Low-Carbon Development (LCD) Pathways in Australia,Bangladesh,China and India—A Review

The low-carbon development (LCD) is the development that causes low greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, reduce vulnerabilities of climate change impacts on social, economic, environmental sectors/assets and integrate/incorporate climate change as a risk in development programmes. This article identified that there are multiple concepts of LCD in different countries and the international communities. It highlighted that improvements in energy efficiency and energy conservation, investments/increased use of low carbon or green energy (renewable energy), switching to low-carbon transport, carbon capture and storage, reducing the carbon footprint of an organisation etc. are essential achieving LCD. The article emphasised LCD in the natural and human-built environment including agriculture, buildings/infrastructure, fisheries & aquaculture, forestry, industry, power/energy, tourism, transport, water and wastes.

There are several initiatives, strategies, policies and actions on LCD in Australia, Bangladesh, China and India. Those are awareness, education, capacity building and behaviour changes of communities on LCD; targets of capping green and renewable energy for short-, mid- and long-terms; zero tillage, climate smart agriculture, agroforestry; use of energy efficient appliances, afforestation/reforestation/restoration of forests; use of low carbon power (solar, wind, nuclear, hydro, biofuels); energy production from organic waste; zero waste, zero carbon emissions; sustainable consumption; carbon capture and storage; carbon tax; low-carbon/green cities; low-carbon transport; investment in low-carbon technologies; rainwater harvesting, R&D and innovation and subsidies on solar heaters, electric vehicles and energy efficient appliances. Australia, China, Bangladesh and India have set up a future target for renewable energy (RE) of 20%, 15%, 10% and 35% respectively. Low-carbon energy consumption has been significantly higher in China and India, for example, RE, hydro and nuclear power consumption was highest in China, whereas biofuels in India. Australia and Bangladesh do not produce nuclear power. The community lifestyle and behaviour changes have been identified as an important pathway to achieve LCD. LCD discussed in this article falls within the scope of several newly globally agreed sustainable development goals. Courses should be introduced at local schools, colleges and universities so that people can understand and be equipped with tools and technology related to LCD.