APEC Low Carbon Model City Forum Held in Tianjin, China

TIANJIN, China, June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ --

The APEC Low Carbon Model Town Forum was held in Tianjin on 21 and 22 June with the theme of "Green energy makes a better city – low carbon development path of APEC towns". More than 100 officials, experts and business representatives from APEC member countries gathered in the Binhai New Area where Yujiapu Financial District is located, APEC's first designated "low carbon model town". Based on in-depth studies made by APEC for the development of low carbon cities, the discussions focused not only on the necessary measures needed in the Asia-Pacific region to reduce carbon emissions, but more globally on climate change, environmental protection, energy conservation and other related topics of significant importance.

Officials from APEC member countries officially launch the "APEC Low Carbon Model Town" project

China's National Energy Board and Tianjin's Development and Reform Committee co-organized this forum. Topics discussed include the concept and method of low carbon cities, their energy strategies, low carbon technologies and financing as well as government low carbon policies.

During the forum, Yujiapu Financial District was presented with a commemorative plaque of "First APEC Low Carbon Model Town" by the project's work group representatives. APEC member countries' officials, experts and scholars awarded this title to Yujiapu Financial District after conducting a series of studies on its feasability and the respect of the low carbon model town concept. The City of Tianjin also signed a strategic cooperation agreement for the development of low carbon model towns with Japan and China's Shanxi Province, and established a low carbon industrial fund.

China's National Energy Board Deputy Secretary Qian Zhimin attended the forum. In his keynote speech, he outlined the "great efforts made to develop low carbon energy and the joint work accomplished in building better cities". He introduced the process of building low carbon cities in China and the work done in reducing environmental pollution. Mister Qian pledged to develop low carbon energy sources, promote low carbon urban development and low carbon consumption patterns and lifestyles through international exchanges and cooperations. Tianjin Deputy Mayor Yang Dongliang said that his city would follow the APEC Low Carbon Town project's concept to create an environmentally friendly, low carbon, green livable city. During the forum, APEC's experts and scholars had in-depth talks on the problems of low carbon model towns' energy strategy, planning and technologies among others.