UrbanShift China City Academy

UrbanShift, in collaboration with the China Center for Urban Development (CCUD) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, hosted the UrbanShift China City Academy from 1–3 July 2025 in Chengdu, China. This three-day training event brought together senior representatives from UrbanShift cities in China, Indonesia, and India, along with key national government officials from the three countries. Designed to accelerate integrated and inclusive urban development, the Academy offered two parallel thematic tracks: Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods, led by UNEP, and Urban Biodiversity, led by WRI.

Through a mix of expert-led sessions, peer learning, and interactive discussions, city officials engaged with regional and global experts to strengthen their knowledge and capacity to implement sustainable urban practices. Each delegate participated in one of the two tracks for the full duration of the Academy, allowing for focused and in-depth learning tailored to their city’s priorities and needs. Simultaneous interpretation was available in Mandarin Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, and English to ensure broad accessibility and engagement.

The UrbanShift China City Academy was a unique opportunity for cross-country exchange and collaboration, aligning local actions with national and global sustainability goals. It also served as a platform to strengthen regional cooperation on urban resilience, biodiversity, and low-carbon development.

Opening Ceremony Agenda

See photos

Urban Biodiversity

Agenda

• English
• Simplified Chinese 

Speakers

• John-Rob Pool, Senior Manager, UrbanShift & Nature-positive Urban Development, WRI 

• Dr. Ted Wong, Research and Project Associate, Data & Tools, WRI

• Dr. Elizabeth Wesley, Data Scientist, Urban Surfaces and Extreme Heat, Data & Tools, WRI

• Xiaoqian Jiang, Climate Lead & Sichuan Project Lead, Sustainable Transition Center, WRI China 

• Karishma Asarpota, Senior Officer, Climate Action, World Secretariat Office, ICLEI 

• Yi Jiang, Project Coordinator, Beijing Office, ICLEI 

• Shijun Zheng, Director of Anji Branch, Huzhou Ecological Environment Bureau, Anji City, China  

• Vincent Vinarao, Quezon City, Philippines  

• Nadhirah Binti Ahmad, Senior Assistant Manager, Melaka Green Technology Corporation, Melaka City, Malaysia 

• Varsha Singh, Specialist - Knowledge Management and Communications, National institute of Urban Affairs, India

• Ingrid Coetzee, Director: Biodiversity, Nature & Health, ICLEI Africa, Cities Biodiversity Center 

• Michail Kapetanakis, Policy Advisor, Sustainable Infrastructure, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)  

• Dr. Audrey Timm, Technical Initiatives Manager & Lead, Green Cities, International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) 

Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods

Agenda

• English
• Simplified Chinese

Speakers

• Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General, ICLEI -Local Governments for Sustainability
• Bai Wei, Director of the International Cooperation Department, China Center for Urban Development
• Lanlan Yuan, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Chengdu High-Tech Zone 
• Qian Wang, Officer-in-Charge, UNEP China Office
• Xiaoqian Jiang, Climate Lead & Sichuan Project Lead, Sustainable Transition Center, WRI China
• Alyssa Chenault, UrbanShift Global Manager, ICLEI World Secretariat
• Ding Rui, Deputy Chief Planner, Professor-level Senior Engineer, National Registered Urban and Rural Planner, Chengdu Institute of Planning and Design
• Siqiao Yuan, Program Manager, ICLEI East Asia Secretariat
• Elsa Lefevre, Programme Management Officer, UNEP
• Serge Salat, President, UMCSI 
• Camille Tallon, Manager for Urban Planning and 15 Minute City, C40 Cities
• Jing Hou, Deputy Head of Sectoral Programme, C40 China
• Dengqiang Zhao, Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Residents' Committee, Angong Community, Chengdu, China
• Xiyue Wang, Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management Division, Yangzhou City Environmental Sanitation Management Office
• Yassine Moustanjidi, Urban Planning Expert, UN-HABITAT
• Qi Qi, Engineer, Beijing Climate Change Management Affairs Center
• Yan Zhang, Director, Shijiazhuang Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning
• Muthamma Ammavasai, Commissioner cum Secretary to Government, Public Works and Planning and Research, Government of Puducherry, India
• Serge Salat, President, UMCSI
• Chuanzhi Liang, Deputy Division Chief, CSTID-MoHURD
• Feng Jia, Deputy Director, Ecological Planning & Construction Department, Qingdao Sino‑German Ecopark Management Committee, China
• Wei Huang, Consultant, UNEP
• James Carantes Cosep, Project Development Officer, City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office, City Government of Baguio, Philippines
• Yahui Li, Shenzhen Yantian District Bureau of Ecology and Environment, China
• Wei Gao, Guangzhou Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau, China
• Andrea Villaroman, City Government Department Head III, Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, Quezon City, Philippines
• Janis Louis Hilario Esparcia, Assistant City Administrator for Operations, City Administrator's Office, City Government of Davao, Philippines
• Jing Hou, Deputy Head of Sectoral Programme, C40 China
• Beibei Gu, Deputy Director, Shanghai Jinsinan Institute of Finance
• Jing Hou, Deputy Head of Sectoral Programme, C40 China
• Jingjing Jiang, C40 Green and Thriving Neighbourhoods China Project Manager, C40 China
• Camille Tallon, Manager for Urban Planning and 15 Minute City, C40 Cities
• Luole Xie, Deputy Secretary General, China Association of Building Energy Efficiency (CABEE)
• Serge Salat, President, UMCSI 
• Mingming Wang, Head of Program Development, China, C40 Cities