China’s Structural Energy Conservation: Analysis and Proposals

ZHANG Lei1 ( 张雷) and HUANG Yuanxi2 ( 黄园淅)
1 Ph.D., Research fellow and Doctoral Adviser, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS),
2 Associated with Graduate University of CAS

Editorial note:Over the last two decades China’s rate of energy consumption has increased with remarkable speed, and the country’s rapid industrial growth has become increasingly dependent on this consumption. Though China’s per capita energy consumption is still low, the overall growth in consumption has serious implications for economic efficiency as well as the environment. Studies have shown that energy consumption growth can be minimized by a diversified industrial development. This study examines historical cases as well as China’s unique circumstances, to best chart a path toward energy-efficient development.

I. Introduction
Following the making and use of a great many of tools, human societies have not only accelerated accumulation of wealth but also increasingly depended on energy. Since the reform and opening-up policy was initiated, China’s rapid economic and social development has catapulted it to be the world’s second largest energy consumer, just behind the United States. Due to its enormous consumption, undeveloped supply structure and heavy environmental pollution, China has drawn much domestic and international
attention on the energy front. Modernization patterns of other countries in the world indicate industrial structure diversification is an effective means of slowing hefty energy consumption growth, especially for late industrialized countries. As the world’s biggest developing country, China’s industrial structure boasts tremendous potential to conserve energy. This topic warrants more attention.

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