Chapter 23 20. A little less _CO2 , a better life

A developing country like China is stepping into a stage of economic growth, which is also the most energy-demanding stage in history, which is the need of its industrialization and growing economy.This period will last at least ten years. Risking slower economic growth by pursuing restrictive policies contrary to the legitimate aspirations of billions of people is not the best outcome. This is why the environment is becoming more and more binding on economic growth... So China is preparing for future energy and environmental reforms! What will be the CO emissions in 2030 40% growth if we stand by!

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecast: If we do not take any emission reduction measures, carbon dioxide emissions will increase from 29 billion tons in 2006 to 33 billion tons in 2015, and will reach 40 billion tons in 2030. The planet needs to reduce carbon dioxide by 30% by 2020, or the average global temperature will rise by 2 degrees Celsius. What is even more surprising is that this warning was issued by the United States, which has always been cautious in its digital commitments. China, on the other hand, points out the responsibilities of industrial countries. What they do within their own countries is one set of standards, but when they invest in developing countries, they obviously follow another set of carbon credit standards.

To reduce CO emissions, start from daily life While international organizations are still questioning and considering what kind of new environmental policies to adopt, for most Chinese, "low carbon" has become a buzzword in the 21st century. But before this new concept and term were invented, many Chinese people had already started a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, saving electricity and water, and saving money. Indeed, environmental and pollution issues are well known in China, and now these issues, along with reducing carbon dioxide emissions, are a national priority. In addition to national-level plans and guidelines, Chinese netizens issued slogans such as "Are you low-carbon today?"!

On Douban, thousands of netizens recount dramatic changes in their lives.Among the discussions and suggestions of these ordinary netizens, we see the following headlines: "Garbage sorting to reduce carbon footprints", "Change comes from daily accumulation", "Six habits to reduce carbon footprints on your dining table", "50 suggestions for low-carbon life", "Replace traditional invoices with electronic invoices". On Chinese websites, we found other comments: Wei Ning, 28, who works at a foreign bank in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, described how she started with the little things of everyday life.She attaches great importance to environmental protection and low carbon every day: "I start with many small things: printing materials on both sides of the printer paper, using public transportation or riding a bicycle, remembering to turn off the lights and appliances when leaving, using reusable shopping bags in the supermarket instead of Plastic bags and so on. These small actions can make a big difference.”

Even in the hot summer, Ms. Wei never turns on the air conditioner below 26°C.She believes that a low-carbon lifestyle needs to adapt to these living habits in order to save energy and protect the environment.In her view, once these principles are established, low-carbon life can be easily realized. Wei Ning likes to cultivate plants, because she learned from a carbon emission calculator on Douban that people can absorb the carbon they emit by planting plants. Wei Ning found that the amount of carbon dioxide emitted for every 140 degrees of electricity consumed can be offset by planting a tree.That's why she bought many houseplants and placed them on the balcony. "Just looking at these green plants, I feel that the air is much fresher," she said.

Diligence and thrift are the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation. In this regard, Wei Ning was deeply influenced by his parents.She was well aware that poverty and an underdeveloped economy forced her parents to live frugally.Nowadays, people propose low-carbon life for the reason of protecting the environment. "Like Mom and Dad, when I eat out, I never order too much to avoid wasting food. It's also a good way to save money." On this issue, Long Yuanfang of China Foreign Affairs University agrees with Wei Ning. "The government should introduce laws to influence people's behavior, and as individuals, they should start from themselves, such as cultivating plants, recycling water, sorting garbage, etc."

As a member of the school's environmental club, she has participated in many different activities. "Small things like turning off the lights when you leave the room are contributing to the environment and for the sake of future generations. I believe that sand and gravel can build pagodas, and tiny agglomerations can breed greatness. If we Pay attention to environmental protection in all aspects, and it will definitely produce good results.” Wei Ning and Long Yuanfang contribute to environmental protection with their own behaviors, but not everyone behaves in the same way.Others, like this young newlyweds, Wang Jin and Yu Yan, prefer to use a high-profile act to call for a low-carbon life and influence the way people behave.The couple from Jinzhou, Liaoning decided to ride a bicycle to hold their wedding ceremony!This behavior has attracted the attention of local residents, and it sends a message to people: less cars, less garbage.

The media and the Internet play an important role in promoting low carbon globally, and China is no exception!Among them, China Climate Change Information Network is an example. In addition to numerous websites providing environmental protection information, as their popularity and success among netizens has grown, "Weibo" has gradually become the next battlefield for China's public opinion vanguards!