Committed to Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements for All

In Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC

Global Top Prize for Sustainable Urban Future 

New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards

Awarders and awardees at New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony 2025, 

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) , Geneva

Awarders and awardees at New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony 2024, 

UN Headquarters, New York

I. Overview

The "New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards" (New SCAHSA, formerly known as the "Global Human Settlements Award") is an annual international award initiated in 2005 by Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS). Positioned as a globally authoritative accolade for a sustainable urban future, New SCAHSA aims to recognize and reward outstanding innovation and leadership in advancing sustainable cities and human settlements, including sustainable development practices and climate actions, and promotes advanced policy measures, innovative technologies, and successful experience, thereby accelerating the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and climate objectives.

The awards program receives strong support and guidance from United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme and other renowned international organizations, with its evaluation criteria rooted in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. It has been successfully held for 20 years, with awardees coming from different parts of the world, and has become one of the most important sustainable development recognitions in the world, producing a significant demonstration effect.

Awardees will be presented with trophies, medals, and certificates during the award ceremony, along with monetary grants. This will not only inspire their ambition and creativity but also help improve their working and living conditions, thereby empowering them to make greater contribution to sustainable development.

II. Awards Category and Name (11 categories)

City: Global Smart Green City (Green, Greener, Greenest)

Planning & Design: Global Human Settlements Award on Planning and Design 

Building & Community: Global Model of Smart Green Building/Community

Environment: Global Model of Ecological Restoration and Protection

Urban Renewal: Global Model of Sustainable Urban Renewal 

Cultural Heritage: Global Model of Sustainable Cultural Heritage

Tourism: Global Model of Sustainable Tourism

Village: Global Human Settlements Model of Village

Technology/Product: Global Model of Green and Smart Technology/Product

Innovation: Global Innovation Award for Sustainable Development

Leadership: Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Development

Notes:

※ In principle, there is only 1-2 winners under each category every year. In case there are no applicants to meet the assessment criteria in certain category, the category will be left vacant.

※ In addition, Global Special Award for Sustainable Development is created to recognize those who have made outstanding achievements on and significant contribution to sustainable development.

III. The Jury

GFHS will invite 9 well-known experts to form a Jury Committee for assessment of the award applications. Dr. Arab Hoballah serves as the chairman of the New SCAHSA Jury. Dignitaries and pundits will be invited on board as senior advisors. The provisional list of experts on the jury is as follows:

1. Dr. Arab Hoballah, Senior Sustainability Expert, former Chief, Sustainable Consumption and Production, UNEP

2. Dr. Serge Salat, World Bank & UN senior adviser, President, Urban Morphology and Complex Systems Institute, Paris, France, Leading Expert of International Green Model City Standards 3.0

3. Prof. Carlos Moreno, Scientist and Professor at IAE - Paris1 Sorbonne University, Pioneer of the 15-Minute City Concept

4. Frank D’hondt, Secretary General, International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP)

5. Andrea Reimer, Former Deputy Mayor of Vancouver, Chair of Planning, Transportation and Environment, Chair of Policy and Strategic Priorities, Vancouver City Council, Canada

6. Arch. Marina Khoury, RA CNU LEED, Partner and Director of Urban Planning, DPZ CoDESIGN, senior expert on smart growth, United States

7. Wang Dehui, former Deputy Director of the Department of Natural and Ecological Protection, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China, Director of the "China Office for the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity", and Expert Team Leader of the Environmental Engineering Assessment Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China 

8. Prof. Hong Tiecheng, Senior Architect, Urban Planner, Tourism Planner, Member of the Planning and Design Committee at the Global Forum on Human Settlements, Member of the Expert Committee of China Folk Architecture Research Association

9. Charles Karangwa, Director, Nature-based Solution, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 

IV. Applicants and Eligibility

1.      Applicants

The awards are open to legal government agencies, international organizations, enterprises, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and individuals from various countries and regions across the world.

2.      Eligibility

[Cities]

1) The submitted city sticks to sustainable development and aim for balanced integration of economic, social and environmental dimensions. Remarkable achievements have been made in green and smart city. Citizens enjoy a good sense of security and satisfaction.

2) With reference to the International Green Model City (IGMC) 3.0 Standards, the applicant shows a good performance in the six dimensions of "spatial planning and development, basic services, environment, economy, society, and culture".

