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2019 ANNUAL REPORT

ICLEI EAST ASIA SECRETARIAT CONTENTS FOREWORD

3 Foreword As a global network, ICLEI embodies the diversity of the urban world, and the challenges and opportunities it presents us. Following the five interconnected 4 About ICLEI pathways for sustainability, city and regional leaders across ICLEI are scaling up ambition and setting priorities to confront the impacts of rapid urbanization 5 Governance and demographic change, climate and environmental crisis, and a range of development challenges.

6 Activities Overview Reviewing 2019, ICLEI East Asia has expanded partnerships with local governments and institutions, and continued to deliver projects and programs 8 2019 Highlight which are tailored to local needs. 10 Programs & Activities To support cities and regions around the world going beyond the linear take- Shu Zhu make-dispose extractive industrial model, we led the launch of the Green Regional Director & Circular Cities Coalition in August, bringing together local governments from ICLEI–LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY 26 Strategic Development Representative East Asia and to consolidate their efforts in transitioning towards a low- ICLEI East Asia Secretariat eastasia.iclei.org 27 Knowledge Sharing carbon and circular economy. We have also facilitated our Members to exchange policies and practices on waste management with their local government peers East Asia Secretariat through study tours. 14/F, Seoul Global Center Building, 38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03188 Like previous years, we continued carrying out research projects, delivering capacity building activities, and facilitating cities’ engagement in international Tel. +82–2–3789–0496 Fax. +82–2–3789–0497 E-mail. [email protected] events related to clean air actions via East Asia Clean Air Cities, the inter-city collaboration network launched in 2016 for regular knowledge exchange.

Beijing Office ICLEI East Asia also expanded our work with Ulaanbaatar in improving building R1010, Xiaoyun Center B, 15 Xiaguangli, efficiency. Together with our partners, we supported the city to kick off the Chaoyang , , China, 100125 Building Efficiency Accelerator Deep Dive Program in March, which provided an Tel. +86-10-57125289 WeChat. ICLEI_China opportunity for the Municipality to publicly communicates its commitment to E-mail. [email protected] pursuing building efficiency actions, as well as to contribute towards the national goals to reduce energy demand and ultimately to reduce emissions.

In the run-up to the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological © 2020 ICLEI East Asia Secretariat. All rights reserved. Diversity (COP15), we co-hosted two events in Beijing, providing platforms for The material of this publication is copyrighted. local governments and relevant stakeholders in Asia and Europe to prepare for a Requests to reproduce the material, in part or in full, consolidated local and subnational government voice on urban biodiversity and should be in writing to the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat. nature-based solutions for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

Cover Photo Credit / Yuting Chang Last, but not least, together with UNDRR ONEA-GETI, we coordinated a series of training on integrating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction to cities in China. In 2020, we will continue to work with individual adaptation ICLEI East Asia is generously supported by: pilot cities in the country, to enhance their capacities in developing and implementing integrated climate adaptation plans.

Cities of ICLEI are leading the way towards global sustainability. ICLEI East Asia is committed to accelerating these efforts with work that starts on the ground, across the region. With the five ICLEI pathways as a guidance, we will continue to support local and subnational governments in the region to design integrated WeChat solutions and scale up sustainable urban development.

ICLEI East Asia

2 3 ABOUT US GOVERNANCE

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is Membership ICLEI Council a global network of more than 1,750 local and ICLEI GexCom Leadership regional governments committed to sustainable Globally, ICLEI Membership has grown to more than ICLEI is democratically governed by our Members urban development. Active in 100+ countries, we 1750 cities, towns and regions in 124 countries through the ICLEI Council ‑ the overarching influence sustainability policy and drive local action worldwide since 1990. By the end of 2019, 99 local decision making and guiding body. The Council for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient governments have joined the global network through approves the ICLEI Strategic Plan with a 6-year and circular development. Our Members and team the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat. scope and has the sole power to amend the Charter of experts work together through peer exchange, and elects the Global Executive Committees ‑ the President FIRST Vice President Ashok Sridharan Cathy Oke partnerships and capacity building to create systemic GexCom ‑ portfolio seats. Mayor | Bonn, Germany Councillor | Melbourne, Australia New Member change for urban sustainability. Chaired by elected President and Vice Presidents, , the capital city of Province, and a the GexCom is composed of up to 6 appointed state-approved industrial base in Northeast China, Members and Representatives from the 9 Regional has the ambition to become a hub of sustainable Executive Committees ‑ the RexComs ‑ and development in the Northeast Asian region. represents ICLEI towards international institutions Vice President Vice President ICLEI East Asia Secretariat Changchun joined ICLEI’s Green Circular Cities and has the authority to make strategic decisions Stephany Uy-Tan Frank Cownie Mayor | Catbalogan, Philippines Mayor | Des Moines, US Coalition (see page 17) in 2019, seeking to re- concerning the organization. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, ICLEI utilize its advantages in technologies into resources East Asia has developed local and regional programs circulation industrial parks, and to explore advanced and exchange platforms to accelerate sustainable practices on circular economy via the Coalition. The and low carbon development in the region, including city looks forward to advancing its urban sustainable ICLEI East Asia RexCom East Asia Clean Air Cities, the Green Circular Cities development international cooperation and experience ICLEI East Asia RexCom Coalition, Urban Resilience, and Procura+ East sharing through ICLEI. Asia. By providing technical consulting, training and The 2019 ICLEI East Asia Regional Committee information services to build capacity and share is a leading global financial center and Meeting was held in Seoul, South Korea. RexCom knowledge, we support local government Members in a cosmopolitan city where East meets West. To members, advisors and ICLEI offices had an Chair Vice Chair China, Chinese , , Korea, and Mongolia in explore sustainable solutions for waste management intensive meeting on the development progress, Daisaku Kadokawa Tae Woong Kang strategies and opportunities of the global network Mayor | Kyoto, Japan Vice Mayor | Seoul, Korea pursuing sustainable urban development. (see page 18), as well as to extend its effort in urban Green, Circular & Air Quality Improvement & sustainability, Hong Kong joined ICLEI in 2019, hoping in the region. The members reached an agreement Resource-efficient Economy Regional Cooperation To further extend our support to Chinese cities, ICLEI to exchange technical information and learn from the to foster active exchange within the region, East Asia opened the Beijing Office in March 2018. experiences of other cities around the world through encourage participation of sister/partner cities in the global network. the network, expand regional projects and extend engagement of cities from the East Asian Region.

