Thiruvananthapuram Becomes First Indian City to Win UN-Shanghai Global Award, Competing with World-Class Cities

Thiruvananthapuram Municipality on the cusp of international award. Thiruvananthapuram is the first city from India to win the UN-Shanghai Global Award. The global initiative led by UN Habitat and Shanghai Municipality has selected Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for the award for sustainable development in cities. Cities like Brisbane in Australia, Salvador in Brazil, Fuzhou in China, George Town in Malaysia, and Kampala in Uganda have won this award in previous years. Thiruvananthapuram is the first city from India to win this award. The award highlights Thiruvananthapuram’s exemplary progress in governance, urban empowerment, and sustainable development. The city's efforts align with the New Urban Agenda (Agenda 2030), and an international jury comprising experts from across the world selected Thiruvananthapuram based on its significant contributions to urban safety standards and sustainability initiatives. The corporation's extensive initiatives have been instrumental in achieving this honor. It has pioneered several sustainability programs, including the installation of 17,000 kilowatt solar panels, 2,000 solar streetlights, the conversion of all streetlights to LED lighting, the addition of 115 electric buses for public transport, 100 electric autorickshaws to support the unemployed, and 35 electric scooters. Additionally, more than 500 government offices have transitioned to solar power. On June 5, 2025, the corporation is set to announce a Climate Budget, further solidifying its commitment to becoming a sustainable and solar city. This award comes as a continuation of the city's recognition for excellence in urban development. Thiruvananthapuram recently won the Prime Minister’s Swanidhi PRAISE Award for its efforts in urban empowerment. It also secured top honors in Urban Governance and Sanitation under HUDCO awards by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Furthermore, Thiruvananthapuram has been distinguished as a City 2.0 for its outstanding smart city initiatives and received a Rs. 10 crore central government incentive for its implementation of the AMRUT 1 project. The city’s past accolades include the Swaraj Trophy for the best municipality in Kerala, the Aardrakeralam Award, the Vayojana Seva Award, and recognition as a Disability-Friendly City. The mayor has also been honored with the Times Business Outstanding Performance in Energy Efficiency Award for her leadership in spearheading the city's carbon-neutral initiatives. The UN-Shanghai Global Award is presented annually as part of World Urban Day on October 31, a tradition that began during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The theme, "Good City, Good Life," aims to promote urban excellence and sustainable living. Alongside Thiruvananthapuram, cities like Agadir (Morocco), Doha (Qatar), Iztapalapa (Mexico), and Melbourne (Australia) have also been recognized this year.