A podcast released today form a website tuned into renewable resources, aims to link Chinese history with the new Dongtan development, the World’s first eco-city that is leading the way in urban sustainability. The Chinese civilisation is one of the oldest, generations spanning 5000years. Before the modern era set in, China was the host of some of the world’s largest, most advanced cities, e.g. Beijing was home to 2million people by the 17th Century. However, the vast country was also covered by land villages and farms set in a rural lifestyle. This society was common under Mao, with prominent village industries, collective farms and local self-sufficiency. However, in 1978, Xiaoping set a focus on rapid economic growth with big ideas for markets and foreign trade.
Following industrialisation and urbanisation lead China to a booming economy. Western style consumerism was forefront and the environment certainly soon felt this impact. Pollution problems amounted and CO2 emissions will soon be comparable to those of the US. However, it must be noted that China is learning the lesson of the ‘limits of growth’ very quickly in a world where climate change gains so much attention in the media and with the public and scientists. Doubts for the current population of Chongming island are recognized, but residents are assured that attractive new business opportunities await them.
Hu Jintao became president in 2003, rhetoric of his policies showing an emphasis on ‘harmony between humanity and nature’, ‘building a conservation-orientated, environmentally friendly society’ and ‘economic development must consider its impact on the environment’. Developers of Dongtan, the purpose built new eco-city, have clearly been influenced by these messages somewhere along the line. The success of Dongtan is today recognized as crucial owing to China’s plans of 400 other new cities within the next 20 years.
It is ironic however that the site chosen for Dongtan is the result of an environmental catastrophe itself. The alluvial island of Chongming and its associated wetlands in the Yangtze Delta only grew due to deposition of eroded soil from the deforestation practices at the Yangtze headwaters. These wetlands are nonetheless foreseen as a major visitor attraction.
Dongtan is due to be constructed in time for the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010. It is a local project with a global perspective, planners and engineers being contracted from around the world. Dongtan will demonstrate that environmental sustainability and access to nature are very much part of new development in China. China, as well as many other nations, have recognised that our planet will not be able to cope with 1.3bn Chinese extracting and consuming resources that continue to pollute the Earth. Leaders behind Dongtan’s development hope that this will be a model of how to build for sustained urban life that could be too compelling to ignore.
Lacey, S., 2008.
Source: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/podcast?id=52138
Following industrialisation and urbanisation lead China to a booming economy. Western style consumerism was forefront and the environment certainly soon felt this impact. Pollution problems amounted and CO2 emissions will soon be comparable to those of the US. However, it must be noted that China is learning the lesson of the ‘limits of growth’ very quickly in a world where climate change gains so much attention in the media and with the public and scientists. Doubts for the current population of Chongming island are recognized, but residents are assured that attractive new business opportunities await them.
Hu Jintao became president in 2003, rhetoric of his policies showing an emphasis on ‘harmony between humanity and nature’, ‘building a conservation-orientated, environmentally friendly society’ and ‘economic development must consider its impact on the environment’. Developers of Dongtan, the purpose built new eco-city, have clearly been influenced by these messages somewhere along the line. The success of Dongtan is today recognized as crucial owing to China’s plans of 400 other new cities within the next 20 years.
It is ironic however that the site chosen for Dongtan is the result of an environmental catastrophe itself. The alluvial island of Chongming and its associated wetlands in the Yangtze Delta only grew due to deposition of eroded soil from the deforestation practices at the Yangtze headwaters. These wetlands are nonetheless foreseen as a major visitor attraction.
Dongtan is due to be constructed in time for the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010. It is a local project with a global perspective, planners and engineers being contracted from around the world. Dongtan will demonstrate that environmental sustainability and access to nature are very much part of new development in China. China, as well as many other nations, have recognised that our planet will not be able to cope with 1.3bn Chinese extracting and consuming resources that continue to pollute the Earth. Leaders behind Dongtan’s development hope that this will be a model of how to build for sustained urban life that could be too compelling to ignore.
Lacey, S., 2008.
Source: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/podcast?id=52138
Dongtan, ultimately will be more accessible, but it could be argued that is this a benefit to a region that is supposed to be based on low emissions and environmentally friendly development? The projects have however, been given approval and today a Chinese engineers, Huixia, has announced that the two projects are well ahead of schedule and will be completed by the end of this year, not by 2010 as planned. On completion, the bridge will be 10km long and the fifth widest suspension bridge in the world, achieved at an estimated cost of US$1.5bn.