UN-Habitat Summarises Sustainable Urban Development at 4th Shanghai Award in Fuzhou
UN-Habitat held a seminar to exchange sustainable urban development approaches on the occasion of the 4th Shanghai Award announcement in Fuzhou on 1 November.
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, or UN-Habitat, together with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Management, organised a special seminar on the occasion of the 4th Shanghai Award conference in Fuzhou, in eastern China, on 1 November. The event was held under the theme Transforming Cities for Sustainable Urban Development: Voices of Shanghai Award Cities to serve as an international platform for exchanging knowledge on sustainable urban development. At the event, delegations from various cities and international experts joined to share practical approaches to urban management in preparation for future changes.
Global Cooperation and the 5 Model Cities Winning the 4th Shanghai Award
The Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, or Shanghai Award, was established through cooperation between UN-Habitat and China to promote approaches for improving quality of life and the urban environment. For the 4th award announcement, a total of 5 cities from various regions around the world were selected to receive the award, and representatives from the city of Palu, Indonesia, also joined the panel discussion to exchange experiences on this occasion.
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Jingdezhen, China
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Santiago de Cali, Colombia
- Katowice, Poland
Discussion Topics and Driving the Sustainable Development Goals
The discussion focused on sharing local practices alongside building international cooperation to advance urban development. Representatives from each city presented their direct experiences in innovative policies, inclusive urban regeneration that allows participation from all sectors, and infrastructure development prepared to cope with change. In addition, there was an exchange of effective urban management approaches aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, particularly Target 11.a.
At the event, mayors from the winning and finalist cities of the 4th Shanghai Award joined to exchange visions with a panel of international experts. In addition, representatives from UN-Habitat headquarters and regional offices, senior officials from China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, a delegation from Shanghai, as well as representatives from higher education institutions and research organisations attended the event. The forum therefore served as an important mechanism for translating lessons learned from best practices into practical action to build safe, inclusive and sustainable cities.
Key Information on the 4th Shanghai Award Seminar
The special seminar in Fuzhou represents a significant step forward in connecting city networks worldwide. Details of the event are summarised in the table below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Seminar Name | Special Seminar on the Occasion of the 4th Shanghai Award Conference |
| Main Theme | Transforming Cities for Sustainable Urban Development: Voices of Shanghai Award Cities |
| Event Date | 1 November |
| Venue | Fuzhou, eastern China |
| Organisers | UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Management |
| Related Goals | United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 and Target 11.a |
This urban development update is of interest to event organisers and international conference professionals seeking to follow the sustainability approaches of model cities for event planning. Meanwhile, hotel professionals can study the direction of urban infrastructure development to prepare for accommodating international travellers, while tourists interested in sustainable travel can learn about trends in developing safe cities ready to welcome visitors in the future.