Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century - 2023 Annual Report

The Shanghai Manual was established in 2011 following the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and serves as a tool to support the efforts of mayors and urban practitioners in advancing sustainable urban development. The ideas and principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and New Urban Agenda have been integrated into the Manual, with a focus on challenges such as how to achieve inclusive and liveable cities, innovative and creative cities, and sustainable and resilient cities.

The Shanghai Manual 2023 Annual Report presents exemplary urban best practices to provide practical solutions and policy suggestion to help cities navigate pressing urbanization challenges, demonstrating best practices across the core dimensions of economy, society, environment, culture, and governance as well as international cooperation. The Manual also highlights the importance of financing for sustainable urban development and presents best practices from the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) 2023 winning cities.

The Manual highlights the potential of cities in leveraging social capital and enhancing inclusive community development, stimulating productive and thriving economies via diversified financing and sustainable economic development, bolstering resilience to climate change and disasters, and urban transitions to green, ecological development models. Moreover, the Manual highlights urban practices that have promoted a culture of innovation and urban heritage, as well as those that are driving cross-regional governance to build multi-dimensional shared cities. In addition, initiatives that have demonstrated innovative methods to mobilise resources to facilitate transformative urban development are presented.

The Manual has been developed in partnership between UN-Habitat, the Bureau International des Expositions, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China.