As reported by the International Institute for Sustainable Development; refer to Low-Carbon Urban Investment In Shanghai

What is the policy, vision, or objective of the town? Please specify the actual goal and its metrics, if applicable.

Changing district to set low-carbon targets and identify cost-effective, low-carbon investments for meeting these targets. And has identified three potential abatement scenarios for 2015 and 2020. Meeting low-carbon targets will require the concerted effort of the government and private sector. Market mechanisms, regulations, policies and enforcement will be used in conjunction to facilitate collaboration between city government and private firms.

"The methodology used to identify abatement opportunities consists of four parts: conducting bottom-up surveys to diagnose energy use patterns; developing abatement cost curves to identify the potential and cost of various mitigation measures; prioritizing mitigation measures based on abatement potential, cost, and ease of implementation; and developing alternative abatement scenarios to set low-carbon targets."

One of the objectives is to successfully replicate the abatement cost curve methodology used in Changing in other cities around the world, and to compare the methodology with different approaches developed by the World Bank administered Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), as well as to facilitate low-carbon development at the national, city, and municipal levels.

Brief outline of the low carbon town development plan

"The study, conducted at the request of the Shanghai Municipality and Changning District Government, identifies 58 carbon dioxide abatement measures in the District’s Hongqiao area. The measures are grouped into six themes: retrofitting existing commercial buildings; green power; retrofitting existing residential buildings; low-emissions new buildings; behavior changes; and green mobility. Of these six areas, 80% of the total abatement potential was accounted for in building retrofits and green building. The study found, however, that while retrofitting offered great abatement potential, it was among the most difficult measures to implement due to, inter alia, a lack of financial incentives, business models and owner interest."