Recently, the annual meeting for the Global Environment Facility’s Seventh Phase (GEF7) “Green and Carbon Neutral Cities Project” took place in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Organized by the World Bank and the China Center for Urban Development, and supported by the Eco-City Association for Local Sustainable Development, the event brought together representatives and scholars from various cities both domestically and internationally.
The format of this year’s meeting included a combination of discussions and site visits. Participants from cities such as Chongqing, Chengdu, Ningbo, Beijing, Guiyang, Nanchang, Turku in Finland, Sabah in Malaysia, and Pakse in Laos gathered to share insights on urban resilience, low-carbon development, nature-based urban renewal solutions, and green finance for sustainable urban initiatives. The main goal was to collaboratively explore effective pathways for green, low-carbon urban development.
During the technical exchange session, representatives from the China Center for Urban Development, as well as project offices from Chongqing, Chengdu, and Ningbo, reported on the latest developments in their projects. They focused on two key themes: “Pilot Programs for Low-Carbon Communities and Street Upgrades” and “Nature-Based Solutions and Urban Biodiversity Initiatives.” Notably, the session highlighted Ningbo’s progress in developing a dual carbon building platform and engaged in in-depth discussions on project performance indicators. Wang Xuemeng, a senior urban expert from the World Bank, provided insightful commentary on the ongoing projects. A noteworthy addition to the GEF7 initiative was the official launch of the “China Sustainable Cities Platform” (CSCP) website during the meeting.
Two thematic discussions were held throughout the event, focusing on the role of green finance in supporting sustainable urban development and the pursuit of low-carbon urban resilience. International city representatives and experts delved into the pathways and challenges associated with sustainable urban development.
In the workshop titled “Green Finance Supporting Urban Sustainable Development,” prominent figures such as Dong Wengyan from the World Bank’s China office, Tang Dingding, Chair of the Green Trade and Investment Committee of the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, and Yang Shangbao, former second-level inspector at the National Development and Reform Commission, engaged in thorough discussions on how to effectively leverage green finance to drive sustainable urban development and establish a fair, efficient, and vibrant carbon market.
The “Human-Centered Approach to Advancing Urban Resilience and Low-Carbon Development” workshop featured speakers like Zhu Shu, Director of the East Asia Secretariat of the Eco-City Association, Luo Wei, Deputy Director of the Wuhan Ecological Environment Bureau, Risto Vihava from Turku, Hong Kong Red Cross Community Disaster Preparedness Service’s Deputy Manager Ke Yongmin, and Shagdasuren from UN-Habitat. They exchanged experiences and cases from various cities regarding carbon-neutral climate action and nature-based solutions to enhance urban resilience and biodiversity protection.
Attendees also participated in guided tours of Wuhan’s automotive and intelligent manufacturing sectors, electronic information industry, and ecological governance initiatives. This offered them a closer look at Wuhan’s dynamic practices in collaboratively advancing efforts to reduce emissions, cut pollution, expand green spaces, and promote sustainable growth.
