Green Development of Industrial Parks in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Abstract

This study aims to uncover the paradigm of green development of industrial parks in the Yangtze River Economic Belt by integrating economic development, spatial configuration, pillar industries, energy-environmental infrastructure, water use, and economic-environmental performance. We identify the major challenges faced by the industrial parks in the region and then propose policy implications targeting eco-transformation of the parks. The key findings are as follows. Industrial parks have been playing a significant role in facilitating manufacturing industry and economic-social development in the Yangtze River Basin, by contributing more than 50% of the gross industrial output values of the provinces along the Yangtze River. It is necessary to strengthen the strategic position of the industrial parks for robust manufacturing industries in China. However, along the Yangtze River, there are large number heavy-industries and industrial parks, posing intensive pressure on resources and energy, as well as a huge pollutants emission. We classify four major points on ecological-environmental issues in the parks. First, some parks still need to enhance the initiative, consciousness and innovation of ecological civilization construction. Second, the parks should pose great importance on optimizing the industrial structure and environmental management of industrial parks, and declining the gap between leading parks and lowefficient ones substantially. Third, many parks have high carbon dioxide emissions, and have employed a coal-dependent energy infrastructure featured by small capacity and low efficiency. Fourth, industrial parks have yet to effectively control the total amount of freshwater consumption and reduce toxic and harmful pollutants reduction, pursuing clean and safe water. Given the challenges, we propose policy recommendations on innovation and eco-transformation of industrial parks from three aspects to achieve a marked height. The first aspect is to strengthen the grand plan for green development of industrial parks by integrating the upstream and downstream regions. The local authorities have the demand to release green development report annually. The second aspect is to deepen the green and low-carbon transformation of parks through conserving resources, increasing eco-efficiency, and exploring renewable resources comprehensively. Furthermore, it is crucial to advance the overall efficiency of energy and environmental infrastructure from the consideration of life cycle. Fostering industrial symbiosis between infrastructure is also a promising alternative. Third, it is urgent to balance the development of chemical industrial parks and the carrying capacity of water systems, by controlling pollution for the whole process using precise and scientific strategies, employing sustainable water stewardship, and protecting water eco-system.

Keywords

• Yangtze River Economic Belt，industrial parks，green development，reduce pollution and carbon，full life cycle