Opening remarks by Mr James George at the 2025 SDGs Facilitate Beijing CBD's Shift Towards Low-Carbon and Sustainable Development Seminar
January 12, 2025

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, James George, delivered opening remarks at the 2025 SDGs Facilitate Beijing CBD's Shift Towards Low-Carbon and Sustainable Development Seminar, Beijing, China.
Dear Ms. Chen Dai, Deputy District Mayor, Chaoyang District of Beijing
Dear Mr. Zhang Yi, Deputy Director General, China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE)
Dear Mr. Zhu Xufeng, Dean, School of Public Policy and Management of Tsinghua University
Dear. Mr. Sun Xinzhang, Deputy Director and Researcher, China Agenda 21 Management Center
Distinguished guests, experts, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme in China, I am delighted to welcome you to today’s seminar focused on how the Sustainable Development Goals can further facilitate Beijing’s Commercial Business District’s Shift Towards Low-Carbon and Sustainable Development.
Let me begin by stating that it is a privilege to address such a distinguished gathering of experts, partners, and stakeholders who share a common vision for a sustainable future, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – our global blueprint to safeguard the well-being of people and the planet.
Allow me to set the context of the importance of this agenda.
We are living in an age of urban transformation.
By 2030, approximately 6 out of 10 people worldwide will reside in urban areas.
This proportion expected to grow to two-thirds of the global population by 2050.
This demographic shift has profound implications for policymakers, planners, businesses and local communities.
On one hand, as we are all aware, urbanization has historically been associated with economic growth and improved living standards.
On the other hand, rapid and unplanned urban growth has also given rise to significant challenges.
Cities now generate 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Municipal waste is set to rise by two-thirds within a generation.
Fossil fuel emissions continued to rise, resulting in higher global temperatures and escalating climate extremes.
The stakes are high, and the time to act is now – at scale and at speed.
The criticality of the agenda and actions required were reaffirmed by Member States by the adoption of the Pact of the Future at the General Assembly in September last year.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The challenges we face—climate change, resource depletion, environmental degradation, urban-rural migration —are complex and deeply interconnected.
They demand holistic solutions and collaborative efforts from everyone.
Only by bringing together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and international organizations through multidisciplinary approaches, can we begin to design new viable pathways that are vital for meaningful progress and sustainable development.
The world needs new models, ideas, approaches, financing incentives, technological breakthroughs and strategic partnerships to make this work.
And on that point, I am pleased to note the reason we are gathered here today.
"Collaboration is the heart of sustainable progress."
For your information, last year, we celebrated our 45th anniversary of operations in China since opening our office in Beijing in 1979 – in this very auspicious room.
We were pleased that in 2024, we were also able to embark upon a new and significant renewal and strengthening of our strategic partnership with the city of Beijing - with the signing of a Statement of Intent (SOI) with the Beijing Commercial Business District’s Administration Committee to pilot a Net-Zero CBD project.
This collaboration to be undertaken together with MOFCOM’s CICETE aims to support Beijing's CBD transformation into a model of low-carbon, sustainable urban development and with global technical exchanges of lessons learned and best practices.
As the core business district of China’s capital and a leading economic hub, Beijing's CBD is uniquely positioned to lead by example in the global shift towards sustainability.
By piloting innovative solutions and adopting best practices in low-carbon development, we can demonstrate how urban centers can thrive economically while minimizing their environmental footprint.
By embedding the SDGs, particularly SDG 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities—and SDG 13—Climate Action into the very fabric of the CBD's development, we are not only contributing to China's national dual carbon goals but also to global efforts to combat climate change and creating inclusive, resilience and sustainable futures.
Today’s seminar has two key objectives:
First, to gather insights for the development and design of the Net-Zero CBD project.
We hope to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and expertise that each of you brings.
Your perspectives on planning, policy-making, and best practices are invaluable for shaping a robust and innovative blueprint that addresses the complexities of sustainable urban transformation.
Your assessment of both the challenges, best practices and lessons will be invaluable as we move forward.
And second, to engage stakeholders and potential partners.
Collaboration is at the heart of sustainable progress.
This seminar provides a platform to engage with all stakeholders—including government agencies, academic institutions, private sector partners, and civil society organizations—to better understand expectations and explore how we can work together effectively.
Your involvement and support are critical to the success of this ambitious initiative.
I encourage all of you to engage actively in today's discussions - share your insights, challenge ideas, and explore how we can collectively overcome obstacles to achieve our shared goals.
Your contributions will shape the future of the Net-Zero CBD project in Beijing and, by extension, influence sustainable urban development initiatives worldwide.
I also look forward as we begin this partnership to more active engagements from all of you in the upcoming regional and global technical dialogues that we will be organizing with the Beijing CBD and our global and regional UNDP colleagues.
In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to the Beijing CBD Administration Committee for their commitment and partnership and their strong foresight and vision to build an inclusive, resilient and sustainable pathway future.
Thank you, and I look forward to a productive and inspiring seminar.