The Second United Nations Habitat Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 5 to 9 June. Under the theme of "Sustainable Urban Future through Inclusive and Effective Multilateralism: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in an Age of Global Crisis", the conference focused on urban climate action and urban crisis response.
Building low-carbon, green and livable cities is the direction of joint efforts of all countries in the world. For a long time, China has shared its experience and practices in sustainable urban and rural development in Africa and other places, and contributed Chinese wisdom and solutions to the improvement of the living environment in African countries.
Energy conservation and emission reduction, advocating low-carbon travel
Nairobi, which enjoys spring all year round, is home to the headquarters of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). During this year's Habitat Congress, electric buses providing shuttle services stood out outside the venue. These "green buses" echo the city's climate action agenda – reducing urban air pollution and saving energy through low-carbon mobility.
Electric buses on the streets of Nairobi
In March last year, Kenyan startup BasiGo became the first to launch an electric bus in the country, using components from Chinese company BYD to assemble electric buses locally. "China is leading the way in new energy vehicle production capacity. Chinese companies are very willing to share the latest technology. That's why we can leapfrog without having to go back to the difficult beginnings of the industry. BasiGo executive Moses Ndritu said.
At present, African countries are experiencing a continuous and rapid wave of urbanization, and are also plagued by "urban diseases" such as traffic congestion and air pollution. With the continuous improvement of public transport systems in some African countries with the help of Chinese enterprises, people have more low-carbon travel options.
In January this year, the first phase of the Lagos Light Rail Blue Line project in Nigeria, undertaken by China Civil Engineering Group Co., Ltd., was officially opened. This is the first electrified urban light rail transit project in West Africa independently designed, built, constructed and operated by a Chinese enterprise.
Lagos Light Rail Blue Line
"The Lagos Light Rail Blue Line project is very convenient for local people, and the same distance that used to take me 90 minutes to commute is now only 20 minutes to my destination. In addition, the blue line of the light rail is also electrically driven, breaking the traditional fuel traffic consumption mode and reducing harmful gas emissions such as exhaust gases. Lagos Transport Authority official Tonde Odejid said.
"Chasing the wind day by day" to develop green energy
At night, five units are in operation at the Lower Kaifu Gap Hydropower Station in Zambia, and a steady stream of electricity enters thousands of households along the transmission line.
Lower Kaifu Gorge Hydropower Station
In March this year, the Xiakaifu Wave Hydropower Station, built by China Power Construction Group Co., Ltd., held a power generation ceremony for Unit 5. "Since the start of power generation at the Lower Kaifu Gap Hydropower Station, Lusaka's power supply capacity has increased significantly. In the past, the loss of customers in my hairdressing shop was due to the lack of electricity, but now the business in the store is booming and the queues are too long. Sindoro, the owner of a hairdressing shop in Lusaka, Zambia's capital, said happily.
Improved electricity supply has made the street where the shop is located prosperous. "This year, seven or eight new shops have opened on this street, including bars, supermarkets, and vegetable stalls..." Following the direction of Sindoro's finger, the reporter saw that the street was full of people and fireworks.
Global climate change and the environmental problems it brings have become major challenges facing human survival and development today. Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, and the development of green energy is an inevitable choice for Africa to achieve sustainable development. In recent years, China has attached great importance to green energy cooperation with Africa, and more and more Chinese enterprises have participated in Africa's green development process.
"For Africa, cooperation with China can not only develop Africa's abundant green energy resources, but also allow African countries to learn from China's experience in the vigorous development of clean energy through successful experience sharing." Costantinos Belhutesfa, a professor at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, said.
Beautify the city and create a livable life
Friendship Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, is the result of one of the country's most iconic urban renewal projects – just 11 months ago it was a wasteland with sewage and has become one of Africa's most versatile and largest urban complexes.
Friendship Square
Friendship Square is part of the Addis Ababa Riverbank Green Development Project and is being built by Chinese companies. The project integrates landscape, architecture, municipal, road, water conservancy and garden, and is currently carrying out the construction of the river improvement standard section of the second phase project.
Wei Qiangyu, general manager of the Ethiopia office of CCCC First Public Bureau Group, said that the riverbank green development project will develop tourism to drive the economy by managing the urban environment to attract popularity, and embark on a green and sustainable development path.
In an interview with Xinhua News Agency before the Habitat Conference, Meimuna Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said that when she visited China, she was deeply impressed by China's people-oriented urbanization process, and China's experience is worth learning from the world. "We rely on China, a strong partner, to jointly promote world multilateralism and promote the implementation of sustainable urban development."
Source: Xinhua News Agency K25