The report aims to help the cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China identify their potentials for green development, especially to find their own suitable green development paths. Based on the evaluation, six green development models that can be replicated and promoted are initially established by selecting typical cities as pilot. The report is the first volume of its series and will be updated annually with more abundant green development models.

The book discusses how to establish a land-use system for small and medium-sized cities in order to promote low carbon economic development and to ensure sustainable development. It also presents the objectives and requirements of urban green development: The first objective is to establish a green city with ecological harmony. The second is the establishment of a people-oriented harmonious city, which is important for the green development of city. Drawing on past experience and combining this with the current situation in China’s cities, it argues that the construction of people-oriented harmonious cities should be a priority. The third objective is to build multi-functional organic cities in which the urban function is relatively independent. Lastly, the fourth objective is to establish a city with unique charm, applying historical ways of thinking to today’s world.

Resources are the material basis for human development, while the environment is the fundamental condition for human development. The exploitation and utilization of resources will lead to environmental changes, which in return will have an impact on resources. At present, due to the increase of population and the continuous expansion scale of human production activities, how to address the trade-off between resources exploitation and environment protection has become an important issue for human sustainable development. Green development is a mode of economic growth and social development that emphasizes efficiency, harmony and sustainability. It can realize the coordination and sustainability among population, economy and social development, resources and environment, and is a promising means to solve the current problems associated with resources and environment.

This is an open access book. CCICED has been woven into the fabric of China’s environmental development for the past 30 years—the length of an entire generation. It is also consistent with the most rapid modernization shift of the nation’s economy–environment relationship. This report provides insights into how CCICED operates and its success stories. It also presents a general picture of how changes of China in environmental development have taken place. CCICED at 30 is therefore a helpful account for future directions of sustainable environment.

This report traces the journey and partnership of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) over the past decade in four areas: environmental protection and ecological conservation, rural economy, green livable cities, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. It highlights how the green development partnership between the PRC and ADB has evolved over the years. Best practices, innovations, and lessons learned offer insights for ADB, its developing member countries, and other development partners. The report also presents forward-looking directions for further collaboration by the PRC and ADB in pursuit of a more sustainable future.

The scope of this book is to map China’s city clusters and their individual directions for the national-level strategies in line with the 2060 carbon neutrality plan. Since China announced the carbon neutrality plan in autumn 2020, no study has looked at the role of city clusters in achieving this long-term plan. Hence, this study is believed to be the first attempt to explore this important topic from the city cluster perspective. It explores the challenges, opportunities, and directions of all 19 city clusters, allowing readers to have a clear picture of China’s historical and ongoing progress, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. In a short time, China’s city clusters have helped boost regional economic development, infrastructure development, trade and business, and better urban–rural integration. With enhanced coordination of connection and transport networks in and between the city clusters, we see a growing number of initiatives beyond just the initial economic strategies. The dual approach of top-down policies and infrastructure systems and bottom-up governance and investments has helped China consider urban–rural development strategies and regional sustainable development. These factors are essential to be explored from the city cluster perspective and in line with China’s sustainable development and carbon neutrality directions. Hence, the book covers these points holistically, ensuring that regional planning and development are favored in the face of uneven urbanization trends. We anticipate this book to be a valuable resource for local governments and authorities, urban planners and practitioners, developers, and urban researchers. While the focus is on China’s city clusters, we believe there are similar examples elsewhere. Hence, lessons learnt from this book could apply to other countries, regions, and subregions. Lastly, the book aims to put regional sustainable development at the heart of longer-term strategies and plans, such as the case of China’s carbon neutrality plan.