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Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity Assessment
Table of Contents
Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity Assessment.................................................................................4
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................4
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................6
Methodology...............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Data Collection...................................................................................................................................7
3.2 Analytical Framework........................................................................................................................8
3.2.1 Quantitative Analysis..................................................................................................................8
3.2.2 Qualitative Analysis.....................................................................................................................9
3.3 Case Studies.......................................................................................................................................9
3.4 Spatial Analysis................................................................................................................................10
3.5 Policy Evaluation..............................................................................................................................11
3.6 Limitations and Ethical Consideration..............................................................................................11
Overview of Sustainability in the Greater Bay Area...................................................................................12
4.1 Ecological Footprint of the GBA.......................................................................................................12
4. 2 A Prioritized Green Infrastructure and Policies...............................................................................13
4.3 Urban Sustainability Issues..............................................................................................................14
4.4 Biodiversity and Habitat Preservation..............................................................................................15
4.5 Governmental and Partnership Undertakings..................................................................................15
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4.6 Green Economy Development.........................................................................................................16
4.7 Activities Towards Climate Change Mitigation.................................................................................17
4. 8 ways that technology can be used to support sustainability...........................................................18
4.9 sustainable management of social dimension.................................................................................19
Survey Results and Analysis.......................................................................................................................21
5.1 Demographic Overview of Respondents..........................................................................................21
5.1.1 Age Distribution........................................................................................................................22
5.1.2 Gender Distribution..................................................................................................................23
5.1.3 Educational Background............................................................................................................23
5.1.5 Geographic Distribution............................................................................................................25
5.1.6 Income Levels............................................................................................................................26
5.2 Evaluation of Sustainable Development...........................................................................................26
5.2: Environmental Sustainability in the GBA.............................................................................................27
5.2.3 The Concept of Social Sustainability and Inclusive Architecture...............................................29
5.3 Key Indicators and Obstacles............................................................................................................30
5.3.1 Key That Defines Sustainability Within the GBA........................................................................30
5.3.2 Obstacles to Sustainable Development in the GBA...................................................................34
5.4 Stakeholders’ Contribution to Sustainable Development of the Greater Bay Area..........................36
5.4.1 Government Stakeholders.........................................................................................................37
5.4.2 Private Sector Stakeholders Organization.................................................................................38
5.4.3 Civil society and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)......................................................39
5.4.4 International Stakeholders........................................................................................................40
5.4.5 Speaking of the Role of Academic and Research Institutions....................................................41
6. The case studies of cities in the Greater Bay Area.................................................................................42
6.1 Shenzhen: A Leader in Green Innovation.........................................................................................43
6.2 Guangzhou: Organizing for Green Technology and Eco-Innovation.................................................44
6.3 Hong Kong: An International Financial Centre for a Sustainable Economy......................................45
6.4 Macau: Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Protection............................................................46
6.5 Zhuhai: Sustainable Green Transportation and Environmental Conservation..................................47
7. Preliminary Findings and Recommendations.........................................................................................48
8. Data Collection and Analysis..................................................................................................................53
Theme: Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity Assessment..................................................................55
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................55
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Extended Case Studies of GBA Cities.........................................................................................................55
Zhuhai: Transition to Smart Urban Infrastructure......................................................................................55
Huizhou: Renewable Energy Pilot Projects................................................................................................57
Foshan: Industrial Emissions and Circular Economy Initiatives..................................................................59
Zhongshan: Sustainable Transportation and Smart Mobility.....................................................................62
Jiangmen: Green Building Practices and Sustainable Urban Planning.......................................................65
Multi-stage DEA Model Refinement..........................................................................................................68
Application in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.........................................................69
Sensitivity and Robustness Testing.............................................................................................................71
