A comparative analysis of climate friendly neighbourhoods in China and Norway: Insights on approaches, practices and policies from four case studies

Climate friendly neighbourhoods such as positive energy districts and zero emission and sustainable plus energy neighbourhoods aim to significantly reduce the environmental impact of urban areas by achieving higher levels of sustainability, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Based on a questionnaire survey, this study analyses and compares four selected cases from China and Norway, providing a detailed description of commonalities and differences between them. Additionally, the study highlights current gaps in both countries’ regulations and proposes and discusses updates. The results show that the commonalities include the widespread use of photovoltaic systems and heat pumps, and the main difference is the use of building materials, with concrete in China and timber in Norway. From the selected cases it was found that both countries face challenges in integrating mobility considerations and citizen engagement in the planning of climate friendly neighbourhoods. Recommendations for future policy enhancements include the introduction of mandatory zero-carbon building codes, standards for circular economy practices, and financial incentives for deep retrofitting in order to speed up the decarbonisation of the building sector. The study also underscores the need for consistent definitions and regulations for climate friendly neighbourhoods and related concepts to streamline implementation and enhance credibility. Enhanced international cooperation and knowledge exchange are vital for global climate goals, with Norway and China offering valuable lessons in the pursuit of sustainable urban development.