Two Chinese cities were honored by the United Nations for their
substantial efforts in improving living conditions, a UN official
announced on Wednesday at the First International Habitat Festival
in Weihai, Shandong
Province.
Anna Tibaijuka, executive director of the United Nations Human
Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), announced at a press conference
that the municipal government of Xiamen in east China’s Fujian
Province was awarded the 2004 Habitat Scroll of Honor.
Tangshan, in north China’s Hebei
Province, won the Dubai International Award for Best Practices
to Improve the Living Environment.
Tangshan was singled out for its cleanup of the Tangshan coal
district. The Brownfield Remediation of the Tangshan Southern Coal
Mining Area is rejuvenating a region devastated by over 30 years of
pollution and land degradation. A comprehensive program in the area
has helped to clean up vast tracts of land. More than one million
trees have been planted and stagnant pools have been transformed
into lakes safe for swimming and water life.
In 1990, Tangshan was awarded the UN Habitat Scroll of
Honor and the
municipal government was chosen by the UN as an “outstanding
organization contributing to human residence” for its
reconstruction efforts after the great Tangshan earthquake of July
28, 1976.
The Habitat Scroll of Honor is the UN’s highest award for
outstanding contributions by individuals, organizations or projects
that help to improve the urban environment. Established in 1989,
the award targets governments, organizations, people and programs
that make outstanding contributions to human living conditions.
Chinese cities have won the award eleven times since 1990.
The Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the
Living Environment was established in 1995 by the Municipality of
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is granted to up to ten outstanding
environmental initiatives every two years.
Tibaijuka pointed out that human beings are facing great
challenges brought by rapid urbanization, and that China sets a
good example for developing nations by maintaining a balance
between development and decent living conditions.
(Xinhua News Agency and China.org.cn?September 2, 2004)
