The changing face of Asian cities

Cities occupy a fraction of the Earth's surface but produce almost two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions. A new approach to developing townships is mitigating this.

Across Asia Pacific, cities are feeling the weight of rapid urbanization. More than half of the global population currently lives in a city, with 54% of these in Asia. The region is already home to most of the world's megacities, which house more than 10 million people, and each year more are joining the list. By 2050, the urban population in Asia is expected to double, which would represent an additional 1.2 billion people migrating to the region's cities. 

But as people flock to cities in search of greater opportunities, the pressure being placed on existing city infrastructure and public services has become a major challenge. More people also often leads to problems such as increased crime, traffic congestion and homelessness, affecting people's quality of life.

There is also the outsized impact these cities have on the environment and climate change, whether this is through the ever-increasing demands for power, water, and waste management, or the rising levels of pollution from transportation and industry.

Research from UN Habitat estimates that while cities account for just less than 3% of the Earth's surface, they consume 78% of the world's energy and produce more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Retrofitting existing infrastructure across vast urban areas to be more sustainable is in most cases not economically viable, given the huge scale of the problem. Instead, the answer for many city leaders is to start from scratch, enabling a more progressive approach to urban master planning that will not only increase the housing supply but also drive sustainability by optimizing economic growth, social prosperity, and environmental protection.

The rise of sustainable, integrated townships 

The Asia Pacific region is at the vanguard of this shift in focus. Across the region, sustainable new urban developments are becoming the norm rather than the exception. National and local governments are looking at fully integrated townships — the concept of a city within a city — to cater for the growing urban population in a way that is equitable, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, and that will raise living standards, connect communities, and protect the environment.

Southeast Asian conglomerate Sunway Group established the blueprint for sustainable living with the construction of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur (SCKL) in Malaysia, which broke ground on an abandoned tin mine in the mid-1980s. As the country's first integrated green township, SCKL has set the benchmark for Malaysia and beyond, pioneering a low-carbon approach to city planning that includes clean energy, sustainable transport, and efficient waste management, while also providing connected solutions for residents across healthcare, education, entertainment, and other key services.

The corporation has replicated this model with Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, located in the strategically important state of Johor, which faces Singapore at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsular. Conceived in 2012, the township is surrounded by pristine mangrove forest and lush waterways, including seven km of the Pendas River, all of which have been preserved and kept in their natural state during development, as much as possible.

The township is currently one of the largest developments in Southeast Asia and when completed will be home to some 125,000 people living in a fully integrated urban environment that includes a full range of services across education, hospitality, entertainment, retail, residential, commercial, healthcare and more.

Sunway City Iskandar Puteri has embraced sustainable development at all levels. The township has had more than 535,000 trees and shrubs planted, and, to preserve and conserve regional biodiversity, it has established a 50-meter-wide buffer zone along the Pendas River and released 21,000 fish into the river to maintain a balanced ecosystem. The township also includes a carbon-neutral Free Commercial Zone that is expected to generate 13,000 job opportunities and serve as a leading distribution hub for Southeast Asia.

"We are committed to making this township the centerpiece of nation's southern development corridor, and cementing Johor's status as one of the most economically advanced states in Malaysia," said Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Sunway's founder and chairman. "Once fully completed, it will match, or even surpass, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur as a vibrant, sustainable and integrated township, where residents can live, work, play and learn in a safe, healthy and connected environment."

Malaysia is not alone. In Hong Kong, for instance, the Northern Metropolis is a major development still at the conceptual design stage that is expected to support a population of some 2.5 million, roughly one-third of the territory's current population.

The project has been proposed as a low-carbon city in line with Hong Kong's target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, with a specific emphasis on sustainable social and economic development and the preservation of the area's rich biodiversity.

Similarly, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City in China's northeast has been built to accommodate over 350,000 people across an area of 30 square km on what was formerly barren land and polluted waterways. Construction began in 2008 and the first residents moved in during early 2012. As the name suggests, the integrated city is being built with eco-friendly features such as 100% green buildings, renewable energy and green transport positioned front and center.

Green townships are utilizing nature-based solutions to tackle climate risk

While sustainability is about much more than just environmental protection, there is no question that one of the biggest challenges faced by Asian cities is the ongoing threat of climate change. In this respect, sustainable townships will have a huge role to play in helping mitigate some of the most serious impacts.

According to a 2021 report, Asia is home to 99 out of 100 cities across the globe facing the most environmental risk, with the Indonesian capital of Jakarta topping the list due to a combination of rising sea levels, land subsidence and air pollution.

Green townships can help in numerous ways, but one of the most efficient methods is to tap into nature-based solutions (NBS). This requires cities working with nature to address climate change and support biodiversity. NBS range from removing heat from the air by creating green roofs and walls on city buildings to preserving coastal features such as coral reefs and wetlands to help prevent flooding.

For example, in the Tianjin area, which is one of the most at-risk cities in China from rising sea levels, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City has created an "eco-valley," which cuts through the city, providing cycling and walking pathways and which helps reduce the urban heat island effect, whereby dense concentrations of buildings, pavements and other surfaces absorb and retain heat at a higher level than natural areas.

Similarly, Sunway City Iskandar Puteri is home to some 100,000 mangrove trees, which as well as providing residents with a clean and secure living environment also helps manage the impacts of climate change by serving as a natural protection. The mangrove forest diverts some 300 tons of CO2 annually, while its roots slow down tidal waters, stabilizing the coastline and minimizing soil erosion from storms and rising waves.

"The forest is the source of life for Sunway City Iskandar Puteri," Cheah said. "Not just for the creatures that inhabit the forest, but also as a natural protection for the township's citizens."

This post was created by Insider Studios with Sunway Group.