Zaragoza presents its urban sustainability model at United Nations international forum in China
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 benchmark 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 in attendance were municipal leaders from various countries and officials responsible for urban areas and development.
During her speech, Chueca defined Zaragoza as “one of Europe’s leading 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 position as a strategic location for investment and innovation.
The mayor presented specific data on the city’s industrial profile: it is home to 91% of Spain’s electronics factories and 73% of its automotive industries. She also reported that Zaragoza and its surrounding area produce 183% of the green energy they consume, positioning themselves as leaders in green automotive, electronics, and clean energy.
Among the initiatives highlighted were the transformation of old riverbeds into green corridors, the Bosque de los Zaragozanos (Forest of the People of Zaragoza) with 700,000 trees planted in ten years, and the high ratio of green space per inhabitant. These efforts led the European Commission to distinguish Zaragoza as one of the 100 Mission Cities to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Economic and business complement
Zaragoza’s representation was completed by the participation of the Minister of Economy, Digital Transformation, and Transparency, Carlos Gimeno, who presented investment attraction policies to Chinese and Spanish entrepreneurs, presidents of chambers of commerce, and economic experts.
