Climate change requires group efforts, not finger-pointing. China’s Guangzhou has been working hard to figure out possible solutions with its global partners.

The finals of the 2nd Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was wrapped up in Guangzhou on November 9. Charles Stephen Farr, international project director of Guangzhou International Sister-City University Alliance, spoke highly of the contest entries and highlighted some of them provided possible solutions for climate change and environmental problems.

A team from Western Sydney University—CO2 Concrete—took the gold. Their project dealt with a cement mixture that they put into cement to lower carbon emissions, according to Charles Stephen Farr.

Two teams from Guangzhou University, BriGuardian and Chengan Tunnel Research Center, won silver medals. “They addressed the needs to tackle environmental problems,” he remarked.

One of the projects considered the large number of underground tunnels in Guangzhou and developed an innovative system that goes through these tunnels and helps to make sure they have no security problems.

While the other focus on the bridges in Guangzhou and developed a system that goes into the water and examines the structure of the bridge beneath the water. It compares to a database to identify potential problems of bridges so that engineers could address and repair them before any structural damage.

Guangzhou has 98 sister cities and friendly cities located throughout the world. Charles Stephen Farr said the mission of the Guangzhou International Sister-City University Alliance is to attract and leverage the academic resources of all members for the urban sustainability of sister cities.

“What we're looking at is putting together an international symposium where people from the 98 sister cities of Guangzhou to develop the smart cities of tomorrow, whether it's energy, whether it's transportation,” he said, “every city, every country is different but we all share one thing in common that is education. So, when talking about university programs, it’s understood because it’s for our next generation.”

Thus far, the Alliance has 18 members from 17 sister cities of 15 countries. 

Author | Jasmine

Video | Axin

Editor | Nan, Jerry