Shanghai helps create global rating system for cities

Shanghai released an index system on Sunday to assist global officials in evaluating achievements and challenges in city-level sustainable development and adjusting city governance priorities.

Jointly developed by the municipal government, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the system, based on the Global Urban Monitoring Framework by the UN program, considers economy, society, environment, culture and governance.

The system also takes into account four sub-goals covered in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: safety and peace, inclusiveness, disaster resilience and sustainability.

The system was unveiled at the opening ceremony of the national observance of World Cities Day in China, which was held in Shanghai on Sunday.

Themed on adapting cities to become climate resilient, the event was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Shanghai government and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. It aimed to encourage effective climate conservation practices at national and local levels by sharing solutions.

Global experts in ecological conservation and government officials shared their insights on the theme.

Housing Minister Wang Menghui said the country has been upgrading urban ecological infrastructure and accelerating 5G infrastructure and public services.

Mohan Munasinghe, former vice-chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said in his video message that China has helped humanity achieve a synthesis of civilizations and sustainable development, especially in poorer countries, through strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

China has also played a key role in digital technology leadership and open trade, Munasinghe added.

However, in terms of ecological protection, Wang Kai, head of the China Urban Planning Research Institute, said while rapid urbanization has improved people's living environment, it has also brought about challenges such as excessive consumption of land resources, energy consumption and increased carbon emissions.

According to Wang, data shows that from 2000 to 2018, China's carbon emissions increased by 11.6 percent annually.

The current urbanization level domestically is 63 percent, and that number is expected to increase to 75 percent in 2035, Wang added.

"It's urgent for cities to apply carbon reduction technology, optimize city structures and restore ecology to create an ecosystem in which humans and nature coexist harmoniously," he added.

In addition, Wang stressed green development should be adaptive to local conditions, covering different regions' developmental stages, geological characteristics, economic development and different carbon emission structures.

"At the same time, maintaining the balance between increasing people's happiness in life and carbon emissions reduction is crucial," he added.