Editor’s Note:

As the global climate crisis intensifies, green development has become a central concern for urban governance. Faced with resource constraints, ecological degradation, and environmental risks, cities worldwide are moving beyond conventional management models toward systemic ecological governance—seeking a dynamic balance between economic growth and environmental protection.

Green urban governance is not only about reducing emissions or protecting nature. It calls for a long-term perspective in building urban ecosystems where people and nature can thrive together. This approach emphasizes resilience, ecological restoration, circular resource use, green infrastructure, and civic participation—ultimately strengthening the sustainability and adaptability of cities.

This edition of In Focus spotlights exemplary green governance initiatives recognized by the Guangzhou Award for Urban Innovation—from Africa’s largest solar park in Aswan, Egypt, to Baia Mare’s phytoremediation project in Romania; from Ramallah’s water-recycling system in Palestine, to Barcelona’s climate-resilient school shelters in Spain, and Breda’s nature-inclusive riverfront regeneration in the Netherlands.

Moving beyond conventional environmentalism, these practices integrate ecological restoration, low-carbon transition, and community empowerment. They not only mitigate environmental crises but also generate economic opportunities and social inclusion, offering replicable models for global urban green transition.

Aswan, Egypt

City of Development, Creativity and Renewable Energy

2020 Guangzhou Award Deserving Initiative

Aswan City, Egypt’s southern gateway to Africa with over 300,000 people, faced environmental degradation due to inefficient, water-intensive, and high-emission oil-based power. Its key response is the "Benban Solar Park", Africa’s largest solar project.

Benban features 42 power stations generating 2,100 MW. It’s estimated to cut annual emissions by 2 million tons and has created 10,000 local jobs, including for the disabled. Aswan now partners with international organizations and corporate alliances for further solar plant development.

The project aligns with Aswan’s goal of becoming a creative, green, and sustainable city. For instance, a solar energy school trains students, encouraging invention. Graduates have initiated projects supporting environmental protection and eco-tourism villages. Several Nubian villages now showcase eco-friendly homes, handicrafts, and art performances.

        Learn more: guangzhouaward.org/a/1457.html

Baia Mare, Romania

SPIRE-Smart Post-Industrial Regenerative Ecosystem 

2023 Guangzhou Award Deserving Initiative

Baia Mare, Romania, pioneered phytoremediation of industrial land through the EU-funded SPIRE project, becoming a model for green transition in resource-based cities.

Targeting 627 hectares of heavy metal-contaminated land, the project implemented ecological restoration in five pilot areas. By planting hyperaccumulator plants like willow, restoring 7 hectares for public use and significantly improving urban environmental health.

SPIRE innovated a multi-stakeholder model: establishing the SPIRE Hub for community co-governance and "Living Laboratories" workshops; creating the LEU virtual reward system to incentivize low-carbon travel and circular economy actions; and fostering youth green entrepreneurship. Biomass from remediation is used to develop bioenergy and sustainable building materials, which provide clean energy to institutions and reduce city-wide emissions.

Combining nature-based technology with community-driven governance, SPIRE offers a replicable solution for resource-based cities globally to combat pollution and develop a circular bio-economy.

        Learn more：guangzhouaward.org/a/3393.html

Ramallah, Palestine

Ramallah City Stepping Toward a Greener Future

2023 Guangzhou Award Deserving Initiative

Facing water scarcity and urban challenges, Ramallah, Palestine, leads green transition through two synergistic innovations.

Its 2018 wastewater reuse project transforms city wastewater into high-quality reclaimed water, adds 10,000 cubic meters of water daily, conserves potable water by 60%, replaces fertilizer with natural nutrients, and has planted 1,150 trees, creating triple benefits: resource circulation, economic savings, and environmental improvement.

Complementing this, the smart city GIS platform launched in 2014 revolutionized governance. It integrates fragmented data for precise decision-making in waste collection, road maintenance, etc., boosting efficiency and cutting costs while enhancing emergency response. Interactive public maps increase transparency and participation, building data-driven trust. The city ensures its longevity through tech upgrades, staff training, and clear data rules.

These deeply synergistic practices—technology-driven resource cycling and data-enabled governance—effectively tackle Ramallah’s challenges of water scarcity, climate adaptation, and efficient management. They advance Sustainable Development Goals, offering resource-scarce cities an innovative path towards a green, resilient, and inclusive future.

        Learn more：guangzhouaward.org/a/3412.html

Barcelona, Spain

Climate Shelters in Schools

2023 Guangzhou Award Deserving Initiative

Barcelona's Climate Shelters project, part of its cross-departmental Climate Plan (242 measures targeting climate impacts, justice, and participation by 2030), improves thermal comfort in public spaces to protect health, especially for the vulnerable.

It transforms public schools into climate shelters for students and citizens outside school hours, addressing heatwave resilience. In a pilot, 11 schools (one per district) redesigned playgrounds through participatory measures, creating blue (water play), green (greening), and grey (shade, pavements) zones. A Catalogue of Solutions documents tested approaches, ensuring transferability and continuity.

This innovative approach leverages existing infrastructure and engages school communities via participation and education, significantly raising climate awareness and benefiting stakeholders. It enhances the city's resilience in an efficient, rapid, and low-cost manner.

        Learn more：guangzhouaward.org/a/3394.html

Breda, Netherlands

GreenQuays-Urban River Regeneration through Nature Inclusive Quays

2020 Guangzhou Award Shortlisted Initiative

Breda, Netherlands’ GreenQuays project tackles climate challenges by regenerating its waterfront through ecological restoration and innovative governance. Facing ecological degradation and climate vulnerability from urbanization, the project uses Nature Inclusive Quays (NIQ) technology. It transformed a 175m pilot riverbank and 7500㎡ of grey infrastructure. Innovative features like protruding bricks and plant platforms create vertical ecosystems, optimizing rainwater flow and providing wildlife habitats, boosting biodiversity.

It pioneered a cross-sector model: municipal bodies, universities, and NGOs provided technical support, while citizens and stakeholders deeply engaged through an intensive co-design process. This built lasting dialogue and translated expertise into inclusive solutions. New public green spaces link the quays to urban greenery, forming ecological corridors that create a resilient, ecologically functional, and socially vibrant waterfront.

Beyond physical renewal, GreenQuays offers an innovative governance model for urban river restoration. Its technical solutions and policy experience are integrated into regional and national regeneration guidelines, raising public awareness of regenerative urban development.

        Learn more：guangzhouaward.org/a/1340.html