Sectoral Performance Benchmarking Matrix.............................................................................................73
Visual Analytics (Graphs, Tables, Radar Plots)............................................................................................77
Findings Summary and Interpretation.......................................................................................................79
Implications for Policy and Strategic Plan..................................................................................................81
Interview Methodology and Participant Profile.........................................................................................82
Emerging Themes from Interviews............................................................................................................84
Stakeholder Quotations and Illustrative Narratives...................................................................................87
Sustainability Strategy Mapping................................................................................................................89
Clean Energy Roadmap (Solar, Grid, EVs)...................................................................................................89
Green Building Policies and Eco-Zoning.....................................................................................................91
Regional Policy Coordination Frameworks.................................................................................................93
Policy Recommendations & Implementation Plan.....................................................................................95
Short-Term Actions (1–3 Years)..................................................................................................................95
Medium-Term Strategy (3–7 Years)............................................................................................................97
Long-Term Vision (Net Zero, Circular Economy).........................................................................................99
Monitoring Framework (KPIs, Dashboards).............................................................................................101
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)...........................................................................................................101
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................102
References...............................................................................................................................................103
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]
Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity
Assessment
Executive Summary
The GBA is a world city cluster which consists of nine cities in the Guangdong province,
Hong Kong, and Macao, all of which are globally famous economic regions. It is still a business,
industrial and important technical, arts, and learning hub. However, it has faced challenges of
sprawl and development as it aims at transforming into a modern city. This report provides an
evaluation of the GBA on ecological, economic and social aspects and gives a proposal to
enhance its smart and stable design.
GBA, at the moment, is in the process of industrialization and urbanization, and this puts
much stress on the ecological maximum capacity of the area. The key problems are declines in
species and populations, decline in genetic quality of habitats and quality of ecosystems.
Nonetheless, there is an inability to attempt to adjust ecological footprints and shift towards
renewable energy sources, but attempts at sustainability are observed on the right trajectory (Wu
et al., 2021). Hence, the expansion of ecological structures, including green networks and urban
green areas, should continue to enhance the quality of the environment.
In the economic sense, the GBA is presented as a significant economic complex
characterized by very high growth rates due to the emergence and interconnection of new factors.
Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity Assessment
Table of Contents
Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity Assessment.................................................................................4
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................4
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................6
Methodology...............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Data Collection...................................................................................................................................7
3.2 Analytical Framework........................................................................................................................8
3.2.1 Quantitative Analysis..................................................................................................................8
3.2.2 Qualitative Analysis.....................................................................................................................9
3.3 Case Studies.......................................................................................................................................9
3.4 Spatial Analysis................................................................................................................................10
3.5 Policy Evaluation..............................................................................................................................11
3.6 Limitations and Ethical Consideration..............................................................................................11
Overview of Sustainability in the Greater Bay Area...................................................................................12
4.1 Ecological Footprint of the GBA.......................................................................................................12
4. 2 A Prioritized Green Infrastructure and Policies...............................................................................13
4.3 Urban Sustainability Issues..............................................................................................................14
4.4 Biodiversity and Habitat Preservation..............................................................................................15
4.5 Governmental and Partnership Undertakings..................................................................................15
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4.6 Green Economy Development.........................................................................................................16
4.7 Activities Towards Climate Change Mitigation.................................................................................17
4. 8 ways that technology can be used to support sustainability...........................................................18
4.9 sustainable management of social dimension.................................................................................19
Survey Results and Analysis.......................................................................................................................21
5.1 Demographic Overview of Respondents..........................................................................................21
5.1.1 Age Distribution........................................................................................................................22
5.1.2 Gender Distribution..................................................................................................................23
5.1.3 Educational Background............................................................................................................23
5.1.5 Geographic Distribution............................................................................................................25
5.1.6 Income Levels............................................................................................................................26
