Why Is Shanghai Getting Hotter While Its Citizens Are Feeling Less Heat?

On the occasion of the 56th Earth Day (April 22, 2025), the "Shanghai Climate Week" series of events was successfully held, jointly organized by the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science (LOUD). The event aimed to actively respond to global climate change, promote China’s green and low-carbon transition, and build a platform for international exchange and cooperation.

On April 22, 2025, the “Young Climate Envoys” Global Climate Learning Journey was successfully held at the world’s first Climate City Park Science Education Base, located in Shanghai’s Gucun Park. Centered around the active participation of youth and children, the initiative combined field exploration, hands-on experiences, and international exchange. It plays a vital role in climate change education and biodiversity conservation efforts.The program aims to cultivate scientific thinking for addressing climate change by disseminating climate science knowledge; to promote low-carbon lifestyles by enhancing awareness of sustainable development; to foster a global perspective and collaborative mindset through international engagement; and to support future scientific and technological innovation by nurturing the next generation of talent.

On the afternoon of April 21, 2025, the opening ceremony of Shanghai Climate Week 2025 was grandly held at the Greenhouse Garden of Expo Cultural Park. This unique venue symbolically embodies the organic integration of biodiversity, urban form, and the cultural legacy of the Expo. It offers a harmonious blend of nature and city, where historical context and contemporary vision converge—providing a fitting backdrop for a global event centered on climate issues.With the theme “Climate Park · Spring”, the ceremony brought together over 100 representatives from government agencies, academia, the private sector, and international organizations to collectively address climate change and sustainable development strategies.

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science (LOUD) supports the International Association for China Planning (IACP) in hosting the 2025 Urban Digital Transformation and Healthy City Award competition. This competition provides an award to authors who present the best papers related to urban digital transformation and/or planning health city, related to climate change, SDG goals, and/or post-pandemic urban planning.