ADB Project in Jilin, PRC to Demonstrate Low-Carbon Development for Better City Living
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a €117.5 million (about $130 million) loan for a project in Jilin Province in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that will demonstrate how city living can be improved by integrating low-carbon, climate-resilient, and healthy urban development measures.

The project will be implemented in Yanji City in the northeastern province of Jilin. Yanji City is affected by the regional economic decline of the northeastern area of the PRC and suffers from inefficient public transport, traffic congestion, unsafe sidewalks with many parked cars, a lack of green spaces, urban and river flooding, and an inefficient water supply.

The Jilin Yanji Low-Carbon Climate-Resilient Healthy City Project will build the first bus rapid transit in the PRC’s northeast to connect many key areas within the city. Pedestrian sidewalks and paths, bicycle lanes, a series of small pedestrian-friendly landscaped “green” roads with trees, and river greenways—green areas alongside the river—will be improved and expanded. This will ensure walkers and cyclists can get to bus stations in a safe and pleasant way, encouraging exercise that will enhance public health, and leading to fewer carbon emissions compared with using cars.

The project will rehabilitate the Chaoyang River in the west of Yanji City to improve flood protection. The river greenways, “green” roads, and paths will be landscaped with the capacity to retain and filter stormwater and, together with the improved drainage pipe network, will reduce urban flooding. Improvements to water pipes, water meters, and other system upgrades will boost water supply efficiency and conserve about 4.8 million cubic meter of water resources every year.

“Improving the environment and the quality of life of residents is crucial for cities to attract and retain people and jobs,” said ADB Senior Urban Development Specialist for East Asia Mr. Stefan Rau. “We are looking forward to seeing many cities in the PRC and the rest of the Asia and Pacific region take an integrated approach like this to improve urban planning, infrastructure, and service delivery to guide sustainable development in the context of continued rapid urbanization in the region.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at about €235 million (about $260 million), with the Government of the PRC contributing €117.3 million (about $130 million). The project is expected to be completed by 2026.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.