BEST Cities: Software User Guide

The Benchmarking and Energy-Saving Tool for Low Carbon Cities (BEST Cities) 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.

China's 12^th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) targets a reduction in carbon intensity of the economy (CO₂ 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.

With targets for low-carbon development featuring prominently in the 12^th FYP and longer-term planning, cities must determine how to meet targets and promote a climate-friendly city. The BEST Cities tool can help.