Shaping Low Carbon Cities Requires an Integrative Approach

Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with CityNet is organised the 2nd International Forum on Low Carbon Development for Cities with a topic on "Acting Together for Low Carbon, Liveable, and Prosperous Cities". The Forum, was held in Seoul on 2 to 5 September 2019, shared international best practices on integrated systems thinking and transformation, low carbon options in mega-cities, sustainable built environment including buildings and adaptation infrastructure, advanced low carbon technologies including ICT/smart technology, and green finance and innovative funding mechanisms. The forum also emphasised the importance of engaging and activating all social actors for low carbon city development.

Prof. Dr. Manfred Fischedick, Vice President of the Wuppertal Institute, Dr. Chun Xia (Project Co-ordinator, Research Unit Energy Policy) and Dr. Ralf Schüle (Co-Head of Research Unit Urban Transitions, Wuppertal Institute) participated in the Forum. At the beginning Manfred Fischedick gave the keynote speech and highlighted that although climate change as a burning issue has to be set on the top of the agenda, that it is inevitable to follow a holistic approach from the very beginning considering the multi-dimensional target arena of the sustainability challenge. In addition, in session 6 he talked about "Hydrogen Economy – Urban Hydrogen Concepts in Transport, Energy, Building (Fuel Cell CCHP), and Industry in Germany". Ralf Schüle moderated the session "Roundtable on Enabling Environment and Challenges for Integrated System-wide Low Carbon Transformation" and talked about "Creating New Opportunities driven by coal phase-out". The second session "Clean Energy and Sustainable Buildings for Low Carbon City" was moderated by Chun Xia.

In the same week Manfred Fischedick also held cooperation talks with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to prepare the next meeting of the Seoul International Energy Advisory Council (SIEAC), for which Manfred Fischedick serves as the acting head). The next meeting of SIEAC will take place on 25 October 2019 in Seoul and expects an audience from various decision makers. The meeting on 25 October will focus on an assessment of current achievements and remaining challenges of the "One Less Nuclear Power Plant 2012-2020" strategy, which was implemented by the mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, in 2012. SIEAC brings together ten  international experts from various regions of the world.