ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 lays out the context of the research study. It is important to recognise that every problem has to be understood and framed in its specific context. In this chapter, two important contexts pertinent to an analysis of unsustainable transport in China and an exploration of emerging sustainable transport strategies are given. First are the sustainability concerns. Comprehensive sustainability, which puts equal emphasis on environmental, economic and social sustainability, is put forward. Second are the unsustainable transport trends and huge transport challenges associated with the rapid economic growth, urbanisation and motorisation in China (and many developing countries in general) in the last two to three decades. These two key themes of sustainability concerns and the rise of China provide the broad context for the entire book.
