A study on the coordinated development of low-carbon and livability in China’s eco-cities under sustainable development: A case study of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin eco-city

Tan, Jialin 2026. A study on the coordinated development of low-carbon and livability in China’s eco-cities under sustainable development: A case study of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin eco-city. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Since the launch of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has experienced rapid urbanization and achieved remarkable progress. However, this rapid urban expansion has also brought about a series of urban challenges, most notably high carbon emissions and inadequate urban livability. In response to these emerging issues, the Chinese government has proposed the dual goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, alongside a vision of building livable cities. It has also actively explored new models for sustainable urban development. However, it remains a significant challenge to effectively balance carbon reduction with the improvement of urban livability. This is primarily due to the inherent tension between these two objectives, as efforts to reduce carbon emissions often conflict with the demands of enhancing livability through increased resource consumption. Since the beginning of this century, eco-city has emerged as an important paradigm of sustainable urbanism and have received widespread attention and active support from local governments in China. Although the eco-city offers theoretical advantages in facilitating the coordinated development of low-carbon and livable urban environments, their practical effectiveness in achieving this dual objective requires further examination. Against this background, this study raises two core sets of research questions: (1) How does the eco-city coordinate the dual goals of low carbon and livability in practice? To what extent can these two goals be achieved in a coordinated way? (2) Why is the Chinese eco-city able to partially promote coordination between low carbon and livability goals? Why is it still unable to fully achieve a balanced development of both? To address these questions, this study selects the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city (SSTEC) as the research case and adopts a qualitative research methodology. It conducts an in-depth analysis of the specific measures, actual outcomes, and existing challenges in five key areas: traffic, housing, green space, urban form, and residents’ low-carbon behavior. On this basis, this study further explores the mechanisms through which eco-city contributes to the coordinated development of low-carbon and livability objectives. The findings confirm the potential value and developmental prospects of eco-city in achieving this dual goal. Finally, the paper summarizes the main contributions of the research, outlines its limitations, and proposes directions for future studies.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
Funders:	China Scholarship Council
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 July 2026
Last Modified:	09 Jul 2026 08:43
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188067

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