Discussions on the Dynamic Growth of Energy Consumption and the Connotation of Energy Conservation in China

China's energy efficiency improvement,e.g.,the reduction of energy consumption per unit gross domestic product,has been substantial since the central government implemented a series of policy measures in recent years.However,these policy measures have neither eliminated thoroughly the energy dissipation during the process of socioeconomic development,nor found a comprehensive solution to the threat of overloaded energy consumption in China in the long run.The key reason is a lack of systematic understanding of the essence of China's energy conservation,which makes it difficult to develop a comprehensive strategy for energy conservation.This study summarizes the essence of China's energy conservation based on the discussion of the general concept of energy conservation itself and an analysis of the dynamic growth of energy consumption and its mechanisms in China.This study points out that saving energy from the dynamic socioeconomic development process is the essential connotation of China's energy conservation,while the fundamental purpose of China's energy conservation is to reduce the country's aggregate energy consumption for achieving its modernization(e.g.,urbanization and industrialization).This paper deepens our understanding of energy conservation in the Chinese context,and provides fundamental references to help decision-makers to scientifically formulate and implement China's energy conservatioh policies and strategies.