Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: Great pressure from the rapid growing population, deteriorating environment and depleting resources has badly constrained further development of China's economy and improvement of people's living quality. In view of this serious situation, in 1986, the Chinese government began to explore a way of establishing experimental community for sustainable development.

     Policies and measures: Following such great visionary for sustainable communities various action programs have been successfully carried out to improve community living quality, protect the natural resources and wildlife, utilize renewable energy and so on.

Background:

      Urban renewal through integrated Agenda 21 visions, economic planning and environmental management.

Objectives

      The prime objective of the experimental communities is to develop sustainable mechanisms to balance economic development, social development, and environment.

      Science and technology-based industries are promoted in the communities with macro control of governments. Also, with speeding up all social development, public environmental awareness and participation are highlighted to improve the relationship between human beings and nature.

      With response to the environmental problems occurred in local conditions, the experimental communities respectively formulated integrated planning to solve these problems. So far, they have achieved promising progress in the following aspects:

• Integrated Planning: Leading Group of China's Agenda 21:

      After the Conference, the Chinese Government decided to establish a Leading Group and an affiliated office, under the direction of the State Planning Commission (SPC) and the State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC), to engage in the formulation of China's Agenda 21 and the associated Priority Programme. At the same time, the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21(ACCA21), under the direction of the Leading Group and its office, was established to be responsible for the daily management work concerning China's Agenda 21.

• Renewable energy utilization:

      Renewable energy applications are developing very fast in rural areas, including biomass, wind and solar energy.

• Green food production is becoming beneficial and popular.

      In Dafeng City of Jiangsu Province, four agricultural regions are divided, which contributes to unique eco-region feature, for grain in the west, cotton in the east, cash crop in the center part and the beach for fish breeding and poultry raising.

• Waste reclamation:

      Waste minimization and recycling are badly needed with increasing urbanization. Demonstration projects are science and technology intensive, aimed at industrialized waste management. For instance, in Guanghan City of Sichuan Province, 100 tons of waste is treated per day results in 30,000 tons annual output of organic compound fertilizer.

• Sustainable community management:

      Environmental benign transportation and human settlements are greatly encouraged to achieve integrated community planning and management, including sewage treatment and reuse. Combining reconstructing old city urban areas, new residential quarters are sprouting across Shenhe District of Shenyang City, with the emphasizing standards Greenness, Quietness, Beauty, Safety.

• Ecosystem restoration:

      Biodiversity is a key part of sustainable development. Appearing more natural reservation zones, rare and wild species are highly protected. And further environmental monitoring and impact assessments are being conducted.

      A natural museum was built, with over 1,500 species sampled in Jinggangshan City of Jiangxi Province, to promote public understanding of protecting local wild animal and plant resources.

Outputs

      Currently, there are 69 sustainable communities across the country at all levels. These communities have provided a good foundation for China's Local Agenda 21 to achieve sustainable development.

      In 1995, sulfur dioxide emission, industrial waste water COD and industrial solid waste discharge respectively reduced 31%, 59%, 70.5%, compared with those in 1991.

      The relationship between economic growth and environment protection are being balanced in the communities, however, much more need to be done in the future, especially advice and support welcomed from both domestic and abroad.