annie-first draft

topic: To what extent can the problems of urbanization be met a policy of sustainable development?
Sybtitile: What is the impact of massive migration and population growth by the policy of sustainable development in Beijing?

Introduction
Urbanization will lead to an increasing number of population living in urban areas. and it defined as "the shift from a rural to an urban society, and involves an increase in the number of people in urban areas druing a particular year."[ref?] It brought many problems and was challenged by many developing countries. According statistics show that more than half of population of the world people (6.6 billion people) lived in urban areas (Gyabaah,K.). In China, in the past two decades, there is significant of economic growth in human history by a process of urbanization.[word soup] The population migrated from rural to urban in a massive scale with economic develop opportunities. The central Government has proposed satellite city plan as a city expansion in Beijing. As well, there are more than 3 million inhabitants being attracted to live in Beijing as a economic and cultural center by 2020 (Applyyard, 2007; P3). Beijing is impressing with rapid changes, such as new skyscrapers construction, greenbelts and new transportation construction. In the meanwhile, there are some negative impacts on environment with massive population growth. Such as traffic congestion, pollution and highly housing price...Hence, we have to consider the urban expanding whether match the needs of population growth with limited resources. However, Government awares that they can maintain development with the process of urbanization, and they will make sure to achieve sustainable development. It defined as " development which meets the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of the future"(Hussen, 2004;P269). Moreover, the China Government has planed the "smart growth" policies, it aims to use resources more efficiency. Especially, before Olympic, some policies carried on very efficient, such as underground routes expended, low carbon technology development and statellite plans..For this essay, I will decribe the problems of population growth and massive migration. Futhermore, I will discuss how to achieve the sustainable development with some policies, find the solution of the problems. Finally, I will give some recommendation and conclude my opinions.

Main body

Traffic congestion

Today, more and more people can afford the private cars as people's incomes increased. China become a car dependent country quickly, especially in some modern busy cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Though the percentage of private car owners is much lower than western countries, traffic congestion issue has become a very serious problem in major cities such as Beijing. There are a large number of privately owned cars in Beijing, especially the massive populations have growing fast. Currently, ther are approximately 3 owners of private cars for every 100households in China; by comparison, there are approximately 2 cars for each household in the US. In addition, there are 14 million additional vehicles in China's roads in 2003, almost 13,000 new cars every day. In the United States, at least some spaces are used for personal vehicles, such as carriages and autos with urban areas developed. In Beijing, the most of main roads don't have enough spaces for personal vehicles like bicycle, autos...According the surveys, Government has increased use of signs and extended many thoroughfares to guid traffic, but the average speed of vehicles fell from 28 miles (45 kilomeeters per hour) to 7 miles per hour (12 kilometers per hour) on the main roads, and the lowest speed is less than 4 miles per hour (7 kilometers per hour) from 1994 to 2003. Moreover, the automobiles have increased 10 percent but the roads only were extended by 2 percent. In Beijing, the housing price is vey high, especially near the center of the city. Residents have to move to the suburbs and bought private cars as main transport (Applyyard,2007).

The traffic congestion becomes a social issue and urgent problem which people have to face it. Due to the roads always overcrowding, people have to spend several hours on the roads every day. Meanwhile, traffic congestion also brings some serious problems, such as traffic addidents and air pollution. The main causes of air pollution from massive vehichels on the roads. And the large of transportation sector produced greenhouse gas emission and carbon dioxide. However, Beijing has been taking various ways to solve the traffic congestion problems like developing subway and rail transportation and traffic control policies. Firstly, develop a better subway plan. Beijing is building many new roads and widening some ones, but this city still has to open more bus lanes. By 2020, bus lanes will have been open on 75%. In addition, the Beijing Government has constructed of the new subway lines like lines 4,5 and 10 (Yan,2002). Indeed, the subway construction is very expensive, therefore every inch of the subways should be used efficiency. Compare with London subway, it is near in any of two stations and very conventient for people. But there are long distances in two stations in Beijing (Shi,2004). Secondly,Beijing Government has proposed 14 satellite cities to be developed from 1991 to 2010. These satellite cities have attracted almost 3 million inhabitants, this plan can solve the traffic congestion problem with massive population (Applyyard,2007).



Air pollution

High extension of urbanization causes pollution like air pollution. In Beijing, the main causes of air pollution from many polluting industries and new vehicles on the roads. These main reasons have exacerbated poor air quality (Streets, 2006). Moreover, the process of urbanization has increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon dioxide from the large of transportation sector pollution. The pollution from many vehicles with growth populatins in city. For example, Beijing produces much carbon dioxide combined with Los Angeles and Tokyo total together. Between 1998 and 1999, the ozone concentration has exceeded health standard of public in Beijing (Applyyard, 2007). In addition, Beijing unicipal Government began to try to improve air quality from 1998, and the Government has deal with this kind of problems focusing on vehicle emissions, industrial pollution and construction sector. And the air quality has improved (Streets, 2006).

