“Decoupling” Indicators for Evaluation of Urban Low-Carbon Economy Development: a Case Study of Shanghai

Abstract

Abstract. Environment are closely related to energy and they are two of the most important issues this century. So the development of a low-carbon economy and the construction of environment friendly society are the only way for the further development of China its own. In this study, "decoupling" indicators for evaluation of a low-carbon economy development are proposed. "Decoupling" indicators of energy consumption and economic growth were selected to reflect the response relationship between economic growth and the changes of resources, including weak, strong and expansive/recessive degree of decoupling. Similarly, "decoupling" indicators of carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth were chosen to reflect the response relationship between economic growth and the changes of environment. Shanghai, in the Eastern China, was selected as a special case. The results showed a change from expansive negative coupling to week decoupling regarding both of energy consumption and carbon emissions in Shanghai during the period 1991-2013, indicating that we have achieved some significant outcome in the process of the low-carbon economy development in Shanghai. However, in view of the possibility of expansive negative coupling, we should continue to make efforts for the development of the low-carbon economy.