ABSTRACT

Introduction Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the major contributors to climate change which is a global problem (Manne and Richels 1991). The control of carbon emissions produced via urban consumption is the most important task for China in dealing with the country’s increasingly serious environmental crisis and climate change (Fan et al. 2013). At present, about 70% of carbon emissions in China are generated in the production and transportation of goods while about 30% are produced through urban consumption (NBSC 2013). The experience of developed countries shows that urbanization will lead to a sharp increase in carbon emissions. The growth rate of energy consumption in urban China has reached 8%, exceeding the country’s total energy consumption growth of 7% per annum (NBSC 2013). Thus, energy saving and emission reduction in the consumption sector will play an important role in China’s overall course of energy conservation and emission reduction.