As the meeting was held concurrently with the 3rd Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan Shu-chuan Lee Governor & Mayor Deputy Mayor Seoul Mayors Forum on Climate Change, all ICLEI Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei Low Carbon & Climate Change Mitigation Resilience & Climate Adaptation city representatives in the region also participated in the Forum as speakers, to maximize the opportunity of sharing their city’s commitment to tackling climate change.

The 2018-2021 term of ICLEI Governance is due to conclude in 2021. Parallel RexCom elections will be Tae-Young Yeom Advisory Member Mayor | Suwon, Korea Pro. Hironori Hamanaka rolled out in all nine ICLEI regions in 2020. GexCom East Asia Seat Chair | ICLEI Japan Sustainable Urban Mobility

Advisory Member Changchun Hong Kong Alex Zhang Director | Eco-Forum Global © Pixabay © Pixabay GexCom Member 4 5 ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW

JAN DEC

12.2–12.13 | Madrid, Spain AUG De-carbonization and SDGs Localization: FEB Challenge of Local Governments to JUL 8.22–8.23 | Kaili, China Circulating and Ecological Economy Cities SHIFT Project Kaili Onsite Assessment UNFCCC COP25 • Japan Pavilion 7.8-7.9 | Beijing, China 2019 Beijing International Forum on 8.27-8.28 | , China Metropolitan Clean Air Actions Cities SHIFT Project Foshan Onsite Assessment NOV MAR 7.15-7.17 | , China 8.29-8.30| , China Belt and Road Sustainable Cities Alliance Roundtable Green Circular Cities Coalition Official Launch rd & First Member Meeting 3.9| Nairobi, Kenya 3 High-Level International Forum on Sustainable Urban Development “A Reivew of 20 Years’ Air Pollution Circular Development and Pairs Agreement: Control in Beijing” Luanch 7.18 | Beijing, China the Role of Cities Roundtable on Urban Biodiversity Actions: 7th Shenzhen International Low Carbon City Forum 3.27 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Local and Subnational Governments’ Building Efficiency Accelerator Deep Dive Biodiversity Practices and the Road to Post-2020 Engagement Ulaanbaatar Kickoff Workshop 7.22-7.24 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia GGGI-ICLEI ”Energy Performance Contracting for Residential Buildings Retrofitting” Project SEP APR Onsite Assessment with NAMA Facility

4.15-4.17 | New Delhi, 7.29-7.31 | Seoul, South Korea 9.1-9.8 | Seoul, South Korea OCT Resilient Cities Asia-Pacifittc 2019 Hong Kong Food Waste Policy Study Tour in Seoul ICLEI–SHRDC Capacity Building for ACP Cities

4.23-4.24 | Kaili, China 9.10| , China 10.15-10.17 | Paris, France + Cities SHIFT Project Kaili Kickoff Meeting International Conference on Urban Green AUTONOMY-ICLEI EcoMobility Days 2019 Logistics 10.24–10.25 | Seoul, South Korea JUN Aligning Urban & Transport Planning for Inclusive, 3rd Seoul Mayors Forum on Climate Change Clean & Sustainable Mobility Workshop 6.5 | Xi’an, China th 6 China (Lianyungang) International Logistics Expo 10.25 | Seoul, South Korea CELVER Cities Chinese Research Kickoff MAY 2019 ICLEI East Asia RexCom Meeting 9.23 | Seoul, South Korea 6.10–6.14 | London, UK 5.13–5.14 | Foshan, China International Urban Resilience Forum Seoul 2019 Chinese Cities Study Tour 10.29 | Beijing, China Cities SHIFT Project Foshan Kickoff Meeting Circular Economy Week London 2019 Consultation on the Role of Subnational Governments, Urban Ecosystems and Nature-Based 5.19-5.23 | Seoul, South Korea 6.26–6.28 | Bonn, Germany Solutions in the Post-2020 Framework ICLEI-SHRDC Capacity Building for Chinese Cities Towards Urban Climate Resilience in Northeast Asia Resilient Cities 2019 10.31-11.1 | , China 5.22-5.23 | Seoul, South Korea Seoul International Forum on Air Quality ICLEI-UNDRR Resilient Cities Training for Ningbo Improvement 2019 & EACAC Gathering Workshop

6 7 A green circular city regenerates its urban system by designing out waste and the use of 2019 HIGHLIGHT non-renewable resources, keeping products at the highest value throughout lifespans, and Asian & European Cities returning nutrients to the soil for carbon sinks.

