Zhu Dajian of Tongji University: Climate change from the historical buildings on the Bund in Shanghai
"Achieving the 1.5°C goal is not just a matter of temperature, it involves changes in systems and behavior. Climate change is not an abstract issue, but a concrete challenge that affects the resilience of our cities, health and future." Recently, at the Carbon Road Sinan·1.5°C Talk speech organized by the Green Finance 60 Forum, Zhu Dajian, director of the Institute of Sustainable Development and Management of Tongji University, used three "increasingly" ideas to explain his thoughts on climate change. Thinking.
The first "increasingly" comes from his subtle observation of Shanghai.
"If you like citywalk in Shanghai, you will not miss the Bund. If you pay attention, you may find that the historical buildings on the Bund have changed over the years. I grew up in Shanghai and have deep memories of the Bund. Since Shanghai was opened as a port in 1843, the height difference between the Huangpu River Wharf and the shore has only been more than one meter. At that time, simple wooden guardrails were used, and there was no concept of flood prevention walls at all, because water was believed to have no impact on us. Since the 1930s, everyone has gradually discovered that the water level of the Huangpu River has risen and roads are being flooded more and more frequently. If you go to the buildings of the world on the Bund and observe, some old buildings dating back to 1930 have the steps at the entrances lower than the road surface. Originally, these buildings were built flush with or slightly higher than the road surface, but as the water level of the Huangpu River rose, measures taken in the 1930s were to raise the road surface. As a result, the roads on the Bund and Nanjing Road have been raised. After being raised, the ground inside the pillars of the old building will be lower than the outside road." Zhu Dajian used this interesting phenomenon to prove the impact of climate change, sea level rise and rising water levels on the Huangpu River on cities.
"Today, Shanghai's defenses have developed to nearly seven-meter-high flood walls to protect against typhoons and storm surges. The increasing height of flood control walls directly reflects the impact of climate change. This is the impact of climate change around us and 1.5 degrees on us." Zhu Dajian said that research now shows that if the sea level rises by one meter, our flood control capacity will decline from once in a thousand years to once in a century. This is the reality we face.
The second "increasingly" is China's increasingly positive attitude on climate change issues. Zhu Dajian said that in the early days, we responded passively and believed that climate change was mainly the responsibility of Western countries, because historically carbon emissions mainly came from developed countries. However, starting in 2005, we began to implement specific measures, including setting energy intensity targets per unit of GDP, marking a change in attitude. In 2009, we committed to reducing carbon intensity by 45%, further demonstrating our shift in attitude. After the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, China promised to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This is a major commitment that puts us at the forefront of the global response to climate change.
The third "increasingly" is that consumer behavior is becoming increasingly important in low-carbon development. Zhu Dajian said that reducing carbon emissions is not only a change at the industrial level, but also includes our personal consumption habits. Taking food as an example, selecting local and seasonal agricultural products can reduce the carbon footprint caused by transportation. In terms of fashion, we can choose sustainable brands and buy less but better quality clothing, which can reduce waste and energy consumption. Similarly, when it comes to transportation, using public transportation or choosing small electric vehicles instead of high-emission vehicles can also make a difference. Each choice we make in these areas will have a ripple effect on the entire carbon cycle, promoting the demand-side development of a low-carbon economy.
"We usually talk about three carbon emission ranges: direct emissions, operational emissions, and supply chain emissions, of which supply chain emissions account for a large part. Although consumption is the end of this process, it has a huge impact on the supply chain in front, which we call the downstream effect of consumption. In management, I often call it the 28 - 20 effect." Zhu Dajian said that the end role of consumption has a very important guiding effect on the top 80%. Sometimes, this impact can be greater. For example, in the entire automotive, plastics or textiles industry, carbon emissions for the entire life cycle are 100%, and consumption may only account for 20% of them, with the rest in mining, manufacturing and transportation. If the consumption chain can be reduced or not used at all, such as choosing to take a train instead of flying, carbon emissions can be reduced. Through the transformation of these consumption patterns, we can generate a 28 - 28 effect from downstream and drive the low-carbon transformation of the entire supply chain.
