Eco city development in China: addressing the policy implementation challenge. (15th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Jong, Martin; Yu, Chang; Joss, Simon; Wennersten, Ronald; Yu, Li; Zhang, Xiaoling; Ma, Xin
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 134(2016:Oct.)Part A
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2016-10-15
• Subjects: Eco city development -- Policy implementation -- Policy network theory -- Typology of eco cities -- Low carbon cities -- China; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Over the last few decades, China has seen a steep rise in diverse eco city and low carbon city policies. Recently, attention has begun to focus on the perceived shortcomings in the practical delivery of related initiatives, with several publications suggesting a gap between ambitious policy goals and the emerging realities of the newly built environment. To probe this further, in this article we examine – based on the policy network approach – how the gap between high-level national policies and local practice implementation can be explained in the current Chinese context. We develop a four-pronged typology of eco city projects based on differential involvement of key (policy) actor groups, followed by a mapping of what are salient policy network relations among these actors in each type. Our analysis suggests that, within the overall framework of national policy, a core axis in the network relations is that between local government and land developers. In some cases, central government agencies – often with buy-in from international architecture, engineering and consulting firms – seek to influence local government planning through various incentives aimed at rendering sustainability a serious consideration. However, this is mostly done in a top-down manner, which overemphasizes a rational, technocratic planning mode while underemphasizing interrelationships among actors. This makes the emergence of a substantial implementation gap in eco city practice an almost predictable outcome. Consequently, we argue that special attention be paid in particular to the close interdependency between the interests of local government actors and those of land and real estate developers. Factoring in this aspect of the policy network is essential if eco city implementation is to gain proper traction on the ground. Highlights: Adds a public policy perspective to eco city development. Identifies factors why implementation of many eco city projects fails. Proposes policy network theory as a promising approach to understanding policy success. Develops a typology of eco cities in China. Establishes that local government's dependency on land use revenues makes it less susceptible to national policy incentives.