UN platform spotlights Chinese approach to global commuting solutions

The Global Urban Lectures series of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), launched its seventh season with a groundbreaking online session on urban mobility and planning, marking a historic moment as the first Chinese scholar to address this international platform.

The series of lectures will run from December 2024 to April 2025, according to its organizer.

Yang Tianren, assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong, delivered the lecture 'Deciphering and Improving Commuting in Our Cities', unveiling an innovative framework to address escalating commuting challenges in global megacities.

"This systemic framework represents a paradigm shift in urban mobility management and spatial planning," said Yang, whose research team harnesses advanced data analytics and system simulation technologies.

His four-dimensional approach integrates policy enhancement, data analytics, system simulation and innovative work arrangements to transform urban commuting experiences.

At the core of this comprehensive solution lies a multifaceted strategy, integrating commuting quality into urban development metrics, utilizing anonymous mobile data for travel pattern analysis, deploying intelligent urban simulation models and introducing flexible work arrangements to reduce peak-hour congestion.

Since its 2014 inception, the Global Urban Lectures have evolved into one of UN-Habitat's premier knowledge-sharing platforms, featuring over 60 experts from world-leading institutions including the World Bank, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University College London.

Yang said these innovative solutions, grounded in China's extensive urban development experience, present valuable references for metropolitan regions across the globe.

Looking ahead, the lecture series will address other pressing urban challenges, including inclusive city development, urban resilience, and land-use transformation, supporting UN-Habitat's Quality of Life Initiative and advancing global sustainable urban development goals.