(Yicai) Oct. 30 -- Qata’s Doha, Finland’s Espoo and eight other metropolises from around the world have been specially commended at the first Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award, for their contributions towards paving the way for a green future.

Doha was recognized for developing in an orderly manner by promoting environmentally friendly travel, dealing with climate change and finding natural solutions for the pressure on water resources at the awards ceremony held at the 2023 World Cities Day China Observance in Shanghai on Oct. 28.  And Espoo in Finland was acknowledged for adopting multiple criteria in the fields of economics, ecology, culture and society to evaluate sustainable development.

Apart from the five winners, 10 cities out of the 54 that applied for the award, which is jointly sponsored by the United National Human Settlements Programme and the Shanghai municipal government, were honored for providing noteworthy lessons for the sustainable development of cities.

Dammam, a hub of the petroleum industry in Saudi Arabia, has advanced development of the green city from multiple respects such as innovative energy-related policies, planning of the smart city as well as management of the environment and resources, the organizers said.

Brazzaville, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Congo, is developing urban forestry, building systems that recover sewage and sludge and setting up a household waste recycling system that can be used in farming. While Colombia’s Barranquilla is encouraging citizens to take part in ecological and environmental protection in order to spur the city’s development into a “BiodiverCity.”

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, has formulated a comprehensive and sustainable action plan while South Africa’s Johannesburg has evaluated the pros and cons of the city’s sustainable development via an indicator tracking platform.

Thailand’s Bangkok is building itself into a liveable city where residents have the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process regarding the city’s development. And Cambodia’s Sihanouk has numerous schemes for the city's sustainable development.

Most Sustainable Cities

China’s Fuzhou, Australia’s Brisbane, Uganda’s Kampala, Malaysia’s George Town, and Brazil’s Salvador won the Shanghai Award for their outstanding role in adopting the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and New Urban Agenda and making significant progress in economic vitality, ecological construction, urban safety and sustainable development.

Fuzhou in southeastern Fujian province was recognized for its implementation of an urban water system governance project and success in managing a complicated river ecological system. While Brazil’s Salvador was commended for its implementation of a series of targeted measures to deal with climate change according to its unique terrain and coastline. 

Australia’s Brisbane was rewarded for its integrated data, city planning, sound financial and economic model as well as social and institutional innovations that formulate strategies to cope with the constantly growing population in the city.

George Town in Malaysia was recognized for the results achieved through its climate adaptation plan, highly effective financing mechanism, innovative technical means as well as smart solutions. While Kampala, the capital of Uganda, was honored for its forward-looking schemes about the metropolis' sustainable development from multiple perspectives.

Editor: Kim Taylor