Cities account for 70% of global resources and are responsible for 50% of Embarked on Journey towards the world’s waste generation. Yet, today, only 8.6% of the global economy is Circular Development circular, reveals the latest Circularity Gap Report from Circle Economy. Fortunately, businesses and policymakers are recognizing the value of the circular economy approach and material-related consumption and production as a key lever in bridging the 1.5ºC emissions gap ‑ the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement.

To encourage translating this heightened awareness into action ‑ especially at local and regional levels ‑ ICLEI East Asia led the launch of the Green Circular Cities Coalition in August 2019, presenting an opportunity for cities and regions in East Asia and Europe to go beyond the linear take-make-dispose extractive industrial model, and become global leaders in transitioning towards YOKOHAMA a more sustainable environment with improved quality of life. JAPAN The Coalition connects cities with experts, businesses, and relevant stakeholders. Through experience sharing, mutual learning, and technical CHANGCHUN support, together, they work to break away from the mindset of waste CHINA management and shift the focus to material cycles and resource management in integrating carbon neutrality, zero waste and biodiversity goals.

With strong support from the ICLEI World and European Secretariat, and the Japan Office, the Coalition has received the endorsement from 6 local governments of Changchun, (China), Bonn (Germany), Turku (Finland), Nagano Prefecture and Yokohama (Japan), and knowledge partners including the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, TORMA, Circle Economy, etc. Continue TURKU reading on page 17. FINLAND DATONG CHINA

NAGANO PREFECTURE BONN JAPAN GERMANY

The first member meeting of the Green Circular Cities Coalition © ICLEI East Asia

© Shutterstock 8 9 8 PROGRAMS & Activities

In this urban era, cities are centers of opportunity and of how the network drives and scales up sustainable integrated solutions that balance the patterns of prosperity where innovation sparks and takes root. urban development in the swiftly urbanizing world. human life and the built and natural environments. ICLEI EAST ASIA But, at the same time, cities and their surrounding The five ICLEI pathways towardslow emission, ICLEI East Asia incorporates different pathways 2019 MILESTONES regions are also on the front lines of global change. circular, nature-based, resilient and equitable and helps local and regional governments advance Local and regional governments across the ICLEI development are designed to create systemic sustainable urban development. Often, our activities network have recognized the warning signs of global change. They serve as a basis for sustainable urban are guided by a predominant pathway or set of challenges, and have responded through the ICLEI development that considers the complexity of urban pathways. But we design our works to integrate as + Montréal Commitment and Strategic Vision 2018- systems, and provide a framework enabling local and many pathways as possible into any given activity, ENGAGED IN 15 2024, which lays out five interconnected pathways regional governments to think holistically and design such as a project, partnership or initiative. INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL FORUMS

East Asia Clean Air Cities CLEVER Cities

Building Efficiency Accelerator ON-GOING CONNECTING Nature D PROGRAMS & SE LOW 18 BA T D E E- EN EVE M Asia LEDS Partnership PROJECTS FOLLOWING R M LO IS U P P SI THE ICLEI FIVE PATHWAYS T LO M O A E E N Urban Biodiversity & N V N Nature-based Solutions E T D EcoMobility & Green Logistics

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Green Circular Cities Coalition Ambitious City Promises CAPACIY BUILDING &

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N E C E M L U I O L P L I P A S O L M E Resilience Cities Congress R E E R V LOCAL & REGIONAL N E + T D Green Public Procurement 360 OFFICIALS ENHANCED CAPACITY Urban Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience VIA ICLEI EAST ASIA EQ D UITABLE AN PEO D PLE-CENTERE

10 11 Urban Transitions Alliance Urban-Rural Assembly EAST ASIA CLEAN AIR CITIES

Rising air pollution resulting from rapid urbanization and industrialization has made East Asia one of the most polluted regions in the world. LOW EMISSION In response to the urgent need for air quality improvement in the region, local governments from DEVELOPMENT China, South Korea, Japan, and Mongolia announced the East Asia Clean Air Cities (EACAC) initiative in Low emission development curbs 2016, as a regional inter-city cooperation platform for Representatives from 35 local governments gathered at the Seoul International Forum on Air Quality Improvement 2019 © ICLEI East Asia climate change, creates new regular knowledge exchange and capacity building on economic opportunities and clean air actions. improves the health of human and Managed by ICLEI East Asia, EACAC has grown into a natural systems. network of 10 local governments and 12 partners. A series of events, activities and research projects were Beijing Air Quality Management Green Lung for Ulaanbaatar carried out under the framework in 2019. Research Project Urban green spaces are becoming recognized as 12 Activities by ICLEI East Asia ICLEI supported the Beijing Bureau of Ecology and bio-filters that can significantly help to mitigate noise 96 Projects around the World Knowledge exchange & Environment in developing a comparative study on and air pollution in cities. With the long term vision of creating green infrastructure and building a “green Contribute to SDGs International Engagement air quality management in Beijing, California, New York, Paris, Seoul, and Tokyo, as well as a case study lung” of fresh air for Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian EACAC supports its members to showcase and media analysis reports on the city’s air quality Ministry of Environment and Innovation and the their local clean air actions and achievements management. Another 9-month research project Business Development Center of the Mongolia by facilitating their participation in international on the comparison of air pollution control policies University of Life Sciences co-conducted the Green forums and events. between Beijing and Seoul has also kicked off in Lung Project in 2017-2019, with seed funding from EACAC. Like previous years, ICLEI East Asia supported December 2019 under a bilateral agreement. the Seoul Metropolitan Government in organizing Through the project, 1000 tree saplings were planted the Seoul International Forum on Air Quality within households’ fenced areas in the two selected Improvement 2019, which gathered officials of 35 Integrating Air Quality and ger districts of Ulaanbaatar. The project’s final report local governments from the region to share their Climate Planning in Cities in Asia suggests that the residents have broadened their latest achievements and technologies in air quality knowledge on the risks of air pollution and the Air pollution and climate change are two of the most control. 9 out of the 10 EACAC members made importance of greening; nevertheless, to scale up pressing environmental issues confronting cities their way to the Forum to showcase their local the effort city-wide, further capacity building and in Asia. However, with a range of practical actions actions and benchmark their strategies against professional support for citizens is still needed. already existed, there is a huge opportunity for cities peers. An exclusive EACAC Gathering Workshop to advance climate change mitigation while addressing was also hosted back-to-back to the Forum. air pollution with integrated planning. ICLEI East Asia supported the Beijing Bureau Through a one-year project funded by the Climate of Ecology and Environment in organizing Change and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), ICLEI East the 2019 Beijing International Forum for Asia, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Metropolitan Clean Air Actions. Titled “Clean (IGES), and Clean Air Asia are co-developing a training Air and Climate Change,” the Forum provided a program for 3 cities in Asia to incorporate short-lived platform for representatives from Asian, American, BUILDING EFFICIENCY climate pollutants (SLCPs) reductions and climate and European metropolises and international change into policy processes. IN ULAANBAATAR organizations to exchange their insights, experiences and challenges on air quality control. In developing the training curriculum, a preliminary needs assessment group interview was delivered in May, during which representatives from several Mongolia ratified its Intended Nationally Determined Chinese local governments shared the status and Contributions (NDCs) for the Paris Agreement in plans of their local air quality works. Amongst them, 2016, with an overall commitment to reduce 14% of Chengdu has been confirmed as the Chinese project greenhouse gas emissions compared to Business-As- pilot city and will receive exclusive training in 2020. Usual. In particular, the country aims to reduce 40% 12 13 of heat losses from buildings by 2030. municipality, international partners and stakeholders from the energy and building sectors deliberated on ICLEI-SHRDC CAPACITY Since 2017, ICLEI East Asia has been working closely the city’s current district heating system, potential with Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, to support the BUILDING PROGRAM business models for energy performance contracts city in delivering its commitment to improve building on retrofitting projects and the existing gaps, and, efficiency and engagement in a variety of relevant together, developed a shared vision on the building programs and activities. efficiency policy and a practical program work plan. Since 2016, ICLEI East Asia has been co-organizing annual training on urban sustainability for local Under the Deep Dive Program, ICLEI East Asia has government officials in the region with the Seoul been providing Ulaanbaatar dedicated assistance via Building Efficiency Accelerator Human Resource Development Center (SHRDC). a technical advisor staffed in the city department, to Chinese local government officials visited the Seoul Energy Dream Ulaanbaatar joined the Building Efficiency Accelerator This year, the training took place on 19-20 May, and Center through the ICLEI-SHRDC traning program © SHRDC support project implementation and secure financing (BEA) ‑ a public-private collaboration that turns global was tailored specifically for Chinese cities to enhance for thermo-technical residential retrofits. expertise into action to accelerate local government their capacities on climate policies ‑ with a focus on implementation of building efficiency policies under policy measures related to air quality management and Nuclear Safety (BMU) via the International Climate the UN Sustainable Energy for All initiative ‑ in 2017, Energy Performance Contracting smart mobility. Through the training, the participants Initiative (IKI). It supports cities in Southeast Asia in and was selected as for a deep dive program in 2018. for Residential Retrofitting also visited several low-carbon facilities and project adapting the model of inclusive and ambitious climate sites in Seoul to experience how each policy is being A kickoff workshop of the BEA Deep Dive Program action, mainstreaming low emission development The proposal of the “Energy Performance implemented and perceived on the ground and was jointly hosted in March by the Ulaanbaatar strategies, and creating new climate leaders. Contracting for Residential Retrofitting in attended the Seoul International Forum on Air Quality Environmental Department Office, ICLEI East Asia, Ulaanbaatar City” project, co-developed by GGGI Improvement 2019 (see page 12). Under the capacity building pillar of the project, and the World Resource Institute (WRI), with the Mongolia and ICLEI East Asia, has been preliminarily ICLEI East Asia and the Seoul Human Resource assistance of the Global Green Growth Institute shortlisted as a potential project for grant financing Development Center (SHRDC) co-developed a week- (GGGI). On this occasion, representatives from the from the NAMA Facility. The project is developing long training for local officials from Indonesia, the a financing mechanism for the city to retrofit 375 Philippines and Vietnam, to benchmark Seoul’s good residential buildings in the first phase. practices and master strategy on climate change and AMBITIOUS CITY sustainable urban development. With an introduction On 22-24 July, ICLEI East Asia, together with PROMISES led by renowned experts based in Seoul, participating Ulaanbaatar City’s Mayor’s Office, GGGI, and GIZ, officials were updated with the latest information facilitated an on-site mission of the Technical Support on topics including climate, transportation, waste Unit of the NAMA Facility, to verify the initial desk management and citizen engagement. assessment and address specific issues identified. The Inspired by the Promise of Seoul ‑ a comprehensive The project has provided a co-learning platform which project team will further refine the concept proposal climate strategy adopted by the South Korean capital allows cities not only to expand their knowledge but and engage with local stakeholders to increase buy-in. which embodied 10 million residents as equal partners to explore potential collaboration work via regional in shaping and implementing climate action ‑ the cooperation. In particular, with Seoul’s continued Ambitious City Promises project is implemented by support, the three major project cities ‑ Jakarta, Pasig ICLEI and funded by the German Federal Ministry for and Hanoi ‑ will be presenting their first climate policy the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and and action plan in 2020. ASIA LEDS PARTNERSHIP

The Asia Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Partnership is a voluntary regional network comprised of individuals, governmental and non- governmental organizations active in designing, promoting, and/or implementing LEDS.

