Sino-Swiss Low Carbon Cities Project (SSLCC)

Today, 54% of the world’s population already lives in urban areas. Urban activities release greenhouse gases (GHG) that drive global climate change. Cities nowadays emit around 75% of global GHG emissions – with an increasing trend predicted. Cities also are potential hot spots of vulnerability to climate change impacts by virtue of their high concentration of people and assets.

China has recently undergone globally unprecedented and still ongoing urbanisation. China’s 13^th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) strongly asks for low carbon, sustainable urban development. Also, China has shown in the last two years a more responsible attitude in the international debate on climate change; it also submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UNFCCC in Paris (2015).

The project responds to the obvious lack of experience for low carbon urban development in China, and aims to enhance the capacities and policies for sustainable urbanisation in China, in integrating low carbon strategies and contributing to climate change mitigation.

Primarily, decision makers and experts at the municipal and national governments and associated agencies will benefit from knowledge exchange, learnings and better implementation options. The benefits for millions of the city dwellers range from more sustainable environment, better air quality and healthier living conditions.

Note: Any costs for travel and accommodation for visits of Chinese officials to Switzerland will be borne by Chinese partners and not by SDC.

• Low carbon strategic policy initiatives and implementation schemes on innovation and comprehensive planning are in the process of implementation in selected smart industrial zones of each pilot city in accordance with the New Type Urbanization Plan (enacted by the State Council in 2014) and corresponding collaborations with Swiss competence centers is well functioning
• Knowledge and technology information sharing mechanism has been established through exchanges between political leaders and municipal development experts (study tours, workshops, trainings, platforms etc.). Common understanding about possible urban and municipal low carbon development approaches has been reached at city level
• Low carbon city development and more comprehensive innovation management of low carbon industrial transformation have been debated at city level. Integration into municipal policy making has started

Phase 1 01.03.2015 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)