Total carbon emission generated by Shanghai in one year is nearly double that of Sydney and triple that of Tokyo, according to recent research on climate change in Asia and major Pacific cities.

With industry generating more than 60 percent of local carbon emissions, restructuring of industry holds the key to controlling carbon dioxide discharge and its impact to the climate, said experts from Tongji University's College of Environmental Science and Engineering.

Preliminary results of the research, which was released at the Bayer-Tongji-UNEP Sustainable Development Forum yesterday, compared carbon emission and climate policies of Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Bangkok.

"It is the first time that local experts carried out such research and its final results will be given to the city government at this year end for consultation," said Zhao Jianfu, the project leader.

According to the research, Shanghai, with the biggest population and the fastest economic growth of the four, discharged more than 5,400 tons of carbon equivalent a year. That was the highest total carbon emission of the four cities, and also the highest per unit of gross domestic product.

Sydney had the highest emission per person and per square kilometer, the forum told.

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