'Human-centered' urbanization a way out of smog: experts
Updated: 2013-12-18 17:27
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
The statement also urged cutting energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, and increasing efficiency in energy use, which is a positive sign toward reaching the goal set by the State Council earlier this year, according to Yi.
Under the goal, the country would rein in consumption of standard coal to less than 4 billion tons, and electricity consumption to under 6.15 trillion kilowatt-hours by 2015.
The statement stressed the importance of developing urban clusters, which Yi said will help fight air pollution, which is not confined to a certain region and would be better dealt with on a larger scale.
"The strategy now is to concentrate people into several urban clusters and control the overall volume of energy consumption and emissions, which will cut emissions and consumption per capita," according to Yi.
The human-centered urbanization model should not simply encourage farmers to swarm into cities, which could put even greater pressure on the environment, as city dwellers emit triple the volume of carbon dioxide as those in the countryside, he explained.
Quality development
Some have argued the smog problem is simply a reflection of China's current economic development model.
The conference statement emphasizes quality development in urbanization and stresses the importance of green and low-carbon development in future urbanization.
The statement shines a spotlight on the "extensive, unsustainable and unscientific use of resources" revealed by the smog, according to Wu Bihu, director of the Center for Recreation and Tourism Research at Peking University.
"Smog suggests a dead end for the traditional urbanization and development model," Wu said, adding that "we have to fundamentally change the economic structure and prompt the development of the service industry."
Promotion of urbanization through the development of the service industry has not been widely accepted, posing a challenge for all of us, Wu added.
Related Stories
China's urbanization could learn from foreign experience 2013-12-18 11:20
Hukou reform key to 'new' urbanization 2013-12-17 17:13
Funding, market key in push for urbanization 2013-12-15 23:20
Healthier urbanization 2013-12-17 07:15
Quality-based urbanization plan outlined 2013-12-15 08:11
Today's Top News
Monaco and Shanghai jointly to grow yachting biz
Vast deposits of 'flammable ice' found
System for organ donors test
Hukou reforms target 2020: official
Russia to bail out Ukraine for $15 billion
Merkel sworn in for a third term
Euro zone OKs bank closure funding
US budget deal clears crucial vote
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Too young to be criminal |
Patrols bring security to Mekong River |
Skilled laborers go overseas |
Logging out of an Internet addiction |
Prepare prisoners for life after release |
'Can we survive after surviving?' |