The Paulson Institute, in partnership with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), has launched the CEO Council for Sustainable Urbanization, comprised of leading Chinese and Western CEOs. The Council met in Beijing today to form the first multi-industry, CEO-led, bilateral group to advance sustainable urbanization.

As China continues its transformative process of urban development, with more than 300 million Chinese citizens expected to move into cities by 2030, urban sustainability has become a defining global economic and environmental issue for the 21st century.

The mission of the Council, therefore, is to harness the power of business to advance sustainable urbanization through innovative corporate environmental practices, direct actions by companies and governments, and support for effective government policies. The Council will take action via collaborative projects among members that can be scaled across China and elsewhere; advocate for effective policies and actions on sustainability standards; and illustrate best practices through case studies and research.

The group will focus on five areas in which businesses are well-positioned to contribute to sustainability in urbanization: buildings, energy, water, transportation, and supply chains.

Coming out of the inaugural meeting, the CEO Council committed to action in 2015 focused on 21st Century Buildings and 21st Century Energy. The participants chartered action groups to work on increasing energy efficiencies in buildings to lower CO2 emissions and accelerating renewables integration in tier 1 and 2 Chinese cities. The action groups—comprised of member company and external subject matter experts and shepherded by a dedicated project manager— will be launched immediately and will meet on a regular basis to ensure measurable progress against the Council’s goals.

“Achieving more sustainable economic growth can have a significant positive impact on China's economy and on our global environment, which is why this issue is a pillar of our work at the Paulson Institute,” said Henry M. Paulson, Jr., chairman of the Paulson Institute. “The aim of this joint CEO Council is to promote bilateral cooperation on this important issue and to harness leaders from the corporate sector to work together to help solve some of China's greatest development challenges."

Zeng Peiyan, chairman of CCIEE, said, "The CEO Council for Sustainable Urbanization brings together leading Chinese and Western companies for practical research and cooperation surrounding the main issues relating to China’s sustainable urbanization. It will provide useful theoretical and technical support as well as explore effective ways to put China’s sustainable urbanization into practice.”

The 16 founding companies of the Council—eight Chinese and eight Western—have a combined annual revenue of USD 1.4 trillion (RMB 8.6 trillion), with more than 6 million employees and over a billion customers throughout the world. Their collective reach puts these companies and their leaders in a strategically powerful position to help drive both corporate and consumer behavior in ways that will contribute to more sustainable development. The member companies include the world’s foremost retailer, brewer, automaker, e-commerce platform, utility, construction firm, and chemical manufacturer. Each company has already demonstrated commitment to conducting business responsibly.

The participating CEOs and companies are:

•  Mary Barra, Chief Executive Officer, General Motors

• Carlos Brito, Chief Executive Officer, Anheuser-Busch InBev

• Chen Dongsheng, Chairman, Taikang Life Insurance

• David Crane, President and CEO, NRG Energy

• David Cote, Chairman and CEO, Honeywell

• Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation

• Huang Nubo, Chairman, Beijing Zhongkun Investment Group

• Li Dongsheng, Chairman, TCL

• Liang Xinjun, Vice Chairman and CEO, Fosun Group

• Liu Zhenya, President and CEO, State Grid Corporation of China

• Andrew N. Liveris, President, Chairman and CEO, The Dow Chemical Company

• Jack Ma Yun, Chairman, Alibaba Group

• Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores

• Virginia M. Rometty, Chairman, President and CEO, IBM

• Yi Jun, Chairman, China State Construction Engineering Corporation

• Zheng Zhijie, Vice Chairman and Executive Director, China Development Bank

About the Paulson Institute: The Paulson Institute is a non-partisan institution located at the University of Chicago. Established in 2011 by Henry M. Paulson, Jr., the Institute is committed to the principle that today’s most pressing economic and environmental challenges can be solved only if the United States and China work in complementary ways. We take a “think and do” approach in our efforts to advance global environmental protection and sustainable economic growth in the United States and China, while fostering broader understanding between the two countries. With offices in the United States and China, and partners around the globe, our programs promote increased economic activity in both countries to spur job creation and smart urban growth—and equally urge responsible environmental policies. Additionally, our think tank publishes scholarship from renowned global thinkers on economic and environmental issues of relevance to China and the world.

For more about the Paulson Institute, visit www.paulsoninstitute.org.

About China Center for International Economic Exchanges: Founded by Zeng Peiyan, former Vice Premier of the State Council, China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) is a comprehensive association with the mission of promoting international economic research and exchanges and providing consulting service. CCIEE attracts experienced economic researchers and has close connection with economic research resources in various fields. It operates under the guidance and supervision of the National Development and Reform Commission in terms of its business scope and is registered in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The main scope of business and services of the CCIEE is to study economic issues, to conduct economic exchanges domestically and internationally, to promote economic cooperation domestically and internationally, and to provide consulting services.

For more about CCIEE, visit: www.cciee.org.cn.