'Irrational' urbanization blocking sustainability  

社科院：中國城市非理性擴張現象普遍存在

中國社科院20日在北京發布2013年《生態城市綠皮書》指，中國“城市病”日益加深，面臨資源約束趨緊、環境污染嚴重的現實，應將生態城市建設作為最根本的民生工程，成為保持經濟持續健康發展的先決條件。 [查看全文]

Beijing (CNS) -- Deteriorating environmental quality caused by irrational urbanization in China has brought hidden dangers to the sustainability of cities, according to a green book released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) on Thursday.

Irrational urban expansion includes the construction model of "overground first, underground second," the book says.

Under the current urbanization model, construction of drainage systems has been neglected, which has led to flood control difficulties in cities across the country.

Statistics released by the green book show that 62 percent of cities in China experienced flooding between 2008 and 2010, while 137 cities experienced multiple floodings during this period.

Local government should work to improve urban sewage systems, the green book says.

The book also points out that urban dwellers are bearing the brunt of deteriorating air quality caused by the high energy consumption of cities.

To optimize China's urbanization pattern, policy makers should develop and implement stricter emissions regulations, it says.

The green book also suggests that cities should work together to set up a pre-warning system to combat air pollution.