China's Greater Bay Area (GBA) has set ambitious goals to achieve peak carbon emissions by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2060. In 2019, the GBA announced its ODP, which prioritises sustainable and low-carbon development through the implementation of its INDC. This plan is considered crucial for China’s overall economic and development strategy by the Chinese government, business leaders, and industry experts. However, implementing the ODP also presents various challenges, such as coordination across cities, balancing economic growth with environmental protection, addressing socio-economic disparities, managing cross-border regulations and institutions, ensuring stakeholder engagement, and overcoming technological and infrastructural barriers. To address these challenges, the GBA needs a comprehensive and well-coordinated approach that involves close collaboration between the cities and stakeholders.
The GlobalABC roadmap approach offers a valuable framework for the GBA to achieve its vision and is specifically designed to help regions and cities transition
to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, construct necessary infrastructure and institutions, and secure progress over time. It aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, and supports China in fulfilling its commitments to addressing global climate change as stated in its INDC and 30–60 goals, which are part of China’s national climate policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability through the promotion of sustainable buildings and infrastructure.
