Evaluation on Environmental Planning of Eco-Industrial Park in China

Abstract

An Eco-industrial Park (EIP) is an industrial park developed according to the theory of industrial ecology, which can significantly reduce industrial pollution and improve regional or local sustainability. On the account of the requirements on energy and material flows connection, the construction and development of EIPs are contingent for effective environmental plannings. China initiated the construction of EIPs during foundation of the previous economic and technological development or high-tech districts in 2001, by classifying EIPs into 3 categories: Integrated Eco-Industrial Park, Sector Eco-Industrial Park and Venous Industry based on Eco-Industrial Park. In each category, EIP contributes significantly to the regional and local economy as well as regional and sustainable development. The environmental planning for EIP is guided by three independent standards and by the HJT 409-2007 guides for the establishment of EIP Planning, which makes regulations on the principles, methods, contents and detailed requirements of the EIP planning. The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of EIP planning in China. This article reviews the theory and practice of EIPs in China and summarizes Chinas environmental planning (EP) system. A case of EIP is presented for qualitative analysis and for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the EIP planning. The results of the evaluation on both the achievements and the processes of plannings goals, from the perspective of environmental carrying capacity (ECC), reveal the challenges of EIP planning in China. Then recommendations are provided on how to improve Chinas EP system for EIP to achieve the desired results.