CHINA AND UBRANIZATION
CHALLENGES TO URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
As the most populous country in the world, China's vast cities are heavily dense with population. With over 60% of its population occupying urban areas. China, understandably, has as result, faced many challenges to maintain sustainability. One of these is public health. Densley populated cities make it easy to spread diseases. One example of this is the spread of the infectious disease, Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, in 2003. This disease was rapidly taking over China during that time period, especially some of its largest cities like Shanghai, Guangdong, and its capital, Beijing. The fear alone of this disease caused public panic. Public health is also a growing concern with the increase of pollutants. Over half of the population live in the Hai, Huang and Huai river basins; only 30% of these rivers is clean waters, leaving little access to water. China is a country that heavily prioritizes and emphasizes its economic growth and GDP. This has lead to a lack of attention on the environment. Another arising issue in urban sustainability, is social equity. With the rising prices on urban land and the transfer of people from rural to urban life, the income gap has widened. This caused the loss of labor and a weak market in rural areas. Unfortunately, this migration has also spurred the lack of access to necessities such as healthcare and social security resources.
Source: Landscape and Rural Planning by Wei-Ning Xiang (Volume 100 Issue 4) |
CHINA'S SOLUTIONS
To combat the issue of urban sustainability, the Chinse Government have made strides towards improving the people's health and well-being. This includes pollutants and other arising problems. By partnering with the UN China has made great steps towards achieving the 17 goals of sustainability. One of these steps include the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. This plan provided financing to large business and cooperation for tools and machines that are more environmentally friendly. In the Jing-Jin-Ji region alone 1.8 billion tons of coal are burnt in a year. By reducing these amounts, China has a clear future ahead of them in terms of air quality. In addition, the Chiense government has implemented low-emission upgrades to large businesses. As a result, these companies have bought and used desulfurization and denitrification tools.
Source: The World Bank |