International Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative investigates the most significant global-scale international trade expansion and capital investment programme since the Second World War. This book focusses on the multi-national perspectives of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in order to interrogate the Chinese government's representation of it as a symbol of "peace, cooperation, development and mutual benefit." With specific focus on the interrelationship between geopolitics, infrastructure investments and urban regional development, the book reflects on 12 countries' experiences in depth, including those of Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Ethiopia, specificly to their economic development levels, political systems, power dynamics and socio-environmental issues. The book clarifies and contributes new knowledge on the nature of BRI concerning its relationship to globalism, neo-colonialism, the notion of developed vs developing countries and their institutions and macro-micro benefits and impacts. In doing so, the book offers a balanced account of the antagonistic geo-political narrative of socio-political conflict and the collaborative framework of real socio-economic flows and development. The book will appeal to academics, researchers and policy-makers with an interest in the BRI and its impacts on politico-economic development and urban, regional and spatial systems in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

International Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative investigates the most significant global-scale international trade expansion and capital investment programme since the Second World War. This book focusses on the multi-national perspectives of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in order to interrogate the Chinese government's representation of it as a symbol of "peace, cooperation, development and mutual benefit." With specific focus on the interrelationship between geopolitics, infrastructure investments and urban regional development, the book reflects on 12 countries' experiences in depth, including those of Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Ethiopia, specificly to their economic development levels, political systems, power dynamics and socio-environmental issues. The book clarifies and contributes new knowledge on the nature of BRI concerning its relationship to globalism, neo-colonialism, the notion of developed vs developing countries and their institutions and macro-micro benefits and impacts. In doing so, the book offers a balanced account of the antagonistic geo-political narrative of socio-political conflict and the collaborative framework of real socio-economic flows and development. The book will appeal to academics, researchers and policy-makers with an interest in the BRI and its impacts on politico-economic development and urban, regional and spatial systems in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

This book explores the relationship between urban form and greenhouse gas emissions in China, providing new insights for policy, urban planning and management. Drawing on the results of a four-year multidisciplinary research project, the book examines how factors such as urban households' access to services and jobs, land use mixes and provision of public transport impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The authors analyse data from a wide range of sources including 4677 sample households from four major Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Xi'an - with diverse locations, urban spatial structures and population sizes. The book explores residents' attitudes to reducing GHG emissions and advances knowledge relating to three environmental scales - cross-metropolitan, intra-city and neighbourhood level. It also contributes to debates on low carbon policy by revealing the relevance of urban planning parameters at both the macro and micro levels. The book will be of interest to scholars in the areas of urban planning, urban management, environmental sustainability and resource utilisation, as well as urban policy makers and planners who are working toward developing low carbon, sustainable cities of the future.

This book explores the relationship between urban form and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions based on new empirical evidence from four Chinese cities. It reports on the outcomes of a four year, multidisciplinary research project. It includes the conceptual and methodological framework that guided this inquiry, a discussion concerning characteristics of GHG emissions in China, the relevant policies on emissions control, and the associated economic and environmental challenges that China faces in doing this, four distinctive case studies that explored GHG emissions and possible solutions for its reduction at three environmental scales - cross-metropolitan, intra-city and at the neighbourhood level - as well as comparisons of relationships between these scales, an analysis of residents' attitudes towards GHG emissions reduction, a discussion of policy implications based on the findings of the research, and identification of priority areas for further research.The book makes a significant contribution to current academic debates about the association between urban form and GHG emission based on measurements of development density, land-use mixes, access to public transport, and household behaviour with regard to GHG emissions, with a special focus on commuting behaviour. It also contributes to policy debates on GHG emission control by revealing the relevance of urban planning parameters at both the macro (i.e. metropolitan spatial structure) and micro (i.e., spatial configuration of urban neighbourhoods) levels. The targeted readership includes scholars in the areas of urban planning, urban management, environmental sustainability and resource utilisation, as well as urban policy makers and planners who are working toward developing low carbon, sustainable cities of the future.

This volume contains essays that examine contemporary urban and regional planning and development in China. Through in-depth theoretical and empirical analysis, it provides insights into the urban policies and operational mechanisms of this colossal transitional economy which has presented unprecedented challenges and dynamics. Inside, readers will discover the causes and consequences of rapid urbanization that have led to a series of environmental, economic and social planning and management measures designed to achieve quality urban living. The essays also detail efforts in adopting the latest options in city building such as specific urban planning approaches in developing large city regions, building cities without slums, constructing new townships and green urbanism, including eco-city and sustainable transport. In addition, coverage explores financial management and support as a means to encourage urbanization and urban economic growth in less-developed regions. Overall, the volume offers a wealth of concrete, detailed information on conditions in different regions of China and features an extensive range of content, methods and theory. It provides readers with a comprehensive portrait of the chain relationship between rapid urbanization, spatial planning and management throughout the country. The book will serve as a useful reference for national and international consultancy services doing business or serving public interest in China. It will also be of interest to an international audience seeking a better understanding of urban development and planning in China, including university teachers, students, government agencies and general readers.