Low carbon economy is a hot topic in today's world. It may seem like a technical or economic development model issue, but the background and significance of a low-carbon economy go far beyond that. Perhaps behind it is another new rule that regulates the new pattern of world development, similar to the United Nations Charter and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

This rule is more complex than the first and second rules, and the negotiation process may be more arduous. The first rule is that after more than 5000 years of human slaughter, especially the baptism of the First and Second World Wars, the international community has reached a consensus that only three major powers, namely the former Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain, dominate the world; The second rule was gradually formed over the course of more than 200 years of industrial civilization development, led by developed market economy countries, and is still being perfected.

History has proven that the establishment of any global development rule is driven by the struggle and balance of economic interests among various countries. The opening of low-carbon economy, which is an opportunity that every country wants to seize, is destined to be a more thrilling competition of wisdom among various economies such as countries and regions. Countries and groups of countries that are vigorously promoting low-carbon economy are already prepared. For example, the United States, the European Union, and Japan began to build the technological foundation of low-carbon economy in the 1970s and 1980s, improve energy efficiency, and develop renewable energy. Especially in EU countries, since 1980, they have achieved sustained economic development without significantly increasing fossil fuels. For example, Denmark took the lead in implementing an energy policy that emphasizes both development and conservation since 1974, vigorously developing North Sea oil and natural gas resources, actively developing local wind and biomass energy, and vigorously promoting energy conservation and improving energy efficiency. By 2005, over a period of more than 30 years, zero growth in energy consumption had ensured sustained and rapid economic development. The GDP, calculated at comparable prices, has increased more than threefold. Compared to 2005, GDP grew by 75% in 1990, while energy consumption growth was almost zero.

In our past development, we have lost the historical opportunity to participate in the formulation of international laws such as the United Nations Charter and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which are related to the fundamental interests of countries. As a result, in many cases in the future, we have encountered the dilemma of not liking it but having to accept it. Fortunately, we participated in the third round of rule making regarding the new world order and were an important party. We should attach great importance to this historical opportunity and actively participate in the formulation of this new world rule based on the principle of national interests above all else.

The development model of high energy consumption, high pollution, and high investment in China in the past is unsustainable and unsustainable. Low carbon economy is more important for China than for the international community. Developed countries have seen little increase in emissions over the past 30 years of economic development, while China's emissions increased from 600 million tons of standard coal to 3 billion tons of standard coal from 1980 to 2009. If not restrained, it is not possible to increase the total emissions several times after 2020 or 30 years, so we must take a low-carbon path. This is the path we have chosen independently, and there is no other path to take except for this one.

China's energy growth was very rapid from 2003 to 2008, but the proportion of coal in the energy structure remained basically unchanged, with clean energy accounting for only 7% to 8%. At present, the proportion of clean energy in Japan is 20%, in Europe it is 20%, in the United States it is 30%, and in Brazil it is over 50%. Our competitiveness in the low-carbon economy is very low. This situation cannot be changed. We must change our traditional way of thinking and not just focus on domestic resources. The State Council has proposed to incorporate the goal of developing a low-carbon economy into the 12th Five Year Plan as a binding indicator. But more importantly, economic means should be employed. Low carbon economy is first and foremost an economy, which means that market-oriented means should be used and policies that are more conducive to promotion should be formulated. Local governments need to make up their minds that high carbon industries such as steel and cement, which are already in surplus, should not develop rapidly. We must make good plans and create good development ideas. After the WTO, market economy is the only legal system, and low-carbon economy must also follow the path of marketization and obey market laws. Europe has gone so far in the low-carbon economy because they have adopted a carbon trading system, the EUETS (European Union Emissions Trading System), which has promoted the development of a low-carbon economy. Germany, Denmark and other countries have adopted new energy policies, which have created the new energy industry. It should also be noted that a low-carbon economy cannot find shortcuts. There are no shortcuts, and it will take at least 20 to 30 years to form. It took Europe over 30 years of effort to reach its current level.