[Buildings and Communities]

1) The submitted project is characterized by energy and resource-saving designs, technologies and technics, aiming for green, healthy, low-carbon, smart and affordable buildings and communities with livable and comfortable human settlements.

2) With reference to the International Green Model City (IGMC) 3.0 Standards, the applicant shows a good performance in the six dimensions of "spatial planning and development, basic services, environment, economy, society, and culture".

[Planning and Design]

1) The submitted project is people-oriented and characterized by sustainability, innovation, integration and forward-thinking.

2) The project shows outstanding performance in resource conservation, social inclusion, climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and prevention of pollution, etc.

[Environment]

1) The submitted project has produced significant effects and made outstanding contribution to the protection and restoration of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

2) The project is innovative, inclusive, cost-effective, and replicable.

[Urban Renewal]

1) The project complies with policies, incorporates innovative design, and achieves sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, greatly enhancing urban and community functions and livability.

2) The urban landscape and cultural heritage are effectively preserved.

3) It demonstrates strong public participation and social equity.

[Cultural Heritage]

1) The category encompasses both tangible and intangible cultural heritage that has been effectively preserved and transmitted, demonstrating high levels of integrity, authenticity, uniqueness, and profound cultural significance.

2) Deep integration of cultural transmission and sustainability principles: Cultural heritage is revitalized through sustainable development concepts, fostering sustainable cultural industry models, promoting social inclusion, and adopting green, low-carbon, and smart materials, technologies, and models. This achieves an integration of cultural value, economic benefits, and environmental protection.

3) Deep social participation: A sustainable cultural practice system involving multiple stakeholders is established, featuring community leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration. This creates clear, low-cost operational models that stimulate endogenous motivation for local cultural transmission.

[Tourism]

1) The submitted project was built and officially put into operation, including natural scenic areas, historical and cultural scenic spots, leisure resorts, tourism and cultural projects, tourism and business integration projects, etc.

2) The submitted project possesses unique, national-level natural landscape or human landscape, with sound environmental quality.

3) The submitted project pursues sustainable development, values natural and cultural resources, and actively promotes environmentally-friendly planning, design and relevant technologies.

[Villages]

1) The submitted village has a long history, with reasonable spatial layout and morphology, well-preserved heritage buildings, ecological integrity, and perfect supporting infrastructure.

2) The submitted village is home to many indigenous people, well managed, and resilient, and is a perfect destination for living, working and tourism.

[Technology/Product]

1) Demonstrates sustainability and innovation in design, performance, and practical application.

2) Environmentally friendly and low-carbon, smart and convenient, with efficient resource utilization and significant effects in improving human settlements.

3) High safety standards, beneficial to the health of users.

[Innovation]

1) Breakthrough innovation in theories or research achievements on sustainable development.

2) Breakthrough innovation in technologies or products; design, performance and practical effects are at an advanced level globally; the project has reached a certain market size, and its promotion and application will make great contributions.

3) Breakthrough innovation and achievements in processes, services, governance, etc.; the project is replicable, and its application will make great contributions.

[Leadership]

1) Organizations with outstanding leadership in and contribution to sustainable development, including national and local governments, international organizations, professional institutions, NGOs, enterprises, etc.

2) Individuals with outstanding leadership in and contribution to sustainable development, including government officials, mayors, heads of international organizations, heads of NGOs, entrepreneurs, business leaders, etc. 

V. How to Apply

1. Formally invited by GFHS Secretariat.

2. Application or nomination by GFHS members.

3. Nominated by GFHS partner organizations.

4. Nominated by well-known individuals, international organizations or authoritative institutions to GFHS Secretariat.

VI. Application Materials

1. Organizations or individuals who apply through any of the above-mentioned channels shall fill out the application form and prepare relevant application materials as required.

2. The application materials are the main basis for assessment, and applicants shall prepare the required information earnestly and truthfully; when submitting the application form, important supporting materials and information such as pictures, videos and relevant documents shall be attached as required.

VII. Reward Mechanism

1. Award recipients are required to attend the awards ceremony in person. The organizing committee will present them with a trophy, medal, and certificate, along with a monetary prize.

2. Winners will gain publicity on mainstream media and social media.

3. Some of the winners’ innovation and best practices will be included in GFHS’ annual outcome document and relevant publications as research results, which will be promoted on a wider scale.

