CityNet recently took part in the 20th World Winter Cities Conference for Mayors (WWCAM) in Sapporo, Japan, from 17–20 December 2024. The biennial event brought together city leaders and experts to discuss urban development and sustainability in winter cities, with this year’s theme focusing on “New Possibilities for Winter Cities – Realising a Sustainable Society.”

CityNet was invited to present its mission, programmes, and ongoing initiatives to WWCAM member cities. The presentation underscored CityNet’s role in advancing sustainable urban development across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

CityNet also facilitated the participation of two of its members—Almaty Development Centre (Kazakhstan) and Beijing ArchiCity (China)—who shared their insights on urban planning and tourism management in winter cities.

On the sidelines, CityNet held bilateral meetings with officials from Changchun, Fukuoka, Ulaanbaatar, Rovaniemi, Sapporo, and Hokkaido University. Discussions focused on zero waste policies, environmental planning, and smart city projects, reinforcing CityNet’s efforts to connect cities through practical solutions.