Analysis of Low Fertility Rates in Advanced Economies

In economics,opportunity cost means the maximum value of choosing one behavior over others in the situation where resources are limited(Parkin,2016).In the process of making reproductive decision,opportunity cost reveals the trade-off between time,resources,and economic benefits that individuals face when choosing to have children or not.During this process,the technological changes make the paths of career development diverse and rapidly changing,remarkably increasing the opportunity cost of childbirth and parenting.This leads to individuals more inclined to postpone or reduce childbirth when balancing their careers and families,thereby resulting in low fertility rates in developed economies.

The relationship between energy consumption and economic growth and the development strategy of a low-carbon economy in Kazakhstan

Fossil energy is the material basis of human survival, economic development and social progress. The relationship between energy consumption and economic growth is becoming increasingly close. However, energy consumption is the major source of greenhouse gases, which can significantly affect the balance of the global ecosystem. It has become the common goal of countries worldwide to address climate change, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and implement sustainable development strategies. In this study, we applied an approximate relationship analysis, a decoupling relationship analysis, and a trend analysis to explore the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth using data from Kazakhstan for the period of 1993-2010. The results demonstrated： （1） the total energy consumption and GDP in Kazakhstan showed a ＂U＂-type curve from 1993 to 2010. This curve was observed because 1993-1999 was a period during which Kazakhstan transitioned from a republic to an independent country and experienced a difficult transition from a planned to a market economy. Then, the economic system became more stable and the industrial production increased rapidly because of the effective financial, monetary and industrial policy support from 2000 to 2010. （2） The relationships between energy con- sumption and carbon emissions, economic growth and energy exports were linked; the carbon emissions were mainly derived from energy consumption, and the dependence of economic growth on energy exports gradually increased from 1993 to 2010. Before 2000, the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth was in a recessional decoupling state because of the economic recession. After 2000, this relationship was in strong and weak decoupling states because the international crude oil prices rose and energy exports increased greatly year by year. （3） It is forecasted that Kazakhstan cannot achieve its goal of energy consumption by 2020. Therefore, a low-carbon economy is the best strategic choice to address climate change from a global perspective in Kazakhstan. Thus, we proposed strategies including the improvement of the energy consumption structure, the development of new energy and renewable energy, the use of cleaner production technologies, the adjustment and optimization of the industrial structure, and the expansion of forest areas.

Transitional Road of Resources-exhausted Cities to Low-carbon Economy:Tourism Resources Development——A Case Study of Gejiu City

Tourism is of vital practical significance to low-carbon economic transition of resources-exhausted cities.By taking Gejiu City of Yunnan Province for example,the paper discussed that Gejiu City as the resources-exhausted city should positively develop tourism,particularly industrial heritage tourism,treating tourism development as the breakthrough and motive power of low-carbon economic transition of resources-exhausted cities,so as to walk out a unique road of tourism promoting low-carbon economic development.

Process Reengineering of Cold Chain Logistics of Agricultural Products Based on Low-carbon Economy

Through the process analysis of cold chain logistics of agricultural products,we find that cold chain logistics of agricultural products contradict the development model of low-carbon economy to some extent.We apply the development idea of low-carbon economy,introduce the thirdparty logistics companies,establish distribution center of cold chain logistics of agricultural products,and strengthen information sharing,to reengineer the process of cold chain logistics of agricultural products in China.The results show that applying low-carbon economy to process reengineering of cold chain logistics of agricultural products,has advantages of increasing added value of products,promoting scale merit and abating lag,plays a role in promoting emission reduction,high efficiency and environmental protection in the process of cold chain logistics of agricultural products in China.

Research on the Impact of Low Carbon Economy on China’s Foreign Trade

Considering the growing prominence of global environmental issues,a low-carbon economy has emerged as a crucial direction for economic development across various countries.As the world’s second-largest economy,China has also witnessed the influence of a low-carbon economy on its international trade development.This article aims to commence with an exploration of the development background,meaning,and significance of a low-carbon economy.Subsequently,it delves into an in-depth analysis of the impact that a low-carbon economy has on China’s international trade.The article concludes by proposing pertinent countermeasures and suggestions.

Overview of Low-carbon Economy Research

The paper has a detailed literature review in low-carbon economy research of academic circle in our country from three aspects that are conception and connotation of low-carbon economy, necessity and urgency of developing low-carbon economy and path choice of realizing low-carbon economy in our country. low-carbon economy is the "green economy" that obtains the maximum output by discharging minimum greenhouse gases with the main characteristics of "three low and three high" that are low energy consumption, low pollution, low discharge and high effect, high efficiency, high benefit. To China, developing low-carbon economy is the inevitable choice in realizing peaceful rising and sustainable development as a responsible large country. It conforms to world trends and corresponds to China's actual conditions. Finally, the paper makes a overview of the path choice in realizing low-carbon economy in our country from eight aspects-integral countermeasures and suggestions, technology innovation, consumption pattern innovation, policy innovation, environmental and financial innovation, building low-carbon city, establishing carbon trading market and developing low-carbon agriculture.

