The Climate Group has announced plans to develop 15 to 20 low carbon cities in China in the next three to five years to encourage the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and address the problem of climate change.

The Climate Group said in a report released in Beijing that China would miss the best opportunity to retain its technology advantage and core competitiveness in the world market if it lets slip the opportunities brought by the global financial crisis.

Wu Changhua, director for Greater China of The Climate Group, said that as a path for development, the core aim of a low-carbon economy is to increase energy efficiency and change the energy structure. She said that this would mean cleaner, more efficient and lower green house gas emission for China. Wu added that besides big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin, the Climate Group would mainly target second-tier and third-tier cities in China for the low-carbon initiative as these smaller cities provide more opportunity for development.

According to Wu, The Climate Group is talking with seven or eight cities in China and it will urge the local governments and financial enterprises to help drive technology innovation and capital circulation through incentive policies and financial support and effectively promote low-carbon technologies for energy saving and emission reduction in these cities.

So far, according to Wang Chengbo, director of The Climate Group's Chinese City Leadership Program, Guiyang in China's Guizhou province which has made a strategic plan on building a eco-friendly city will cooperate with The Climate Group on carrying out five LED energy-saving programs in the city.

The Climate Group is a global organization whose goal is to help governments and business set the world economy on the path to a low-carbon, prosperous future. The Climate Group believes that low-carbon economy won't slow down economic growth. Instead, it will drive up a new round of high speed growth, increase employment and improve people's lives.