In November 2018, National Academy of Sciences (NAS) President Marcia McNutt visited China for the first time in her official role. As part of this visit, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS) program and the Chinese Academy of Sciences organized a one-day workshop relating to urban sustainability in Beijing. The goal of the visit was to begin to explore some areas where the U.S. National Academies and the Chinese Academy might develop collaboration. At the same time, the trip provided an opportunity to develop links to other parts of the science and technology community in China.



To further elucidate some of these issues and build upon current partnerships, an expert committee under the STS program, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, organized a one-day public workshop on urban sustainability in China and the United States, held on December 16, 2019. The workshop focused on the intersection of urban climate change mitigation and adaptation, urban health, and sustainable transportation, including green infrastructure and urban flooding in both countries. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1 Introduction
2 Current Landscape for Sustainable Urbanization Research and Practice in the United States and China
3 Urban Sustainability Research Activities at the University Level
4 Architecture, Urban Design, and Sustainable Cities in China and the United States
5 Data and Earth Observation for Decision Making
6 Addressing Key Intersecting Issues in Urban Sustainability
7 The Way Forward: Future Needs and Opportunities
Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
Appendix B: Biographies of Speakers and Moderators
Appendix C: Registered Workshop Participants