ICLEI East Asia Secretariat

ICLEI East Asia Secretariat ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development.

Active in 125 countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action.

🌿During UNCCD COP17 and the Mayors' Forum, the ICLEI delegation was pleased to have a bilateral meeting with Mr. B. Pure...
25/08/2026

🌿During UNCCD COP17 and the Mayors' Forum, the ICLEI delegation was pleased to have a bilateral meeting with Mr. B. Purevdagva, Governor of Ulaanbaatar. As Ulaanbaatar has been a long-standing ICLEI member since 2014, ICLEI and Ulaanbaatar reaffirmed their commitment to advancing collaboration on urban sustainability and jointly pushing forward the outcomes of the Mayors' Forum.

🌏From 20 to 22 August 2026, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability joined over 200 participants from more than 30 ...
21/08/2026

🌏From 20 to 22 August 2026, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability joined over 200 participants from more than 30 countries at the UNCCD COP17 Mayors’ Forum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Co-organised by the Governor’s Office of Ulaanbaatar, the UNCCD Secretariat, UN-HABITAT, ICLEI, with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the Local2030 Coalition as key partners, the Forum marked an important milestone for advancing local action on sustainable land management and drought resilience.

Two Major outoumes:
🌿 The Forum culminated in the adoption of the Ulaanbaatar Declaration, which calls for a stronger, more permanent role for cities and regions within the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) process.
🌿 In addition, the Ulaanbaatar Initiative was introduced to support practical approaches for cities to measure and report on land degradation.

The Mayors’ Forum provided a platform for policy dialogue, technical exchange, and peer learning, with sessions covering urban ecosystem restoration, sand and dust storms, water scarcity, drought resilience, sustainable urban growth, and innovative financing mechanisms. Participants included representatives from international organisations, city networks, financial institutions, academia, and the private sector.

ICLEI emphasizes that desertification is closely linked to climate change, ecosystem degradation, and unsustainable land use. Integrated action across the three Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD) is essential to address these interconnected challenges. ICLEI calls for local and regional governments to be recognized and resourced as essential partners in these processes.

The Ulaanbaatar Declaration sets out five core calls to action:
🔹 Advance integrated local action on land management, drought resilience, biodiversity, climate adaptation, water security, and urban development.
🔹 Strengthen the role of local and regional governments in the UNCCD process.
🔹 Enhance coherence across the Rio Conventions and the water agenda.
🔹 Accelerate implementation through partnerships and improved access to finance.
🔹 Foster knowledge exchange, innovation, and cooperation through peer learning and practical collaboration.

ICLEI remains committed to empowering local and regional governments to combat desertification, restore land, and build climate-resilient communities, ensuring that global commitments are translated into impactful local action worldwide.

27/07/2026

⚡𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻-𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 Case Highlight | Kyoto’s “Zero Yen Solar” Model for Expanding Distributed Renewable Energy
👉 https://eastasia.iclei.org/publication/annual-compendium-of-best-practices-on-carbon-neutral-cities-in-east-asia-2024-edition/

☀️How can a city like Kyoto, with strict historical preservation restrictions and limited land availability, scale up renewable energy adoption and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050?

💡 The “Zero Yen Solar” model has become a key initiative in Kyoto’s transition away from fossil fuels by enabling households, businesses, and industrial users to install solar systems with no upfront investment, while connecting them with the financial resources and technical support needed for adoption.

🔋 The key features of the “Zero Yen Solar” model include:
🔹 No initial investment and maintenance burden — Solar service providers cover installation costs, while users consume locally generated renewable electricity without purchasing the equipment upfront.
🔹 Government-supported implementation — Kyoto Prefecture and City level collaborate through subsidies and digital platforms to reduce financial and information barriers for potential users and service providers.

📈 These policy measures have delivered multiple benefits, including lower electricity costs through reduced renewable energy surcharges, measurable CO₂ emissions reductions, enhanced energy resilience by providing emergency electricity during power outages, and stronger corporate ESG performance with greater international recognition.

🌱👉 Kyoto’s “Zero Yen Solar” initiative demonstrates how cities with limited land resources can unlock renewable energy potential. By leveraging existing buildings and innovative financing mechanisms, Kyoto offers a scalable pathway to accelerate distributed energy transition with improved affordability and resilience.🚀

14/07/2026

💳 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻-𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 Case Highlight | Seoul’s Climate Card for Inclusive and Sustainable transportation

👉 https://eastasia.iclei.org/publication/annual-compendium-of-best-practices-on-carbon-neutral-cities-in-east-asia-2024-edition/

🚇🚌 Seoul is advancing sustainable urban mobility through the “Climate Card” — an integrated public transportation pass designed to reduce transportation costs, encourage a low-carbon lifestyle, and improve the quality of sustainable urban transport.

🇰🇷 In Seoul, the transportation sector accounts for approximately 18% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the major contributors to urban emissions. At the same time, rising public transportation fares have raised concerns about the financial burden to the citizen. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government introduced the Climate Card in early 2024 as part of its broader strategy to promote inclusive climate action and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

🚲 The Climate Card provides unlimited access to Seoul’s public transportation system, including subways, buses, and bikes. Since September 2025, the Climate Card has been expanded to include the Hangang Bus, further strengthening integrated and low-carbon mobility options. Beyond reducing transportation costs, the initiative also aims to encourage greater use of eco-friendly public transportation.

💡 Following a six-month pilot period from January to June 2024, the Climate Card was officially launched in July 2024. To improve accessibility, discounted rates were introduced for teenagers aged 13–18, young adults aged 19–39, parents with multiple kids, and low-income individuals, encouraging these groups to use the service. Seoul also launched short-term passes tailored for foreign visitors and tourists.

🌳 The initiative has already demonstrated strong social, economic, and environmental impacts. Within 70 days of launch, cumulative sales exceeded one million cards, with total sales now reaching approximately 1.6 million units. The Climate Card Users save an average of 30,000 KRW per month on transportation expenses, while surveys indicate increased outdoor activities and consumer spending linked to improved mobility access. Importantly, the Climate Card is also contributing to carbon neutrality. Between February and May 2024, around 9% of users reduced private vehicle use, resulting in an estimated reduction of 9,615 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

🛣️ In addition, from April to June 2026, Seoul introduced a temporary cashback providing monthly pass users with 30,000 KRW per month in response to rising fuel prices, helping residents manage transportation costs while encouraging continued use of public transport.

🚥👉 Seoul’s experience demonstrates how inclusive and integrated public transportation policies can simultaneously support carbon neutrality, economic accessibility, and more sustainable cities.

🎉Celebrating a Decade of Partnership for Sustainable Urban Development! 🌱This year marks the tenth anniversary of Guiyan...
10/07/2026

🎉Celebrating a Decade of Partnership for Sustainable Urban Development! 🌱

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Guiyang’s pioneering entry as the first Chinese city in the ICLEI global network—a milestone that highlights Guiyang’s leadership in advancing ecological civilization and demonstrates ICLEI’s dedication to fostering international cooperation.

Earlier this week, during the 2026 Eco Forum Global Guiyang 🌏, ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin participated in a high-level seminar as an advisory committee member. He actively contributed to in-depth discussions on ecological civilization, green and low-carbon development, and global cooperation for sustainable development.

Prior to the seminar, he met with senior officials from Guizhou Province. Both parties reflected on a decade of international cooperation, expressing a shared commitment to deepening their partnership and further advancing green, low-carbon growth in the region.

Gino’s involvement highlights the significance of global-local collaboration and reaffirms ICLEI’s commitment to supporting Guiyang’s ambitious efforts in ecological protection, climate action, and global knowledge sharing.

🎊 Cheers to ten years of impactful partnership and to building an even greener future together!

🌟ICLEI East Asia was pleased to join the Future AI Mobility Summit (FAMS) 2026 in Seoul from June 29 to 30, as an Intern...
01/07/2026

🌟ICLEI East Asia was pleased to join the Future AI Mobility Summit (FAMS) 2026 in Seoul from June 29 to 30, as an International Organization Partner.

🏙️As cities across our region increasingly seek practical solutions in AI and e-mobility, collaboration between local governments, industry, and innovators has never been more important.

During the Gala, our Regional Director, Shu Zhu, shared ICLEI's perspective on "From Innovation to Implementation: Scaling AI-enabled Sustainable Urban Mobility," emphasizing that the future of mobility depends not only on technological innovation, but on our ability to translate it into real-world solutions that improve people's lives.

We also introduced AI4US (AI for Urban Sustainability), ICLEI's new initiative to foster knowledge exchange among cities and strengthen collaboration between local governments and technology providers for sustainable urban development.

🌏We look forward to building stronger partnerships that help cities accelerate AI-enabled, sustainable mobility across East Asia and beyond.🌿

👉To learn more: https://eastasia.iclei.org/iclei-east-asia-highlights-ai-partnerships-for-sustainable-urban-mobility-at-fams-2026/

🌏💡Highlights from 2026 Seoul Climate Tech Conference: ICLEI Session on AI for Urban Sustainability (AI4US)🔋 During the 2...
25/06/2026

🌏💡Highlights from 2026 Seoul Climate Tech Conference: ICLEI Session on AI for Urban Sustainability (AI4US)

🔋 During the 2026 Seoul Climate Tech Conference, ICLEI East Asia Secretariat hosted a session in the afternoon of 25 June, gathering representatives from local governments and research institutes across Asia-Pacific to share experiences and insights on real-world application of AI in urban governance, local climate action, and urban resilience.

🇨🇳♻️ Beijing | AI for Green and Low-Carbon Development
Beijing is integrating AI into urban governance through its “AI Plus” initiative, applying data-driven solutions for air quality management, clean energy systems, and smarter mobility to support the city’s long-term low-carbon transition.

🇹🇭🗑️ Bangkok | Transforming Urban Waste Management with AI
Bangkok is advancing a circular urban system through its digital waste platform, AI-enabled logistics, and smart waste payment system to improve resource efficiency and support more sustainable city operations.

