Chongqing - On October 28, experts from China and the UK called for practical, industry-driven solutions to create greener cities, highlighting Chongqing’s growing role as both a testing ground for urban governance and a logistics hub for low-carbon construction technologies.

The UK-China Green and Sustainable City Development Workshop, part of the 2025 World Cities Day China Observance, was held in Chongqing on October 28. (Photo/Chen Zhan)

"We're absolutely on the same page as far as reducing carbon emissions and increasing people's well-being," said Tim Broyd, Director of the UCL Institute for Digital Innovation.

Tim Broyd, Director of the UCL Institute for Digital Innovation in the Built Environment, shared views on sustainable cities. (Photo/Luo Huxin)

He added that although China and the UK have chosen different policy paths toward sustainability in the built environment, they share the same ultimate goal. Broyd noted that while there are similarities between the two countries, their approaches to designing and implementing policies in this area remain distinct.

China’s Five-Year Plan system allows the government to coordinate urban sustainability projects nationwide. Cities like Chongqing are implementing pilot initiatives in green transportation, smart energy management, and real-time environmental monitoring. In contrast, the UK’s Net Zero 2050 strategy gives local authorities greater flexibility, allowing them to tailor climate and infrastructure policies to meet regional needs.

The UK’s “Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener” is a national plan published in October 2021 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The strategy covers decarbonisation pathways for sectors including energy, transport, buildings, industry and agriculture.

Broyd also noted that exchanges like the Chongqing workshop are vital for turning broad sustainability goals into practical cooperation. "This conference helps us develop new friendships, revive existing relationships, and plan what we need to do ahead,” he said. 

Chongqing is seen as a bridge for global green construction

For Karl Dixon, CEO of VEMAS, the future of sustainable cities also depends on how they are built. After more than a decade in the modular construction industry, Dixon said Chongqing's industrial base and location make it a gateway for exporting prefabricated, low-carbon building systems.

"The greatest opportunity we have here in Chongqing is the utilization of the system for ASEAN countries and for the rail system into Germany," Dixon said. "We can deliver engineered, manufactured building stock as a kit of parts. I see Chongqing as a distribution center for advanced technologies in housing stock."

VEMAS specializes in off-site construction, offering modular building solutions that use standardized components produced in controlled facilities. The company provides technology support, helps partners adopt modern construction methods, and delivers end-to-end services from factory setup to international project coordination.

Dixon said this approach can reduce waste, shorten construction time, and cut emissions compared with conventional methods.

Karl Dixon, CEO of VEMAS, shared views on Chongqing's role in sustainable city development. (Photo/Luo Huxin)

Located at the crossroads of the China-Europe Railway Express, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Chongqing has emerged as one of western China's main transport and logistics centers. Dixon said this makes it an ideal base for exporting sustainable construction products to global markets.

"We're now engaging with a number of companies, from small enterprises to large ones like China Railway," he said. "We're looking to collaborate not only with UK businesses but also with partners globally to bring manufactured building solutions into the market."

The UK-China Green and Sustainable City Development Workshop, held in Chongqing as part of the 2025 World Cities Day China Observance, brought together urban planners, scholars, and business leaders from both countries to exchange ideas on creating resilient, energy-efficient cities.

(Wei Zelin, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)