On April 8, 2024, New York time, at the press conference of the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) held in the conference hall on the 4th floor of the United Nations Headquarters, Academician Lingyun Xiang, a well-known economist in the United States, delivered a speech have been appointed Chief Advisor to the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS).
Academician Xiang Lingyun, deputy chairman of Tageldin Ibrahim Hamad and general secretary of Lv Haifeng
Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) A global non-profit organization recognized by the United Nations system, the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) has special advisory status with ECOSOC and strives to provide a global platform for higher education dialogue and Promoting sustainable cities and human settlements for all. GFHS is licensed in New York State and holds 501(C)(3) tax-exempt qualifications. Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury serves as Chairman of the GFHS.
The main responsibilities of the GFHS include: convening the annual Global Forum on Human Settlements and other academic conferences; Promoting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement; Facilitating exchanges and cooperation between and within regions, governments and civil societies in the area of sustainable cities and human settlements; Research and development of the International Green Model City (IGMC) initiative and standards; Presentation of the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA); and producing sustainability publications, particularly the World Best Practices Magazine (WBPM) and the Collection of Global Forum on Human Settlements.
Over the years, GFHS has had a number of collaborative projects with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations Settlement Program, the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, International Telecommunications Union, World Meteorological Organization, Asian Development Bank, World Wildlife Fund, International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Economic Forum and other international organizations.
The annual forum has become one of the world's most important conferences focused on sustainable cities and human settlements. Since 2005, the GFHS has held its annual forums at the United Nations Headquarters and for 18 consecutive years on five continents. These included an annual session as a companion event to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Summit) and another as a parallel event to the 2016 United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III).
The 18th Annual Meeting of the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS 2023) was successfully held at COP28 in Dubai on December 2nd and 3rd, 2023. The theme was: “Green, fair and smart urban transformation: Synergistic acceleration of the 1.5°C target and the SDGs.” “. 20 leading organizations, including relevant UN agencies, joined as co-organizers and collaborators. A number of outcomes were achieved at the forum.
For 18 consecutive years, the GFHS has held its annual forums at the United Nations and on five continents. By 2023, more than 323,000 representatives from all sectors of society have participated in the forums, including heads of state, ministers, ambassadors, UN officials, mayors, scientists, professionals, business leaders and representatives of NGOs. Senior officials and sustainability leaders include: Morris Strong, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and first Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program; Amb. Sha Zukang, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the Rio+20 Summit; Gyan Acharya, former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations; Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, former UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress; Li Jinhua, Vice Chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Rosalia Arteaga Serrano, former president of Ecuador; Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, High Representative for Infrastructure Development at the African Union Commission; Prof. Petteri Taalas, Secretary General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO); Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD); Malcolm Johnson, Assistant Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Dr. Bambang Susantono, Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank (ADB); Among others, ZHANG Xinsheng, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Forum has successively issued a series of final documents, including the Shenzhen Declaration on Creating a Green Civilization and Building a Livable City; Wuxi Declaration on Water and Human Settlements in the 21st Century; New York Declaration on Building a Low-Carbon City and Combating Climate Change; and Addis Ababa Declaration on Harnessing the Power of the Digital Revolution for Urban Sustainability and Prosperity for All. In addition, the Forum has published a number of books, including “Water and Human Settlements in the 21st Century” and more than 30 issues of World Best Practices Magazine (a bilingual global sustainability magazine in Chinese and English). In December 2021, the extensive scientific literature – THE COLLECTION OF GLOBAL FORUM ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS (Volumes I & II, bilingual in Chinese and English) was published.
The Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Award (SCAHSA) (formerly known as the Global Human Settlements Award) is a global award presented annually by the GFHS. The focus is on promoting the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 11, and recommending the outstanding progress and valuable experiences of the winners towards a greener and more sustainable world, in order to encourage more people to to follow this example and take decisive action on site. With the support and guidance of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and related UN agencies, the awards have been successfully conducted for 18 years with the awardees coming from different parts of the world. It has become one of the most important sustainable development awards in the world and has achieved significant demonstration impact.
Through tireless efforts over the last 18 years, the GFHS has provided a global participatory platform for high-level dialogue between governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses and the academic community. It has made a significant contribution to building sustainable cities and human settlements for all, as well as to achieving the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Vice Chairman Tageldin Ibrahim Hamad issues a letter of appointment to academician Lingyun Xiang
Lingyun Xiang, the chief adviser of the Global Forum on Human Settlements and Environment (GFHS), is a foreign academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences, a full-time lifelong professor of the European Union University, a lifelong professor (doctoral father) of the National University of Maryland, a distinguished professor of Peking University Boya, a visiting professor of the School of Applied Science and Technology of Beijing Union University, a full member of the Association of International Accountants (AIA), a member of the International Association Of Accounting Professionals (IAAP), a Certified Forensic Public Accountant (FCPA) , a Senior Public Accountant from the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), a Senior Financial Accountant (FFA FIPA) from the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA), and an International Certified Internet Finance Manager (ICIFM).
He is also Special Economic Adviser of the Central African Republic, Chief Economic Adviser of the Republic of Haiti, Special Economic Adviser of the Republic of Liberia, Special Economic Adviser of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Special Financial and Economic Adviser of the Republic of Madagascar, Financial and Economic Adviser of the Republic of North Macedonia, Chief Financial and Economic Adviser of the Republic of Ghana, Envoy for Economics – and Cultural Exchange in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Ambassador for International Public Welfare and Charity of the Republic of Mali and Honorary Member of the Chinese Organizing Committee for the 35th United Nations International Science and Peace Week.
He is the author of numerous books published domestically and internationally, including “ChatGPT: The Future is Here,” “The Way of the Metaverse,” “The Logic of Blockchain,” “Guide to Equity Incentive Practice,” and “Private Equity Investment Solutions”. , “Blockchain: A technological revolution that strengthens the real economy”, “Financing and growth of SMEs”, “Global visual economy”, “Industrial economics”, “International trade and economic management”, “Logistics and warehouse management and e-commerce”, ” Investment risk and operational management”, etc.
