Today is the 75-day countdown to the opening of the 16th Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS 2021). The launching ceremony of the large-scale academic literature - "The Collection of Global Forum on Human Settlements" (hereinafter referred to as "The Collection") will be taking place on October 27th at the opening ceremony of the GFHS 2021 to observe World Cities Day. Senior officials from the United Nations and other international organizations, government officials, well-known experts and scholars and many other professionals from around the world will witness the moment remotely.

As an innovative program celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Global Forum on Human Settlements and contributing to the global commencement of the Decade of Action on the SDGs, The Collection was masterminded by Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS), co-produced by Sustainable Cities Committee of China Research Society of Urban Development (CRSUD), Shenzhen Better City Institute, and Qingdao West Coast New Area Ronghe Holdings Group Co., Ltd., and published by China Environmental Publishing Group. It will be distributed globally. Due to the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the publishing of The Collection had to be postponed. After nearly two years of hard work by the editorial team and partners, we are finally seeing the imminent publication of The Collection.  

Stylebook of The Collection

The Collection is divided into two volumes, written in Chinese and English, beautifully illustrated, and printed in four colors. Excellent and well articulated sharing of ideas, knowledge and practices by experts, academics and professionals in relation to sustainable cities and human settlements have been included, covering the topics ranging from planning and design, to green smart cities, buildings and communities, climate change, ecological environment, water security, sustainable tourism, green mobility, green economy, green technology, gender equality, sustainable consumption and production, and post-disaster reconstruction, and on other relevant areas. Stylistics includes speeches, theses, interviews, case studies, feature articles, etc.

Volume Ⅰ “Viewpoints” contains 88 signed contributions by various authors representing 23 countries on 6 continents, including 2 former national leaders, 6 senior officials at the UN Deputy Secretary-General level, 6 ministerial officials, and 37 well-known academicians, experts and business leaders. Volume Ⅱ”Models” has 82 cases from 34 countries on 6 continents, including  40 green cities, 11 sustainable tourism practices, 8 outstanding individuals/organizations, 13 models on planning and construction, 6 green mobility examples, and 4 green technology models. Most of the cases were recognized by the “Sustainable Cities And Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA)”. 10 Outcome Documents of the Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements are also included in VolumeⅡ.  

The Collection is informative and insightful, with precise topics, novel ideas, profound thoughts and forward-looking and systemic strategies and methods. The selected cases are all outstanding sustainable development practices and innovations in the world, which will make significant contribution to the post-pandemic recovery, reconstruction and green transformation of human society, and will play an important role in supporting cities in achieving carbon neutrality. It provides valuable reference and is worth reading for city managers, relevant professionals, and teachers and students at universities and colleges.