The guidebook also states that social and economic dimensions should be taken into account and harmonized with urban design methodologies and goals.

Zhao Jianzhi, deputy division chief at the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, said the bureau was pleased to share some of their practices and experiences on environmental protection and low carbon development in Shanghai.

As a rapidly growing metropolitan city, Zhao said Shanghai is facing tremendous challenges in balancing economic growth and environmental protection, hence adopting low carbon development has been an effective approach towards solving these challenges.

He said Shanghai attaches great importance to renewable energy development.

"We have built the largest offshore windmill in Asia with a capacity of 100 megawatts which could provide clean energy for more than 200,000 households," Zhao said.

He said Shanghai is also promoting green commuting aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Towards that end, he said, they have built a two-transit network of more than 700 km,which can transport more than 10 million passengers daily.

Dai Jie, an engineer at the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, said renewable energy plays a significant role in Chongming district's low carbon development.

She said more than 25 percent of Chongming's electrical consumption comes from renewable energy.

Dai added that optimization of economic structure and strong promotion of energy saving,with strict control of energy development and emission-intensified industries has brought good results.

"In 2016, energy consumption by local industries was 19 percent lower than 2011. We are determined to continue exploring and innovating the pattern of integrating economy, social livelihood and ecological environment. We intend to build Chongming district into a world class ecological island," she said.