The Sixth International High-Level Forum on Sustainable Urban Development
Remarks by Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China (pre-recorded)
A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube and Tencent Video
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I want to thank Mr. Gao Guoli, Director General of the China Center for Urban Development, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and Mr. Bruno Dercon, Officer in Charge of the Regional Office for Asia and Pacific of UN-Habitat, for the invitation to address this forum and explore urban pathways to carbon neutrality.
As we begin to leave the pandemic behind, we are faced with several challenges that run the risk of further slowing our momentum towards sustainable development. Many parts of the world continue to experience food and energy shortages, leading to high prices and increasing food insecurity. In addition, we are witnessing the intensifying impacts of climate change, with more frequent and more extreme weather events, along with rising geopolitical tensions globally.
Cities can help to solve some of these challenges, but also face their own challenges due to the rapid pace of urbanization we have experienced. Today, over 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas – about 4.4 billion people, and by 2045, the world’s urban population will increase by almost 50% to around 6 billion people. A significant portion of this increase is the result of forced displacement, either due to the impact of climate change or conflicts. This expanding population will place additional stress on local governments, as cities will need to provide essential services, infrastructure, and affordable housing for these new inhabitants, requiring solid urban planning in order to avoid uncontrolled and disorganized urban sprawl, which would have detrimental impacts on cities’ environmental sustainability. Given the rapid rate of urbanization, we expect and the complex and interconnected challenges this will create, city leaders will need new tools and partnerships to tackle these challenges effectively.
In the past decades, China has experienced rapid urbanization and will likely continue to see further urbanization in the coming decades, as will the rest of the world. China has taken important steps to ensure this urbanization follows a green and low-carbon model, having announced commitments for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. In addition, China has identified a green and low-carbon economy and society as a high priority in the 20th National Party Congress Report.
Realizing these commitments will be crucial for the health of China and our planet. While China is a global leader in green technology, such as wind and solar power and electric vehicles, China is also the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter and importer of natural resources. China must realize its commitments to carbon neutrality and move towards a less resource-intensive economic model in order to guarantee that both China and the world avoid the worst impacts of climate change. This can also help to decouple resource consumption from economic growth, a key goal in making our production and consumption patterns more sustainable.
Reaching these goals is achievable, but will be challenging, and will require high levels of investment and partnerships with the private sector and other parts of society. The UN in China stands ready to provide expertise and technical assistance in support of the policy and structural changes needed for China to achieve its climate and environmental goals –one of the three strategic priorities under the 2021-2025 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for China.
Over the past decade, the United Nations in China has been working closely with Chinese partners on programs committed to improving urban public spaces, developing green and low-carbon cities, fostering urban renewal, supporting sustainable urban planning and design, promoting the Healthy and Child-friendly city, all in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda.
For example, the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) has brought together UNEP, UNDP, ILO, and UNIDO, along with the UN Institute for Training and Research, to provide policy advice, assessments, capacity building and analytical tools to support China’s transition to an Inclusive Green Economy. Since 2015, PAGE has supported Jiangsu Province in developing macro-level green economy policy, sectoral policy advisory services in green industrial development, green jobs, and green trade.
In addition, several UN agencies, including UN-Habitat and WHO, supported the NDRC in establishing an Alliance that provides opportunities for high-quality exchange and delivers high-quality research outcomes to develop projects that support SDG achievement in cities and urban areas. The model for this Alliance is to develop working groups comprised of a department of NDRC, a city and an international organization. Here in Chengdu, UN-Habitat, with the International Division of NDRC and Chengdu municipal government, has established a Livable Cities Working Group to implement substantive workshops and meetings, and to build an exchange platform for governments, cities and private sectors under the Alliance.
These are a few examples of our work to support China’s sustainable urban development agenda, but more remains to be done. We must recognize the complexity of city-driven dynamics and increase interest and focus on urban issues. A new narrative of sustainable urban development must become central to global policymaking if we hope to respond to the most pressing social and environmental challenges adequately.
Achieving a resilient, green, and low-carbon economy requires immediate action and efforts from all at the international, regional, local, and individual level. It will take a concerted, coordinated national effort for China to achieve carbon neutrality, requiring decisive policy support, industry reform, and public awareness and support.
The UN in China will continue to support the Government of China by providing our technical expertise, to accelerate progress towards a greener and more sustainable future.
I wish you great success during the deliberations at the Forum today and look forward to hearing about the key outcomes from the event.
Thank you.