ABSTRACT
The potential environmental benefits of High-Speed Rail (HSR) as a clean and energy-efficient transportation mode have been one of the recurring justifications for its implementation. In Chinese cities, the land clearance for HSR lines is commonly under the control of district governments and implemented by street offices. Inspired by the 'just sustainability paradigm' proposed by Agyeman and his colleagues, the case study examines HSR's impacts on Shanghai's two suburban communities through an integrated conceptual framework linking 'social sustainability' and 'environmental justice'. Social exclusion caused by institutionalized barriers prevents the disadvantaged social groups from participating fully in society. The co-existence of social inequity and environmental injustice severely harms the social cohesion within the communities. The chapter depicts the interaction between the changing built-environment and people's daily life and reiterates the importance of developing an inclusive evaluation mechanism to achieve trade-offs among the 'three pillars'.
