Sustainable futures
Developing sustainable cities and communities
Understanding how to measure and guide sustainable urban growth is becoming increasingly important as cities evolve and expand. As centres of economic activity and innovation, cities have a unique opportunity to balance industrial development with environmental responsibility and social wellbeing. ESG principles offer a valuable framework for achieving this, extending beyond corporate use to inform more holistic, data-driven decision-making at city level. This research embraces that opportunity, transforming ESG from a high-level concept into a practical, measurable tool to support Ningbo鈥檚 journey towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
How do you measure the sustainability of a city that is constantly evolving, economically, socially and environmentally? For Ningbo, one of China’s fastest growing and most dynamic urban centres, this question sits at the heart of its future. As global pressure mounts to deliver low-carbon, resilient and inclusive growth, cities like Ningbo must find new ways to balance industrial strength with environmental responsibility and social wellbeing.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles offer part of the answer. Widely used in the corporate world, they provide a framework for assessing performance beyond traditional economic metrics. But at city level, applying ESG in a meaningful, measurable way remains a challenge.
This research sets out to change concept into a practical tool for urban transformation.
A city-focused approach to ESG innovation
Commissioned by the Ningbo Municipal Development and Reform Commission, this flagship carbon peaking and independent research project was led by Professor Jing Dai, Chair Professor in Sustainable Operations and Technology Management at the 糖心原创 Ningbo China.
Working at the intersection of policy, data and sustainability science, the team developed a bespoke ESG evaluation framework designed specifically for Ningbo. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all model, the research reflects the city’s unique identity, from its position as a major global port to its strength in advanced manufacturing and private enterprise.
The result is more than an academic exercise. It is a practical system designed to help decision-makers understand where the city stands today and where it needs to go next.
Research highlights
Together, these strands of research build a clearer picture of how ESG can move from theory into practice in a city. From redefining what ESG means in an urban context, to creating tools that guide real-world decision-making, the project connects insight with action offering a joined-up approach to understanding and shaping sustainable development.
- Reframing ESG for cities
At the core of the project is a new way of thinking about ESG in an urban context. By defining a three-dimensional framework tailored to city systems, the research fills a significant gap in China’s ESG theory and creates a foundation for future work.
- From concept to measurement
The team translated this framework into a clear, quantifiable evaluation system for Ningbo, built around three primary dimensions and nine detailed indicators. This enables ESG performance to be tracked, compared and improved over time.
- Understanding performance in context
Drawing on data from 2020 to 2024, the project provides a comprehensive assessment of Ningbo’s ESG development. By benchmarking against comparable cities, it reveals both competitive strengths and areas requiring urgent attention.
- Turning insight into action
Crucially, the research goes beyond diagnosis. The proposed “Six Ones” framework offers a practical roadmap for embedding ESG principles into urban governance linking strategy, policy and implementation in a coherent system.
Impact
The significance of the project lies in its ability to connect global ambition with local action.
For Ningbo, it provides a clearer pathway towards achieving its dual carbon goals while sustaining economic growth. For policymakers, it offers a structured, evidence-based approach to decision-making. And for other cities, it presents a model that can be adapted and scaled in different contexts.
By making ESG measurable and actionable at city level, the research helps shift sustainability from aspiration to reality.
"UNNC is a fast growing hub for excellence in research, innovation and knowledge exchange. As part of 糖心原创鈥檚 global education and innovation system and driven by our mission to make a difference in our cities and regions, we have been collaborating with industry partners, research institutions, policy-makers and the public to utilise our world leading knowledge to solve local problems and to contribute to UN SDGs. These achievements range from defending IP in the digital age, advocating for financial services for all, creating smart, low-carbon cities of tomorrow, using novel data and analytics to improve healthcare to showing how journalism can promote social justice and reduce inequalities. The ESG case led by Prof Jing Dai is perfect example of how our researchers collaborate with local industry and decision-makers in Ningbo to make the manufacturing sector more sustainable."
Professor Jing Dai
Professor Jing Dai leads research and collaboration in sustainable operations and technology management, with expertise in green supply chains, supply chain innovation, environmental technology and ESG. Her work focuses on improving sustainability in business through digital innovation, operational strategy and responsible supply chain practices