Responsible China critiques recent press coverage of the eco-city, Dongtan, being built off Shanghai:
Back then, way before ResponsibleChina.com was even a twinkle in my eye, Dongtan sounded too good to be true. An entire eco-city three-quarters the size of Manhattan built from scratch? Who’s building this? Who’s paying for it? What Chinese companies are involved? What are the obstacles and challenges to this endeavor? Have there been setbacks? Is the technology behind it feasible? How will construction affect the surrounding wetlands? Will local Chinese people be able to afford living there? Why build a new city when so many of China’s other cities need sustainable design? Has actual progress been made? (Apparently, by 2030 there will be more than 500,000 people living in Dongtan. Has anyone moved in, yet?)Legitimate questions, I think, that demand thorough answers. [Full text]
[Image via Arup]
