Planning integrated approach in river-based regions towards low-carbon development

Abstract

In response to current globe challenging climate change, intervening in city space to guide human activities to promote a low-carbon development (reducing carbon sources and strengthening carbon sinks) attaches great importance, which is an essential step for supporting final sustainable development. When confronted with environmental problems, river-based regions that own both natural landscape and man-made properties are always treated as typical, preferred planning and action spaces (poineering urbanization areas particularly in China). In a word, river-based regions normally act as intervention instruments to carry intervention actions contributing in solving environmental problems. Taking appropriate practical intervention actions in river-based regions needs pertinent planning approach that serves as the guiding tool and driver behind to support. In this context, this research focuses on the triangulated relation between “low-carbon development”, “river-based regions” and supportive “planning integrated approach”, from theory to practice covering strategic level and operational level of the planning. This research is organized by three parts. In the first part, it starts with explaining the development course and definitions of three key words, and further establishes general theoretical framework regarding low-carbon development in river-based regions. After that in the coming second part, this research analyses two case studies: a main Chinese case (Haihe riverside region in metropolis Tianjin) and a referenced German case (IBA Emscher Park in the Ruhr area). It dissects issues around the mechanism of planning integrated approach guiding practical actions relative to low-carbon development goals, through applying established theoretical framework. Finally in the third conclusion part, this research proposes recommendations to different actor groups regarding future optimization of Tianjin’s planning mechanism and depicts future development visions. This research is intended to discuss the thinking mode, value orientation, theories as well as practicable methods in terms of current traditional urban planning paradigm in China, for promoting a low-carbon transformation in the rapid urbanization region.