city as close to carbon-neutral as possible within economic constraints. Project planners estimated a population of 10,000 by 2010 and 500,000 by 2050. Energy-efficient construction, waste-to-energy systems, and wind power were all part of the original plan. As a strategic partner, Arup was to be responsible for a range of services, including urban design, sustainable energy management, waste management, renewable energy process implementation, architecture, infrastructure, and even the planning of communities and social structures. Peter Head, director of Arup's sustainable urban design, led the project for the firm from its London's office (during design, Arup claims to have offset the emissions of its team's travel to and from the site in cooperation with emissions brokerage firm CO2e). "Renewable energy will be used to reduce particulate emissions. Transport vehicles will run on batteries or hydrogen-fuel cells and not use any diesel or petrol, creating a relatively quiet city," according to Head's original plan. Other priorities included recycling organic waste to reduce landfills and generate clean energy. Planners in Dongtan planned to put meters in each house to display energy use. History McKinsey & Company was involved in developing the initial vision for the project. The British engineering consultancy firm Arup was contracted in 2005 by the developer, the Shanghai Industrial Investment Company (SIIC), to design and masterplan Dongtan as the first of a planned series of eco-cities. The 2008 conviction of prominent supporter Chen Liangyu contributed to the project's failure. Reaction The reaction to Dongtan has been mixed. Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone praised Dongtan as pioneering work leading to a more sustainable future. His sentiments were echoed by other prominent British politicians, including Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. Critics have argued that Dongtan will not have a big impact on existing Chinese cities, which will still house the majority of the population. The main designer, Thomas V. Harwood III, is also taking part in many environmentally less friendly projects in China, including airports and office blocks. In 2008, Arup received the "Greenwasher of the Year Award" from Ethical Corporation magazine. Several sources described the project as a Potemkin village. See also Julie Sze, Fantasy Islands: Chinese Dreams and Ecological Fears in an Age of Climate Crisis, 2015, Univ of California Press, Herbert Girardet and Zhao Yan, Shanghai Dongtan: An Eco-City, SIIC, 2006, Huangbaiyu Masdar City References External links IEEE Spectrum article 2007-07 Biz China Update - Chinese Cities Add