China-Africa Roundtable and Knowledge Exchange on Building Climate Resilient Cities
AIIB Annual Meeting Side Event
The aim of the event is to discuss and share China’s experiences in building climate-resilient cities; and explore cooperation in urban adaptation, climate finance, and infrastructure resilience .
Event description
Rising climate risks pose growing threats to infrastructure in vulnerable regions, making the integration of resilience into urban planning and development an urgent priority. Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in collaboration with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Environmental Development Center (EDC) of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China, is organizing a side event on China-Africa knowledge exchange for building climate-resilient cities. This event will bring together participants from AIIB, African delegates attending the AIIB Annual meeting, Chinese national and local government officials, and other experts. The aim of the event is to discuss and share China’s experiences in building climate-resilient cities; and explore cooperation in urban adaptation, climate finance, and infrastructure resilience.
Scope and Objective
China’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035 was released in 2022, showcasing the country’s ambition to strengthen climate adaptation efforts, including expanding its climate-resilient cities program. As of June 2024, China has issued 29 provincial-level climate adaptation action plans. As a key international partner, GCA has been cooperating with China to support the implementation of the 2035 Strategy, including by providing technical support to selected pilot cities.
China’s Climate Adaptation Pilot Cities initiative showcases practical solutions—including climate risk assessments and green finance tools—to address climate challenges. The event will leverage the Annual Meeting as a platform to promote knowledge exchange between China (AIIB’s host country) and African AIIB members, sharing experiences and lessons learned from China’s pilot program, with a focus on scalable approaches for climate-resilient infrastructure at the city level. By connecting Chinese expertise in urban climate adaptation with African members’ needs, the event will advance South-South cooperation and align infrastructure investments with global climate goals. Through deepened exchanges on policies, innovative practices, and cooperation models, the event will enhance knowledge sharing and capacity building; foster cooperation in urban climate adaptation, climate finance, and infrastructure resilience; and explore multilateral cooperation mechanisms and resource alignment strategies.