@manual{59318,
  keywords = {China, Energy, Low-Carbon Eco-City Development, Benchmarking, Carbon, Low-Carbon City},
  author = {Stephanie Ohshita and Cecilia Fino-Chen and Lixuan Hong and Nina Khanna},
  title = {BEST Cities: Software User Guide},
  abstract = {<p>The <strong>B</strong>enchmarking and <strong>E</strong>nergy-<strong>S</strong>aving <strong>T</strong>ool for Low Carbon <strong>Cities</strong> (<strong><em>BEST Cities</em></strong>) is a dynamic decision-making tool, designed to assist local policy makers and urban planners in prioritizing strategies for energy and carbon saving at the city level in China.</p><p>China{\textquoteright}s 12<sup>th</sup> Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) targets a reduction in carbon intensity of the economy (CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per unit of GDP) by 17\%. In the "Low Carbon Development 2014-2015 energy saving action plan," the State Council calls for interim targets of more than 4\% in 2014 and more than 3.5\% in 2015. The State Council also calls for energy intensity saving (energy consumption per unit of GDP) of more than 3.9\% per year for 2014 and 2015. The longer-term goal is to reduce carbon intensity by 40-45\% from 2005 to 2020.</p><p>With targets for low-carbon development featuring prominently in the 12<sup>th</sup> FYP and longer-term planning, cities must determine <strong><em>how</em></strong> to meet targets and promote a climate-friendly city. The BEST Cities tool can help.</p>},
  year = {2016},
  month = {07/2016},
  institution = {Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory},
  publisher = {Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory},
  address = {Berkeley, CA},
}