The twelfth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), convened by UN-Habitat, was held on 4 – 8 November 2024, in Cairo, Egypt. As the premier global conference on urbanization, WUF12 brought together an unprecedented participation of more than 24,000 participants from 182 countries.
The Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) was featured in various events and the urban expo at WUF12. Award winning cities and shortlisted cities from both the 1st and the just announced 2nd cycle were actively involved in WUF12, exchanging knowledge and sharing experiences in localizing the SDGs demonstrating the tangible outcomes of the Shanghai Award's emphasis on collaboration and best practice exchange.
Experience sharing on global urban sustainable development
On November 5, at a side event jointly organized by UN-Habitat, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Shanghai University, the organizing committee of Shanghai Award organized a session among Shanghai Award cities and international experts on global urban sustainable development experience sharing.
Representatives from Melbourne, Australia (2nd Cycle Shanghai Award winner), Mombasa, Kenya (2nd Cycle Shanghai Award shortlisted city) shared their experience with Shanghai Award and best practices showcased through the award. Members of the 2nd Cycle Shanghai Award International Jury shared insights on Shanghai Award selection and encouraged cities worldwide to join the initiative to demonstrate their achievements in sustainable development.
Knowledge Exchange on Innovative Approaches for SDG localization
On November 6, Fuzhou, a 1st cycle Shanghai Award winning city, organized an engaging exchange event on best practices in sustainable urban development. Representatives from Melbourne, Australia (2nd Cycle Shanghai Award winner); Iztapalapa, Mexico (2nd Cycle Shanghai Award winner), joined a panel with leading urban development organizations, including CitiIQ and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa on best practices for SDG realization across planning, financing, data management, and implementation. Notable projects featured include Fuzhou’s flood management initiative for urban resilience; inclusive planning for self-built settlements in Iztapalapa; and Melbourne’s PPP housing project targeting homelessness.
Urban Expo
The Urban Expo at WUF12 showcases practical solutions to tackle urban challenges related to housing, transport, energy, waste, and climate change. The exhibition hosted by Shanghai featured the best practices of the 15 shortlisted cities of the second cycle of Shanghai Award and the 5 winning cities of the first cycle of Shanghai Award, underscoring their replicability and relevance in addressing global urban challenges.
In addition, the best practices and case studies of the 15 shortlisted cities of the 2nd Cycle of Shanghai Award were compiled into a report and presented at the expo.
The participation of Shanghai Award cities at WUF12 highlights the award’s growing influence in advancing sustainable urban development globally. By sharing innovative practices, the Shanghai Award aims to serve as a platform for cities to lead by example, driving systematic and impactful solutions to urbanization challenges and contributing to advancing the SDGs.