4. Award-winning cities and organizations will be given precedence to submit a bid to host the Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements and relevant theme events. Specific procedures shall be discussed separately.

VIII. Assessment Principles

1. The assessment is based on the principles of “voluntary application, selection of the fittest, fairness and impartiality”. The evaluation process and information are confidential. Before the award is revealed, no other organizations or individuals have the right to guarantee that a certain applicant will win the award.

2. The Jury members will conduct a rigorous review and evaluation of the submitted projects in accordance with the established criteria. If necessary, on-site inspections or presentations may be arranged for certain projects. Based on the comprehensive evaluation results, the projects will be ranked accordingly.

3. Applicants do not need to pay application fee to any organization or individual. Winners are responsible for their own travel expenses incurred when invited to attend the annual meeting of GFHS and awards ceremony.

IX.  Procedure

X. Awards Introduction and Application Forms

To get more information about the awards and download the applications forms, please visit the website: https://www.gfhsforum.org/awardsapplication  

Annex: Some of the past awardees

Awarded Cities & Governments: Vienna, Austria; Cuenca, Ecuador; Vancouver, Canada; Los Angeles County, Oakland, Santa Monica, San Jose, Greensburg, United States; Curitiba, Brazil; Nantes, France; Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany; Lahti, Finland; Glasgow, UK; Dublin, Ireland; Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Braga, Oerias, Portugal; Budapest, Hungary; Surabaya, Indonesia; Yokohama, Japan; Rockdale, Australia; Bogotá, Colombia; Hua Hin, Thailand; Penang Island, Malaysia; Indore, India; Port Vila, Vanuatu; El Gouna Town, Egypt; Chaoyang District, Beijing, Lijiang, Sanya, Dali, Wuxi, Changsha, Yichun, Suining, Duyun, Yuyao, Jiangshan, Jiande, Wuyi County, Chun'an County, Changshan County, Youyu County, Zhouzhuang Town, Qingxi Town, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, Qingdao Sino-German Ecological Park, Wuhan Yangtze River New Town, Kaizhou District, Chongqing, Shanghai Expo Park, China, Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation of Egypt, etc.

Mr. Lyu Haifeng, Co-Founder & Secretary General, GFHS presents 2025 Global Innovation Award for Sustainable Development to the Innovative Practices in Low-Carbon Development and Urban Regeneration at the Shanghai World Expo Park, and More Pollinators, More Biodiversity in the Municipality of Oeiras, Portugal. WMO HQs, Geneva

Mr. Elkin Velázquez, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN-Habitat presents the award of 2016 “Global Green City” to City of Vienna, Austria, City of Cuenca, Ecuador, City of Oakland, U.S.A, County of Chun'an, Zhejiang, China, Town of Qingxi, Guangdong, China during the Habitat III, Quito, Ecuador

Mr. Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty,

Environment Programme Coordinator, United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)- DSDG/UN DESA presents the award of 2023 “Global Green City” to City of Dublin, Ireland during the COP28, Dubai, UAE

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Chairman of GFHS, Former UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative presents the award of 2017 “Global Green City” to City of Surabaya, Indonesia,

 New York, USA

Awarded Buildings/Communities: Forest City, Malaysia; Zero Carbon Buildings of Bayer Material Science; EUREF Campus, Germany; The Kentlands, Maryland, USA; Sengkang General Hospital in Singapore; Net-Zero Energy Building at the National University of Singapore; Forest City in Malaysia; Masdar City, UAE; BISTEKVILLE 2, Quezon City, the Philippines; The Edge in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Sara Cultural Center in Sweden; Johannesburg Social Housing Project in South Africa; Bamboo Sports Hall at Panyaden International School, Chiangmai, Thailand; Taziry Ecolodge & Sustainable Village, Egypt; China Overseas Building, Vanke • Wonderland, OCT’s Tianlu, Taoyuanju Community, Meixi Lake International New City, West Bund Media Port and West Bund AI Valley, Shanghai, Huazhong Rainbow City, China, etc.

