Study Of Construction Of Carbon Labeling System In China

Carbon label informs consumers via data on products about the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) released during the life cycle of goods and services, i.e. from the extraction of raw materials, production, transportation, storage and use to waste disposal, so as to encourage consumers to choose the goods with lower emissions. The scheme oriented by the consumers’purchasing decisions will create incentives for businesses to develop low-carbon products technology and move to lower emission locations, thereby achieve emission reductions. Concrete method is:the businesses file applications and obtain certifications by means of third-party’s carbon measurement, then communicate the footprint of products to their consumers.Carbon labeling is not fresh in international society, the schemes of carbon label certification had already established in more than 10 countries, for example, Britain, America, Germany and Japan.The establishment of low carbon product certification is an important try for China to control greenhouse gases emissions via consumer terminal, and marks a new stage of achieving low-carbon development by market mechanism. However, China’s low-carbon certification label is not carbon footprint labeling in real meaning, it could not provide specific amount of carbon emissions, and therefore could not play its role well in leading low-carbon consumption. As a new environmental labeling, the theoretical source, path choice and system design of carbon label are worth of further study.This article starts from concept and background of carbon labeling, analyses the theoretical source of carbon labeling. Then it discusses characteristics and implementing situation of carbon labeling system in some typical developed countries and regions, and summarizes their experience. Next analyses the problems of our county’s carbon labeling system and the necessity of establishing carbon labeling system in China. In the end, put forward some suggestions on constructions of carbon labeling system in China.