Kuala Lumpur City is the capital city of Malaysia. The cultural, financial, and economic centre has a total of seven million population including the greater Kuala Lumpur area. A bustling metropolis, Kuala Lumpur is one of the leading capitals in Southeast Asia with thriving tourism and international shopping destinations.

Makati City is the financial center and home of many multinational and local corporations in the Philippines. It is among the cities located within the National Capital Region.

All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG) is a premier, India government-recognized institute working with states and central governments in fields of education, training research, advocacy, seminars, and workshops. With 30 centers spread across Indian cities, AIILSG has been active in building capacities for local officials for effective administration and implementation of various programs.

Bogor City is located at the West Java province in Indonesia. The city, with over a million population, is an important economic, tourist, and transport center. It is often visited by frequent rain showers, hence the nickname ‘Rainy City’. Bogor is an important city within the greater Jakarta Area. Its source of local economy includes automotive, chemical, and food industries that generate revenue and livelihood in the city.

Busan City is a bustling city with around 3.4 million residents, is located on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula. Busan is the second largest city in Korea. Its deep harbor has allowed the city to grow into the largest container handling port in the country and the fifth largest in the world. The city's natural endowments and rich history have resulted in Busan's increasing reputation as a world class city for tourism and culture, and it is also becoming renowned as a hot spot destination for international conventions. 

Clean Ciliwung River Movement (CCRM) is a non-profit organization to raise awareness and clean the then heavily polluted Ciliwung river in Jakarta Metropolitan City. CCRM has three decades of experience dealing with clean river movement and engaging stakeholders with the end goal to promote Ciliwung Riverbanks and river basin as a major tourism destination.

Colombo Municipal Council is Sri Lanka’s largest city and home to around a million people. It has the one of the busiest ports in the South Asia. It has served as the main commercial capital of Sri Lanka which dated back as far as 200 years.

Denpasar City is the capital and gateway city to the Bali Island province of Indonesia. It is the center of government administration, trade, education, agro-industrial, and tourism center in Bali. It has a population of about 700,000 and is experiencing a rapid economic growth. Denpasar City is working toward its mission to become a culture-based creative city not only in Bali but in Indonesia.

Iloilo City is a highly urbanized and regional center in Western Philippines on the island of Panay. It has been a major hub for trade, commerce, and tourism and among Philippines’ most important economic centers. It is a gateway city to Panay Island and a heritage city with centuries-old churches and edifices.  

Incheon Metropolitan City is a metropolitan gateway city to Northeast Asia and the Republic of Korea with a population of over three million. It features world-class airport and seaports. It is a hub for bio-industry and an international city where different United Nations and international organizations are located. The city is designated as a global manufacturing hub by the World Health Organizations to supply vaccines to developing countries.

International Climate Development Institute or ICDI is a non-profit organization that focuses on climate change, human rights, intergenerational justice, and developing rights, and actively participates in international activities. Based in Taipei, ICDI assists different stakeholders in capacity building, energy transition and the development of local adaptation strategies to help communities move towards a climate-resilient and sustainable life.

Lalitpur Metropolitan City is located at the south-central part of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. It is known for its rich cultural heritage like its tradition of arts and crafts. Its economy is dependent on tourism, agriculture, and small and medium-sized enterprises. It is city renowned for its Patan Durban Square, which is UNESCO Heritage Site. The city has been promoting its best practices on heritage conservation and community-based disaster preparedness.

Plus Arts is an international non-profit that focuses on planning and implementing creative disaster prevention projects with urban stakeholders. With offices in Kobe and Tokyo, Plus Arts’ work ranges from international capacity building to art exhibition activities. It is working to introduce creative ideas and solving social issues with disaster prevention and making cities more resilient.

Seberang Perai City Council is located opposite Penang Island in Malaysia. It is one of the most populous city with nearly a million residents. The city is major manufacturing hub with several multinational corporations and Malaysian companies located within its industrial zones. The city is setting the goal as a low carbon city by 2022. It is the only Malaysian city that has undertaken to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Muntinlupa City is a highly urbanized city located in the southern part of the Philippines’ National Capital Region. With over a half million in population. it is the center of large-scale business parks and commercial real estate. One of Philippine’s multi awarded cities, Muntinlupa City is the gateway to Philippines’ Southern Luzon Region. It houses several information technologies (IT) parks and business processing outsourcing (BPO) centres.

Vijay Jagannathan is a Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute. He is advising the Institute’s work in developing its sustainable cities agenda, net zero strategies and water program. He is concurrently the Secretary General of CityNet. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University. He has been a member of the expert advisory panels and international consulting teams for World Bank, Green Climate Fund, and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture working on water, climate and environmental issues.