Low-carbon economic development in Central Asia based on LMDI decomposition and comparative decoupling analyses

Low-carbon economic development is a strategy that is emerging in response to global climate change. Being the third-largest energy base in the world, Central Asia should adopt rational and efficient energy utilization to achieve the sustainable economic development. In this study, the logarithmic mean Divisia index(LMDI) decomposition method was used to explore the influence factors of CO2 emissions in Central Asia(including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) during the period 1992–2014. Moreover, decoupling elasticity and decoupling index based on the LMDI decomposition results were employed to explore the relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions during the study period. Our results show that the total CO2 emissions decreased during the period 1992–1998, influenced by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent financial crisis. After 1998, the total CO2 emissions started to increase slowly along with the economic growth after the market economic reform. Energy-related CO2 emissions increased in Central Asia, mainly driven by economic activity effect and population effect, while energy intensity effect and energy carbon structure effect were the primary factors inhibiting CO2 emissions. The contribution percentages of these four factors(economic activity effect, population effect, energy intensity effect and energy carbon structure effect) to the total CO2 emissions were 11.80%, 39.08%, –44.82% and –4.32%, respectively, during the study period. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan released great quantities of CO2 with the annual average emissions of 189.69×106, 45.55×106 and 115.38×106 t, respectively. In fact, their economic developments depended on high-carbon energies. The decoupling indices clarified the relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth, highlighting the occurrence of a ’’weak decoupling’’ between these two variables in Central Asia. In conclusion, our results indicate that CO2 emissions are still not completely decoupled from economic growth in Central Asia. Based on these results, we suggest four key policy suggestions in this paper to help Central Asia to reduce CO2 emissions and build a resource-conserving and environment-friendly society.

Perspective of Chinese Forest Carbon Absorption Trade Based on Low-Carbon Economy

The paper analyzes the basis of forest carbon trade including the feasibility of carbon absorption trade,main body,platform and standard.The purposes of capital of carbon absorption trade is introduced.Caron absorption trade capital can be used to resettle ecological migrants,absorb employment,build forest and increase fund,increase local income,enhance forest science and technology development and launch environmental proportion.The perspective of developing forest carbon absorption trade is pointed out and the practical problems of developing forest carbon trade need to be solved.For example,the property problem of forest resources,value calculation problem of forest resources and sustainable development of forest.

Analysis on the Development of Low-Carbon Marine Economy

From the perspective of low-carbon economy,the paper analyzes the factors that influencing the development of low carbon economy.It is showed that the damage of marine ecological environment results in the low ability of oceans in absorbing green gas;environmental pollution leads to lowering capacity of ocean to deal with the wastes;development of related marine industries brings deterioration of marine environment;changes of climate threat the healthy development of marine economy.The paper points out the development routines of marine low carbon economy:accelerating the innovation of energy techniques,exploring marine renewable green energies;planning scientifically and strengthening the protection and repairmen of marine environment;developing marine recycle economy,upgrading resources using efficiency;adjusting marine industrial structures and exploring greatly the marine low carbon industries;guiding industries to chase chances and accelerating the development of low-carbon marine economy.

Analysis on the Influencing Factors of Low-carbon Economy and Its Mitigation Countermeasures in Sichuan Province

[Objective]The study aimed to analyze the influencing factors of low-carbon economy and its mitigation countermeasures in Sichuan Province.[Method]Taking Sichuan Province as an example,an extended STIRPAT model was established firstly,then the impacts of population,economy and technology on carbon emissions from 2000 to 2009 were analyzed econometrically by using the principal component analysis method.Finally,some corresponding countermeasures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions were put forward.[Result]At present,population scale had the greatest influence on carbon emissions in Sichuan Province,then energy consumption per industrial added value and the proportion of industrial added value to GDP.In addition,the influence of population scale on carbon emissions was still greater than that of population structure,and technical factor also has certain explanatory power on carbon emissions.Some countermeasures,like controlling population growth,advocating low-carbon life style and consumption model,paying more attention to the strategic adjustment of industrial structure to gradually reduce the proportion of high-carbon industries,encouraging energy consumption and emissions reduction plus scientific and technological innovation in a new energy technology filed,could be adopted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,so as to adjust to the development of low-carbon economy in Sichuan Province.[Conclusion]The research could provide references for the establishment of policies for reducing carbon emissions.

Low-carbon Economy and Eco-design of Commodity Packing

Research situation of eco-design is analyzed, and then thoughts and methods of eco-design are discused. The eco-design includes packaging modularization, dematerialization, energy-saving and bio-simulation.

