Shenzhen is the most sustainable city in China, according to a ranking by global management consultancy McKinsey & Company.
Its 2016 Urban Sustainability Index (USI) Report released on Friday listed Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Zhoushan, Zhuhai, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Weihai, Huzhou, Zhongshan and Shaoxing as the top 10 cities.
According to 23 metrics covering the sectors of economy, society, resources and environment, 185 cities of varying sizes and at different stages of development were ranked by their level of sustainability from 2006 to 2014.
Shenzhen cityscape /CFP Photo
The report shows most Chinese cities are gradually becoming more sustainable, especially in social and economic aspects. UCI research director Zhang Gengtian said the most notable improvement since 2014 included healthcare coverage and government R&D investment.
Shenzhen rose from sixth in 2011 to the top of the list in 2014. Although Beijing ranked highly in social, economic and built environment metrics, it dropped out of the top 10 because of its unsatisfactory environmental performance and use of resources.
Other cities, including Xiamen, Dalian, Fuzhou, Changsha and Yantai, also lost their former positions among the top 10 in 2011. The gap between larger and smaller cities has widened over the last three years.
"Shenzhen ranked first in its overall scores thanks to its excellent performance in the economic, social and environmental segments," said Zhang. "It has done especially well in the innovation area, with high innovation productivity."
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