ABSTRACT
The ideal city is not just the perfect master plan but has to cope with change and an eco-city is no different. If eco-cities are such a great idea why have none been built? Is it because the net zero emissions targets described above are just too difficult to achieve and, if so, what does that imply for sustainability? Moreover, why are there so many countries still keen to build eco-cities regardless of the fact that previous projects have failed? An eco-city, as well as being carbon neutral, could be one that tries to live within the resources of its environment or perhaps one where all the resources come from its ecological region, which also processes all its wastes. Chinese interest in eco-cities makes sense given China's need to move from relying on coal and oil, so an energy-efficient built environment that runs on renewables is an important goal, both for climate change mitigation and fuel security.
