The role of local governance and environmental policy integration in Swedish and Chinese eco-city development

This study examines institutional conditions for local governance and environmental integration. Four eco-city cases in Sweden and China are analyzed. The theoretical framework is based on theories of Environmental Policy Integration (EPI) and sustainable urban planning. Three categories of institutional conditions guide the analysis: Political will and commitment, Understanding, knowledge and experience, and Inter-organizational coordination. Despite strong local political will and commitment, considerable obstacles to environmental integration still exist, including political instability, lack of understanding, knowledge and experience, and insufficient cross-sector coordination. The current administrative organization based on sector-specific responsibility appears to impede cross-sector coordination for integrating environmental concerns in urban development. The establishment of temporary local administrative organizations may be an effective solution to break cross-sector barriers and generate integrated solutions to realize environmental objectives.