Guangzhou has become the first pilot city for the World Bank's sustainable urban cooling project in China, the Guangzhou municipal planning and natural resources bureau announced on Sept 21.

Urban cooling mainly uses natural regulation or manual intervention to reduce heat absorption, emission, and storage in the city so that the urban heat island effect can be relieved, making the city more livable and comfortable. 

The World Bank has set sustainable cooling as one of the major measures to tackle climate change and promote urban sustainable development in recent years.

The pilot project in Guangzhou will last for around one year and a half, with the city striving to become a pioneer in climate governance around the world that provides a learning model for other cities. 

Guangzhou's work report is expected to be finished by 2021 and will be released globally through the World Bank.

The World Bank noted that Guangzhou has been outstanding in practicing sustainable development in areas spanning ecological protection, green development, and living environment construction, which has laid a good foundation for carrying out the sustainable urban cooling project.

In addition, Guangzhou is one of the largest cities in subtropical zone in terms of its scale around the world, with the most concentrated population and economic activities, making the pilot project in Guangzhou more typical and representative.

At present, Guangzhou has teamed with the World Bank to carry out the Guangzhou Cool City Action to take initiatives like setting up wind corridors, establishing a sponge city, and building ecological infrastructure to turn Guangzhou into a city with a comfortable environment and a pleasant climate.