At present, the mainstream view holds that excessive carbon emissions leading to climate change occur in the process of human production and consumption. To reduce carbon emissions, some consumption and production activities should be optimized and restrained accordingly. The author thinks that the main idea of mainstream and knowledgeable "low-carbon life" can be summarized as "eat, live, travel and use moderately, do not waste, and exercise more". If China traditional culture is used to explain the main connotation of this concept, it can be further simplified as "thrift".
The concept of "low-carbon life" focuses on the future of mankind. In recent hundreds of years, the industrialization process marked by a large number of ore energy consumption and a large number of carbon emissions has made developed countries far ahead of developing countries in carbon emissions. Of course, it is this industrialization process that makes developed countries lead other countries in science and technology, and also makes their production and lifestyle accustomed to the "high carbon" model for a long time, forming a global "model", which eventually leads to their own and the world being kidnapped by "high carbon". After the first oil crisis, and then after climate change became a problem, developed countries suddenly realized the concept of high energy consumption mode and "low-carbon life" and gained new understanding. Although some scholars still have different views on the causes of climate change, the concept of "low-carbon life" is at least in line with the prudent principle of "preparing for a rainy day" and the psychology and ideal of pursuing perfection, so it is better to believe what it has than not, and the concept of "low-carbon life" is gradually accepted by all countries in the world.
The world is troubled by climate problems, but it is composed of countries and regions with different geographical environments and different stages of development. We must try to understand this concept and act together. At this stage, we must deal with the following problems under the principle of comprehensiveness, justice and differentiation: the coordination of short-term and long-term interests, the conflict and win-win between national and global interests, the game and adjustment between industrial economy and overall economic interests, the unity of opposites between national will and community interests, and the sharing and mutual assistance of resources between developed and developing countries. Thus, what challenges will it bring to turn the concept of "low-carbon life" into reality?
The most fundamental challenge of "low-carbon life" is that it requires human beings to change the production and consumption concepts formed since industrialization, especially the consumption-oriented consumption culture. The mainstream economic theories prevailing in the world are basically based on the supremacy of consumption, the supremacy of consumers and the priority of competition. It improves social production efficiency, but it also leads to uncontrolled high-carbon emissions in production and consumption. Although the supremacy of consumption seems to be a beautiful goal, from the perspective of "low-carbon life", it is a short-sighted behavior that sacrifices the long-term interests and overall interests of mankind. Therefore, choosing the concept of "low-carbon life" means that we must have enough political courage to re-coordinate and redistribute resources and interests, and we must also have enough ability and prepare corresponding actions to examine our consumption habits.
"Low-carbon life" is an unprecedented problem facing mankind. There is no ready-made experience, theory and choice model. Our only choice is to innovate and innovate our way of life, with the aim of protecting the earth's homeland and benefiting future mankind.