Liwah Wong

Amid global crises such as climate change, both urban and rural regions must adopt integrated sustainability planning. While cities contribute to environmental degradation, they also serve as hubs for innovations and solutions. Conversely, rural areas, though disproportionately affected by severe climate impacts, hold immense potential for ecological restoration. However, rapid urbanization has widened urban-rural disparities, leading to global policy efforts aimed at fostering stronger integration. Despite these initiatives, achieving a balance between economic growth and environmental resilience remains a critical challenge. To address these issues, a new partnership has been established between the Technical University of Berlin (TUB) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), with potential collaboration from four University of California campuses - Berkeley, Merced, Santa Cruz, and Davis. This initiative also aligns with the existing Sino-German-International consortium, which includes Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), Tongji University, Zhejiang University, UN-Habitat, and ICLEI. The partnership aims to drive breakthroughs in biomass innovations, focusing on soil health, soil regeneration, and the development of new soil. These efforts build upon prior research in urban-rural integrative planning and governance, paving the way for its planned global implementation.