In 2005, the Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC) commissioned Arup engineers to design a demonstration eco-city to be built on Chongming Island across the Yangtze Delta from Shanghai. The island is currently the site of a migratory bird sanctuary. The plan calls for linking the city to the mainland with an 18-mile bridge-tunnel.

According to Arup’s description of the Dongtan Eco-City, it would “produce its own energy from wind, solar, bio-fuel and recycled city waste.” SIIC and Arup hope the city will become a model for similar cities in China and around the world. However, the plan has been criticized based on fears that the housing would be too expensive for local residents, turning the island into a suburb for wealthy citizens of Shanghai. It would also be interesting to determine the environmental impact of the bridge-tunnel and other new construction.

BBC feature: China’s eco-city faces growth challenge

Quoted from “Dongtan: Eco-City” on BBC News: The Chinese are well aware that cities have a massive impact on the environment so they’ve commissioned the British engineering company, Arup to create a model eco-city where half a million people will live and work without damaging the environment. Their electricity will come from wind and wave, their sewage will fertilise the surrounding farmland and their water will be harvested from the skies and recycled.

A recent report from the Worldwatch Institute projects that China will meet its ambitious renewable energy goals for 2020 through significant investments in hydro, wind, biomass, and solar power. Of particular note is the use of solar hot water by ten percent of Chinese households, which could affect global energy use as companies begin to export these inexpensive units.

However, Howard French and Li Zhen’s article in the New York Times (part of a series on pollution in China) paints a different picture of China’s renewable energy progress. Titled Far From Beijing’s Reach, Officials Bend Energy Rules, this article identifies widespread breaches of policy at the local level, making it increasingly unlikely that China will meet its energy reduction goals without meaningful intervention by the national government to assure compliance.

This highlights the importance of effective policy enforcement in creating the conditions necessary for sustainable business practices to take root.

Quoted from the Worldwatch Institute’s review of Powering China’s Development: China has become a global leader in renewable energy. It is expected to invest more than $10 billion in new renewable energy capacity in 2007, second only to Germany. Most of this is for small hydropower, solar hot water, and wind power.

Belovezhskaya Forest is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve located on the border between Belarus and Poland. It is the last remaining piece of the ancient forest that once covered a vast portion of the European Plain.

Belovezhskaya Forest is also an example of the benefits of urban density over sprawl. Expanding human settlements increase our reliance on oil and reduce biodiversity. If we could instead bring more plant life into urban settings, this could improve our quality of life and environment.

An article on participatory development by Lila Buckley for the Worldwatch Institute. Although it describes a research project by the Xinjiang Conservation Fund (XCF) focused on wildlife conservation in rural areas, this approach holds great potential for sustainable development in cities. Involving local residents in the protection of natural resources can help engender a lasting commitment to good stewardship based on a clear understanding of its longterm value.

Quoted: Established in 2001, the group is “dedicated to the conservation of Xinjiang” and carries out activities such as investigations on species habitat, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade; environmental education initiatives with universities; and research, publishing, and forums to enhance public awareness of conservation and wildlife protection. Unlike its counterparts in the government, XCF’s efforts begin with the local people. Recent field investigations took researchers to Xinjiang for a month to research wildlife and interview people living in the Reserve. The team lived with and shared meals with the residents and conducted interviews with over 60 households.

The Pacific Institute is doing exceptional work in environmental conservation and sustainable development. They are currently cosponsoring a lecture series on water conservation with the Commonwealth Club of Northern California.

Quoted: The Pacific Institute is dedicated to protecting our natural world, encouraging sustainable development, and improving global security. Founded in 1987 and based in Oakland, California, we provide independent research and policy analysis on issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security. Our aim is to find real-world solutions to problems like water shortages, habitat destruction, global warming, and environmental injustice. We conduct research, publish reports, recommend solutions, and work with decision makers, advocacy groups, and the public to change policy.

IUCN is a great resource for sustainable development with a global perspective. Of particular interest to me is the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, which works to promote biodiversity and responsible land use.

Quoted: The Union’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

Great Communities (greatcommunities.org) is a San Francisco Bay area nonprofit dedicated to sustainable planning and development. They are especially focused on reducing the need for automobile transportation at the local, regional, and state levels.

Quoted: The Bay Area has an incredible opportunity to fundamentally shift growth to be more equitable and sustainable. We can redirect growth away from natural areas and working farms, and instead reinvest in our existing communities, many of which have been ignored for too long. We can build homes that provide choices so that all residents, at every income level, can find great communities to live, work, and play: communities with access to good jobs, schools, parks, transportation, shopping, and other necessities.

Conservation International provides a short, helpful series of questions to help determine your “eco-footprint.” At the end it calculates your “eco-rating” and offers ideas on how to reduce negative impacts on the environment. The images above appear along with the quiz on the Conservation International Web site.

This article from the Seattle Times describes the inspiring ecological rebirth of the area surrounding the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle.

An exhibit on the Potomac Gorge Project at the United States Botanic Garden will be on display from July 22 through November 19, 2006. The above photo is by Alan Eckert Photography, and appears on the Nature Conservancy Web site.