Huế has shown it has what it takes to become a pioneer city in green and sustainable development. Photo tintuc.hues.vn

The challenge is a WWF initiative calling on cities around the globe to take action for a climate-friendly future by creating ambitious plans to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Hue made an extraordinary breakthrough and successfully passed the campaign’s rigorous selection criteria to become one of 18 finalists for Global Earth Hour Capital 2016, according to the WWF.

“WWF is pleased with what Huế has achieved. Huế has shown it has what it takes to become a pioneer city in green and sustainable development. Vietnam will continue to be highly affected by climate change, and what Hue is doing should be encouraged and replicated nationwide,” said Văn Ngọc Thịnh, country director of WWF-Vietnam.

Hue’s campaign centred on a commitment to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 2011 emission levels.

To reach the target, Hue created seven specific action plans, focusing on urban greening, green tourism development, effective disposal of trash and wastewater, intelligent public lighting systems, renewable energy, and environmentally friendly construction materials.

The global challenge celebrates environmentally friendly policies and initiatives that Hue and its residents are taking to become leaders in sustainable development.

Vietnam is taking part in the challenge for the first time with Hue as its representative city.

About 125 cities from 21 countries have also participated in WWF’s challenge this year.

Participating cities had to submit a carbon emissions report together with at least one commitment and action plan for sustainable development in environment, construction, transportation, energy, food and water.

The jury selected one city per country to be the National Earth Hour Capital 2016 to compete in the final global challenge, with the winner named Global Earth Hour Capital 2016.

Besides Hue, 17 other cities around the world were selected as finalists to be evaluated by an international jury of 17 independent experts, who selected the global winner.