2021-09-30-亚开行-通往中国未来宜居城市和城市群的桥梁_高质量城市发展的政策机遇（英）_83页_1mb

Background & Achievements

• China's rapid urbanization (1978-2020), lifting 850 million from poverty, achieved high urbanization and economic growth but with environmental costs (pollution, land overuse) and regional disparities.
• By 2050, urbanization may stabilize; by 2100, population could halve, leading to shrinking cities.

Current Policy Context

• Based on National New-Type Urbanization Plan (2014-2020), focusing on inclusive, sustainable development.
• Includes eco-city pilots, low-carbon cities, and smart city initiatives to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

Key Challenges

1. Urban Patterns: Land separation, wide roads, and superblocks limit walkability and livability.
2. Environmental Degradation: Air/water/soil pollution, high resource consumption, GHG emissions.
3. Governance: Fragmented administrative boundaries, lack of cross-sector coordination.
4. Overdevelopment: Excess industrial/real estate supply in remote areas; urgent need for retrofits.
5. Demographics: Aging population, urban shrinkage in rust-belt regions.

Policy Opportunities & Recommendations

1. Livable Cities:

   • Promote green spaces, mixed-use development, and pedestrian-friendly designs.
   • Implement Circular Economy laws to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.

2. Low-Carbon & Climate-Resilient Cities：

   • Mainstream renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind) and smart grids.
   • Apply Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to reduce reliance on private vehicles.

3. Healthy & Age-Friendly Cities:

   • Mandatory Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) and Healthy Aging Plans.
   • Improve access to healthcare, green infrastructure, and accessible public spaces.

4. Urban Rehabilitation:

   • Prioritize retrofitting existing urban areas with compact, infill development instead of greenfield expansion.
   • Reform local finance (e.g., nationwide property tax) to align with sustainable goals.

5. City Cluster Governance:

   • Establish cross-boundary coordination mechanisms and eco-compensation systems.
   • Develop "Two-Speed System" – high-density urban core focus vs. protected slow-speed green zones.

6. Cross-Sectoral Collaboration:

   • Align policies across land use, transport, energy, and health sectors.
   • Leverage public-private partnerships for urban innovations.

Key Conclusions

• Urbanization is at a decisive stage; long-term, large-scale reforms are critical to avoid overdevelopment and climate risks.
• Immediate actions include integrating regional and sectoral plans, improving local finance, and rehabilitating cities.
• The "Bridge to Future" vision must balance sustainability with inclusivity for resilience in a post-pandemic world.