5.2 Evaluation of Sustainable Development...........................................................................................26
5.2: Environmental Sustainability in the GBA.............................................................................................27
5.2.3 The Concept of Social Sustainability and Inclusive Architecture...............................................29
5.3 Key Indicators and Obstacles............................................................................................................30
5.3.1 Key That Defines Sustainability Within the GBA........................................................................30
5.3.2 Obstacles to Sustainable Development in the GBA...................................................................34
5.4 Stakeholders’ Contribution to Sustainable Development of the Greater Bay Area..........................36
5.4.1 Government Stakeholders.........................................................................................................37
5.4.2 Private Sector Stakeholders Organization.................................................................................38
5.4.3 Civil society and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)......................................................39
5.4.4 International Stakeholders........................................................................................................40
5.4.5 Speaking of the Role of Academic and Research Institutions....................................................41
6. The case studies of cities in the Greater Bay Area.................................................................................42
6.1 Shenzhen: A Leader in Green Innovation.........................................................................................43
6.2 Guangzhou: Organizing for Green Technology and Eco-Innovation.................................................44
6.3 Hong Kong: An International Financial Centre for a Sustainable Economy......................................45
6.4 Macau: Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Protection............................................................46
6.5 Zhuhai: Sustainable Green Transportation and Environmental Conservation..................................47
7. Preliminary Findings and Recommendations.........................................................................................48
8. Data Collection and Analysis..................................................................................................................53
Theme: Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity Assessment..................................................................55
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................55
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Extended Case Studies of GBA Cities.........................................................................................................55
Zhuhai: Transition to Smart Urban Infrastructure......................................................................................55
Huizhou: Renewable Energy Pilot Projects................................................................................................57
Foshan: Industrial Emissions and Circular Economy Initiatives..................................................................59
Zhongshan: Sustainable Transportation and Smart Mobility.....................................................................62
Jiangmen: Green Building Practices and Sustainable Urban Planning.......................................................65
Multi-stage DEA Model Refinement..........................................................................................................68
Application in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.........................................................69
Sensitivity and Robustness Testing.............................................................................................................71
Sectoral Performance Benchmarking Matrix.............................................................................................73
Visual Analytics (Graphs, Tables, Radar Plots)............................................................................................77
Findings Summary and Interpretation.......................................................................................................79
Implications for Policy and Strategic Plan..................................................................................................81
Interview Methodology and Participant Profile.........................................................................................82
Emerging Themes from Interviews............................................................................................................84
Stakeholder Quotations and Illustrative Narratives...................................................................................87
Sustainability Strategy Mapping................................................................................................................89
Clean Energy Roadmap (Solar, Grid, EVs)...................................................................................................89
Green Building Policies and Eco-Zoning.....................................................................................................91
Regional Policy Coordination Frameworks.................................................................................................93
Policy Recommendations & Implementation Plan.....................................................................................95
Short-Term Actions (1–3 Years)..................................................................................................................95
Medium-Term Strategy (3–7 Years)............................................................................................................97
Long-Term Vision (Net Zero, Circular Economy).........................................................................................99
Monitoring Framework (KPIs, Dashboards).............................................................................................101
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)...........................................................................................................101
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................102
References...............................................................................................................................................103
, 4
]
Greater Bay Area Sustainability Capacity
Assessment
Executive Summary
The GBA is a world city cluster which consists of nine cities in the Guangdong province,
Hong Kong, and Macao, all of which are globally famous economic regions. It is still a business,
industrial and important technical, arts, and learning hub. However, it has faced challenges of
sprawl and development as it aims at transforming into a modern city. This report provides an
evaluation of the GBA on ecological, economic and social aspects and gives a proposal to
enhance its smart and stable design.
GBA, at the moment, is in the process of industrialization and urbanization, and this puts
much stress on the ecological maximum capacity of the area. The key problems are declines in
species and populations, decline in genetic quality of habitats and quality of ecosystems.
Nonetheless, there is an inability to attempt to adjust ecological footprints and shift towards
renewable energy sources, but attempts at sustainability are observed on the right trajectory (Wu
et al., 2021). Hence, the expansion of ecological structures, including green networks and urban
green areas, should continue to enhance the quality of the environment.
In the economic sense, the GBA is presented as a significant economic complex
characterized by very high growth rates due to the emergence and interconnection of new factors.