The Beijing Government is committed to implement a number of policies to improve air quality and reduces air pollution. Such as increasing environmental areas and protection, introducing and developing new technololgy (Streets, 2006). Moreover, in order to reduce carbob dioxide emissions, China Government develops low carbon technology like wind power. For example, Goldwind company successfully purchases the licenses with advanced technology under the support of Chinese policies. In 2008, Goldwind did the wind power plant project for the Beijing Olympics and this created the symbol of "green Olympics' for China. In additon, company help cut carbon dioxide emissions by 100,000 tons and save 50,000 tons of coal every year (Lewis,2007). People should be awareness of the importance of environment, Government also should educate public about protection enviromental issues. However, it will take a couple of years to achieve the significant changes for air quality.


High housing price issue

In recent years, it has been increase in housing demand for urban residents in China. Especially, it has also increased rapidly urban housing prices in Beijing, since the housing is a necessary demand for people. According to China's special household registration system, it separated the urban population growth annual for two parts: one from the natural growth of the existing urban population; another from the urban migration. This means that Chinese urbanization and urban population expansion would cause a high demand and high price for housing. According the survey, the private rate of urban housing had increased already to 80% in most of cities, and almost 100% to Beijing in 2001 (Chen, 2010). According to the National Bureau of statistics of China, housing transaction has increased almost 14 times from 1998 to 2007, as well the soaring housing price has led to many concerns in society, especially for that low-income households. Due to the sluggish increase of income in many low income families, the much higher housing prices far away to income's level of many urban households. It still exists some problem with development of affordable housing program by Government. China Government gains greatly benefits from high housing price, with high tax revenue, high asset investment. Nowadays, economic growth replies on the asset investment by Government heavily. In 2008, there is 2% of GDP growth from the real estate industry. Hence, once the housing market collapse, the whole China's economy will face to immeasurable risk.

Housing is a big problem to citizens, especially that young people who don't have enough money can afford the house. Today, many people cannot afford it with a very high price. Moreover, more and more immigrants were coming to cities like Beijing, lead to the value of lands increased very fast. For my opinion, the Government should pay more attention and take steps to control the increasing price. The Government should make some new policies measures to control the price of house price. However, the Beijing Government is determined to control property bubble. In 2010, the State Council has introduced administrative 12 tough measures and decided to curb soaring urban housing prices. Such as it not allow all families from buying more than one home. This policy can restricted middle class families bought more house. The central bank has begun to tighten the monetary policy. At the same time, Beijing made plans to increase the supply of property development and of sponsored low-cost housing (Bottelier, 2010). The Government made these new policies to restrict market demand, and pulling down the property prices efficiently. Market price declined sharply (5%-10%) in some cities, the price also declined in 5% in Beijing (Bottelier, 2010;P4). Compare with other country, Singapore build the high density way to solve the housing shortage's problems, then people can afford those kinds of flats. For my opinion, during the process of urbanization, the city can build more satellite towns to scatter massive popultion and solve the problem of housing shortage.


Conclusion

At present, the process of urbanization with the growth populaton and massive migration moved into cities. It caused many environment and social problems. As a result, we should develop urbanization in a sustainable way in order to make a better future. And the policies are successful in Beijing by susbtainable development for the process of urbanization. Beijing has ambitious plans and actions improved the overall environmental conditions. These will require a signigicant effort and financial investment by Government. More and more people will increase environmental awarenes.

However, the Government should continue to invest in public transit. And the resources should be diverted to public transportation. For example, the subways and light rail are popular forms of public transportation. Moreover, central Government should maintain high density and redevelop urban areas. Such as continue to develop the satellites plans and land use pattern more efficiency. On the other side, the policies of limited car registration that can help reduce congestion and pollution (Applyyard, 2007). For my opinion, I hope that the policies and visions which made by Government will help Beijing develop fast. Futhermore, the Chinese cities will grow smart and improve the lives of urban with economic growth and environment protection.

Reference:
Applyyard,B. Zheng,Y. Watson,R. Bruce,L. Sohmer,R. Li,X. Qian,J. (2007), Solution for China's rapid urbanization, Natural resources defense council
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Gyabaah,K. Urbanization processes-environmental and health effects in Africa.PERN steering committee member and principal. www.populationenvironmentresearch.org/Nsiah-Gyaabah-contribution.pdf

Hussen,A.(2004), Principles of environment economics, Simultaneously published in USA,P269.

Yan,Z.(2002), Traffic congestion in Beijing: What to do?
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Shi,L. (2004), Beijing traffic strategies outlines,
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Lewis (2007) Technology acquisition and innovation in the developing world: wind turbine development in China and India. Springer,vol.42,pp.208-232

Streets,D., Fu,J. Jang,C., (2006), Air quallity during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,
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Green Beijing
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Bottelier,P. (2010), Beijing's new challenge: China's post-crisit housing bubble
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Chen,J., Guo,F., Wu,Y. (2010), One decade of urban housing reform in China: urban housing price dynamics and the role of migration and urbanization, 1995-2005