trade, finance, and production. It is an undeniable fact that China’s actions on this issue will have significant implications for the future of the world. In this way, it makes sense for China to be a leader in the development of a low-carbon economy, in order to be at the cutting edge of future economic development.
