Editor’s Note:

Earth Day, observed annually on April 22, is one of the most influential environmental events in the world.

Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 192 countries and engages billions of people. It has become a powerful force in promoting sustainable development and advocating for a greener lifestyle.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. Its theme -- “Our Power, Our Planet,” calls on the global community to accelerate the transition to clean energy. By advancing renewable sources such as solar and wind power, the aim is to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, and build a cleaner, more sustainable home for all.

This issue of In Focus highlights urban solutions related to environmental protection and energy transition, featuring innovative practices from around the world that showcase how cities are driving sustainable transformation and ecological progress through technological innovation, policy guidance, and public participation.

Changwon, Republic of Korea: Green Hydrogen City of Changwon, the New Hydrogen-Centered City of Changwon

(Deserving Initiative 2020)

Changwon, with a population of 1.1 million, is the hub of South Korea’s machinery industry and a major industrial complex. However, its achievements have relied heavily on fossil fuels, and its basin geography has worsened air pollution. In response, the city government has embarked on a transition toward a greener, cleaner model of industrial development. By promoting hydrogen as a primary energy source, Changwon aims to improve quality of life and drive new industrial growth.

The city developed a big-picture vision entitled “The New Hydrogen-Centered City of Changwon 2040”. This vision aims at establishing Changwon as a leading city in a hydrogen economy with a detailed roadmap for getting there. At that time, the city plans to supply ten hydrogen stations, 4,900 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and 100 hydrogen-fuelled buses by 2022. To this end, the city government has launched public awareness campaigns and offered subsidies to individuals and companies that adopt hydrogen-powered transportation. Meanwhile, it is collaborating with Changwon National University to study the practical application of hydrogen in the transport sector and plans to foster a number of hydrogen-related enterprises in the future. In addition, civil society organizations and private companies are supporting the project by helping to survey public opinion and donating hydrogen production facilities.

By the time the project received its award, the Changwon city government had already achieved tangible results: four hydrogen stations, 658 FCEVs, and five hydrogen-powered buses had been put into operation. From 2016 to 2020, the annual average ultra-fine particle density fell from 26μg/m³ to 16μg/m³, the equivalent of planting 260,000 trees.

Guadalajara, Mexico: Metropolitan Agency for Urban Forests of the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (AMBU)

(Deserving Initiative 2020) 

The Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara consists nine municipalities and home to 4.5 million residents. Urban forests and parks within the metropolitan area have been managed by the municipality in which they are located. However, with a human-centric and short-term approach, a scarce budget, and lack of technical equipment, many of the green areas have deteriorated or simply have been left to their own devices. This has also meant diminished capacity of supporting ecological balance and a toll on the quality of life.

Realising the importance of the care and restoration of these “lungs”, the local governments created the Metropolitan Agency for Urban Forests of the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (AMBU). This decentralised inter-municipal public body is the consolidation and evolution of the Urban Forests Network, a pilot project of the municipality of Guadalajara. It is dedicated to establishing unified planning and management standards for green infrastructure, providing reliable data to support public policy design for urban forests. As a metropolitan organisation, it brings together the parks and large green spaces of the nine municipalities and is equipped with greater competences and ambitions. Its mission is to conserve, manage, and improve the green areas of metropolitan Guadalajara. It defines criteria for ecological restoration, integrates green technologies, and provides environmental education to society.

One of the challenges is the slow handover of parks by the municipalities to AMBU. For those parks that have been ceded to the agency, though, the process was not accompanied by a budget. Financially, AMBU receives a fixed annual fund from the state government on the one hand. On the other, it relies on earnings by networking with companies and lending spaces for events (e.g., concerts, races, summer courses) as well as donations.

Aswan, Egypt: City of Development, Creativity, and Renewable Energy

(Deserving Initiative 2020)

Aswan is home to over 300,000 residents, but its reliance on oil-fired power generation has posed significant challenges to the city’s future development. First, it consumes large amounts of water and generates substantial carbon emissions, leading to pollution. Second, the energy supply is inefficient and costly. These issues have contributed to environmental degradation and a decline in tourism.  In response, the city has started an initiative centred around the high-profile Benban Solar Project.

The Benban Solar Project is the largest of its kind in Africa. The project covers an area of 37 square kilometres, with investments exceeding two billion US dollars. The project has seen the creation of 42 solar power stations with a total capacity of 2,100 megawatts, as well as 10,000 job opportunities for local men and women and people with disabilities. Cooperation has been conducted with international organisations, notably the World Bank for financial and technical support, as well as a consortium of companies for the construction of solar power plants.

Aswan has also integrated the solar project well into its vision for a creative, green, and sustainable city. It has built a solar energy school to teach students about the production of solar energy and manufacturing of power panels and encourage them to invent solar-powered machines and equipment. Several Nubian villages have been created with eco-friendly homes and beautiful handicrafts and art performances. In combination with cultural festivals held every year, the city aims to revive its creative and travel sectors.

Kfar Saba, Israel: Meeting a Common Challenge: Optimizing Energy Practices and Behaviors

(Deserving Initiative 2018) 

The Action “Meeting a Common Challenge: Optimizing Energy Practices and Behaviors” (MCC) was launched in 2015 in Kfar Saba, Israel, with the goal of promoting smart Energy Management Systems (EMS) to raise public awareness of energy conservation. Using schools as pilot sites, the project combined technological adoption with behavioral change, encouraging students, teachers, and municipal staff to actively engage in energy-saving practices. Within three years, it achieved up to a 20% reduction in electricity consumption.

The project’s innovation lies in its user-friendly platform design, which enables non-experts to understand energy consumption data and empowers young people to take on leadership roles within their schools. Following initial success in educational settings, the initiative expanded to the household level, reaching around 1,000 families. Through an online energy management platform, residents could input their electricity usage and appliance habits. The system then analyzed their energy performance, compared it with that of nearby households, and generated a “social ranking.” In addition, the platform provided customized energy-saving recommendations based on each household’s specific situation, helping users improve their energy behavior and increase efficiency.

The project’s outcomes were also disseminated through EU platforms to countries such as Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia, showcasing how local action can drive regional transformation. It offers a sustainable, inclusive, and educationally impactful localized pathway toward a low-carbon transition.

Alor Gajah, Malaysia: Melaka World Solar Valley (MWSV)

(Deserving Initiative 2018)

Melaka World Solar Valley (MWSV) is Malaysia’s first green development demonstration zone centered on solar energy. Located in the Alor Gajah Municipal Council area of jurisdiction, it spans 7,248 hectares and aims to build a world-class green technology city. Officially launched in 2011, the project promotes the development of sustainable urban systems with solar energy as the primary renewable source.

The project brings together the efforts of the government, private enterprises, and research institutions. It has led to the establishment of a solar cell factory, a 5MWp solar farm and the promotion of green technology infrastructure, green certification systems, and public education. Implemented in three phases, the project has been incorporated into the draft Melaka World Solar Valley Special Area Plan.

As a national-level green demonstration project, it not only promotes the use of clean energy and reduces carbon emissions, but also creates a large number of green jobs, driving the development of local and international green technology industry chains. Its experience offers a practical blueprint for other cities undergoing green transition.