The Chinese cities are dusty and foggy and air pollution is deadliest in the world, says a report. It will be getting worse according to a new plan. “More than half of China’s existing residential structures will be demolished and rebuilt in the coming 20 years…” says Chen Huai, director of the policy research center at the ministry. His explanation divides the existing buildings in a chronological sequence: old buildings (built before 1949) have reached the limits of life span; those built between 1949 and 1979 only meet “basic needs” but not for the long-term goal (he did point out they were built because of “historical reasons”); houses built between 1979 and 1999 are not suitable for “modern living”; finally, “only those homes built after 1999 are likely to be preserved in the longer term”.
The construction in China would be entering an endless cycle if this plan was implemented (very likely at this stage). Don’t forget the figures related to modern Chinese construction is already enormous. “The nation has had up to 2 billion square meters of development annually. Each year, China uses 40 percent of the world’s cement and steel, the main ingredients of the construction industry. Around 40 percent of building land is created every year by the demolition of older developments. Construction waste comprises 30 to 40 percent of the total volume of urban waste. ” The environmental impact is obvious. According to industrial data, “the erection of a 10,000-square-meter building typically creates 500 to 600 tons of waste and the demolition of a similar sized building creates 7,000 to 12,000 tons.”
The developer is probably the happiest person after the announcement. The new policy allows them to have more building opportunities to gain greater profits. This causes a big worry that the endless construction will only accelerate increasing of real estate prices which is already unaffordable. The recent interview with Zhang Song, a Professor at Tongji University, reveals more problems of Chinese rapid urbanisation. He describes that Chinese cities are treated as “machines to be dismantled and put together at will”. As a result of constant reconstruction, many social networks within old city quarters are demolished, which are impossibly rebuilt.
The city needs development. But how? Will the new round of construction boom give us a better city, or just accumulate capital like a rolling snowball at the cost of deteriorating social, cultural and environmental sustainability?
I recently watched a video that animatedly visualise one of David Harvey’s lectures. In it he strongly questions capitalism and advocates “a system that really could be responsible, just, and humane”. It might be something called “municipal socialism” in which the re-publicisation of services is seen as one of the elements.
Hong Kong economist Lang Xianping claims that “only the ‘Chongqing mode’ can save China’s real estate market”. In his vision, public rental housing is promoted, and millions of farmers are encouraged to the city, and “branded enterprises like HP and Cisco” are located near the city to provide job opportunities.
Can this “Chongqing mode” solve the housing problem and “save China’s real estate market”? I try very hard not to doubt it. However, I believe Chinese government has to think harder about the sustainable future in order to create a better city.
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