尊敬的陈洪涛 副主任 (Chen Hongtao, Member of the CPC Working Committee and Deputy Director of Management Committee of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone)

尊敬的张翼 副主任 （Zhang Yi, Deputy Director of China International Center for Economic and Technological Exchanges）

Excellency Ambassadors,

女士们, 先生们，大家早上好!

欢迎 各位参与 第三届 Re:Think会议！很开心能够在 成都 和大家 见面！

Good morning and welcome everyone to the third annual Re:Think Conference!

As the world emerges from COVID-19, we are entering an era of uncertainty and turbulence.

Multiple crises – from climate change and natural disasters, to global conflicts and wars, have had devastating effects across the globe that will be felt for years to come.

As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently put it: “we have started 2023 starring down the barrel of a confluence of challenges unlike any other in our lifetimes.”

For the first time in over three decades, human development globally regressed for two years in a row in 2020 and 2021. 2022 also recorded another rise in CO2 emissions and at the current rate we are heading to exceed the 1.5°C safe limit in global temperature rises agreed in Paris by twofold.[1]

So - the world is far off-track in our mission to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – to protect both people and planet, by 2030.

If we are to save the SDGs, we must urgently change course through immediate, concrete actions that combat the challenges we currently face, while addressing the challenges of tomorrow.

And ground zero for such actions lies in cities.

More than half of humanity lives in cities – 4.4 billion people. As economic and innovation hubs – which also account for most of our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions – the changes taking place in cities will have a massive impact on sustainable development globally. Yet, while driving change, in order to endure, cities must also adapt to change occurring across our societies, the economy and the climate.

That’s why the theme of this year’s conference - Designing Resilient Cities of the Future -  is so important and timely. Cities are the breeding ground for the kind of innovation, forward-thinking policies and solutions that we need to tackle 21st century challenges and reinvigorate the SDGs

Take Haikou, in Hainan province, for instance, where “smart” traffic lights are being piloted to help ease congestion on busy streets, adjusting wait times based on the flow of cars and pedestrians.[2] This makes transport more efficient - and helps cut vehicle emissions, a major source of urban pollution.

Or Copenhagen, where Europe’s biggest vertical farm uses 250 times less water per kilo of lettuce than a traditional field, and gives residents the option of buying locally grown, fresh vegetables instead of relying on imports.[3]

However, innovating for resilience goes beyond technology. For example, in many cities, inequalities that disadvantage women in the workforce are being tackled by new policies. This includes Beijing and Shanghai, where maternity leave was extended to 158 days. That’s 30 days more than the national statutory requirement. This helps more women to participate in industries shaping the future, like science and technology, while being less vulnerable to the changes they bring.

During the panels of today’s forum, we’ll discuss innovations like these. And our panels of sector experts and leaders from around the world will shed light on issues vital to creating resilient and future-proof cities.

In particular, how can we harness technology to make cities more inclusive, low-carbon and less vulnerable to crises?

How can policies help accelerate and support this process?

And what best practices and innovations can be shared between cities, in China and globally, to boost our collective resilience?

How we answer these critical questions is key to whether we meet the SDGs and ensure a sustainable future, in cities and beyond?

UNDP is committed to convening all stakeholders and working alongside our partners, to explore new ways of advancing the SDGs. Through our SPARK Lab here in Chengdu, we cooperate with the Hi-Tech Zone on research, providing analysis and recommendations for the low-carbon transition and adoption of sustainable business practices. Our annual INSPIRO fellowship program has also brought together over 93 young entrepreneurs from around the world to exchange ideas around tech for the SDGs and identify opportunities for international business partnerships.

Let me close by thanking our co-hosts, the Chengdu Hi Tech District Government and China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), for helping to organize this important conference. I look forward to sharing innovative ideas and experiences today, as well as finding new opportunities to collaborate for collective action.

Because, although we call this conference ReThink, it isn’t enough to just think. We must act. And we must act urgently. So let’s use today as a starting point for tangible actions to make cities more green, sustainable and inclusive for all. The planet, our lives, and the lives of future generations, depend on it.

共创 韧性 城市, 不让任何一个人掉!

Thank you!