22 July 2010: The World Bank has approved a US$6.16 Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant to support the Sino-Singapore Eco-City Project (SSTECP) in Tianjin, China, an area of 34.2 square kilometers that is designed to become a model of energy and resource efficiency while maintaining economic viability and social harmony.

The grant will be used to support local authorities in creating the policy, regulatory, institutional, financial and monitoring mechanisms for the “eco-city,” which is expected to be home to 350,000 people by 2020. The project will help promote “green transport,” such as public transport, walking tracks and bicycle pathways. It will also support the construction of “green buildings” through the introduction of energy efficient building standards that are higher than the national standard.

Tianjin, China’s third largest city with a population of 11.76 million, is developing the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City in collaboration with the Singapore Government. A Framework Agreement was signed between the two Governments in November 2007. [World Bank Press Release]