Policy Trends and Drivers of Low-Carbon Development in Chinas Industrial Zones

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the policy landscape for low-carbon development in China's industrial zones, highlighting the transition from national targets to local implementation and the resulting regulatory complexities. It also references a separate IISD study on the fiscal risks facing BRIICS nations due to the global transition away from fossil fuels.

• China's drive toward decarbonization and improved energy efficiency is motivated by the 2009 Copenhagen Accord commitment to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 40–45 per cent by 2020, systemic poor air quality in large cities, and energy security concerns both internationally and between provinces.
• The policy structure for low-carbon development in China operates through a combination of top-down national targets and bottom-up local policy design, where central guidance sets performance targets that are then allocated to provincial and municipal levels for local implementation.
• The decentralized nature of policy implementation has created a complex and overlapping regulatory environment. This complexity causes industry uncertainty, risks high compliance costs, and may lead to 'capital lock-in,' where current technology choices commit industries to high-emitting processes that are costly to transition later.
• A separate IISD study titled 'Boom and Bust: The Fiscal Implications of Fossil Fuel Phase-Out in Six Large Emerging Economies' warns that Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China, and South Africa (BRIICS) face a potential $278 billion revenue gap by 2030 if they do not adjust fiscal policies to account for the global transition away from fossil fuels.

APA

Thieriot,, D. S. (2015). Policy Trends and Drivers of Low-Carbon Development in Chinas Industrial Zones. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/policy-trends-and-drivers-low-carbon-development-chinas-industrial-zones

Chicago

Thieriot,, David Sawyer,Hubert. Policy Trends and Drivers of Low-Carbon Development in Chinas Industrial Zones. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/policy-trends-and-drivers-low-carbon-development-chinas-industrial-zones.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Thieriot, |first1=David Sawyer,Hubert |title=Policy Trends and Drivers of Low-Carbon Development in Chinas Industrial Zones |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=7 March 2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/policy-trends-and-drivers-low-carbon-development-chinas-industrial-zones |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thieriot2015policy, author = {Thieriot,, David Sawyer,Hubert}, title = {{Policy Trends and Drivers of Low-Carbon Development in Chinas Industrial Zones}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/policy-trends-and-drivers-low-carbon-development-chinas-industrial-zones}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }