Shanghai, October 19 — As climate threats intensify, how can cities strengthen their resilience? RISE Week 2025 officially opened today in Shanghai, bringing together experts, policymakers and practitioners from around the world to explore this critical question. The event focuses on innovative solutions and capacity-building to drive sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban development.

This inaugural edition of RISE Week is organized under the UNDP–Tongji SDG Innovation Lab on Climate and Disaster Resilience (RISE Lab) and co-hosted by UNDP and Tongji University, with support from the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE).

The event has brought together more than 100 policymakers, representatives from international organizations, government officials, technical experts, and practitioners in the urban infrastructure sector from 15 countries — including Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, and Viet Nam — to exchange knowledge and explore practical pathways for building low-carbon, inclusive, and resilient urban futures.

“This gathering comes at a critical time,” said Haoliang Xu, UNDP Associate Administrator and Acting Administrator, in a video message at the opening ceremony. “Globally, cities stand on the frontlines of both development progress and vulnerability. They are critical drivers of innovation and economic growth, yet at the same time face increasing risks from climate change, natural disasters, and social inequalities.”

“RISE Week provides a unique opportunity to bridge research, policymaking, and practice,” said Lv Peiming, Executive Vice President of Tongji University. “By combining Tongji’s technical expertise and UNDP’s global development network, we aim to create a space where innovation, science, and policy converge to advance resilience building.”

Held under the theme “Co-creating Resilient Urban Futures,” the event positions resilience as a critical safeguard and a driver of innovation for sustainable development — serving as a call to action for cities worldwide facing mounting climate pressures. By fostering collaboration among national and municipal governments, academia, and the private sector, RISE Week goes beyond helping cities adapt to climate challenges, acting as a platform to promote a more prosperous and sustainable future through technical innovation, shared learning, and inclusive partnerships.

“Urban resilience is a multi-dimensional challenge, and building effective resilience solutions requires collective inputs, mutual learning, and collaboration between cities and across sectors – everyone has a role to play,” said Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China. “That’s why RISE Week is so valuable — it is a platform bringing together voices from across disciplines and borders.”

Starting on 17 October, RISE Week opened with technical workshops and peer-learning sessions on risk assessment, resilient infrastructure, and digital innovation for disaster preparedness. It will continue until 22 October with policy dialogues, leadership training, and field visits — connecting science, technology, policy, and governance to help cities turn innovation into action for stronger climate and disaster resilience.

Zhou Ying, Director of Tongji University's Division of Planning and Academic Development, Dean of Tongji University’s College of Civil Engineering and Director of RISE Lab, emphasized three key priorities in her address: strengthening international cooperation to build resilient cities amid rapid global urbanization; cultivating the next generation of global resilience leaders through education and cross-cultural exchange; and advancing engineering-driven innovation to reduce disaster risks. She highlighted that RISE Lab will continue to serve as a pivotal platform for co-creation with experts, urban development and management officials, industry partners, and international organizations.