🇸🇬🏙️ Singapore | AI for a Climate-Resilient City
Singapore highlighted how AI is supporting climate adaptation through predictive planning, urban microclimate modelling, and data-driven neighbourhood design. By integrating national climate and AI strategies, the city is advancing more adaptive and resilient urban systems.

🇦🇺📖 Melbourne | From Melbourne to Seoul: Building Cities that Care
Melbourne is driving sustainable city innovation through smart health care, circular food systems, and smart transport systems, emphasising the importance of human-centred AI integration in smart city development.

👉 In the panel discussion, city representatives shared how AI can accelerate climate action and sustainable urban development—ensuring data security, improving data quality, bridging data to policy, scaling urban solutions, and turning innovation into real-world impact through inter-agency and city-to-city collaboration.

19/05/2026

[📢 Tomorrow] The Hong Kong International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, from 18 to 20 May. ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, in collaboration with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), is organizing the ICLEI Panel Session on Hydrogen Innovation and Sustainable Urban Development on the morning of 20 May.

As an emerging player in energy transition, Uzbekistan is actively exploring how hydrogen can support industrial decarbonization, energy diversification, and long-term economic development. Representatives from the national government and private sectors are going to join the ICLEI Panel Session. Mr. Rikhsiboev Oybek, Chief Specialist of the Department of Ecology and Green Economy, Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, is going to share Uzbekistan’s efforts in actively exploring hydrogen solutions.

💡Check out the cards below ahead of the session to learn more about how Uzbekistan is building the foundation for hydrogen markets through strategic policy, international cooperation and pilot projects.

18/05/2026

🌱⚡Preview | 2026 Hong Kong International Hydrogen Development Symposium: Kazakhstan’s Green Hydrogen Pathway from Campus Pilot to Industrial Deployment

📢 Ahead of this month’s ICLEI Panel Session on Hydrogen Innovation and Sustainable Urban Development (20 May) at the 2026 Hong Kong International Hydrogen Development Symposium (18-20 May), ICLEI East Asia is spotlighting Kazakhstan’s green hydrogen initiatives as part of the country’s broader low-carbon transition ambition.

🔋 Kazakhstan is advancing hydrogen as a central component of its low-carbon transition through research-driven innovation and pilot-scale implementation. One notable example is the country’s first campus-based green hydrogen demonstration platform, integrating renewable energy, electrolysis, and hydrogen storage to support future industrial applications.

During the ICLEI Panel Session, 🇰🇿 Prof. Nurxat Nuraje from Renewable Energy Lab at the National Laboratory Astana will share key progress and experiences from Kazakhstan's green hydrogen pilot project.

💡 Check out the cards below to learn more about Kazakhstan’s green hydrogen initiatives, lessons learned, and future prospects.

12/05/2026

⚡East Asia Carbon-Neutral Cities Accelerator Case Highlight | Hong Kong’s Land Lease Regulation Update for EV Charging Network
👉https://eastasia.iclei.org/publication/annual-compendium-of-best-practices-on-carbon-neutral-cities-in-east-asia-2024-edition/

🚕🚌 Transport accounts for around 20% of Hong Kong’s total emissions, with nearly 90% of private vehicles still petrol-powered. However, dense urban structure, limited private parking, and insufficient charging infrastructure have constrained EV adoption.

⛽ The government revised the land lease conditions for petrol filling station(PFS) operators to deploy quick-charging stations(QCS), aiming to promote the “single site, multiple use” model.

🚗 The key revisions of the land lease conditions for the PFS include:
🔹 Incentivising PFS operators to install QCS through short-term lease extensions (3–7 years) without premium waivers
🔹 Shortening new PFS leases from 21 years to 12 years to promote transition
🔹 Setting maximum price caps for charging commercial vehicles to ensure affordability
🔹 Introducing conditional short-term lease renewals tied to installing EV charging facilities

📚 Since pilot projects in 2018, Hong Kong has scaled up efforts by converting PFSs into QCSs and tendering government sites for large-scale facilities. The government implemented QCSs on government land in Kowloon Bay and also made a maximum price cap for the charging of e-taxis and e-public light buses. Policy enforcement includes conditions tying lease renewal to charger installation, alongside regular publication of charging price caps.

💡 These policy reforms have led to the following results:
🔹 The approach has enabled rapid, cost-efficient infrastructure expansion at around 180 PFSs throughout Hong Kong.
🔹 Nearly 70% of newly registered private cars were EVs. By the end of 2024, approximately 33,000 parking spaces are expected to have charging facilities.
🔹 Supporting sustainable infrastructure while promoting cleaner transportation options.
🔹 Investment in EV has also stimulated job creation and supported broader low-carbon economic activity within the EV sector.

🏙️👉 Hong Kong’s experience illustrates how cities can creatively retrofit existing urban infrastructure to accelerate the green transition. For high-density, land-constrained cities facing similar bottlenecks, this case offers a practical and scalable pathway for fast-track EV adoption.

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