The 2015 China Sustainable Cities Report: Measuring Ecological and Human Development reveals that 35 Chinese cities have shown progress in their sustainability performance since 2014, as indicated by their scores on the Urban Ecological Input Index (EUII). This report, which assesses the progress of Chinese cities towards sustainable development, was presented in Beijing at the 2015 International Forum on Sustainable Cities in China.
A collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Xinhua Oriental Outlook Weekly, and a team of experts from Tongji University, this report marks the first of its kind in China since the UN’s 193 member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015. It specifically addresses Sustainable Development Goal 11, which emphasizes the creation of inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements.
“Our global pursuit of sustainability will be won or lost in our cities,” stated Alain Noudehou, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in China, during the Forum, echoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s sentiment. Noudehou emphasized the transformative impact of urbanization on global social and economic patterns. He highlighted the report’s timeliness, as Chinese cities are currently aligning their local five-year plans with both the national five-year plan and the global Sustainable Development Goals. He stressed that these plans should prioritize human development within ecological limits.
The research establishes models and methods for evaluating urban sustainable development using The China Sustainable Cities Index. This index, a quantitative and objective system, helps cities assess their sustainability performance. It’s based on UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI), used globally to evaluate countries since 1990, and is now applied to cities alongside the UEII.
Professor Zhu Dajian, lead author of the report and Director of the Sustainable Development and New-Type Urbanization Think Tank, explains that the report suggests development strategies for cities based on their current stage. Cities may need to prioritize improving human development, reducing ecological impact, or both.
Yu Shaoliang, Vice President of Xinhua News Agency, acknowledged the complexities of sustainable urbanization in China. He stated that evaluating and pursuing urban functions for “new-type urbanization” in China requires new criteria. This means incorporating concepts like “sustainability” and “livability” into urban planning and construction.
The report emphasizes that The China Sustainable Cities Index doesn’t focus on ranking cities against each other, as differences are often slight. Instead, it defines an acceptable range for both human and environmental development as the ultimate goal for sustainable cities. This year’s report introduces “governance” as a key parameter, alongside the existing pillars of economy, society, and environment. While “sustainable” is frequently used to describe Chinese cities experiencing rapid growth and high levels of human development, the report indicates that this is insufficient. The authors stress the importance of considering environmental impacts, as environmental degradation will ultimately hinder human development.
Out of the 35 cities analyzed, Wuhan, Changsha, and five others have achieved high levels of human development while minimizing environmental damage. While many cities, especially those outside of eastern China, need further support in their transition towards sustainability, the overall trends are encouraging.
The forum recognized Wuhan and Changsha as 2015 China Sustainable Cities. Additionally, it acknowledged several initiatives as 2015 Good Practices of China Urban Sustainability, including a solid waste management program in Guangzhou, vocational training in Foshan, and ecotourism in Wulong, Chongqing.