Environmental and economic impact assessment of the Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) in Shanghai, China

Abstract

National action on climate change and international negotiations are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. The international negotiations in the past years have stimulated national action, especially on Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) meaning development with the minimal output of emissions. This research will try to develop effective science-policy interaction to discuss the opportunities where LEDS can be used to support energy system, environmental, and economic development planning strategies in the city of Shanghai, China. In this paper, we argue that the urgency of bold and timely LEDS coupled with the social, environmental, and economic opportunities. With this in mind, we elaborate an interest-oriented approach to mobilizing multiple benefits of the Shanghai Master Plan as one of the essential LEDS in this city and argue that multiple benefits assessments can be important drivers of ambitious and effective social policy.