Sustainable Urban Development, Urban Governance and Common Prosperity

Urban governance involves both internal structures and external environments. Historically, discussions on urban governance have focused primarily internal mechanisms, particularly technological aspects such as big data, intelligence and surveillance. This emphasis has often overshadowed the importance of understanding and anticipating the broader urban environment. Cities throughout history have risen and fallen not just due to governance quality, but more significantly because of shifts in their external environments. While effective urban governance can enhance the quality of city life, the evolving urban environment plays a crucial role in determining a city’s survival. This chapter explores the environmental challenges facing Chinese cities through the lens of sustainable urban development, with a particular emphasis on achieving sustainable economic growth.