马蓓蓓等:新形势下西北地区碳排放及低碳化发展研究 0年2月 Investigating Carbon Emission Situations and Low-carbon Development in the northwest of china a Case Study of shaanxi Province MA Beibei,LU Chunxia, ZHANG Lei, XUE Dongqian, CHENG Xiaoling (1. Institute of geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, chine 2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beiing 100049,China; 3. College of Tourism and Environment Sciences, Shaanxi Normal Unirersity, Xi an 710062, China) Abstract: The northwest of China is currently facing dual pressures and a series of challenges with three major characteristics. First, the Western Region Development Strategy has been implementing for ten years, and basic infrastructures necessary for regional rapid development have been progressively completed, such as transportation and electricity. Second, the international financial crisis breaking out in 2007 has leaded resources and traditional industries of the northwest areas to a grim situation. Third, China is currently facing an increasing pressure on CO2 emission reductions, so is the northwest areas. Therefore on the one hand, it is time for the northwest areas to strive for development rights to maintain regional and local economy prosperous; to this end, it is inevitable to increase CO2 emissions. On the other hand, it is also necessary for the northwest areas to contribute to China s CO2 emission reductions. In the present study, the authors documented the quantitative and structural evolutions of co2 emissions of Shaanxi province in the northwest areas since 1949, and analyzed in detail the primary factors affecting changes in CO emissions from the aspects of GDP, industrial structure, consumption characteristics, energy consumption structure and efficiency. Then, in consideration of Shaanxi provinces current situations, it was indicated that low-carbon development should be taken in the future. Measures for low-carbon development should be taken from both carbon sources and carbon absorption including five aspects, i.e., agriculture, industry, service industry, living style, and CO2 absorption Low-carbon development generally embodies following components: 1)creating an organic ecological, and efficient new agriculture; 2) optimizing the industrial and energy structure, and improving energy efficiency; 3) focusing on the both ends of industrial chains, and developing modern service industry actively, 4) advocating green consumption, and creating low-carbon life and 5)planting trees and grass to fix carbon element and expand carbon absorption. The results of this paper would provide meaningful reference theoretically and practically for saving energy, reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable development for China, particularly for the northwest areas Key words: Current situations; Carbon emission; Low-carbon development; Shaanxi province C1994-2010ChinaAcademicJournalElectronicPublishingHouse.Allrightsreservedhttp://wwwchutphoou.resci.cn2010年2月 马蓓蓓等：新形势下西北地区碳排放及低碳化发展研究 http://www.resci.cn Investigating Carbon Emission Situations and Low-carbon Development in the Northwest of China: A Case Study of Shaanxi Province MA Beibei1，2 ，LU Chunxia1 ，ZHANG Lei1 ，XUE Dongqian3 ，CHENG Xiaoling1 （1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research，CAS，Beijing 100101，China； 2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences，Beijing 100049，China; 3. College of Tourism and Environment Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China) Abstract: The northwest of China is currently facing dual pressures and a series of challenges with three major characteristics. First, the Western Region Development Strategy has been implementing for ten years, and basic infrastructures necessary for regional rapid development have been progressively completed, such as transportation and electricity. Second, the international financial crisis breaking out in 2007 has leaded resources and traditional industries of the northwest areas to a grim situation. Third, China is currently facing an increasing pressure on CO2 emission reductions, so is the northwest areas. Therefore, on the one hand, it is time for the northwest areas to strive for development rights to maintain regional and local economy prosperous; to this end, it is inevitable to increase CO2 emissions. On the other hand, it is also necessary for the northwest areas to contribute to China’s CO2 emission reductions. In the present study, the authors documented the quantitative and structural evolutions of CO2 emissions of Shaanxi province in the northwest areas since 1949, and analyzed in detail the primary factors affecting changes in CO2 emissions from the aspects of GDP, industrial structure, consumption characteristics, energy consumption structure and efficiency. Then, in consideration of Shaanxi province’s current situations, it was indicated that low-carbon development should be taken in the future. Measures for low-carbon development should be taken from both carbon sources and carbon absorption, including five aspects, i.e., agriculture, industry, service industry, living style, and CO2 absorption. Low-carbon development generally embodies following components: 1) creating an organic, ecological, and efficient new agriculture; 2) optimizing the industrial and energy structure, and improving energy efficiency; 3) focusing on the both ends of industrial chains, and developing modern service industry actively; 4) advocating green consumption, and creating low-carbon life; and 5) planting trees and grass to fix carbon element and expand carbon absorption. The results of this paper would provide meaningful reference theoretically and practically for saving energy, reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable development for China, particularly for the northwest areas. Key words: Current situations；Carbon emission; Low-carbon development; Shaanxi province 229