Main Challenges facing Main Challenges facing urban areasurban areasShanghai - are their development plans sustainable?

In its current situation…In its current situation…Shanghai has been transformed

into a global city - but its rapid growth has produced pollution, traffic jams and overcrowding.

In becoming one of the centres of the world economy, Shanghai has grown faster than almost any other global city in the past 15 years.

How has Shanghai How has Shanghai changed?changed?The population increased from 13.5

million to 21.5 million as migrant labourers flooded in from the surrounding countryside, and the standard of living rose even faster, with per capita income now at $7,000, the highest in China

The physical size of the city increased sixfold, from just 100 sq km to 680 sq km, as people sought more space and the city government rushed to develop nearby areas, such as Pudong.

Shanghai’s “Master Plan”Shanghai’s “Master Plan”This plan unveiled by the municipal

government will last 20 years starting from 2000

The plan itself will cover all three satellite cities to relive congestion and high densities in the centre by developing less populated areas further out

Those who are moved out will receive tax exemptions for housing, commercial property, land development and income tax.

Shanghai Expo 2010Shanghai Expo 2010The Expo 2010 is considered the

world's third largest event after the Olympics and the World Cup.

The Chinese city is now likely to undergo $1bn facelift to provide a site for the nations of the world to display their wares to a potential market of more than a billion people - and to showcase China's high-tech prowess.

How will this impact the How will this impact the country?country?Mayor Chen Liangyu laid out a plan

this year pledging to invest up to $2.5bn in the site, with up to 10 times more expected to be spent on related infrastructure projects

Officials predicted that more than 70 million people could visit the city for Expo and tourism would be expected to get a firm boost over last year's revenues of 95.6 billion yuan ($11.5bn).

Pollution in ChinaPollution in China

China’s Future China’s Future ImprovementImprovementChina depends heavily on coal,

which accounts for 70 percent of its energy consumption

China and the EU will conduct feasibility studies and aim for zero pollution power by 2020

Planners are now looking at how they can restore urban continuity and property owners’ rights, preserve old architecture and plan sustainable urban development.

The Key Question…The Key Question…Many believe that after the expo

China will shift to a more sustainable style of development

The some of the investment will go towards investing for a more eco-friendly development scheme

Those evacuated from the current land will then be given new homes in the newly built housing areas