Global Platform for Sustainable Cities

A forum for knowledge sharing and partnerships to achieve urban sustainability

Progam Context

The Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC), led by the World Bank, is a collaborative knowledge platform for cities, networks and institutions to advance the urban sustainability agenda through:

• Knowledge transfer activities that support urban investments and sustainability initiatives

• A global network for collaborative engagement, tapping into and complementing existing efforts

• Long-term, systematic engagement with cities, financial institutions, and organizations for transformational impact

The GPSC is designed as part of the Sustainable Cities Integrated Approach Pilot (SC-IAP), a $150 million pilot program supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The SC-IAP program consists of a variety of urban sustainability projects in 27 participating cities across 11 countries. Each country is supported by one or several of the following implementing agencies: UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Development Bank of South Africa, and the World Bank.

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Abidjan intends to address transportation and air pollution.

Program Components

Program Objectives

The Global Platform for Sustainable Cities aims to:

• Promote a common approach to integrated urban planning and offer guidance on cross-cutting urban themes

• Provide a platform for knowledge sharing on urban sustainability efforts• Create a space for networking among cities and relevant organizations

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The Global Platform consists of four areas:

• Geospatial data, Tools, and Sustainability Indicators• Sustainability Urban Planning• Urban Financing (focusing on municipal finance, creditworthiness,

and project preparation)• Engagement and Partnerships with relevant organizations and

interested cities

Cross-Cutting Themes

The Global Platform will take a cross-cutting thematic approach for urban sustainability planning. Some themes include: waste/water/sanitation management, transit-oriented development/compact cities, “placemaking” (i.e. human-centric designing of the city), and climate change and resilience planning, among others.

PartnershipsIndicators & Tools

Finance Planning$

PartnershipsIndicators & Tools

Finance Planning$

PartnershipsIndicators & Tools

Finance Planning$

PartnershipsIndicators & Tools

Finance Planning$

Modalities

The GPSC will provide the following knowledge products and support:

• Guidance documents, feasibility studies, etc.• International expertise• Working groups on specific issues, consisting of international experts and

practitioners • Workshops/trainings on indicators, tools/geospatial data, finance, planning• Annual meetings• Online resource platform: e-courses

The type of support from the GPSC will be demand-driven to fit the context and needs of the cities. The GPSC invites cities outside of the program, think tanks, networks, institutions and international experts to participate in the knowledge sharing activities.

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Some participating cities plan to tackle urban flooding with urban stormwater retention landscapes.

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Partnerships

The GPSC aims to leverage:

• Existing global and local efforts and expertise from organizations/networks• Multilateral Development Banks and financial institutions to link and

translate knowledge into investments• Aspirations for urban sustainability beyond the participating cities,

supporting initiatives for resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities globally

Joint Deliverables

In addition to the general knowledge sharing activities, the GPSC will work with participating cities and agencies/organizations to provide country or city-specific support on geospatial tools, indicators, urban planning and financing. A specific work program will be developed with the cooperation of the relevant entities and cities.

Many participating cities will pursue transit-oriented development (TOD) initiatives.

Global Platform for Sustainable Cities

Participating Cities

Brazil$25m GEF Grant; $193m co-fi nancing Project Proponent: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI)Implementing Agency: UNEP

Recife will focus on integrated transport development and low-carbon mobility near the Capibaribe River. Brasilia will focus on soil remediation of the Estrutural Dump Site area, watershed restoration, among others. A Brazilian Knowledge Platform will be created.

China$36m GEF GrantProject Proponent: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Development (MOHURD) and seven participating citiesImplementing Agency: World Bank

Th e 7 cities in China (Guiyang, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Nanchang, Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang) will focus on transit-oriented development (TOD) and planning integration.

Côte D’Ivoire$6m GEF Grant; $21m co-fi nancingProject Proponent: Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Environment, District of AbidjanImplementing Agency: AfDB (Lead), UNIDO

Abidjan aims to improve mobility planning, resilient transport infrastructure, and various initiatives to improve the urban air quality.

India$13.5m GEF Grant, $80-100m co-fi n.Project Proponent: Ministry of Urban DevelopmentImplementing Agency: UNIDO

Vijayawada, Mysore, Guntur, Jaipur and Bhopal will focus on waste management: the utilization of biogas from sewage treatment plant (STP) or from organic waste, solid waste-to-energy, a compost plant, or landfi ll gas management.

Malaysia$3m GEF Grant; $18m co-fi nancingProject Proponent: Malaysian Industry-Govt. Group for High TechnologyImplementing Agency: UNIDO

Melaka will address energy, transportation and buildings. Activities: increased adoption of electric vehicles and infrastructure, a Green Mobility Master Plan, and pilot projects on energy effi ciency in commercial and governmental buildings, among others.

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Mexico$15m GEF Grant; $110m co-financingProject Proponent: BANOBRASImplementing Agency: IADB

Xalapa will focus on a new waste-to-energy plant. Campeche will focus on the clean-up of Campeche Bay through a wastewater plant and wastewater discharge pipeline. La Paz aims to pilot a series of stand-alone solar plants for La Paz’s public buildings.

Paraguay$8.2m GEF Grant; $240m co-financingProject Proponent: Secretariat of Environment, Ministry of Public Works, Municipality of AsuncionImplementing Agency: UNDP

Asuncion will, among others, improve mobility, pilot projects on solid waste management and waste recovery and recycling, and restore or improve the management of protected areas, such as the Bahia de Asuncion.

Peru$7.5m GEF Grant; $133m co-financingProject Proponent: Ministry of EnvironmentImplementing Agency: IADB

Peru will create a National Platform of Sustainable Cities and Climate Change. As a pilot, Lima will focus on (1) Sustainable Planning, (2) Monitoring Climate Change Variables, (3) Biodiversity, (4) Strategic Investments, (5) Institutional Strengthening.

Senegal$9.5m GEF Grant; $51m co-financingProject Proponent: Ministry of Env. and Sustainable Development, Municipal Dev. AgencyImplementing Agency: World Bank (Lead), UNIDO

Diamniadio Industrial Park in Greater Dakar and Saint Louis aim to integrate climate risks and sustainability in planning and promote resource efficiency.

South Africa$9m GEF Grant; $119m co-financingProject Proponent: City of JohannesburgImplementing Agency: UNEP, DBSA

Johannesburg will focus on green, low-energy zones that are part of the bus-rapid transit (BRT) corridors, waste management and waste-to-energy, composting for food security, clean fuels for public transport, and integrated indicators, among others.

Viet Nam$9m GEF Grant; $175m co-financingProject Proponent: Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MONRE), Ministry of Planning & Investment, and participating citiesImplementing Agency: ADB

Hue, Ha Giang and Vinh Yen will focus on sustainability and resilience. Sustainable cities indicators will be used to guide an integrated planning framework with financial mechanisms.

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Partners

Photo credits:Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, by Michael Sotnikov; Abidjan traffi c, by fr.zil on Flickr; Qunli National Urban Wetland, by Turenscape; Metrobus in Buenos Aires, by Estrella Herrera/GCBA

For More Information:

Interested in being a partner? A prospective city?

Xueman WangGPSC Program Managerxwang5@worldbank.org

Jennifer LeeGPSC Program Coordinatorjlee28@worldbank.org

March 2016 Meeting Materials: http://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2016/02/25/singapore-urban-week-global-platform-sustainable-cities