Low carbon cities: is ambitious action affordable?

Low-Carbon Development Patterns: Observations of Typical Chinese Cities

Threatened by the huge pressure caused by climate change, low-carbon cities have become an inevitable part of urban evolution. It is essential to evaluate urban low-carbon development levels to smoothly promote the construction of low-carbon cities. This paper proposes an evaluation index system for urban low-carbon development from the points of view of economic development and social progress...

Rigorous classification and carbon accounting principles for low and Zero Carbon Cities

A large number of communities, new developments, and regions aim to lower their carbon footprint and aspire to become ‘‘zero carbon’’ or ‘‘Carbon Neutral.’’ Yet there are neither clear definitions for the scope of emissions that such a label would address on an urban scale, nor is there a process for qualifying the carbon reduction claims. This paper addresses the question of how to define a ze...

Is quality affordable?

The question " Is quality affordable? " is loaded with dynamite! Can a person who lives on less than US $1 per day afford a high-quality cataract operation? If the answer is 'No', then do we offer that person poor or low-quality services? Do people living in poverty have a 'right' to high-quality eye or health care? If the answer is 'Yes', then at what price and who should pay? Should we ignore...

2 Ambitious Two - Dimensionalism

Is Corn Ethanol a Low-Carbon Fuel?

Reports of disappearing glaciers, shrinking arctic ice, rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes, and unprecedented European heat waves combined with an inexorable buildup in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels is increasing pressure on governments to respond with new greenhouse gas initiatives. California and other states are providing policy leadership in the United States. Of particular interest...