On October 22, the Shanghai Municipal Government announced that the main event for the World Cities Day 2024, along with the Global Conference on Urban Sustainable Development, will take place in Shanghai from October 29 to November 2.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of World Cities Day, and for the first time, the Global Sustainable City Award, also known as the Shanghai Award, will be presented abroad in Alexandria, Egypt. This initiative aims to promote the concept of “People’s City” on an international level.
Launched in 2023, the Shanghai Award, established by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Shanghai Municipal Government, is the first international award of its kind. It recognizes cities worldwide for their comprehensive solutions and significant advancements in sustainable development, aligning with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and facilitating the local implementation of the New Urban Agenda globally.
The upcoming Shanghai event is co-organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Shanghai Municipal Government, and UN-Habitat. The theme is “Building a People’s City Together for a Better Life.” The event structure includes an opening ceremony, the Shanghai International Urban and Architectural Expo, seven thematic side events, and 16 public welfare activities aligned with World Cities Day themes across various districts.
This year, the event emphasizes the theme of ‘People’ even more, showcasing a broader array of results. It will include the release of the Chinese version of the “Shanghai Handbook” for 2024, the latest research results of the “Shanghai Index,” the “Shanghai Report,” which is a voluntary assessment of the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda, and the fourth volume of the series exploring the construction of “People’s City” in the new era. These materials aim to provide reference experiences and examples for cities around the world.
Moreover, each of Shanghai’s 16 districts will introduce a unique community engagement initiative, featuring a variety of social welfare activities, including sports, science education, technology showcases, tours, lectures, and services. During the opening ceremony, five interactive public welfare initiatives will be launched, namely, an innovation and entrepreneurship competition for social organizations, a city walk showcasing beautiful neighborhoods, a micro-upgrading competition for youth development districts, a national university student urban governance case challenge, and a project focusing on “The Future City Through Children’s Eyes” for Shanghai’s child-friendly urban development. These efforts aim to foster broader social participation and engagement.
