Case study selection

The prefectural city of Rizhao, located in Shandong Province, is a mid-sized, medium-income city that has followed the development trajectories typical of cities in Eastern China, such as

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rapid population growth, GPD expansion, and economic restructuring towards the secondary sector (see Figure 1 and 2). Rizhao was selected for two reasons: as a case representing the processes of urbanization in the East coast of China, and as a city pioneering environmental action.

The cities along the heavily industrialized coast represent a particular style of urban low carbon development in China.10 _{These urban areas have experienced rapid economic growth,}

urbanization and industrialization, and now confront serious environmental degradation, such as air and water pollution, increase in built up land and loss of agricultural and forest land, and resource shortages. These cities are still undergoing relatively strong economic development and are tasked with the challenge of shifting this growth away from heavy, polluting industries towards clean, hi-tech and service industries. Many of the cities are still experiencing high rates of urbanization and are grappling with strategies to redirect infrastructure investment and urban planning towards models that place less pressure on environmental systems. Cities in other parts of the country are facing different types of challenges. For example, urban areas in the far west have only recently embarked on paths of industrialization, while areas in the north are stagnating rapidly. This thesis singles out the urban areas of the East coast, and chooses Rizhao to represent the development trajectories experienced in this region.

In terms of demographic and economic development, Rizhao is representative of trends of the rapidly growing urban region in Eastern China. Figure 1 and 2 below illustrate Rizhao’s rapid GDP growth since the 1980s and a population growth that picked up between the 1970s and evened out in the 1990s.

Figure 1: Rizhao GDP (100’000 RMB)

Source: Rizhao Municipal Yearbooks

Figure 2: Rizhao total population (10’000 people) Source: Rizhao Municipal Yearbook

An aspect that is important to the choice of case study is the delay between national level policy intentions and actual development in the vast and variegated regions of China. Descriptions of change in China often emphasize development in relatively internationalized cities, which are

10 _{Within China’s political and administrative system, cities are ranked according to four different levels: cities}

directly under the central government, sub-provincial cities, prefecture-level cities and county-level cities. Out of these categories, most academic research referring to “cities” includes the three higher levels, collectively referred to as prefecture-level and above cities (PL&A cities). In 2012, China had 656 cities, out of which 290 were PL&A cities. The cities of the two top categories are often loosely referred to as Tier I cities, while provincial capitals are referred to as Tier II cities, and other PL&A cities as Tier III cities. The tiers are a colloquial term not based on the administrative divisions. 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 Rizhao GDP (100'000 RMB) 220 240 260 280 300 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

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leading in terms of policy development, integration into global markets and technological innovation. Accounts of progress based on observations of development in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou overlooks the extent to which these arenas are used as the country’s face of progress.Mai and Francesh-Huidobro’s (2015) study of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, suggests that an expanding nongovernmental space contributes actively to local climate action, through transferring information and innovations, and in building legitimacy around policy options. However, the engagement of green NGOs in climate policy in Hong Kong cannot be used as indication that civil society is becoming a political force in small cities on the mainland.

To grasp the roles of and interaction between local authorities and non-state actors in urban climate governance, this thesis focuses on development in a medium sized, industrialized city with a lower income level than China’s leading megacities. Through this strategy, the aim is to make it clear which policy guidelines are contributing to real change on a city level and which constitute empty policy rhetoric, as well as which changes are being realized through activities taking place outside leading megacities. This thesis proposes that studying climate strategies in a mid-sized urban region provides more information about the way in which municipal authorities in “normal” cities engage in climate action under conditions of limited connections and resources.

The second reason for choosing Rizhao as a case study is that it has actively engaged in environmental protection, eco-city construction and pursued low carbon development. Rizhao has received a number of awards based on its environmental performance, including the 2007 World Clean Energy Award (WCEA) in “Policy and Law-making”, making it the only city in China to have received this recognition (RMPG, 2009a). In 2008, the municipality joined the Climate Neutral Network and was recognized as a “trailblazer” on route to zero emissions (UNEP, 2008). Rizhao received the UN-HABITAT award in 2009 for green planning. The municipal leadership claims that its use of participatory planning models and innovative governance instruments contributed to its progress and to receiving this recognition. After receiving the award, the city leadership stated the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral city (RMPG, 2009a).

Media has noted the greening credentials of the city (Biello, 2008). Similar observations are expressed by international institutions (WWF, 2012) and in previous research on popularization of renewable energy sources in China (Bai, 2007a). Domestic awards include the China Human Habitat Environment Award, Top Ten Green City of China, National Model City for Environmental Protection, National Ecological Model City, National Garden City, National Sustainable Development Experimental Zone, National Sanitary City, National Pilot City of Circular Economy and National Ecological Demonstration Zone (RMPG, 2009a). Rizhao ranked first among the prefecture-level cities of Shandong Province in the assessment of urban environment comprehensive treatment for six years in a row and has been listed among the ten best cities in China for air quality (Feng & Xi, 2009; RMPG, 2009a).

These achievements suggest that Rizhao engages in development of urban climate policy and programs and that the case study should provide information about roles and strategies of public and non-state actors and configurations of collaboration in these activities. The municipality’s adoption of climate programs and low carbon development goals suggest that public authorities are developing independent strategies for climate action. The case study aims to clarify the nature of these agendas and the strategies used to reach these goals.