'Irrational' urbanization blocking sustainability  

社科院：中国城市非理性扩张现象普遍存在

中国社科院20日在北京发布2013年《生态城市绿皮书》指，中国“城市病”日益加深，面临资源约束趋紧、环境污染严重的现实，应将生态城市建设作为最根本的民生工程，成为保持经济持续健康发展的先决条件。 [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.