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Learning from Cities— The 2nd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
is because enabling these stakeholders
vast majority of ordinary citizens. In
(oftentimes with divergent views and
this sense, it is of particular importance
visions on how to advance a project)
to educate the public on details of
to agree on a plan that meets the
the Pearl Rating System. On top of
requirements of Estidama Program is
education and training, the government
a crucial step towards the successful
also encouraged public involvement in
implementation of the project. Pearl
discussions before launching Estidama
Qualified Professionals (or PQR)
Program, with a view to winning public
are often brought in to facilitate the
understanding and support.
collaboration between government and experts. Well-versed in various PRS
2. The Evaluation Mechanism:
requirements and with a high degree of
The Pearl Rating System (PRS)
independence, these PQRs can serve as
To support and to accelerate
facilitators of communication among
the implementation of sustainability
experts and between government
principles, a key component of the
and experts. It is also important for
Estidama program is the Pearl Rating
the government to help local experts
System (PRS), which received
develop a more internationalized
government mandate in July 2010.
vision. To this end, the government
Adherence is therefore compulsory
encouraged local experts to make a
to ensure that all new projects and
comparison between the PRS and
communities are in compliance with at
LEED (Leadership in Energy and
least the minimum requirements of the
Environmental Design) to see which
PRS. Meanwhile, competition among
set of standards are more favorable for
projects is boosted to incentivize real
sustainable development and in which
estate developers to pursue higher
aspects. In this way, the local experts
goals pertaining to sustainability. In
could develop a better understanding
actuality, in the early phase of devising
of the adaptability of these rating
the Pearl Rating System, the UPC
standards to local conditions.
just expected it to become suggestive
Fourth, collaboration between
norms governing new projects. To the
government and ordinary citizens. The
UPC’s surprise, upper-level authorities,
success of Estidama Program relies,
deeming the PRS to be of paramount
in the final analysis, on the ideals of
importance, decided to implement it as
sustainability being accepted by the
a mandatory regulation all across the