Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) Redevelopment

Since 2007, China has been using the concept of ecological civilisation in its national and local policies. The term describes the government’s central aim to decrease the ecological footprint without compromising on prosperity and the ‘good life’. This article explains how the directly controlled m...

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Main Author: Harry Den Hartog
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The White Horse Press 2025-06-01
Series:Global Environment
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Online Access:https://liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/epdf/10.3828/whpge.63837646622527
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author Harry Den Hartog
author_facet Harry Den Hartog
author_sort Harry Den Hartog
collection DOAJ
description Since 2007, China has been using the concept of ecological civilisation in its national and local policies. The term describes the government’s central aim to decrease the ecological footprint without compromising on prosperity and the ‘good life’. This article explains how the directly controlled municipality of Shanghai is striving towards this aim by seeking to combine economic growth with sustainable urban planning and design efforts. This endeavour takes place in the context of extremely high population density, land scarcity, the world’s highest real estate prices, climate change, socio-economic challenges, a looming energy crisis, geopolitical tensions and unforeseen difficulties. China’s promising ecological civilisation policies demonstrate an ambition to redefine perspectives on growth and development in a radical way, though they are not without shortcomings. Despite encouraging high quality attractive greenways along Shanghai’s renewed riverbanks, gaps remain between the promises of ecological civilisation inspired policies and daily life practice.
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spelling doaj-art-38db6e4427fa418a80821b2bc756f1502025-08-20T03:40:22ZengThe White Horse PressGlobal Environment1973-37392053-73522025-06-0118237041110.3828/whpge.63837646622527GE180206Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) RedevelopmentHarry Den Hartog0TU DelftSince 2007, China has been using the concept of ecological civilisation in its national and local policies. The term describes the government’s central aim to decrease the ecological footprint without compromising on prosperity and the ‘good life’. This article explains how the directly controlled municipality of Shanghai is striving towards this aim by seeking to combine economic growth with sustainable urban planning and design efforts. This endeavour takes place in the context of extremely high population density, land scarcity, the world’s highest real estate prices, climate change, socio-economic challenges, a looming energy crisis, geopolitical tensions and unforeseen difficulties. China’s promising ecological civilisation policies demonstrate an ambition to redefine perspectives on growth and development in a radical way, though they are not without shortcomings. Despite encouraging high quality attractive greenways along Shanghai’s renewed riverbanks, gaps remain between the promises of ecological civilisation inspired policies and daily life practice.https://liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/epdf/10.3828/whpge.63837646622527ecological civilisationjourney to sustainabilitylifestyle changesthe good life
spellingShingle Harry Den Hartog
Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) Redevelopment
Global Environment
ecological civilisation
journey to sustainability
lifestyle changes
the good life
title Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) Redevelopment
title_full Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) Redevelopment
title_fullStr Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) Redevelopment
title_full_unstemmed Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) Redevelopment
title_short Ecological Civilisation and the ‘Good life’ in Shanghai: Promises and Practices to Achieve Harmony Between Humans and Nature Through (Urban) Redevelopment
title_sort ecological civilisation and the good life in shanghai promises and practices to achieve harmony between humans and nature through urban redevelopment
topic ecological civilisation
journey to sustainability
lifestyle changes
the good life
url https://liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/epdf/10.3828/whpge.63837646622527
work_keys_str_mv AT harrydenhartog ecologicalcivilisationandthegoodlifeinshanghaipromisesandpracticestoachieveharmonybetweenhumansandnaturethroughurbanredevelopment