Chengdu hosts regional UrbanShift Academy to help cities shape climate goals
As national governments are preparing their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions, their success depends heavily on actions taken at the local level.
Smart Seoul: How the city is cultivating a tech push through urban farming and wildfire detection
From subway-grown vegetables to instant wildfire alerts, Seoul, Republic of Korea, is making AI work in everyday life.
Green today, thriving tomorrow: Seoul’s eco-urban blueprint
The Seoul Metropolitan Government, Republic of Korea, has implemented a comprehensive set of ambitious initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a particular focus on transportation and building efficiency.
Air quality Circular Development East Asia Procurement Resource access Resource security Zero emission Development
What does an ecological civilization look like? China’s Guiyang City is showing the way
With lush forests, clean air, and a fast-growing green economy, Guiyang is proving that cities can thrive without costing the Earth. On 5–6 July, urban leaders will gather here for the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference to promote harmony between humans and nature, a journey that Guiyang has proudly led for years
Small but mighty: Shimokawa, Japan’s successful circular economy
Shimokawa Town in Hokkaido is the smallest member of ICLEI Japan. Rich in forest resources, it has become a model…
The beginning of the end of plastics pollution, what does this mean for the Republic of Korea Cities?
The Republic of Korea hosted INC-5, bringing national governments together to forge a global treaty to end plastic pollution. This initiative began at the 2022 UN Environment Assembly with the adoption of Resolution 5.14 titled: End Plastic Pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument.
How New Taipei City’s E-House Program is pioneering nearly zero-carbon communities through public-private collaboration
Aiming for net-zero emissions in 2050, the largest city on the island of Taiwan has successfully implemented several initiatives, like its “Energy-Saving E-House Program,” the region’s first-ever housing energy-saving initiative engaging private stakeholders from the real estate sector and local communities.
Rainwater utilization as a key to enhancing urban resilience by Sumida City, Japan
As the impacts of climate change become increasingly apparent, concerns over the rising risks of urban flooding and water scarcity…
Building the legal backbone for net-zero cities: Insights from COP29’s Korea Pavilion
At COP29, this session at the Korea Pavilion presented how to build net-zero cities through legal innovation and citizen engagement.
Saitama City brings the G7 to COP29
Despite cities being home to the majority of G7 citizens, local governments are not yet systematically consulted by national governments on critical decisions affecting their communities. The Urban7 (U7) is seeking to change that within the G7 group of countries.
Local government representation in international fora doesn’t end with the United Nations agendas, such as the Climate COPs. Local and regional governments are advocating for representation – especially with regards to sustainable development objectives – on multiple fronts, including the G7, G20 and other multilateral platforms.
The Biotopes of Kobe and Toyota, Japan: Urban Lessons from Satoyama (border lands) and Wetlands
Satoyama – the Japanese term for the border zone or area between mountain foothills and arable flat land – and wetlands are valuable ecosystems that are home to a diverse range of living organisms.
Launch of the Tokyo nature-based solutions action
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are one of several targets in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity held in December 2022.