With ambitious determination to reduce GHGs and air pollution, Mongolia officially joined the Partnership and became one of its steering committee members with the support of ICLEI East Asia. Through the Partnership, Mongolia has been offered opportunities to participate in capacity building and knowledge exchange activities in the region, and was selected for a 3-month deep dive technical assistance on solar © Shutterstock rooftop project in the third quarter of 2019. Site visit to the Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS) © SHRDC 14 15 GREEN CIRCULAR CITIES COALITION

To support cities moving towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and circular economy, ICLEI East Asia led the launch of the Green Circular Cities Coalition during the Shenzhen Low Carbon City Forum on 29 August, presenting an opportunity for cities in East Asia and Europe to

th CIRCULAR become leaders in urban circular transitions. International Conference on Urban Green Logistics hosted during the 6 China (Lianyungang) Silk Road International Logistics Expo © Lianyungang Municipal Government DEVELOPMENT Following the official launch, the Coalition cities and partners had the first work meeting on the agenda for future collaboration. Through identifying challenges and opportunities for its mobility Circular development, together Seoul Mayors Forum the dynamic discussion, the cities found system, and shift towards more ecomobile modes of with new models of production striking similarities in their actions for circular on Climate Change travel, i.e., walking, cycling, shared and public transport. and consumption, builds development and carbon neutrality, despite their With the support of ICLEI East Asia, Kaili and Foshan sustainable societies that differences in terms of socio-cultural context and New City of China participated in the project and use recyclable, sharable and urgent environmental issues at hand. They have completed the EcoMobility SHIFT+ assessment ‑ the replenishing resources to end ICLEI supported the organization of the 2019 also identified their core challenges in wastewater, ICLEI methodology designed for cities to measure their the linear model of “produce, Seoul Mayors Forum on Climate Change, which plastic, food waste, and construction waste, and urban performance and make informed decisions based brought together representatives of 36 cities from consume, discard,” while demonstrated a high level of interest in up-scaling on the areas where improvement is needed. Despite 25 countries to exchange the opportunities and continuing to meet the material circular economy measures and synergizing with having their characteristics drastically different, the two challenges cities face in tackling climate change ‑ and development needs of a existing projects at the regional level. A work cities have both invested significantly in improving its particularly in fast-growing areas across Asia. growing global population. plan was then developed based on the cities’ urban mobility system ‑ particularly leveraging smart joint vision to co-create solutions for unsolved The Forum also saw new Korean signatories to the solutions and clean technologies to electrify its bus fleet challenges and to bridge the knowledge gaps. Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy as a means to curb air pollution. and the release of the Seoul Statement 2019, which Since its launch, the Coalition has gained The cities’ assessments suggest that: (1) national highlighted that as key implementers of climate 5 Activities by ICLEI East Asia exposure in a number of regional and global government’s call for action can foster the introduction of nd actions and first responders to climate impacts, local 22 Projects around the World events, including the 2 International Forum on electric and hydrogen buses at the local level; (2) there is an governments recognize that significant reductions Contribute to SDGs Low Carbon Development for Cities hosted by emphasis on active and shared mobility, but developments in energy consumption and increased production the Asian Development Bank in Seoul. In addition, in new areas are still vehicle-centric; and (3) shared mobility of renewable energy are among the fastest and the Coalition cities have also presented their is disrupting the mobility system and is, to some extent, fundamental ways to address climate change. local actions at the Japan Pavilion session “De- discouraging people from using public transport. carbonization and SDGs Localization: Challenge The project cities were also invited to attend the of Local Governments to achieve circulating AUTONOMY-ICLEI EcoMobility Days 2019 in Paris, to and ecological economy”, co-hosted by the network with their peer cities from around the world and Ministry of Environment of Japan and ICLEI EcoMobility and deliberate on the future of urban mobility. Japan at COP25 ‑ the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference. Green Logistics On the other hand, ICLEI East Asia has also partnered with the Lianyungang Municipal Government in hosting the International Conference on Urban Green Logistics under the framework of the 6th China (Lianyungang) Silk Lack of direct feedback on the effectiveness of the Road International Logistics Expo. Experts from Europe, transport system is one of the common challenges for Australia, India and Uganda were invited to share their city administrations in planning and implementing policy insights on the possibilities and challenges of urban green and solutions. ICLEI’s EcoMobility initiative works with logistics in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. On policymakers to raise awareness, and support cities in this occasion, ICLEI also delivered the capacity building creating and providing sustainable mobility options for all. workshop, titled Aligning“ Urban and Transport Planning Co-funded by the Hewlett Foundation and the for Inclusive, Clean and Sustainable Mobility”, for the EcoMobility Alliance, the “Cities SHIFT: Capacity Lianyungang Municipal Government and associated

Building and Networking for climate- and people- units to introduce planning methods, best practices and Japan Pavilion session at COP25 © ICLEI East Asia Left to right: Shinjiro Koizumi, Environment Minister of Japan; friendly mobility” project is led by ICLEI to assist cities in experiences around the world. Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku; Ashok Sridharan, Mayor of Bonn and ICLEI President 16 17 STUDY on Green Public International Procurement Experiences in PursuING Zero Waste GPP Tender Implementation and Impact Monitoring

In 2019, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of In 2016, ICLEI started the 2-year program “Green China announced a class of cities to pilot the country’s Public Procurement (GPP) Tender Implementation and Zero-Waste City plan. Under this context, ICLEI East Impact Monitoring” under the 10 Year Framework Asia conducted a study for the Ministry’s Foreign Programme on Sustainable Public Procurement Economic Cooperation Office (FECO). The study (10YPF on SPP) to support Chinese and Korean The Hong Kong delegation visited food waste treatment plants equipped with different processing technologies © ICLEI East Asia looked into the legal framework, policy design, vertical local authorities in procuring eco-friendly and and horizontal integration between government innovative products and services, and monitoring departments of Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, its environmental impacts. Amongst the 6 project and Japan in pursuing zero waste, and concluded that jurisdictions, 2 Chinese local governments were alternative solutions from the experiences of other these countries have all shifted from the conventional selected to implement new tender model with ICLEI EXCHANGE AND cities. In July, a delegation from the Hong Kong concept of waste management to a focus on resource East Asia’s direct support. cycles and sustainable material management, with STUDY TOUR Government visited Seoul to examine and benchmark Binhai New Area applied a new set of these concepts having already evolved into regulations the South Korean capital’s food waste policy and specifications, award criteria and verification methods and policies. The outcome of the study was turned advanced practices. Through the study tour facilitated with full life cycle perspective to two procurement into practical recommendations for China to further by ICLEI East Asia, the delegation visited several projects of school desks and chairs in the area. It is upscale the zero-waste city initiative and institutional Chinese cities Study tour to treatment plants equipped with different types of estimated that the tenders have contributed to over reform. london CIrcular economy week processing technology and had intensive conversations 29.61 tons of waste being diverted from landfill, and with various stakeholders, including a Korean national saved around 91.96 tons of CO2e. Co-organized by ICLEI East Asia and the China lawmaker, policy analysts, a grassroots NGO, and Considering the life cycle economic savings and Association of Circular Economy, and funded by the local restaurant owners to learn about Seoul’s food energy efficiency, ShenzhenGuangming District Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Green Circular Cities waste management. The delegation also walked into identified ice-storage air conditioning as the Coalition facilitated two Chinese cities to attend the residential areas to experience how citizens practice nd most suitable product group for embracing green 2 Circular Economy Week London in June 2019. food waste separation and recycling in their daily lives. specifications within the Guangming Culture and Changchun, an ICLEI and a Green Circular Cities Arts Center construction work. Through the project, Coalition member, has the ambition to become a the procurement entity developed an environmental regional hub for sustainable development in Northeast criteria for ice-storage AC with the support of ICLEI Asia. Through the study tour, representatives from and other project partners. It is expected that the Changchun had a fruitful exchange with experts from Center could yield up to 48% electricity bill cut and University College London on possible solutions to 14% carbon emission reduction by balancing energy make mobile phone production more circular. demand between peak and off-peak hours with an On the other hand, the delegation fromFoshan , a city ice-storage AC system, compared to that with a aiming to optimize its municipal waste management conventional system. system, exchanged ideas on waste separation and As the final output of the project, ICLEI East Asia has collection scheme, waste reduction and potential turned the project jurisdictions’ GPP achievements policy instruments with officials of Oxford city. into case studies for global distribution in the first quarter of 2019. hong kong study tour to Seoul

Hong Kong, the new ICLEI Member, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The massive amount of food waste produced every day in the city ‑ accounting for 35% of the municipal solid waste ‑ has become a mounting pressure for the municipality.

To have all food waste properly collected by types from the commercial and industrial sectors by 2026, The Hong Kong delegation walked into neighborhoods to experience the daily Seoul Upcycling Plaza© ICLEI East Asia and citywide by 2030, Hong Kong is actively exploring practice of food waste recycling in Seoul © ICLEI East Asia 18 19 Urban Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions

Cities are home to extraordinary amounts of living species on Earth. Standing on the front lines NATURE-BASED of natural-resource management, actions and decisions made by cities, states and other local and DEVELOPMENT subnational governments can have considerable impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Nature-based development The Roundtable on Urban Biodiversity Actions: Local and Subnational Governments’ Biodiversity Practices and the Road to Post-2020 hosted in Beijing. © ICLEI East Asia The 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention protects and enhances biodiversity on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15), to be held in and urban ecosystems, which , Province of China in 2020, will underpin key aspects of local be a landmark conference on global biodiversity economies and the well-being and conservation. It will review the delivery of the building and exchange mechanism between Chinese resilience of our communities. Convention’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- HORIZON 2020 and European partners. By the end of 2019, ICLEI 2020 and will consider the final draft of the post- East Asia has delivered the draft of SWOT analysis on 2020 global biodiversity framework with a view to Chinese and European nature-based solutions relating adoption, as a follow-up for the next decade. to urban regeneration. 3 Activities by ICLEI East Asia CLEVER CITIES In the run-up to COP15, cities are giving their 19 Projects around the World inputs via consultations, informal and formal Led by Hamburg, London, and Milan, CLEVER Cities Contribute to SDGs CONNECTING NATURE meetings, many of which coordinated by ICLEI. In was launched in 2018 under the Horizon 2020 2019, ICLEI East Asia, together with the German program of the EU, aiming to position nature-based Connecting Nature is a partnership of 31 organizations Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), solutions as a means to drive urban regeneration for co-working with local authorities, communities, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological sustainable and socially inclusive cities across Europe, industry partners, NGOs and academics. Launched Diversity and other partners, co-organized the South America and China. Through exchange between in 2017 under the EU’s Horizon 2020 program, Roundtable on Urban Biodiversity Actions and cities, inclusive collaboration and multi-disciplinary Connecting Nature works with 16 European countries, the Consultation on the Role of Subnational learning, the project structure will ensure that the Brazil, China, Korea, Georgia and Armenia who are Governments, Urban Ecosystems and Nature- urban transformation process is open and tailored to investing in large scale nature-based projects in urban based Solutions in the Post-2020 Framework local needs. settings. respectively in July and October, providing In June 2019, ICLEI East Asia, together with Xi’an Coordinated by ICLEI, in 2019, the project launched platforms for national and local governments, Jiaotong University, Peking University, Tongji University the first phase of the UrbanByNature program ‑ a policy influencers, researchers, and practitioners and the China Center for Urban Development, kicked global capacity-building and expertise-sharing from Asia and Europe to prepare for a consolidated off the Chinese research team for the project. ICLEI program to empower local governments to harness voice for the global biodiversity conversation. East Asia is mainly responsible for components the potential of nature for sustainable urban requiring direct cooperation or synergy between China development. ICLEI East Asia will support the delivery and Europe, including the facilitation of nature-based of UrbanByNature components to Chinese local solutions regional hub in China with several core governments. Chinese cities, and the development of the capacity

