Experts discuss challenges in urban development as China’s mega-cities in the future must be planned at the same time to meet the pressure of rising urbanization and the need for sustainable development? “More than 300 city planners, architects and scientists have on August 31 in Shanghai within the framework of the Conference urban strategies against climate change: eco-city, low carbon city or green city?” discussed about future trends, challenges and opportunities for sustainable urban development in China. The Conference marked the conclusion of the five-year research project future megacities mega cities of the future”of the University of Duisburg-Essen with German and Chinese partners in Shanghai, which was funded by the Federal Ministry of education and research. The speakers presented current projects in the area of sustainable urban development in China in three moderated discussion forums and discuss trends and challenges for scientists, urban planners, investors and political decision makers. The Chinese Government is taking great efforts to promote an environmentally friendly development especially in younger years. Since 2009, China is the country, the now $ 54.4 billion world’s most sustainable solutions invested. Absent especially clear concepts, definition and standards to promote relevant projects in urban development. To make a contribution to sustainability, as many of the more than 100 so-called eco-cities in China can actually claim remains in the dark.

Especially China’s size and climatic diversity makes it difficult also to implement standardized concepts and guidelines. The speakers stressed, hence the need to find solutions that are tailored to China’s specific characteristics and a variety of local conditions. These solutions should include the rapid economic development of the people’s Republic and the increasing urbanization, to achieve after ALT-development with the desire of the population after a higher standard of living to unite. It becomes a challenge persuading the Chinese cities of inhabitants to abandon private cars in favour of public transport in the face of increasing incomes.