On October 26, the 2025 SDG Cities Global Conference on Sustainable Urban Development, themed “Innovative Development for People-Centered Smart Cities,” was grandly held at the World Reception Hall in North Bund, Shanghai.
Co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the conference brought together approximately 400 representatives from government bodies, international organizations, academia, and the business sector. Participants gathered to explore new trends and potential opportunities in global urban sustainability.
At the opening ceremony, the Mayor of Shanghai and the Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development delivered speeches. The Mayor of Shanghai presented the 2025 edition of the Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century. Video addresses were also given by UN Deputy Secretary-General Anacláudia Rossbach and the UN Resident Coordinator in China.
Yann Auvray, Group Chief of Staff, and Mr. Jiang Dewei, Director of Strategy and Business Insights at Aden Group, were invited to attend the opening ceremony. They joined other distinguished guests in witnessing the launch of the conference and shared practical experiences and innovative perspectives on sustainable development.
Aden Group commits to reducing carbon emissions in the urban built environment and advancing sustainable development
Cities worldwide are confronting pressing climate challenges, and the built environment, as a primary source of carbon emissions, requires critical efforts in emission reduction. According to statistics, the building sector consumes 55% of global energy and contributes to nearly 40% of energy-related carbon emissions. In this context, Aden Group is honored to provide professional expertise at the critical intersection of digitalization, energy transition, and sustainable development.
As a specialist in Integrated Facilities Management (IFM), Aden Group has been dedicated since its establishment in 1997 to providing global clients with systematic solutions covering energy management, green buildings, smart campuses, and IFM services. Through energy optimization, digital operations, and green transformation practices, the Group continuously enhances the operational efficiency of urban buildings and campuses and advances their low-carbon transition.
Through its subsidiaries, Aden has established a comprehensive business structure encompassing facilities management, digital platforms, industrial real estate, and clean energy:
- Akila: A scalable AI digital twin platform, already deployed across multiple large-scale campuses and urban areas worldwide, assisting in digital asset management and performance improvement.
- Aden Energies: Provides financing and implementation solutions for clean energy transition across client portfolios, enabling comprehensive energy system upgrades.
- NXpark: Develops smart, low-carbon industrial parks under a BOOT lease model, promoting the development of green industrial clusters.
- Aden Services: Delivers professional technical asset maintenance and urban quality-of-life services, supporting the practical implementation of sustainable operations.
Aden Group‘s invitation to this global conference fully reflects industry recognition of its professional capabilities in promoting sustainable urban development, supporting the realization of the “dual carbon” goals, and enhancing urban resilience.
Looking ahead, Aden will continue to uphold its innovative spirit and actively participate in global sustainability exchanges. We will collaborate closely with partners from all sectors, leveraging our professional knowledge and digital technologies, to jointly commit to building smarter, greener, and more resilient cities for the future.