2018 Annual Report

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

ICLEI EAST ASIA SECRETARIAT

1 CONTENTS FOREWORD

Cities are centers of opportunity and prosperity where innovation sparks 3 Foreword and takes root. However, cities and their surrounding regions are also on the front lines of global change. They adopt to shifts in dimensions of urban life 4 About ICLEI and confront the impacts of rapid urbanization, demographic change, climate 5 Governance change, technological advancements and a range of development challenges. ICLEI has long recognized the warning signs and is responding directly to global challenges. At the ICLEI World Congress 2018 in Montréal, Canada, 6 Activities Overview Members of ICLEI made a commitment to create deep, systemic change in urban areas. They rallied behind the ICLEI Montréal Commitment and Strategic 8 2018 Highlights Vision 2018-2024 to guide them through the following six years via the five interconnected pathways for change. Shu Zhu 11 Programs & Activities Regional Director & Reviewing 2018, ICLEI East Asia has expanded partnerships with local China Representative governments and institutions in the region and welcomed Shanghai Changning ICLEI East Asia Secretariat 24 Strategic Development District, China as our new Member. In better supporting ICLEI Members and network cities in the region, we opened our Beijing Office in March 2018, and 25 Knowledge Sharing continued to deliver projects and programs based on local and regional needs. 27 Meet Our Team In response to the urgent need for action on air quality improvement in East Asia, a series of collaboration, capacity building, and research projects were carried out with East Asia Clean Air Cities, a program which has gathered 10 local governments since 2016, and is facilitating the environmental cooperation between Beijing and Seoul.

Based on previous efforts on urban low carbon development, ICLEI East Asia continues leading the Building Efficiency Accelerator in the region, and is actively supporting Ulaanbaatar in project preparation and implementation of thermo-technical residential retrofits with regional partners.

East Asian cities play critical roles in driving sustainable and green economy with rapid economic growth and decentralization. ICLEI supported Chinese and Korean jurisdictions to scale up green public procurement uptake under the 10YFP on SPP Working Group 1A project, and expanded the existed GPP Partnership under the new name Procura+ East Asia.

In July, ICLEI East Asia successfully co-hosted the session “Building Green Circular Cities” in Guiyang, gathering local governments, businesses and partners to look at the opportunities and challenges in shifting towards the circular economy. ICLEI is preparing the new initiative Green Circular Cities Coalition to facilitate international cooperation on pursuing circular cites at a subnational level.

Finally, ICLEI East Asia co-hosted a capacity building workshop on climate change adaptation and urban resilience with partners for Zhuhai city officials. In 2019, we will continue to deliver training on developing integrated climate change adaptation planning to individual pilot cities in China.

Cities of ICLEI are leading the way towards global sustainability. ICLEI East Asia is committed to accelerating these efforts with the experiences and partnerships of ICLEI across the region, and supporting local governments in pursuing the five pathways for change.

3 ABOUT US GOVERNANCE

ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 1,750 local ICLEI Council and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 100+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature- ICLEI is democratically governed by our Members through the ICLEI Council — the overarching based, equitable, resilient and circular development. Our Members and team of experts decision making and guiding body. The Council approves the ICLEI Strategic Plan with a six- work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create year scope and has the sole power to amend the Charter and elects the Global Executive systemic change for urban sustainability. Committees — the GexCom — portfolio seats. Chaired by elected President and Vice Presidents, the GexCom is composed of up to 6 appointed Members and Representatives from the 9 Regional Executive Committees — the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat RexComs — and represents ICLEI towards international institutions and has the authority making strategic decisions concerning the organization. On 1 June 2018, the ICLEI GexCom Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat supports East elected its new leadership for the 2018-2022 term. Asian Members in the Greater China Region, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.

ICLEI East Asia has developed local and regional programs and exchange platforms to accelerate sustainable and low carbon development in the region, including East Asia Clean Air Cities, Procura+ East Asia, the Green Circular Cities Coalition, and Urban Resilience. We provide technical consulting, training and information services to build capacity, share knowledge and support local governments in pursuing sustainable development.

In order to further extend our support to Chinese cities’ sustainable and environmentally President FIRST Vice President Vice President Vice President Ashok Sridharan Cathy Oke Stephany Uy-Tan Frank Cownie friendly development, ICLEI East Asia opened the Beijing Office in March 2018. Mayor | Bonn, Germany Councillor | Melbourne, Australia Mayor | Catbalogan, Philippines Mayor | City of Des Moines, US

Membership ICLEI East Asia RexCom Globally, ICLEI Membership has grown to more than 1,750 local and regional governments in Convened by the newly elected members and advisors, the 2018 East Asia RexCom meeting 124 countries worldwide since 1990. In East Asia, 96 local governments in East Asia have joined took place on 22 June in Montréal, Canada during the ICLEI World Congress 2018. RexCom ICLEI as of December 2018. members and ICLEI offices shared their achievements and reached an agreement to share their work plans in consolidating synergy and engaging sister cities. New Member Located on the west side of the global financial center Shanghai, Changning District is committed to the overall enhancement of urban area functions and quality, which includes the building of a smart urban area and continuously improved green and low-carbon development. In fostering its international and inter-city engagement, Changning joined ICLEI in 2018 and is participating in the Building Efficiency Accelerator with the support of ICLEI East Asia (see page 16). Chair Vice Chair Daisaku Kadokawa Joon-Byeong Yoon Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan Shu-chuan Lee Mayor | Kyoto, Japan Vice Mayor | Seoul, Korea Governor & Mayor Deputy Mayor Green, Circular & Air Quality Improvement & Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Kaohsiung City, Chinese Taipei Resource-efficient Economy Regional Cooperation Low Carbon & Resilience & Climate Adaptation Climate Change Mitigation

Advisory Member Advisory Member Tae-Young Yeom Pro. Hironori Hamanaka Alex Zhang Mayor | Suwon, Korea Chair | ICLEI Japan Director | Eco-Forum Global GexCom East Asia Seat GexCom Member © Shanghai Changning District. 4 Sustainable Urban Mobility 5 ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW

January September December August 9.3–9.7 | Seoul, South Korea Shanghai Changning District Joined ICLEI February ICLEI–SHRDC Capacity Building on 8.1–8.3 | Chengdu, China Climate Change Policies 12.2–12.14 | Katowice, Poland 2nd High–Level International Forum De-carbonizing Era in Cities and Regions

on Sustainable Urban Development 9.4–9.5 | Seoul, South Korea UNFCCC COP24 ‧ Japan Pavilion 8th Northeast Asia Forum on Air Quality Improvement 12.18 | Zhuhai, China Strengthening Capacities for

9.8–9.13 | Pyongyang, North Korea Climate Change Adaptation and 11th Pyongyang International Book Fair Disaster Risk Reduction in Zhuhai July 9.12–9.14 | San Francisco, USA March Progress and Lessons Learned: 7.5–7.6 | Beijing, China 20 Years of Fighting Air Pollution in Beijing 2018 Beijing International Forum on 2018 Global Climate Action Summit ‧ China Pavilion Beijing Office Opened Metropolitan Clean Air Actions November 3.21–3.22| Bangkok, Thailand 9.16–9.19 | Bonn, Essen & Dortmund, Germany 2018 Asia Pacific Clean Air 7.7 | Guiyang, China Study Tour of Changning District on 11.6–11.7 | Shenzhen Guangming District, China Partnership Joint Forum Building Green Circular Cities Urban Transitions and Climate Action of GPP On-Site Technical Consultation Clean Air Week 2018 Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2018 German Cities Seminar for Guangming District

3.20 | Seoul, South Korea Seoul-Beijing Joint Workshop on 11.15–11.23 | Belgium, Iceland & Portugal Ways to Reduce Fine Dust and VOCs International Exchange on 3rd Meeting of the Seoul-Beijing Joint Committee Urban Resilience for Zhuhai City June

11.17–11.29 | Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt 6th Global Biodiversity Summit of 6.18–6.19 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Local and Subnational Governments Key Policy Challenges and Solutions for Low Carbon Development in the Region COP14 of the Convention on Biological Diversity 8th Northeast Asian Mayors’ Forum: 11.26 | Beijing, China Low Carbon City Development October April Beijing–Seoul Forum on Climate and Environment Cooperation 6.19–6.23 | Montréal, Canada 10.8–10.16 | Denmark, Sweden & Norway th Urban Transitions Forum 25 Anniversary of the Establishment China National GPP Study Visit 2018 ICLEI East Asia RexCom Meeting of Seoul-Beijing Relations ICLEI World Congress 2018 10.22–10.24 | Yokohama, Japan May Circular Food Systems in Cities 6.25–6.26 | Mumbai, India Roundtable for Sustainable Cities Strategy World Circular Economy Forum 2018 5.16–5.17 | Beijing, China 3rd Annual Meeting of AIIB EcoProcura China 2018: 10.30 | Beijing, China ICLEI GPP Capacity Building Workshop Urban Transitions Alliance China Workshop: Industrial Legacy. Sustainable Future 5.23 | Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Forum for Clean City and Clear Sky

6 7 ICLEI WORLD CONGRESS 2018

OUR VISION FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN ACTION

Ashok Sridharan, Every three years, ICLEI holds its World Congress to showcase the President of ICLEI and Mayor of Bonn, Germany. efforts of local and regional governments across the network to advance sustainable urban development worldwide, and connects them with their peers and strategic partners for discussions that will inform and enhance their work.

On June 19–23, the ICLEI World Congress 2018 took place in Montréal, Canada. 56 sessions, 3 pre-events, and 10 technical visits were organized under the four–day Congress, gathering hundreds of local, regional and national governments, international agencies, representatives of the private sector, academics and researchers, community groups and partners from around the world.

The ICLEI World Congress 2018 was also the kick-off point for the holistic approach to sustainable development captured in the ICLEI Montréal Commitment and Strategic Vision 2018-2024, which defines five interconnected pathways for change, providing a guidance for action by ICLEI Members and network cities to transform individual communities, and lays out a roadmap for advancing sustainable urban development through 2024, taking into account the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the New Urban Agenda.

ICLEI’s newly elected leadership presented ICLEI’s new vision and pathways towards sustainable urban development at the World Congress 2018.

8 9 8 PROGRAMS & Activities

2018 East Asia RexCom The five ICLEI pathways towardslow emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient, and Meeting gathered newly elected RexCom circular development are designed to create systemic change. They provide a framework members, advisors for the 2018–2021 term and for designing integrated solutions that balance the patterns of human life and the built ICLEI offices (see page 5). and nature environments, and serve as a basis for sustainable urban development that considers the complexity of urban systems. When these pathways guide local and regional development, urban systems become more sustainable.

ICLEI East Asia incorporates different pathways and helps local and regional governments advance sustainable urban development. Often, our activities are guided by a predominant pathway or set of pathways. We design our works to integrate as many pathways as possible into any given activity, such as a project, partnership or initiative.

East Asia Building Eﬃciency Clean Air Cities Accelerator

Asia LEDS Partnership CLEVER Cities © Montréal SED LOW BA T DE EM E- EN VE R M LO IS Green Public Procurement U P P SI T O M O Industrial legacy cities from CONNECTING Nature L E N A E N Europe, China and the US came N V E T together at the Urban Transitions D Forum during the ICLEI World Congress 2018 as the second global gathering of the Urban

Transitions Alliance (see page 22). EcoTourism Cities Ambitious City Promises

D T

E T N

I V

R E

N E C E Green Circular L M U I Resilience Cities O P L Cities Coalition L I P O A S Asia-Paciﬁc M L E R E E R V N E T D

Urban Climate EcoMobility E Change Adaptation QU D © Johnnyfly at Pixabay P ITA E AN and Resilience EO BL ED PLE-CENTER

Urban Transitions Alliance

11 LOW EMISSION DEVELOPMENT

The 8th Northeast Asia Forum on Air Quality Improvement was successfully hosted in Seoul, South Korea.

As a co-host, ICLEI East Asia supported the EACAC cities Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and Ulaanbaatar, ICLEI East Asia supported organizing the Joint Beijing Bureau of Ecology and Environment in together with other 18 cities, adopted the ‘Tokyo Workshop on Ways to Reduce Fine Dust and organizing the 2018 Beijing International Forum Declaration on Realization of Clean Cities and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) under the on Metropolitan Clean Air Actions on July 5–6, Clear Skies’ during the Tokyo Forum of Clean City framework of the 3rd Meeting of the Seoul-Beijing gathering representatives from metropolises such as and Clear Sky. The Declaration underscores not only Joint Committee, and participated in the Beijing- EAST ASIA Paris, London, Tokyo, Seoul, Delhi, and Hong Kong. the importance of achieving clear skies, but also Seoul Climate and Environmental Cooperation The Forum covered air quality control strategies outlines specific pathways towards this goal. The 22 Forum as a part of the 25th Anniversary of the CLEAN AIR CITIES and measures, with a dedicated session for Volatile cities are committed to undertaking measures to: establishment of Seoul-Beijing relations. Two cities Organic Compounds (VOCs) control measures. improve waste management and material cycling; gathered on these occasions to exchange their optimize resource efficiency; create mechanisms actions on air quality improvement, and reaffirmed Under the framework of the Clean Air Week 2018 for citizen and city-business engagement; and their commitments to jointly tackle climate change held in Bangkok, Thailand, ICLEI East Asia and cooperate with ICLEI and other international Launched in 2016, East Asia Clean Air Cities (EACAC) partners co-organized the 2nd Asia-Pacific Clean and environmental challenges. organizations and institutions. is a long-term multilateral collaboration network for Air Partnership Joint Forum themed “Solutions cities committed to tackling air pollution. 10 East Landscape for Clean Air”. The session grouped and Asian cities have joined and actively participate in presented solutions by various stakeholder groups, capacity building on Beijing—Seoul Bilateral various trainings and events under the framework. including scientists, national and local governments, international cooperation business, and citizens. EACAC cities Beijing, Jinan Environmental Cooperation for Beijing Municipality and Ulaanbaatar represented city voices and shared In March 2018, Beijing and Seoul signed an MoU to International Participation ICLEI East Asia is supporting the Beijing Bureau of their clean air actions. During the Clean Air Week, promote environmental cooperation, with a focus on Ecology and Environment on capacity building for On September 4–5, ICLEI East Asia supported the EACAC delegates also participated in the Regional clean air actions. With Beijing and Seoul both being international cooperation, and assisted the bureau Seoul Metropolitan Government in organizing the 8th Training on Co-benefits of Air Pollution and Climate host cities of ICLEI offices, ICLEI East Asia actively organizing the session “Progress and Lessons Northeast Asia Forum on Air Quality Improvement Change jointly organized by the Institute of Global engages the two cities in EACAC for capacity building Learned: 20 Years of Fighting Air Pollution in as the co-organizer. The Forum was attended by Environmental Strategies (IGES) and Clean Air Asia. and knowledge sharing on air quality improvement. officials of 25 local governments, including EACAC cities Beijing, Tokyo, Kitakyushu and Ulaanbaatar. On this occasion, Kitakyushu and Ulaanbaatar shared their experiences in pursuing clean air through international and intercity cooperation. With monitoring being a process fundamental to improving air quality management, ICLEI East Asia also hosted the session “Strengthening Monitoring to Better Inform Air Pollution Management”, gathering experts from UN Environment, research institutes, and local governments from the region to present latest air quality monitoring technology and methodologies. EACAC cities participated in Clean Air Week 2018 activities © IGES. ICLEI East Asia supports environmental cooperation between Beijing and Seoul. Beijing hosted a side event on air quality management at the China Pavilion of the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit. 12 13 Beijing” at the China Pavilion during the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, USA.

In 2019, ICLEI East Asia will further conduct a comprehensive case study on Beijing’s air quality management, together with a comparative benchmarking case study between Beijing and five international cities.

Green Lung for Ulaanbaatar To better understand local challenges and stimulate regional cooperation on air quality issues, EACAC funded a joint study in Ulaanbaatar in 2017–2018. Representatives from Guangming District, UETD, Binhai Initiated by the Environment and Climate Fund New District, Jizhou District, and Guiyang City received GPP Pilot Demonstration Local Government Plates from ICLEI. EcoProcura China 2018 took place in Beijing, China. of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, and conducted by the Mongolian University of Life Sciences, the study defines air quality data and pilots an urban greening project in the ger districts of Bayankhoshoo and Nisekh to analyze the effectiveness of trees as a potential air for public campuses in Binhai, and contributed to over Procura+ East Asia China National GPP Study Visit pollution mitigation measure. The project builds 29.61 tons waste being diverted from landfill, and Jointly organized by ICLEI East Asia and the Beijing Under Procura+ East Asia, ICLEI organized a Chinese upon technological advances for improving saplings saved around 91.96 tons of CO2e. The project won the Bureau of Ecology and Environment, the EcoProcura National GPP delegation comprising high-level survival rates, citizen engagement, multi-level 2018 China Government Procurement Award for China 2018: ICLEI Green Public Procurement representatives from the Ministry of Finance, local governance, and air quality data collection. Innovation of the Year, and the criteria will be further Capacity Building Workshop gathered over 30 governments, and national agencies for a 10-day study institutionalized district-wide in 2019. representatives and officials from 11 Chinese local visit to Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Through an on-site technical constultation seminar governments and experts from China, Europe and Oslo, and Bergen. The delegation investigated held under the 10YFP on SPP project, ICLEI East Japan. forefront green procurement policies and practices in Asia assisted Shenzhen Guangming District in Europe, contributing to the establishment of a national The workshop was closed with the launch of the GREEN PUBLIC identifying ice-storage air conditioning as the most green public procurement scheme in China. Procura+ East Asia Green Procurement Network. As suitable product group for the Guangming Culture a sister network of Procura+ Europe which connects PROCUREMENT and Arts Center construction work in embracing over 40 European public authorities and regions to green specifications. ICLEI East Asia will continue to Knowledge Sharing exchange and act on sustainable and innovation cooperate with Guangming and criteria researchers procurement, Procura+ East Asia is designed to bridge ICLEI East Asia compiled a synthetic case study on in the air-conditioning industry in China to formulate public authorities in the region in achieving sustainable the Chinese city Shenzhen’s success in phasing out 10YFP on SPP WG1A green specifications and award criteria for the and low-carbon development goals with green products that contain Ozone Depleting Substances construction team’s references. GPP Tender Implementation procurement as an effective policy tool. Five Chinese (ODS) through implementing ambitious GPP policies and Impact Monitoring As final output of the project, ICLEI East Asia and one Korean local governments and strategic for global distribution. conducted two cases studies on the participating local partners from the region have joined. In 2016, ICLEI started the two-year project “Green jurisdictions’ GPP achievements for global distribution. Public Procurement (GPP) Tender Implementation and Impact Monitoring” under the 10 Year Framework Programme on Sustainable Public Procurement (10YPF on SPP) led by UN Environment, to support Chinese and Korean local authorities in procuring eco-friendly and innovative products and services, and monitoring its environmental impacts. Among the six jurisdictions ICLEI closely works with, 2 Chinese local governments implemented new tender model in 2018 with ICLEI East Asia’s direct support.

Tianjin Binhai New Area identified the furniture sector as an entry point to pilot green procurement evaluation scheme, and formulated a set of specifications, award criteria and verification methods in a life cycle perspective. The criteria were applied to two procurement tenders of school desks and chairs Binhai Government Procurement Center © Binhai New District. Guangming Culture and Arts Center construction site. China national GPP delegation visited Oslo City Hall. 14 15 BUILDING CAPACITY BUILDING ON EFFICIENCY CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES ACCELERATOR Since 2016, ICLEI East Asia has been co-organizing annual training on urban sustainability for local government officials with the Seoul Human Resource Development Center. This year, the week-long training focused on climate change policies. 17 local government officials from The Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) is a public-private Beijing, Foshan, and Guiyang of China, Haiphong of Vietnam, Marikina of the Philippines, collaboration that turns global expertise into action to accelerate Melaka of Malaysia, and Jakarta of Indonesia are updated with the latest information of local government implementation of building efficiency policies and energy transition, pedestrian-friendly city, waste management, ICLEI’s GreenClimateCities programs under the UN Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Global methodology, and participated in the 8th Northeast Asia Forum on Air Quality Improvement partners have joined the BEA, creating a network of support for the hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (see page 12). 38 participating cities. As a regional lead, ICLEI East Asia is supporting two cities in the BEA.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia joined the BEA in March 2017 and is one of five BEA partner cities selected in August 2018 for a 18-month ‘Deep AMBITIOUS CITY PROMISES Dive’ Partnership together with ICLEI East Asia and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Through this focused partnership structure, ICLEI East Asia is providing dedicated assistance via a technical Inspired by the Promise of Seoul, a comprehensive climate strategy adopted by Seoul which advisor staffed in the city department, and supporting project embodied 10 million residents as equal partners in shaping and implementing climate action, prepration and securing finance for thermo-technical residential the Ambitious City Promises project was launched in 2017 to support Southeast Asian cities retrofits to reduce energy loss. in adapting the model of inclusive and ambitious climate action, mainstreaming low emission Shanghai Changning District, China joined the BEA in 2018. With development strategies, and creating new climate leaders. The project is implemented by strong leadership and commitment on building energy efficiency ICLEI and funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation towards low carbon development, Changning identifies three and Nuclear Safety (BMU) via the International Climate Initiative (IKI). ICLEI East Asia supports priorities: Near Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) pilots; smart the project implementation, and assisted arranging officials from Jakarta and Marikina to management with big data support from demand- and supply-side; participate in the Capacity Building Program on Climate Change Policies under the capacity and international interactions and knowledge exchange. Changning building pillar of the project. is looking to pursue better management system to cope with a number of variables such as peak and off-peak building electricity demand, renewable energy generation, building energy resilience, and Internet of Things (IoT) optimization. Under the BEA, ICLEI East ASIA LEDS PARTNERSHIP Asia is supporting Changning in connecting with global experts and accessing various resources. The Asia Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Partnership is a voluntary regional network comprised of individuals and organizations active in designing, promoting, and/ or implementing LEDS. In 2018, ICLEI East Asia supported the Partnership in forming four Community of Practices (CoP) to engage experts and practitioners as a group for peer- learning and knowledge advancement on the topics of: grid-scale renewable energy; clean mobility; multi-level governance; and Nationally Determined Contributions finance.

Night view of Ulaanbaatar © Kanenori at Pixabay. Local government officials learned about Seoul’s climate change policies through the capacity building program co-organized by ICLEI and SHRDC. 16 17

HORIZON 2020 PROJECTS GREEN CIRCULAR CITIES

CONNECTING NATURE ICLEI East Asia, ICLEI Japan and ICLEI Europe are preparing the new initiative Green Circular Cities Coalition, Launched in 2017, Connecting Nature is a partnership of 31 organizations co-working presenting an opportunity for global cities to shift away with local authorities, communities, industry, NGOs and academics from 16 European from the linear paradigm, and move towards the circular countries, Brazil, China, Korea and the Caucasus (Georgia and Armenia). It focuses economy and sound-material cycle societies through on improving city planning practices by transcending silos and bridging stakeholders. synergizing with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Representatives of local governments and the private sector A community of cities has been formed to co-develop the policy and practices for from Japan and China explored the possbilities of fostering circular transition through public-private partnership. upscaling nature-based solutions for urban resilience, innovation and governance. Within Designated to facilitate international cooperation on the project, ICLEI East Asia is coordinating activities to share learnings and advanced pursuing circular cities at the subnational level, the practices via ICLEI’s Global Urban Nature Programme for Urban Nature Pioneers. Coalition will serve as a platform to connect cities, experts, businesses and relevant stakeholders for mutual learning and technical support. Cities could also participate in CLEVER CITIES thematic working groups joined by Knowledge Partners and Led by Hamburg, London and Milan, CLEVER Cities intends to position nature-based Solution Providers, and focus on key areas including circular solutions as a means to improving public health, social cohesion, citizen security, and industrial park (industrial symbiosis); municipal resource increasing economic opportunities in deprived areas of cities often lacking in quality management; buildings and construction, urban spatial planning and governance; water–food–energy nexus; and green spaces. Funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, ICLEI East Asia Harald Friedl of CIrcle Economy demonstrated the Dutch city began coordinating the initiation of the China project with the Xi’an Jiaotong University green/circular procurement and green supply chain. Amsterdam’s journey towards the circular economy. in 2018, and will continue to support Chinese cities’ engagement and facilitate project- related dialogue between China and the EU.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT

The ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center hosted the 6th Global Biodiversity Summit of Local and Subnational Governments as an official event to the th14 Conferences of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP14). With the support of ICLEI East Asia, the Chinese city Beijing actively participated in the event and gathered with local governments from around the world, including Aichi Prefecture of Japan and Gangwon Province of Korea. The Summit adopted the ‘Sharm El-Sheikh Communiqué for Local and Subnational Action for Nature and People’ which is an urgent call to action for strengthened commitment to multi-level integration, action and collaboration to stem biodiversity loss and restore biodiversity health for the sake of people and nature. The Communiqué was presented to the CBP COP14 plenary the following day. ‘Building Green Circular Cities‘ successfully hosted on July 7 in Guiyang, China. 18 19

ICLEI Cities share their local experiences at the 2018 World Circular Economy Forum. Training Institute to raise awareness of the topic URBAN among Zhuhai city officials. Climate experts from Chinese national agencies and resilience specialists CLIMATE CHANGE from ICLEI’s Japanese Member city Toyama also Five cities from China, Finland, Germany and Japan have demonstrated ADAPTATION AND provided professional advices to Zhuhai based on strong interest to join, and the Coalition welcomes more ambitious cities the challenges the city has encountered. Topics and regions on board to set forth the circular journey. RESILIENCE covered include: resilient infrastructure and urban planning; climate risk modelling and forecasting; During the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference Guiyang 2018, ICLEI ecological conservation and nature-based solutions; East Asia co-organized the session “Building Green Circular Cities” with and capacity building with citizen engagement. the Eco Forum Global Secretariat, gathering high-level representatives URBAN RESILIENCE TRAINING SERIES from Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suining, and Liupanshui of China, Kitakyushu ICLEI East Asia will continue to deliver and Yokohama of Japan, and Turku of Finland to showcase their circular Recognized as one of the most livable cities in comprehensive trainings on development and practices. Experts and representatives of the private sector from China, China, Zhuhai is also known for its vulnerability due implementation of integrated climate change Norway and the Netherlands also shared how local governments and to frequent hitting by typhoons. With the support adaptation plans to individual adaptation pilot cities businesses could cooperate in fostering circular transitions. of ICLEI East Asia, a Zhuhai delegation visited the in China, alongside international exchange and ICLEI Brussels Office and three ICLEI Member cities consultation. At the global level, ICLEI East Asia also participated in the 2018 World in Iceland and Portugal to exchange knowledge on Circular Economy Forum as a panelist of the session ‘Circular Food urban resilience in November. Systems in Cities‘, and supported organizing the session ‘De-carbonizing INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT Era in Cities and Regions‘ at the Japan Pavilion of UNFCCC COP24. Following the visit to Europe, ICLEI East Asia co- ICLEI East Asia supported organizing the UNISDR organized the workshop “Strengthening Capacities workshop ‘Developing Capacities on Climate Change for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Asia- Risk Reduction in Zhuhai” on December 18 with Pacific Region‘ in Jeju, South Korea, and contributed the Zhuhai Municipal Government and UNISDR’s as trainers. Office for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Environmental Industry AND TECH EXCHANGE

Through the International Platform for Environmental Technology (3iPET), ICLEI carried out a joint project with the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office (FECO), Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, to support the cooperation between local governments and the private sector on environmental industry and technology, in exploring possible solutions to the challenges of sustainable development cities are facing.

An urban climate change adaptation and resilience workshop was held in Zhuhai for local government officials. 2020 21

URBAN TRANSITIONS ALLIANCE

Urban transitions empower cities with an industrial legacy to define their own pathways towards more vibrant and sustainable economies, improving their Industrial cities across the world are connected through the Alliance. local environments and the lives of their residents.

Launched in 2017, the Urban Transitions Alliance is managed by ICLEI and funded by Stiftung Mercator Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area to present an opportunity for industrial and former (E-Town), Beijing Huairou District, and Shijiazhuang industrial cities across the world to become global Yuhua District of China, Essen and Leipzig of leaders in sustainable urban development. 11 Germany gathered to exchange their transition local governments from China, Germany, USA, and visions, challenges and learnings from each other. Poland have joined the Alliance, together working On this occassion, Vera Rodenhoff of the German on the four core thematic areas of energy, mobility, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature, infrastructure, and social transition. Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and Dengli Ming Alliance members convened at the Urban of the Beijing Bureau of Ecology and Environment Transitions Forum during the ICLEI World Congress highlighted the importance of experience exchange 2018 as the second global gathering of the between German and Chinese cities. Alliance. The Forum was comprised of transition- The Alliance Transition Roadmap was published as focused thematic sessions, working meetings, and the final report of the first phase of the Alliance, networking opportunities for the cities to share their presenting concrete solution pathways and project achievements and current challenges. cities’ achievements and commitments. The Alliance In October, the Urban Transitions Alliance China expects to push forward peer-city matching Event took place in Beijing. Representatives from the programs as its second phase in 2019.

Site visit to the Beijing Boda Water Co. Ltd. 22 Site Visit to Beijing Boda Water Co. Ltd. 23 Strategic Development KNOWLEDGE SHARING

ICLEI East Asia continues to build new partnerships with government agencies, organizations To facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and expertise on urban sustainability and institutes to promote global sustainability through knowledge and multilateral cooperation. between Members and network cities, and to showcase their achievements globally, ICLEI East In 2018, ICLEI East Asia has forged new, as well as strengthened long-standing collaboration with Asia prepares publications related to our programs and activities with localized contents for partners include: the region.

ICLEI East Asia frequently updates its works and activities through media platforms, including the website, e-newsletters, and social media channels. An official WeChat account was set up in 2018 to disseminate latest information of ICLEI to local government and partners in China.

Green Circular Cities Coalitions Building Green Circular Cities Program Brochure Post Event Report June 2018 | EN, CH September 2018 | EN, CH

Procura+ East Asia Brochure Urban Transitions Alliance October 2018 | EN, CH China Workshop Event Report October 2018 | EN

ICLEI East Asia ICLEI East Asia Case Study Series No.1 Case Study Series No.2 Shenzhen, China Binhai New Area, Tianjin, China January 2019 | EN, CH March 2019 | EN 2019 PREVIEW

4th UN Environment Assembly World Circular Economy Forum 2019 Beijing International Forum 3.11–3.15 | Nairobi, Kenya 6.3–6.5 | Helsinki, Finland on Metropolitan Clean Air Actions 7.12 | Beijing, China ICLEI East Asia Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific 2019 Eco Forum Global Annual 2019 International Renewable Case Study Series No.3 4.15–4.17| New Delhi, India Conference Guiyang 2019 Energy Conference & Seoul Mayors Guangming District, Shenzhen, China 6.17 | Guiyang, China Forum on Climate Change March 2019 | EN 10.22–10.26 | Seoul, Korea

2019 Seoul International Forum Resilient Cities 2019: UNFCCC COP25 on Air Quality Improvement 10th Anniversary 12.2–12.13 | Santiago, Chile 5.22–5.23 | Seoul, Korea 6.26–6.28 | Bonn, Germany

24 25 MEET OUR TEAM

Shu Zhu Regional Director & China Representative

Konrad Otto-Zimmermann Yun (Yvonne) Yang Departed Staff Senior Advisor Program Officer Myungjun Chae Regional Administrator Bonghee Son Julie Yang Strategy Manager Program Officer Jiyoung Lee Financial Officer Kwangmo Han Haiping Yu Regional Administrator Program Officer

Minkyeong Yeo Hyunglim Suh Financial Officer Program Officer

Merlin Lao Yu-Ting Chang Program Manager Communication Officer

Ge Liu Gaoli Xiao Program Officer Program Assistant

ICLEI–LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY eastasia.iclei.org

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