Chao Bao

Water Resources Flows Related to Urbanization in China: Challenges and Perspectives for Water Management and Urban Development

China has been experiencing rapid urbanization since the reform and open policy launched in 1978, leading to the growth of urban water demands and aggravating water scarcity especially in the new millennium. Accordingly, water resources previously used for agriculture and environmental systems tend to be transferred to urban systems. Limited by the total quantity and frail environments, the patterns of water resources flows among different sectors and regions change obviously. Water related problems induced by rapid urbanization have become one of the key concerns for scientists and governments. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the new features of water resources flows related to urbanization in China, mainly with regard to bidirectional water resources flows between rural and urban areas, environmental and socio-economic systems, real and virtual water flows between the south and north. This paper also considers the socio-economic and environmental challenges which are resulted from water resources flows in such a case, and provides some countermeasures on how to promote water resources to flow healthily and swimmingly, so as to improve the urban development constrained by scarce water resources.

The driving effects of urbanization on economic growth and water use change in China: A provincial-level analysis in 1997–2011

As one of the key issues in China’s sustainable development, rapid urbanization and continuous economic growth are accompanied by a steady increase of water consumption and a severe urban water crisis. A better understanding of the relationship among urbanization, economic growth and water use change is necessary for Chinese decision makers at various levels to address the positive and negative effects of urbanization. Thus, we established a complete decomposition model to quantify the driving effects of urbanization on economic growth and water use change for China and its 31 provincial administrative regions during the period of 1997–2011. The results show that, (1) China’s urbanization only contributed about 30% of the economic growth. Therefore, such idea as urbanization is the major driving force of economic growth may be weakened. (2) China’s urbanization increased 2352×108 m3 of water use by increasing the economic aggregate. However, it decreased 4530×108 m3 of water use by optimizing the industrial structure and improving the water use efficiency. Therefore, such idea as urbanization is the major driving force of water demand growth may be reacquainted. (3) Urbanization usually made greater contribution to economic and water use growth in the provincial administrative regions in east and central China, which had larger population and economic aggregate and stepped into the accelerating period of urbanization. However, it also made greater contribution to industrial structure optimization and water use efficiency improvement, and then largely decreased total water use. In total, urbanization had negative effects on water use growth in most provincial administrative regions in China, and the spatiotemporal differences among them were lessened on the whole. (4) Though urbanization helps to decrease water use for China and most provincial administrative regions, it may cause water crisis in urban built-up areas or urban agglomerations. Therefore, China should construct the water transfer and compensation mechanisms between urban and rural areas, or low and high density urban areas as soon as possible.

Spatial econometric analysis on influencing factors of water consumption efficiency in urbanizing China

Due to the limitation of total amount of water resources, it is necessary to enhance water consumption efficiency to meet the increasing water demand of urbanizing China. Based on the panel data of 31 provinces in China in 1997–2013, we analyze the influencing factors of water consumption efficiency by spatial econometric models. Results show that, 1) Due to the notable spatial autocorrelation characteristics of water consumption efficiency among different provinces in China, general panel data regression model which previous studies often used may be improper to reveal its influencing factors. However, spatial Durbin model may best estimate their relationship. 2) Water consumption efficiency of a certain province may be influenced not only by its socio-economic and eco-environmental indicators, but also by water consumption efficiency in its neighboring provinces. Moreover, it may be influenced by the neighboring provinces’ socio-economic and eco-environmental indicators. 3) For the macro average case of the 31 provinces in China, if water consumption efficiency in neighboring provinces increased 1%, water consumption efficiency of the local province would increase 0.34%. 4) Among the ten specific indicators we selected, per capita GDP and urbanization level of itself and its neighboring provinces have the most prominent positive effects on water consumption efficiency, and the indirect effects of neighboring provinces are much larger. Therefore, the spatial spillover effects of the economic development level and urbanization level are the primary influencing factors for improving China’s water consumption efficiency. 5) Policy implications indicate that, to improve water consumption efficiency, each province should properly consider potential influences caused by its neighboring provinces, especially needs to enhance the economic cooperation and urbanization interaction with neighboring provinces.

Optimizing Simulation and Scientific Scenarios for the Spatial Pattern of China’s Urban Development

Through the analysis of the driving factors (including the labor, capital, innovation in the Cobb–Douglas production function, and accessibility, information technology and the Internet and industrial transfer) and constraints (including transportation constraints, terrain complexity constraints, water resource constraints and the constraints of development priority zoning), this study constructs the constraint index systems for the optimization of the spatial pattern of China’s urban development.

Scientific Foundations and Theoretical Systems for Optimizing the Spatial Pattern of China’s Urban Development

The spatial pattern of urban development refers to the specific spatial allocation and order of cities that are based on national environmental and resources distribution, socioeconomic development pattern, and ecological security pattern.

Rationality Diagnosis and Comprehensive Evaluation for the Spatial Pattern of China’s Urban Development

In this chapter, via analyzing the influential mechanisms, we construct a set of diagnosis indicator system to evaluate the rationality of the size structure, functional structure, spatial structure, and the overall spatial pattern of China’s urban development.

The Dynamic Evolution and Moving Tracks of the Center of Gravity for the Spatial Pattern of China’s Urban Development

In this Chapter, we analyze the dynamic evolution and moving tracks of the center of gravity of the spatial pattern of China’s urban development during the past 60 years via literature review, statistical analysis, and GIS approaches. In particular, the study analyzes the evolution trajectories of the scale structure of urban population, economy and land use, urban spatial forms, and urban functional composition.

Optimizing Measures and Policy Advices for the Spatial Pattern of China’s Urban Development

In order to guarantee the optimization of the spatial pattern of China’s urban development, it is necessary to implement innovation-driven development strategy in the area of safeguard measures that emphasizes building innovative cities and forming innovative network pattern. We need to implement globalization strategy that focuses on building international metropolis and new international development pattern.

Optimization Goals and Keys for the Spatial Pattern of China’s Urban Development

Based on the above diagnosis of the spatial pattern of China’s urban development, in the new era, the spatial pattern of China’s urban development under the background of the new urbanization strategy should follow the principles of fairness and justice, moderate agglomeration, cooperative development, innovation-driven and sustainable development.