31 October 2010: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China, on 31 October 2010, where he underlined that the Expo has provided “invaluable” ideas to tackle some of the biggest current challenges, including rapid urbanization, climate change and sustainable development.

Ban stated that the Expo’s theme “Better City, Better Life,” was very timely, noting that more than half of the world’s people currently live in cities, and that percentage will continue to grow. He praised innovations in construction and new uses of natural resources aimed at decreasing energy and water use. Ban qualified China as an “urban pioneer,” noting efforts to develop green technologies, renewable energy sources and green business models.

Ban then traveled to Nanjing, where he received an honorary doctorate from the Nanjing University. He underscored that China is the world’s greatest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG), noting it was the price of “feeding the consumption habits of people in developed countries.” He welcomed China’s investments in the low-carbon economy, highlighting its efforts in wind and solar energy development. [UN Press Release] [Ban’s Statement at the 2010 World Expo]