© Shutterstock 20 21 RESILIENT ICLEI East Asia and UNDRR jointly hosted the session “Towards Urban Climate Resilience in Northeast Asia” at Resilient Cities 2019 © ICLEI East Asia DEVELOPMENT their achievements at Resilient Cities Asia-Pacifittc Resilient development anticipates, Resilient Cities 2019 ‑ the geographically defined platform created in prevents, absorbs and recovers Congress 2015 as a response to the need for regional dialogues Knowledge Sharing from shocks and stresses, ­‑ in New Delhi. The conference ended with the release Besides events and activities host by the especially those brought about by of the Delhi Call for Action, which reiterated the ICLEI global network, ICLEI East Asia has rapid environmental, technological, commitment of local governments to the SDGs and also shared the experience of working with social and demographic change, the Sendai Framework. When cities and regions were already feeling the local governments in the region, promoting and improves essential basic impacts of climate change back in 2009, the world understanding and recognition of the response structures and functions. failed to reach a meaningful international climate importance of urban resilience at the local agreement at COP15 in Copenhagen. There level, and ICLEI’s methodologies, tools and was no sure path forward, but the need for local Urban Resilience & platforms of urban resilience on various action on resilience was clear. Thus, in 2010, ICLEI occasions, including the International launched the annual Resilience Cities Congress, CLIMATE ADAPTAION Urban Resilience Forum Seoul 2019, the 2 Activities by ICLEI East Asia providing an international platform to share the 2019 China-ASEAN High-level Forum 27 Projects around the World latest knowledge, good practices, challenges and Training Series FOR on Disaster Reduction and Emergency Contribute to SDGs innovations for creating more resilient cities. Chinese CITIES Management, and the 5th Asia-Pacific Energy Sustainable Development Forum. 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of ICLEI’s Resilient Cities Congress series. At Resilient Cities 2019, ICLEI East Asia and UNDRR jointly hosted the session “Towards Urban Climate Resilience in ICLEI East Asia, in collaboration with the United Northeast Asia” and facilitated 4 cities from the Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Office for region ­‑ Ulsan (South Korea), , Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training where improvement can be made. Based on this (China) and Pyongyang (DPRK) ‑ to showcase their Institute (UNDRR ONEA-GETI), is providing a series of result, the participants then set up a set of objectives local practices on resilience and climate change. training to cities in China to strengthen their capacities and corresponding actions in overall coordination on disaster risk reduction, as well as on designing and and management, multi-stakeholder engagement, At the regional level, ICLEI East Asia also supported implementing urban resilience in the context of climate infrastructure, monitoring and early warning systems representatives from Ulaanbaatar to showcase change. for the city.

The training series also intends to assess the cities’ The participants have also agreed that the most urgent status of resilience with the Disaster Resilience need and low-hanging fruits in building a resilient Scorecard for Cities structuring around UNDRR’s Ten Ningbo lie at the improvement of public awareness Essentials for Making Cities Resilient. for disaster risks and response-preparedness skills. Furthermore, the participating officials have also Ningbo was the first city to have received the expressed a high level of interest in successful stories 2-day training, during which 38 participants from and cases of resilient cities around the world, and around 20 different bureaus within the municipality potential actions for air quality improvement, natural jointly completed a preliminary assessment on buffers and ecosystem services in the future. the city’s resilience. Through the assessment, the participants spotted private sector engagement, Three more training workshops will be carried out in non-domestic insurance coverage, identification of other Chinese cities, including Chengdu and Zhuhai in trans-boundary critical environmental assets, and 2020 ICLEI East Asia faciliated local government officials from the East Asia Region to particiate in Resilient Cities 2019 in Bonn, Germany © ICLEI employee engagement channels being the areas 22 23 URBAN-RURAL URBAN TRANSITIONS ALLIANCE ASSEMBLY

