Author(s)

Xiangyu Li

Corresponding Author

Xiangyu Li

Abstract

Studying the relation between economic growth and natural resources and the environment is of great significance for developing rational policies on energy conservation and emission reduction, improving the sustainability of socio-economic development as well. This paper researches the pressure on natural resources and the environment in Shanghai from 2001 to 2016, indicated by resource consumption indices and environmental pollution indices, brought about by economic growth. Using the Tapio decoupling index, Shanghai's decoupling condition of economic growth from pressure on natural resources and the environment is analysed. The study shows that Shanghai's economic development is gradually putting itself out of the pattern of high consumption and heavy pollution, with the weakening but still existing dependence of the economic growth on natural resources and the environment. Some targeted advice on policy making is given at last.

Keywords

Economic growth, Pressure on natural resources and the environment, Decoupling.