Achieving low-carbon economy by disruptive innovation in China

This paper proposes a framework for China to achieve low-carbon economy by disruptive innovations. Chinapsilas rapid industrialization and economic growth have significantly increased its energy consumption. The issue of Greenhouse Gas mitigation poses a huge challenge to China to create an innovative and sustainable development pattern. Both theoretical and empirical studies imply that technological transition approach would be a suitable approach to achieve sustainable innovation for low-carbon economy. By analyzing the differences between disruptive innovations and radical innovations, we propose that to trigger technological transition in developing countries like China, disruptive innovations are wiser approaches than radical innovations. Then, we suggest a low-carbon technological transitions model which focuses on fostering disruptive innovations as triggers for low-carbon economy transition.