The Dilemmas Faced by Accounting and Countermeasures on the Perspective of Low-carbon Economy

The production and business activity of enterprises is the key factor which causes environmental pollution. It will be conducive to sustainable development of human beings if the environmental issues can be integrated into accounting calculation by using accounting methods. It is extremely necessary to develop carbon accounting in our country. However, the enterprises in our country are also facing a lot of dilemmas under the state of low-carbon economy. Therefore, perfect carbon accounting standards and accounting systems should be established, social and government supervision of carbon accounting strengthened, national public awareness of low-carbon environment consolidated and the professional level of the accounting personnel improved.

Discussion on low-carbon economy and low-carbon building technology

The paper introduced low-carbon economy and low-carbon technology, and proposed the de-tailed technical measures of low-carbon build-ing technology. Moreover, it has quantitatively calculated the “implicit” CO2 emission of C40 and C50 concrete columns, aluminium curtain wall, wall paintings and common floor decora-tion materials. The calculation results show that it is preferable to use high strength concrete, reduce the usage of aluminium materials and use wooden floor according to location. The paper can be a reference for quantitative meas-urement to the low-carbon technology and en-ergy efficiency.

Study on the Sharing of Municipal Higher Education Resource under Low-carbon Economy Perspective

Started from organic interaction between university and city, low-carbon development of the higher education was promoted by establishing consultation and accountability mechanisms which oriented education resource sharing. It not only was an inevitable choice effectively cracking redundant construction of the higher education resource in China, but also promoted relevant universities changing talent training concept, improving collectivize school mode of the higher education and establishing resource sharing information platform among universities. Problem of the municipal higher education resource sharing in China was listed. Finally, we put forward several measures for strengthening higher education resource sharing.

Research on the Influencing Factors of Rural Low-carbon Economic Development and Government Regulation

This paper analyses the main factors causing sluggish development of rural low-carbon economy in China as follows:the rural energy structure is irrational;the infrastructure and technology are relatively backward;system of laws,regulations and policy is not sound;fund-raising mechanism develops slowly;farmers' low-carbon awareness and ability are limited.On the basis of these unfavorable factors,from the perspective of government regulation,feasible strategies are put forward in line with the actual situation of rural low-carbon economic development in China.

Japan's experience of energy saving and business model for low-carbon economy

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the questions concerning stimulation of the innovation and the diffusion of energy saving or low-carbon.To do so,this paper explains using two cases of Japan-energy saving innovation after the Oil Shock and the eco points system.For the case after the oil shock,we explain the energy saving trend after the Oil Shock and the factors statistically.Then we put forward the business model for the low-carbon economy.Furthermore,we analyze the case of the eco points system from 2009-2011 in Japan and explain the significance of the business model for diffusion of the low-carbon products.

Discussion and Application of Planning EIA Index System in the Industrial Development Region Based on Low Carbon Economy

Aimed at the low carbon economy and the characteristics of planning EIA in the industrial development region,the planning EIA index system which merged with the low carbon economy concept in the industrial development region was established.The construction planning of national eco-industrial park in Hefei High-tech Industrial Development Zone was comprehensively evaluated by using the gray correlation method.The evaluation results of considering and without considering the low carbon index were contrasted and were verified by using the improved entropy method.The results showed that the regional sustainable development index constantly rose,and the planning was reasonable.Moreover,the suggestions were also put forward to tackle the problems.

Approach and Strategy of Constructing Low-carbon Communities

The developing focus of low-carbon society is constructing low-carbon cities which are based on the construction of low-carbon communities.The main ways of constructing low-carbon communities conclude low carbonization of planning and designing,low carbonization of construction materials,low carbonization of community environment,low carbonization of energy system,low carbonization of energy use and low carbonization of life style.The basic strategies of constructing low-carbon communities contain enhancing propaganda and education,strengthening technical innovation,cultivating low-carbon culture,advocating public participation and consolidating leadership in organizations.

Study on Low-carbon Landscape Design of Residential Areas

With landscape design of residential areas as the study object, by combining with the "low energy consumption, low pollution and low emission" principle of low-carbon economy, this paper tries to analyze the relatively systematic low-carbon landscape designs of modern residential areas.

Innovation of China's Circular Agricultural Development in the Perspective of Low Carbon Economy

On the basis of the concept and characteristics of circular economy, this paper analyzes the restraining factors of China's circular agricultural development as follows: issues concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers are outstanding; the problems of agricultural resources and agricultural ecological environment are serious; the quality of agricultural products cannot meet the demand of domestic and international market for food. Based on the internal requirements of low carbon economic development, this paper advances four innovative models concerning China's circular agricultural development as follows: the model of combining planting and breeding of agriculture, the developmental model of leisure and sightseeing, ecological integration model, and the developmental model of reusing agricultural byproducts. Every region should choose or create different circular agricultural model in different domains, in order to better use agricultural resources, reduce the consumption of agricultural energy inputs, reduce the emission of agricultural greenhouse gas, develop low carbon agriculture, and make great contribution for meeting the international challenges and promoting China's agricultural development.