Awarding Ceremony of the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cites

On the afternoon of October 28^th, 2023, the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Cities Day China Observance took place on the North Bund in Shanghai, where the inaugural Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (known as the “Shanghai Award”) was presented on-site. Five cities, including Salvador in Brazil, Kampala in Uganda, Brisbane in Australia, George Town in Penang, Malaysia, and Fuzhou in China, were recipients of this award.

The international jury highly commended the five winning cities. As the only two Chinese experts on the international jury, Mr. Shi Nan, Executive Vice-president and Secretary General of UPSC, and Mr. Wu Zhiqiang, President of the Supervisory Board of UPSC, expressed pride and honor at Fuzhou's achievement of this United Nations award.

The Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) is an international prize jointly established by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the city of Shanghai. The award aims to promote the implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially the Sustainable Development Goals. It seeks to advance the localization of the New Urban Agenda globally, actively respond to global development initiatives, recognize cities that provide comprehensive solutions in sustainable development, and serve as a platform for implementing the key areas of work and flagship projects of UN-Habitat, as well as the global urban monitoring framework.

Salvador, Brazil proposes a coordinated, goal-oriented approach, emphasizes on the protection of women’s rights and cultural heritage, and forms a number of replicable urban development experiences.

Kampala, Uganda achieves significant progress through actions based on innovative programs in the areas of road safety and connectivity, urban air quality improvement, green financing, and renewable energy utilization. 

Brisbane, Australia represents a people-centered, innovative city by creatively combining data, technology, urban planning, robust financial and economic models with social system. 

George Town, Penang, Malaysia implements a nature-based climate adaptation plan, an efficient financing mechanism, innovative technological tools and intelligent solutions to achieve sustainable development in a holistic way.

Fuzhou, China focuses on the sustainable development strategy of green economy and digital economy, innovatively implements the urban water system management project, and builds itself to be a green, low-carbon and eco-friendly garden.

Source: <https://www.planning.org.cn/news/view?id=14716&cid=12> 

Translated by He Huiling