A Green Leap Forward? Eco-State Restructuring and the Tianjin–Binhai Eco-City Model. Issue 6 (2nd June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, I-Chun Catherine; Leitner, Helga; Sheppard, Eric
• Is Part Of: Regional studies. Volume 50:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 929
• Page End: 943
• Publication Date: 2016-06-02
• Subjects: Eco-state restructuring -- Urban environmental governance -- Eco-cities -- China -- Tianjin–Binhai; 生态国家重构 -- 城市环境治理 -- 生态城市 -- 中国 -- 天津—滨海; Restructuration de l'éco-état -- Gouvernance environnementale urbaine -- Éco-villes -- Chine -- Tianjin–Binhai; Ökostaat-Restrukturierung -- Urbane Umwelt-Governance -- Ökostädte -- China -- Tianjin-Binhai; Reestructuración del Estado ecológico -- Gobernanza medioambiental urbana -- Ecociudades -- China -- Tianjin–Binhai; H77 -- P25 -- Q56 -- R11; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 307.14
• DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2015.1108519
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-3404

Abstract

Abstract : Chang I-C. C., Leitner H. and Sheppard E. A green leap forward? Eco-state restructuring and the Tianjin–Binhai eco-city model. Regional Studies . China has experienced a remarkable explosion of designated eco-cities since the year 2000, with Tianjin–Binhai becoming the best-practice model. Embedded in broader political economic changes, shifting multi-scalar regimes of environmental governance have shaped this efflorescence. Applying eco-state restructuring, this paper argues that eco-city construction became a new strategic project after the 2000s, driven by central state-driven model cities and assessment initiatives. This also led to a very different kind of 'best practice' eco-city model: Tianjin–Binhai, a China–Singapore collaboration in which greenness is manufactured rather than adapted. Notwithstanding significant implementation problems, Tianjin–Binhai's status as best practice persists, raising questions about what it means to claim eco-city status.