Zaragoza presents its urban sustainability model at the United Nations international forum in China
The mayor Natalia Chueca participated in the «Exquisite City Forum» held in Weihai, where she presented Zaragoza’s sustainable urban development policies to 300 international attendees. The event, organized by the UN and the Chinese city council, recognized Zaragoza as a leading city in sustainable urban planning and quality of life.
The forum was attended by representatives of the United Nations, including the UN Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Anacláudia Rossbach, as well as the regional director of the UN-Habitat Asia Pacific Office, Ishigaki Kazuk. Also present were municipal leaders from various countries and officials responsible for urban areas and development.
During her speech, Chueca described Zaragoza as «one of the leading European cities, a bridge connecting Asia, Europe, and America.» She highlighted the combination of monumental architecture, cultural refinement, and commitment to sustainability that characterizes the city, as well as its positioning as a strategic location for investment and innovation.
The mayor presented specific data about the city’s industrial profile: it concentrates 91% of Spain’s electronics factories and 73% of its automotive industries. Moreover, she reported that Zaragoza and its surroundings produce 183% of the green energy they consume, positioning the city as a leader in green automotive, electronics, and clean energies.
Among the highlighted initiatives was the transformation of old waterways into green corridors, the Forest of the Zaragoza Residents with 700,000 trees planted in ten years, and a high ratio of green space per inhabitant. These efforts led to the European Commission recognizing Zaragoza as one of the 100 Mission Cities to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Economic and business complement
The Zaragoza delegation was complemented by the participation of the Counselor of Economy, Digital Transformation, and Transparency, Carlos Gimeno, who presented investment attraction policies to Chinese and Spanish entrepreneurs, chamber of commerce presidents, and economic experts.
