Sino-Swedish environmental co-operation for sustainable cities grows stronger
With expertise in environmental technology, Sweden spearheads key eco-city projects and maintains active contacts with more than 10 cities throughout China, promoting sustainable urban solutions. Two important areas undergoing transformation are Tangshan for the Tangshan Bay project and Wuxi New District.
With expertise in environmental technology, Sweden spearheads key eco-city projects and maintains active contacts with more than 10 cities throughout China, promoting sustainable urban solutions. Two important areas undergoing transformation are Tangshan for the Tangshan Bay project and Wuxi New District.
Through a special co-ordination agency in Stockholm, Sweden has mobilised various agencies to increase export of environmental technology, energy efficiency and infrastructure to the mainland. These include the Swedish Embassy in Beijing, including the Center for Environmental Technology focused on sustainable urban development, the consulate general offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and Business Sweden offices for business support. Working in synergy, they serve as a bridge between Swedish companies looking into the market and the Chinese government leaders and industry players.
"We establish high-level networks with Chinese city officials and key contacts for industrial, educational and research co-operation, and co-ordinate with Swedish actors for business collaboration and development," says high representative Mats Denninger.
To achieve energy conservation and emissions reduction outlined in China's 12th five-year plan, the Guangzhou provincial government takes the lead in south China by promoting low-carbon and green concepts and integrated control of urban and rural environments.
With a great interest in the holistic Swedish perspective towards urban development as described in the SimbioCity concept, China has sought Swedish co-operation and solutions for sustainable cities. Thematic areas include air and water cleaning, waste management, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable urban planning and transport systems.
Sweden has contributed substantially to the Tangshan Bay eco-city planning, which includes drainage systems to deter groundwater flows and a sewage treatment facility to purify and treat wastewater, increasing biogas production. Spanning an area of 2.4km, the Wuxi New District project includes residential and commercial buildings, office spaces and a stadium, with district heating and cooling solutions and efficient mass transit system.
"Swedish companies are preferred business partners for projects with potentially high environmental performance," Denninger says.
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