UN-Habitat and China host 6th Chengdu Forum

Chengdu, China 24 May 2023 – Mayors, scholars, experts, and representatives from the Chinese Government, international organisations, and the private sector met at the 6th Chengdu Forum where they explored transformative pathways and modalities for cooperation on global and local climate actions to achieve green, low-carbon, and sustainable urban development.

The Forum was organized by UN-Habitat, the China Center for Urban Development (CCUD), and the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government. 

Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat made the opening remark. She encouraged policymakers at all levels to recognize and support the role of urban areas in the net zero transition and gave affirmation to Chengdu as a park city. Chengdu has systematically developed a series of low-carbon actions, encompassing sectors including industry, energy, environment, transportation, consumption, and government. 

In his opening remarks, Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, committed that the United Nations in China will continue to support the Government of China by providing technical expertise in support of a greener and more sustainable future. 

Yang Yinkai, Member of the CPC Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) gave a welcoming address, appealing to  Chengdu to continue to explore the pathways to green and low-carbon development through an efficient and fit-for-purpose governance system while widely engaging in international collaboration.

Two reports were released during the Plenary session. UN-Habitat China introduced the Future Cities Advisory Outlook. CCUD and the Energy Foundation China released its Case Studies on Low-carbon City Development. 

Three parallel sessions were held focusing on Green and Low-Carbon Industrial Development, Urban Spatial Development, and Transportation Structure Development. Meanwhile, the Belt and Road Sustainable Cities Alliance Conference was held. 

The International High-Level Forum on Sustainable Urban Development has been convened annually as part of commitments made under the Action Plan on Jointly Promoting the Construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. This Action Plan was agreed in 2019 between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and UN-Habitat. The conferences have so far reached out to more than 50 city mayors from China and abroad, as well as to over 40 international organizations and 140 major companies.