PSU-CHINA INNOVATIONS IN URBANIZATION

Urbanization is proceeding at unprecedented rates around the world. The challenges of converting agricultural, forest, and grass land to urban uses are overwhelming in today's world of urgent concerns about air and water quality, global warming, and food and energy shortages, to name just a few. The PSU-China Innovations in Urbanization is designed to promote dialogue, exchange ideas, and build relationships among researchers and practitioners engaged in improving the livability of urban spaces and the building of tomorrow's cities while protecting our natural resources.

The Portland, Oregon, metropolitan region is heralded widely for its innovations in urban planning, much of which began with the historic passage of the state land use law in 1973 and the use of urban growth boundary (UGB) planning tool. PSU faculty and Oregon planning experts welcome the opportunity to examine the efforts in this region to intentionally coordinate the many public and private actions that create our urban environments. Through partnerships with the International Sustainable Development Foundation (ISDF), China's Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD), and, most recently, the Energy Foundation, we aim to work together to identify innovations that will move us all toward a more sustainable future.