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The winners of the 3rd Cycle of the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) were announced during the Global Observance of World Cities Day on 31 October 2025 in Bogotá, Colombia.

 

This year’s five winning cities – Algiers (Algeria), Al Madinah (Saudi Arabia), Bogotá (Colombia), Espoo (Finland), and Incheon (Republic of Korea) – were recognized for their exceptional progresses in building more sustainable and resilient urban futures.

 

Representatives from 15 shortlisted cities of this year’s Shanghai Award were invited to attend the Global Observance of World Cities Day in Bogotá, Colombia. 

 

As part of the opening session of the 2025 Global Observance of World Cities Day, the award ceremony began with remarks from Mr. Gong Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai. He emphasized the strong partnership between UN-Habitat, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, and the Shanghai Municipality through joint initiatives such as the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award), the Shanghai Manual, and the Shanghai Adapted Index – all aimed at providing strong support to cities in advancing sustainable urban development.

 

Awards were presented by UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach to city representatives during the ceremony, witnessed by Ms. Helga María Rivas Ardila, Minister of Housing, City and Territory of Colombia, and Mr. Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China. 

 

  • Algiers (Algeria) – Envisioning a modern, inclusive, and sustainable metropolis by 2030, Algiers focuses on adequate housing, social equity, resilient infrastructure, ecological transition, and smart urban governance.
  • Al Madinah (Saudi Arabia) – Guided by Saudi Vision 2030, the SDGs, and the New Urban Agenda, Al Madinah is implementing a smart city approach through major projects in advanced urban mobility, environmental restoration, and data-driven governance supported by a leading digital platform.
  • Bogotá (Colombia) – Responding to climate vulnerability and social inequality, Bogotá’s “My City, My Home” vision advances green infrastructure, climate action, and “warm homes” programmes to create a more inclusive and resilient city.
  • Espoo (Finland) – A pioneer in sustainable urban innovation, Espoo integrates the SDGs into planning, budgeting, and governance. The city aligns technological innovation with strong community engagement and social inclusion.
  • Incheon (Republic of Korea) – Incheon combines long-term vision with measurable outcomes to balance environmental protection, economic vitality, and social inclusion through a results-oriented and integrated urban development strategy.

Out of 85 applications from 33 countries around the world, the five winning cities were selected by an independent international jury based on four key criteria: impact, innovation, sustainability, and adaptability.

The winning cities also reflect the Shanghai Award 3rd Cycle’s four focus areas:

  • Adequate housing for diverse needs
  • Building people-centered smart cities together
  • Green and resilient development responding to climate change
  • Effective governance for vibrant cities

 

Launch of the Shanghai Manual 2025

The ceremony also marked the launch of the Shanghai Manual 2025, jointly launched by UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, Mr. Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, and Mr. Gu Honghui, Counsellor of Shanghai Municipal People's Government. The Shanghai Manual is a global knowledge resource on urban best practices fostering collaboration, learning, and innovation among cities around the world. The Manual features inspiring cases from the five 2025 Shanghai Award-winning cities.

 

The Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) is a joint initiative of UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipality. Held annually, the Award recognizes cities leading the way in sustainable urban development and the localization of the SDGs. Read more: https://unhabitat.org/shanghai-award 

Stay tuned for the Call for Applications for the 4th Cycle in 2026!

Watch the Award Ceremony: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1k/k1kjv83kwm (from 37:40)