The solution to sustainable development then in China is an overall greener way of looking at the world and the way cities function. In dense urban landscapes and even more dense, smaller cities that are expanding rapidly, green space is at an ever increasing premium. China should look to the urban planners of the United States for methods of integrating green space into cities to create a more pleasant and healthy environment for its residents. Sustainable urban living can also be accomplished by adding green roofs and other alternative outdoor green spaces to help improve air quality. These green roof systems can also be used to collect rain water, which can be recycled for use in the building’s grey water systems. These systems collect rain water and use it throughout the building for water needs like toilets and irrigation.
Industrialization in China therefore is polluting the land to which her citizens are so closely connected. The EPA in China has plans to invest $50 billion towards environmental reform over the next three years in order to cope with air and water pollution problems. However, to combat the levels of pollution in China, a more concentrated reform effort is needed. Currently 30% of the country suffers from acid rain. When the pace of pollution has outpaced the treatments, a stronger emphasis on reform is critical. Not only is pollution affecting the environment, it is harming the people living with it. 4.5% of China’s GDP is spent on pollution related health issues.
An investment in the sustainable development of both the land in rural areas and the infrastructure of urban areas therefore is equal to an investment in the economic prosperity of Chinese citizens. Green initiatives will be strongly received in China because of her recent booming economic growth and traditional attachment to and reverence for the land.
