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X. Zhang
4 Environmental Issues of the Greater Bay Area
The rapid social and economic development in the Greater Bay Area brought about
mounting pressures on resources and the environment, mainly manifested in the
following aspects: First, some cities failed to coordinate well between plans for
terrestrial and marine development, and developed no unique feature in spatial planning or municipal functions. Marine development activities concentrated in offshore
areas, and the available coastline, beaches and shallow-water biological resources
are decreasing. Second, the efforts for industrial development focused on resources
and producing primary products with low value added, and many places had similar
industrial structures. Third, offshore water quality deteriorated, leading to declining
ecological functions and frequent marine ecological disasters. If we look back at the
development of some famous bay areas in the world, we can see that they also once
encountered environmental problems and unfortunately took wrong turns along the
way. Practice has proven that a forward-looking approach in designing the framework for ecological endeavors is the way to innovative, coordinated, green, open and
inclusive development in the Greater Bay Area.
5 Framework for Building an Ecological Civilization
in the Greater Bay Area
1. Implement the Plan to build a green Greater Bay Area
The Plan connects the green development of the Greater Bay Area with major national
strategies like the Belt and Road Initiative. The area will undergo a transition from
factor- and investment-driven growth to an innovation-driven model, and significantly intensify its efforts to develop environment-friendly industries. With an accurate understanding of the functions of cities in the Greater Bay Area, the Plan aims
to establish a comprehensive support system for green innovation to promote the
cultivation of talent, R&D, products and the development of the market, seeking
breakthroughs in key cutting-edge technologies related to resources, the ecosystem
and the environment. Mass entrepreneurship and innovation is encouraged in various
sectors and stages of development as a constant driving force for green transformation. What is required in the supply-side structural reform is perfectly in line with what
our ecological endeavors call for. Focusing on high-quality industries in the Greater
Bay Area, the Plan promotes green production and requires all factors to be environmentally friendly. We must vigorously promote green industries such as environmentfriendly modern agriculture, marine biological industry and ecotourism, and create
a green financial system to make environmental protection a new growth driver in
the Greater Bay Area.
According to the Plan, the Greater Bay Area shall actively adapt to climate
change and strengthen exchanges and cooperation on low-carbon development,
X. Zhang
4 Environmental Issues of the Greater Bay Area
The rapid social and economic development in the Greater Bay Area brought about
mounting pressures on resources and the environment, mainly manifested in the
following aspects: First, some cities failed to coordinate well between plans for
terrestrial and marine development, and developed no unique feature in spatial planning or municipal functions. Marine development activities concentrated in offshore
areas, and the available coastline, beaches and shallow-water biological resources
are decreasing. Second, the efforts for industrial development focused on resources
and producing primary products with low value added, and many places had similar
industrial structures. Third, offshore water quality deteriorated, leading to declining
ecological functions and frequent marine ecological disasters. If we look back at the
development of some famous bay areas in the world, we can see that they also once
encountered environmental problems and unfortunately took wrong turns along the
way. Practice has proven that a forward-looking approach in designing the framework for ecological endeavors is the way to innovative, coordinated, green, open and
inclusive development in the Greater Bay Area.
5 Framework for Building an Ecological Civilization
in the Greater Bay Area
1. Implement the Plan to build a green Greater Bay Area
The Plan connects the green development of the Greater Bay Area with major national
strategies like the Belt and Road Initiative. The area will undergo a transition from
factor- and investment-driven growth to an innovation-driven model, and significantly intensify its efforts to develop environment-friendly industries. With an accurate understanding of the functions of cities in the Greater Bay Area, the Plan aims
to establish a comprehensive support system for green innovation to promote the
cultivation of talent, R&D, products and the development of the market, seeking
breakthroughs in key cutting-edge technologies related to resources, the ecosystem
and the environment. Mass entrepreneurship and innovation is encouraged in various
sectors and stages of development as a constant driving force for green transformation. What is required in the supply-side structural reform is perfectly in line with what
our ecological endeavors call for. Focusing on high-quality industries in the Greater
Bay Area, the Plan promotes green production and requires all factors to be environmentally friendly. We must vigorously promote green industries such as environmentfriendly modern agriculture, marine biological industry and ecotourism, and create
a green financial system to make environmental protection a new growth driver in
the Greater Bay Area.
According to the Plan, the Greater Bay Area shall actively adapt to climate
change and strengthen exchanges and cooperation on low-carbon development,