Near the western shore of the heavily polluted Bohai Sea, China and Singapore plan a green community with a capacity for 350,000 people, the Guardian reported.
The settlement in north-eastern China, known as Tianjin Eco-City, will rely on finance and expertise from both countries. A ceremony has been held to mark the start of phase-one construction, an “eco-business park“ on 150 hectares.
Despite the failure of the more ambitious Dongtan eco-city project near Shanghai, planners say Tianjin Eco-City is intended as a model that can be adapted across China, India and other developing countries.
Plans for the community call for a light-rail line close to every home, to help reduce car journeys by 90%; shops, schools and clinics sited within walking distance; and 60% of all waste to be recycled. Buildings are to be insulated, double glazed and made completely of green materials. More than half of domestic water supplies are to come from rain capture and recycled grey water. Parks, lawns and wetlands are intended to make the city one of China’s most verdant.
Prototype eco-cities and villages are springing up in China as the country faces rising urban populations and the huge strain they place on energy and water resources. Dongtan, once called a model for the world, is now a moribund site.
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