Event Documents
Background
Cities are central to the global green transition, concentrating both the impacts of climate change and the opportunities for sustainable growth. As hubs of industry and energy use, they play a decisive role in achieving net-zero ambitions. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization are key enablers, allowing cities to decouple growth from emissions by improving resource efficiency, accelerating industrial decarbonization, and strengthening data-driven planning and service delivery across core urban systems. Embedded in responsible and inclusive frameworks, AI-enabled solutions can advance low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development while enhancing competitiveness and quality of life.
Under the theme “AI & Green Innovation: Powering a Sustainable Future,” Bridge for Cities 2026 emphasizes aligning digital transformation with climate action and just transitions, ensuring that innovation delivers tangible benefits for people and communities, particularly women, youth, and vulnerable groups. The event focuses on human-centred and responsible AI, transparent, data-driven governance, and inclusive skills and innovation ecosystems, supported by partnerships among cities, industry, finance, academia, and civil society to mobilize investment and localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with UNIDO’s mandate on Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID).
Recognizing the close interdependence between industry and cities, the event addresses environmental and capacity challenges associated with urban industrial concentration by promoting AI-enabled efficiency and decarbonization solutions that are context-appropriate and people-centred, alongside financing mechanisms, market incentives, support to MSMEs, and green and digital skills development.
Against this backdrop, the 2026 edition of Bridge for Cities will convene stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society from cities along the Belt and Road and beyond to identify actionable strategies and foster collective leadership for inclusive, climate-resilient, and digitally enabled urban futures.
Focus Areas
The event’s focus is structured around two mutually reinforcing pillars: AI and digitalization, and green innovation. Cities serve as practical environments where AI solutions can be piloted, refined, and scaled to local needs, and where digital tools deliver concrete decarbonization outcomes.
AI and Digitalization
The event will highlight how AI and digital technologies enhance urban and industrial efficiency, connectivity, and sustainability, supporting evidence-based decision-making and innovation across energy, mobility, buildings, water, and waste systems. Particular attention will be given to AI-enabled industrial transformation, smart infrastructure, and data-driven public services that translate technological progress into measurable development outcomes.
Green Transition and Urban-Industrial Decarbonization
The event will emphasize the transition towards low-carbon, resource-efficient, and climate-resilient urban-industrial systems, recognizing cities as primary arenas where climate action, industrial policy, and local development converge.
DRAFT EVENT STRUCTURE
Organization Team
Mr. Jie Zhao
Chief of Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNIDO
Mr. Kanishka Rathore
Programme Officer, Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNIDO
Mr. Francesco Azzena
Project Administrator, Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNIDO
Ms. Sofya Parfenova
Project Associate, Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNIDO
Mr. Ming Zhang
Team Assistant, Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNIDO
Ms. Livia Segers
Team Assistant, Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNIDO
Mr. CHEN Shulin
Team Assistant, Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNIDO