Home to more than half of humanity – over 4 billion people – cities account for most of our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, they are also at the forefront of environmental and sustainability action. As hubs of innovation and drivers of economic growth, they are critical to tackling pressing development challenges and driving solutions at scale.

This is certainly the case here in Chongqing, one of China’s four municipalities and a mega-city of over 30 million.

Under the city’s ‘Beautiful Chongqing’ initiative, important efforts are being made to incorporate ecological restoration with economic growth, and adopt low-carbon pathways. From greening

manufacturing to investing in clean energy and digital innovation, Chongqing’s status as a logistics hub and industrial capital is being reimagined through a sustainable lens.

For example, as of 2023, over 330 green factories, and 28 green industrial parks have been established, fully integrating the principles of green and low-carbon development into all aspects of planning and operation. In addition, the city is rapidly becoming a leader in the production of new energy vehicles (NEVs), now accounting for roughly 11 percent of the national total.

UNDP is proud to have contributed to Chongqing’s transformation through our joint project in Wuxi County, where nearly 16 thousand hectares of forest restoration, helped to enhance biodiversity and protect the livelihoods of local communities.

Moving forward, we hope to continue working together with municipal partners here and across China, to further expand on the progress being made.

In particular, it will be critical to continue exploring how technology and digital tools can be leveraged alongside nature-based solutions to help reduce the environmental and ecological cost of urbanization. Through our network of SDG innovation labs in China, UNDP has been developing these type of integrated approaches at the local level in various megacity contexts, providing valuable insights Chongqing can draw on to advance its green and low-carbon transition.

Sustainable development progress also cannot occur at the speed needed without the financing required to catalyze scalable impact. UNDP is therefore working to mobilize greater funding for the SDGs, and channel it towards urgent challenges. Through our global Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), for example, we are cooperating with governments to help multiply financial resources for ecological conservation efforts and improve their effectiveness.

As one of China’s first provincial-level Green Finance Reform and Innovation Pilot Zones,

Chongqing is at the forefront of financial innovation for low-carbon development, and we look forward to identifying areas for joint research and collaboration to enhance SDG-aligned finance.

In closing, I want to express my appreciation to CCICED for organizing today’s roundtable. In the face of planetary challenges that transcend borders, international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and mutual learning through platforms such as this, have never been more critical.

With cities like Chongqing leading the way — we can inspire collective action across all levels. Together let us co-create the solutions that make a green, inclusive, and sustainable future not just a promising vision, but a concrete reality, for everyone, everywhere. Thank you.