Research on Urban Low-Carbon Economy

Abstract

The urban low-carbon economy represents a development model focused on decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions, emphasizing the integrated application of technological innovation, institutional innovation, and industrial restructuring. This paper examines development pathways through policy guidance, institutional innovation, technological advancement, industrial upgrading, public participation, and awareness enhancement. Governments should refine policies and regulations to strengthen support for low-carbon development. Technological innovation serves as a critical driver, necessitating increased investment in low-carbon R&D, encouragement of corporate green innovation, active cultivation of emerging industries, and industrial structure optimization. Public engagement and awareness are fundamental safeguards, requiring education to promote understanding of low-carbon concepts and lifestyle adoption. Cities develop distinctive models based on socio-economic characteristics and resource-environmental endowments: Wuhan established theoretical foundations integrating sustainability principles; Langfang leveraged its geographic advantage within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei strategy to achieve transformation through industrial and energy restructuring; resource-based cities like those in Shanxi succeeded by shifting development paradigms, enhancing policy frameworks, and optimizing energy consumption, offering replicable solutions for overcoming resource-environmental constraints.