Prof. Haifan Lin, Founding Director, Stem Cell Research Center, Yale University, Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences presents 2024 Global Innovation Award for Sustainable Development to Turbulent, Belgium, UN Headquarters, New York, 2024

Awarded Planning and Design Projects: Medellin Riverside Park Restoration Project in Colombia; Zero Carbon Resorts Demonstration Building in the Philippines; Mexico’s 2030 Zapopan Urban Prosperity Strategic Plan; +StL: Growing an Urban Mosaic, United States of America; Japan’s Rural Revitalization Project (Alex Kerr); Reimagining Public Spaces in Mumbai, India; Plataran L’Harmonie West Bali National Park, Indonesia; Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya; Zoma Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Suasana PJH in Malaysia; Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan; Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park in Thailand; Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates; Trudo Vertical Forest, the Netherlands; Suzhou High-Speed Rail New Town Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Pilot Zone, China; Reserva Río Tenorio, Costa Rica; The Source, Munich, Germany; Post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction in Shuimo Town, Wenchuan County, China; Qinglongshan International Ecological New City in Nanjing, China, etc.

Dr. Arab Hoballah, Senior Sustainability Expert, former Chief, Sustainable Consumption and Production, UNEP presents 2019 “Global Human Settlements Award on Planning and Design” to Masdar City, UAE, UN Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Awarded Tourism Destinations: Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve, Ecuador; Swiss National Park, Daintree National Park in Queensland, Australia; Santa Monica Resort City Project, California; Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam; Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania; Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, the Caribbean; Sani Resort, Greece; Hunter Mountain, New York; Zambezi and Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe; Lokrum Island, Croatia; Krabi Province, Thailand; Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives; Mission Hills Resort, Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area, Emei Mountain Scenic Spot, Putuo Mountain Scenic Spot, Weizhou Island Volcano National Geopark of Beihai City, Guangxi, China, etc.

2013 “Global Low-Carbon and Ecological Scenic Spot” is awarded to Mission Hills Resort (Shenzhen·Dongguan·Haikou) and Santa Monica Low Carbon Resort City Project, USA, Berlin, Germany

Awarded Enterprises/Organizations: Disney Company, Renault-Nissan Alliance; Signify Company, The Netherlands; Southern California Association of Governments, and COAST Autonomous, USA; EletroBras Furnas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative; Kalundborg Symbiosis, Denmark; Arcadis, Netherlands; DyeCoo in the Netherlands; ECOLOO in Sweden; AMP, United States; TerraCycle, United States; MINIWIZ, Taiwan; Yangon Heritage Trust, Myanmar; KT-Energy LLC, Ukraine; Turbulent, Belgium; Huadian Electric Power Research Institute; GCL-Poly Energy, Canvest Environmental Protection Group Company Limited, Fengyuan Group, China, etc.

Dr. Arab Hoballah, Chairman of the New SCAHSA Jury presents 2023 Global Green Model Building to Bamboo Sports Hall at Panyaden International School, Chiangmai, Thailand at COP28, Dubai

Dr. Taj Hamad, Vice Chairman of GFHS, Chairman, World Association of

 Non-Governmental Organizations presents 2023 Global Model of Green Technology to Aggregated Rain Grid Outcome Networks, Canada at COP28, Dubai

Dato' Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor, Seberang Perai, Malaysia (Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Jan 2018 - Jan 2024) wins the 2016 “Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award” during the Habitat III, Quito, Ecuador

Prof. Marina Silva, world-famous defender of the Amazon rainforest, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil is honored with the 2023 “Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award” during the COP28, Dubai, UAE (National Secretary Edel Moraes receives the award on behalf of Prof. Marina Silva)

Amb. Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Chairman of Global

Forum on Human Settlements presents 2024 Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Development to Carlos Moreno, Scientist and Professor at IAE - Paris1 Sorbonne University and The National Initiative for Smart Green Projects by the Government of Egypt. UN Headquarters, New York, USA

 Mr. Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, presents 2019 Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award to Mr. Li Zhenguo, Founder and CEO of LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Mr. Mick Pearce, well-known architect, expert on biomimicry, Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nehayan, Chairman and Founder of the Bin Zayed Group, etc. UNCC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Global Model of Ecological Restoration and Protection

The Successful Practice of Protecting and Sustainably Utilizing Thuja sutchuenensis in Kaizhou District, Chongqing, China, Tommy Thompson Park, Canada, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) , Geneva, 2025

Global Model of Sustainable Urban Renewal

Coastal Sci-Tech City, China, De Ceuvel, the Netherlands, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) , Geneva, 2025