UNEP launched the “Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative” (UNEP-SBCI).

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General & UNEP Executive Director, proposed to cooperate in the undertaking of SUC Programme with Jia Cui (China) Environmental Promotive Center (JCEP) in UNEP’s Headquarters, Nairobi.

A “Memorandum of Understanding on SUC Programme” (MoU) was officially signed between UNEP and JCEP on the eve of the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

UNEP and partners launched a new initiative in Rio—Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities (GI-REC).

Details of SUC Programme including its terms of reference, promotion procedures, implementation principles, personnel structure and special contributions were all settled. A Cooperative Agreement between the two parties was signed on 24th, November 2014.

UNEP decided to integrate SBCI and GI-REC into SUC programme.

SUC Programme was officially launched. Based on China’s context, Guidelines for Sustainable Cities and Communities will be developed focusing on the developing countries; 3 cities and 3 communities will also be identified for pilot testing.

UN-Habitat officially joined SUC Programme as a co-host organization, fully involved in Guidelines development and providing guidance on urban construction.