Recognising Leadership in Sustainable Urban Development across Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle
- About the Award
The IMT-GT Green City Award recognises cities that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and sustained commitment in advancing greener, more inclusive, and climate-resilient urban development.
The Award is established with the strong support of the IMT-GT Ministers, as a platform to showcase achievements, inspire wider adoption, and promote deeper cross-border collaboration through the exchange best practices and replication of successful models.
Aligned with the IMT-GT Vision 2036, the Sustainable Urban Development Framework (SUDF), ASEAN sustainable urbanisation priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Award benchmarks progress, facilitates knowledge exchange, and strengthens city-to-city cooperation across the IMT-GT subregion. Cities are recognised not only for their outcomes, but also for their leadership in advancing collaborative, scalable, and impactful urban sustainability solutions across borders.
The Award recognises outstanding city-led initiatives across seven key areas:
- Sustainable Transport and Low-Carbon Mobility
- Sustainable Energy Transition
- Solid Waste Management
- Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management
- Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency
- Carbon and Climate Governance (Carbon Literacy)
- Education for Sustainable Development
- Eligibility
Eligible applicants are cities, municipalities, and local authorities located within the IMT-GT subregion, specifically:
- Indonesia: cities/municipalities in the 10 provinces of Sumatra
- Malaysia: cities/municipalities in the 11 states of Peninsular Malaysia
- Thailand: cities/municipalities in the 14 southern provinces
Each eligible city/municipality may submit multiple applications, with one application per award category only.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have implemented the submitted initiative for at least three (3) consecutive years, and
- Demonstrate that the initiative remains active and has measurable outcomes.
- Evaluation Criteria
Award submissions will be evaluated by an independent, multidisciplinary panel of experts with experience in sustainable urban development.
Each application will be assessed based on a two-tier framework comprising Technical Indicators and five Core Criteria. Please refer to the Summary Guide for details.
Core Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on:
Impact
Measures the city’s achievements, progress, and tangible outcomes in implementing the SUDF. This includes contributions to economic vitality, urban prosperity, green development, safety, resilience, and capacity building.
Sustainability
Assesses long-term strategies and institutionalisation of sustainable practices, including medium- to long-term plans, people-centred approaches, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
Innovation
Evaluates novel practices, technologies, or methods in policy, planning, or financing that support sustainable urban development and SUDF objectives.
Scalability and Adaptability
Assesses the potential for replication, adoption, or scaling of initiatives by other IMT-GT cities, including cross-border collaboration potential.
Governance and Participation
Evaluates the level of participation and inclusiveness in planning and implementation, including engagement with citizens, NGOs, and the private sector.
- Benefits and Recognition
All recognised cities will receive:
- Official IMT-GT Green City Award Certificate
- Featured on the IMT-GT Green Cities Best Practice Platform via the IMT-GT Website
- Visibility through IMT-GT and partner networks
- Application Resources
📄 Submission Guidelines
📄 Assessment Framework (Summary Guide)
📄 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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