Green Urban Development Project

active

Prospective

The project is premised on the dual agenda of low-carbon and nature-positive urban development which are essential, interconnected strategies for building livable cities. Low-carbon cities focus on planning, implementing, monitoring, and accounting for low-carbon investments and climate change mitigation. Nature-positive cities prioritize urban development that enhances resilience and livability by integrating nature. A joint approach applied in strategic areas that integrates multi-sectoral interventions, offers solutions to the intertwined challenges of climate change and nature loss, and creates mutually reinforcing benefits essential for long-term economic transformation and building sustainable, livable cities. The project intervention area focuses on the Aha Lake area, strategically located in the core of Guiyang city. It is designated as a national wetland park in 2015, serves as a critical urban green lung with important flood control and biodiversity functions. It is recognized that a single project cannot achieve all nature-positive goals or resolve all climate-related issues in Guiyang. Instead, the project targets Aha Lake, which embodies key urban development challenges and high potential, to demonstrate an integrated approach to these goals. These efforts are further supported by city-wide interventions and innovations on low-carbon platforms, nature-positive planning, and enhanced collaboration.The project will include the following three components: Component 1 (Low-carbon Urban Mobility for Enhanced Livability): This component will finance improvements and constructions around the Aha Lake, focusing on: (i) NMT network and connections to city-wide green network; (ii) public transit connections, including road upgrades for last mile bus connections to metro stations, facilities (bus interchanges, integrated visitor and transit facilities) and services (intelligent transport systems, improved bus coverage, frequency and service); (iii) road connections to and between key city thoroughfares; (iv) integrated visitor/parking facilities and amenities including EV charging stations and bicycle stands; and (v) traffic and transport management. Component 2 (Conserve and Enhance Urban Ecosystems and Biodiversity): This component will finance interventions to improve water quality, enhance flood control, and conserve urban ecosystems and biodiversity. It will reduce GHG emissions by decreasing water pollutants and untreated wastewater, thus reducing methane and nitrous oxide , and enhance the lake's carbon sequestration. Activities under subcomponent 2.2 will restore terrestrial and aquatic habitats and conserve biodiversity. In the long term, this component will improve resilience through better flood management and cooling effects, enhance livability, and create jobs and innovation in environmental conservation, water management, and eco-tourism. Component 3 (City-Wide Institutional Strengthening for Low-Carbon and Nature-Positive Urban Development): This component will finance city-wide initiatives to support the project’s sustainability, including: (i) technical analysis and development of low-carbon and nature positive urban spatial plans; (ii) research and technical assistance for policies, regulations, and plans on carbon sequestration, carbon market mechanisms, low-carbon transport for vulnerable groups, and behavioral change towards low-carbon lifestyles; and (iii) project management, capacity building, coordination, M&E, and knowledge sharing activities. This component aims to position Guiyang as a front-runner in integrating low-carbon and nature-positive thinking into urban systems, policies and communities.

World Bank Group

Project

Mass Transit, Road, Water Supply and Storage, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Natural Gas, Hotel, Commercial, Waste Processing and Treatment, Government, Automotive, Car parking