Urban transitions empower cities with an industrial legacy to define their own pathways towards more vibrant and sustainable economies, The joint research project ‘Urban-Rural Assembly’ improving their local environment and the lives of residents. aims to build a better understanding of managing Launched in 2017, the Urban Transitions Alliance is managed by inclusive transformation-to-sustainability processes ICLEI and funded by Stiftung Mercator to present an opportunity EQUITABLE at the urban-rural interface of the Huangyan- for industrial and former industrial cities across the world to become Taizhou region in China. Sponsored by the German global leaders in sustainable urban development. The Alliance has AND PEOPLE- Federal Ministry of Education and Research and brought together 12 local governments ‑ including Beijing E-Town, coordinated by Technische Universität Berlin, Beijing Huairou District and Yuhua District ‑ from CENTERED the Sino-German project follows a systematic China, Germany, Poland, Finland and the United States to implement and inter-disciplinary research and development works surrounding the four core thematic areas of energy, mobility, DEVELOPMENT approach. It will cover a wide range of topics, infrastructure and social transition. including social-spatial practices, material cycles, Equitable and people-centered landscapes & spatial typologies, ecosystems, The first phase of the Alliance project concluded in early 2019 when development builds more just, mobility & migration, as well as governance & the cities showcased their achievements in this phase by jointly releasing the “ livable and inclusive urban policies. Urban Transition Alliance Roadmaps: Sustainability Transition Pathways from Industrial Legacy Cities” report. The communities and addresses In the Definition Phase (2019.4‑2020.9) of the second phase of the project was kicked off in July, where the cities poverty. It is inclusive development project, the ICLEI World and East Asia Secretariat went through the “Challenge support cycle 2020” and, together, set that safeguards the natural are particularly responsible for looking into the the course of the Alliance by deciding the topics and challenges to be support system for human life. policy landscape and mapping relevant actors in addressed. the region, and have coordinated a science-policy dialogue for information exchange. The Research and Development Phase (2020.10‑2024.10) of the 2 Activities by ICLEI East Asia project is scheduled to begin in October 2020. 25 Projects around the World Contribute to SDGs

Huangyan © Urban-Rural Assembly Research Team 24 25 Strategic Development KNOWLEDGE SHARING

ICLEI East Asia continues to build new partnerships with government agencies, organizations and To facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and expertise on urban institutes to promote global sustainability through knowledge and multilateral cooperation. In 2019, sustainability between Members and network cities, and to showcase their OUR TEAM ICLEI East Asia has forged new, as well as strengthened long-standing collaboration with partners achievements globally, ICLEI East Asia prepares publications related to our include: programs and activities with localized contents for the region. Shu Zhu Regional Director ICLEI East Asia frequently updates its works and activities through media & China Representative platforms, including the website, e-newsletters, and social media channels in both English and Chinese. Konrad Otto-Zimmermann Senior Advisor

Kyounggil Park Regional Administrator

ICLEI East Asia Case Study Series No.2 Merlin Lao Binhai New Area, Tianjin, China Program Manager 2019.3 | EN Minkyeong Yeo Financial Officer

Ge Liu Senior Program Officer

ICLEI East Asia Case Study Series No.3 Hyunglim Suh Gaungming District, Shenzhen, China Senior Program Officer 2019.3 | EN • CH Yun (Yvonne) Yang Program Officer

Miaojie Sun Program Officer

Yu-Ting Chang Green Circular Cities Coalition Communication Officer 2019.12 | EN • CH Hui Qian Program Assistant

2020 FEATURED EVENTS Beijing Office

Monika Zimmermann Daring Cities 2020 Forum 2020 Beijing International Forum for Senior Advisor Jun. 3-5 | Bonn, Germany Metropolitan Clean Air Actions Green Circular Cities Coalition Newsletter Jul. tbc | Beijing, China In The Loop Issue 1 Jingning Liu th 10 International Forum for Northeast 2019.12 | EN Program Officer & Assistant to Asian Cities on Air Quality & EACACN Local CBD COP15 & 7th Global Biodiversity Chief Representative Leaders Summit Summit of Local & Subnational Governments Huiling Zhu Jun. 9-11 | Seoul, South Korea Oct. 15-28 | Kunming, Yunnan Province, China Program Officer

Eco Forum Global Annual Conference UNFCCC COP26 Hao Xue Program Officer 2020 Nov. 9-19 | Glasgow, Scotland Jul. 10-12 | Guiyang, China 26 27 BERLIN OFFICE BERLIN, GERMANY

BRUSSELS OFFICE BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

EUROPEAN WORLD SECRETARIAT BRITISH SECRETARIAT BONN, GERMANY BEIJING OFFICE BEIJING, CHINA COLUMBIA OFFICE FREIBURG, GERMANY VICTORIA, CANADA JAPAN OFFICE QUÉBEC OFFICE TOKYO, JAPAN MONTREAL, CANADA USA OFFICE EAST ASIA DENVER, USA CANADA OFFICE SECRETARIAT TORONTO, CANADA SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

KOREA OFFICE MEXICO, SUWON, SOUTH KOREA CENTRAL AMERICA SECRETARIAT AND THE CARIBBEAN NEW DELHI, INDIA SOUTHEAST ASIA SECRETARIAT SECRETARIAT MEXICO CITY, MEXICO MANILA, PHILIPPINES AFRICA SOUTHERN SECRETARIAT CENTER CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA COLUMBIA OFFICE MEDELLÍN, COLUMBIA INDONESIA SOUTH AMERICAN PROJECT OFFICE JAKARTA, INDONESIA SECRETARIAT SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL OCEANIA SECRETARIAT MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

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Cities Biodiversity Center [ Cape Town ] • CARBONN Center [ Bonn ]

Local Renewables Center [ NEW Delhi ] • Capacity Center [ Bonn ]

Sustainable Procurement Center [ Freiburg ]

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