2024 Shanghai Award Winners: City Champions of Sustainable Urban Development

Morocco's Agadir, India's Trivandrum, Qatar's Doha, Mexico's Iztapalapa, and Australia's Melbourne have been honored with the 2024 Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, known as the Shanghai Award, for their outstanding contributions to advancing sustainability.

Agadir, located in southern Morocco, was acknowledged for its multifaceted approach to enhancing residents' well-being through energy and water conservation, augmented green spaces per capita, and innovative programs like cultural participation initiatives, smart city technology, public engagement enhancements, and improved citizen services and living conditions.

Established in 2022 by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the municipality of Shanghai, the Shanghai Award seeks to promote the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, envisioning cities as catalysts for prosperity.

Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala in India, was praised for its 2030 Development Plan, focusing on fostering a knowledge-driven economy, generating employment opportunities, enhancing transport efficiency, ensuring safe housing, and implementing environmental information systems through public-private partnerships and renewable energy sources like solar power.

Doha was lauded for its preservation of cultural heritage, eco-friendly building practices, the Doha Metro project, economic diversification efforts, advancements in healthcare, and the establishment of an inclusive and vibrant community.

Iztapalapa, a borough of Mexico City, has implemented a holistic strategy merging spatial innovations with social programs to nurture transformative communities, with a special emphasis on gender equality and youth empowerment towards building a sustainable future centered around the people.

Melbourne's sustainability efforts have led to a 76% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2016, the development of renewable energy procurement models, increased biodiversity, revitalization of central areas, and a strong commitment to equity and inclusion in all sustainability initiatives.