The preliminary evaluation meeting for the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (Guangzhou Award) was recently held in Guangzhou.

Some 274 projects from 193 cities and local governments worldwide are participating in the competition.

A top official from the ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability - an international non-government body based in the city of Bonn, Germany - was a guest speaker at the Guangzhou meeting.

The ICLEI is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, it influences sustainability policies and drives local action for low emissions, nature-based, equitable, resilient, and circular development. 

At the meeting, Kobie Brand, its deputy secretary-general, emphasized that infrastructure was the key to urban innovation and that current infrastructure development would lay the foundation for future urban development.

She pointed out that challenges faced by cities should be seen as opportunities and platforms for innovation, promoting sustainable urban development.

Brand added that she believed that innovative governance solutions and technologies, particularly projects related to water resource management, could effectively address multiple urban issues.

In addition, she indicated that the ICLEI would strengthen its cooperation with the Guangzhou Award to foster sustainable urban development. 

Currently, 15 innovative cases have been shortlisted for the next round of competition.