The official website of the United Nations (UN) recently released Guangzhou’s Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) which discloses the city’s measures to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the first time the website has released VLR from a Chinese city.

Sustainable development has been one of the most significant topics worldwide. UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include 17 indicators which offer cities worldwide a universal guideline to rethink their development and to take part in the global conversation even though their conditions are different.

Guangzhou’s report shows that its urban planning (2018-2035) is highly consistent with the 17 indicators of UN’s SDGs as it is putting more efforts to balance the space for green, agriculture and urban areas. The report also emphasizes the city’s goals to build itself an open, modern and international city while protecting its traditional Lingnan culture. It also highlights the aims to provide citizens with good living environment, education and medical care.

Guangzhou also shares its experience to achieve SDGs including quality education (SDG4), clean water and sanitation (SDG6), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG9), sustainable cities and communities (SDG11), and life on land (SDG15) through its report:

As for ecological protection and restoration, Guangzhou implemented a project named "Returning Green to the People" on the Baiyun Mountain. The 6.2-kilometer "air trail" has been open to the public. It connects the natural landscape with the parks citywide, creating a path for visitors without being disturbed by the busy traffic. [PhotoNanfang Daily]

Guangzhou reserved 1100-hectare of wetland (11 square kilometers) in Haizhu district, one of its central districts.[PhotoNanfang Daily]

Guangzhou is actively carrying out minor renovations of old communities and promoting urban renovation. From 2016 to 2020, a total of 349 old communities have been renovated, benefiting more than 1.5 million residents. The Yong Qing Fang project is one of the most well-known urban regeneration projects in the city.[PhotoNanfang Daily]

Guangzhou, as a mega city with more than 22 million population, included sustainable development as a goal in its urban planning in 1996, aiming to provide its citizens with green, creative and open communities.

Guangzhou became a Voluntary Local Review declaration signatory in 2019, through which the city is able to strengthen communication and cooperation in sustainable development with global counterparts.

Author: Jasmine, Russell

Editor: Jerry