Seminar: Pathways to Urban Sustainable Development in China
Seminar: Pathways to Urban Sustainable Development in China
Led by: Dr Xiaoqian SongLink opens in a new window, Associate Professor, Shanghai Jiaotong University
Abstract:
The world is experiencing fast urbanization, with cities and towns accounting for 57% of the world’s population in 2022. In China, it will reach 70% within five years. Rapid urbanization and industrialization bring increasing demands to cities for energy, resources, food, and water, as well as environmental problems such as carbon emission, air pollution, overloaded waste disposal systems, etc. In the past 40 years, China’s reform and opening-up policy has enabled cities to make significant contributions to national economic growth. However, development comes at a cost. This lecture will focus on China's pathways to urban sustainability and green transition. Also, I will tell China’s story from three main areas: industrial symbiosis and waste management, regional environmental impact assessments, and green transition in China. Through this, I hope to provide a lens into China’s journey toward urban sustainable development—a journey filled with lessons, challenges, and opportunities.