A strategic path for the goal of clean and low-carbon energy in China

China has made remarkable achievements in its industrialization process, and its gross domestic product (GDP) has jumped up to the second place in the world. However, total energy consumption, total carbon emissions and annual emission growth have leaped to the top in the world. Consequently, the coal-dominated energy consumption structure has resulted in many serious environmental problems. The evolution of global energy consumption shows that the goal of clean and low-carbon energy is not only the general trend of energy development, but the only way to reduce the risks of climate change and ecological damage. This paper systematically analyzes the current status of energy consumption in China and the necessity for achieving the goal of clean and low-carbon energy, and proposes the corresponding practical measures. It also discusses the roles of different types of energy like coal, oil, gas and non-fossil fuels in the medium- and short-term planning of clean and low-carbon energy. It is concluded that China needs to make joint efforts in such aspects to achieve the goal of clean and low-carbon energy as optimizing the industrial structure, controlling the amount of total energy consumption, and improving energy consumption structure. On the other hand, in view of the resource endowments and consumption status in China, the clean-and-low-carbon utilization of coal is a realistic choice; to develop non-fossil energy sources vigorously is a strategic choice; as a dominated source of power fuels, oil will not be wavered in its role in the medium and short term, and natural gas will play an important role as a bridge in the process of achieving the goal of clean and low-carbon energy