China’s plans to build the world’s largest eco city are progressing quickly. But some skeptics are worried about the motives behind it being built.
The eco-city, costing around $1.3 billion is to be built on Chrongming Island, about three quarters the size of Manhattan. Initially it will have a population between 25,000 – 50,000 in 2010 rising to an expected half a million by 2040.
The city is to be an example to the world, or at least that is the hope of the Shanghai Industrial Investment Co (SIIC), the company behind the project, and the firm Arup, the UK engineering consultancy firm that has designed the city.
The island lies across the Yangtze Delta from the vast city of Shanghai. At present it takes an hour’s ride on a ferry to cross the river but will eventually be linked to the mainland by an 18 mile long bridge and tunnel.
A need for the city
China has been growing at a phenomenal rate, but it has been ravaging itself in the process. Today they are home to 16 out of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world. By 2010 it is expected to overtake America as the largest emitter of green house gasses.
“In 20 years,” says Ma Chengliang, the manager of SIIC, “the Chinese economy has grown so fast that we are already suffering energy shortages. To maintain our current growth rate, we must opt for sustainable development. In Dongtan we want to demonstrate what can be done in terms of renewable energy, clean transport systems and sustainable lifestyles. The model was designed so that it could be extended to the rest of Chongming, serving as a prototype for the whole country.”
A greener place to live
Everything that can be done to make the city a greener place to live is being done. Conventional cars will be banned from the city centre while busses will run on fuel cells.
Up to 80% of the solid waste will be recycled and any organic matter will be burnt in an incinerator catering for at least part of the city’s energy requirements. There are also power plants burning rice husks which are plentiful in China. On the outskirts of the city there will be wind farms to produce more of the city’s energy.
Each house will also be generating its own power with the buildings being fitted with photovoltaic panels and small wind turbines.
Even the road system is being designed so that it will be quicker to walk or cycle than to take a car.
Sceptics
There is concern over who the housing is aimed at, observers such as Professor Chen of Tongji Unviserity, feels that the construction firms are more interested in raising the income and standard of living in the area than creating sustainable development.
Although the housing will be environmentally friendly it will not be affordable by locals and could easily end up just being second homes for the rich. Much of the housing has already been bought by Chinese citizens living abroad. And of course this will negate any environmental benefits that the development would otherwise have had.
