Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to build a scientific evaluation index system for regional low-carbon circular economic development. Taking Sichuan Province as the empirical research object, the paper evaluates its low-carbon circular economy (LCCE) development level and proposes policy recommendations for climate change improvement based on the evaluation results.Design/methodology/approachThis paper, first, built an evaluation index system with 30 indicators within six subsystems, namely, economic development, social progress, energy consumption, low-carbon emissions, carbon sink capacity and environmental carrying capacity. Second, develop an “entropy weight-grey correlation” evaluation method. Finally, from a practical point of view, measure the development level of LCCE in Sichuan Province, China, from 2008 to 2018.FindingsIt was found that Sichuan LCCE development had a general downward trend from 2008 to 2012 and a steady upward trend from 2012 to 2018; however, the overall level was low. The main factors affecting the LCCE development are lagging energy consumption and environmental carrying capacity subsystem developments.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper puts forward relevant suggestions for improving the development of a low-carbon economy and climate change for the reference of policymakers.Originality/valueThis paper built an evaluation index system with 30 indicators for regional low carbon circular economic development. The evaluation method of “entropy weight-grey correlation” is used to measure the development level of regional LCCE in Sichuan Province, China.
Highlights
Rapid economic and social development has caused significant environmental problems, such as climate change, ozone layer destruction and air pollution, threatening global sustainable development (Lu et al, 2019; Li et al, 2020)
The “Circular Economy (CE)” concept was proposed by the American economist Boulding in the 1960s (Boulding, 1966) as part of his “Spaceship Theory.”
In November 2012, the Chinese Government implemented the circular Low-Carbon Economy (LCE) as the means to transform its development model (Hu, 2012) through projects, such as low-carbon park construction, new energy developments, waste classification and recycling and the active exploration of low-carbon circular development models based on regional characteristics (Wang and Chang, 2014; Bocken et al, 2016)
Summary
Rapid economic and social development has caused significant environmental problems, such as climate change, ozone layer destruction and air pollution, threatening global sustainable development (Lu et al, 2019; Li et al, 2020). At the beginning of the 21st century, the British Government introduced the “Low-Carbon Economy (LCE)” concept in its first energy white paper (DTI, 2003). A LCE refers to the efficient use of resources, the development of clean energy, reducing environmental pollution and obtaining more economic output. In November 2012, the Chinese Government implemented the circular LCE as the means to transform its development model (Hu, 2012) through projects, such as low-carbon park construction, new energy developments, waste classification and recycling and the active exploration of low-carbon circular development models based on regional characteristics (Wang and Chang, 2014; Bocken et al, 2016)
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