On September 8, 2013, the Paulson Institute celebrated the arrival of the delegates of the inaugural Chinese Mayors Urban Sustainability Training Program in Chicago for the second portion of the program.
The training — held in collaboration with the China Association of Mayors (CAM) and sponsored by the Hyatt Hotels Corporation — is an integral part of the Paulson Institute’s Program on Sustainable Urbanization, which seeks to make a positive impact for cities, citizens and the environment. The Paulson Institute is committed to assisting mayors specifically, as they are on the front lines of sustainability issues in China.
At a luncheon held outside Chicago, Institute Chairman Hank Paulson welcomed the delegation to his hometown and focused on the importance of sustainable urbanization in China. “By deepening mayors’ understanding of sustainable urban practices and ways they can implement these over time, we will help them provide more energy- and resource-efficient cities, and a better livelihood for Chinese citizens,” he said.
The three-part training program began with a week-long intensive session at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The classroom instruction continues at the University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies’ Leadership in Sustainability Management program. Additionally, the delegation will conduct site visits across the city to corporate and governmental enterprises fostering innovation in sustainability.
Following a week of study and site visits in Chicago, program participants will travel to Philadelphia and New York City to learn about and observe successful urban sustainability projects. In each city, the participants will meet with municipal and business leaders to discuss the unique facets of their urban sustainability agendas.
