Water is the source of life, the basis of production and the foundation of ecology. On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, the Green Partnership of Industrial Parks in China (GPIPC) Secretariat - TEDA Low Carbon Centre, Suzhou Industrial Park Management Committee and Apple Inc. signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding to jointly promote the world's first international and domestic demonstration project of sustainable water management system in an industrial park. "The project is the first of its kind globally and the first international and domestic demonstration project of sustainable water management system in an industrial park. Chen Dong'an, member of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of SIP; Ge Yue, Global Vice President and Managing Director of Greater China of Apple Inc. and Song Yuyan, Director of the Secretariat of the GPIPC, attended the event and witnessed the signing together, with the participation of Water Management Australia and the Suzhou Chinese Consortium and others participated in the event.

《The UN World Water Development Report 2020》: Water and Climate Change state that reducing the impacts and drivers of climate change will require humans to change the way they use the Earth's finite water resources. Sustainable water management is an important component of the climate change response programme and one of the key aspects of building climate-resilient cities. The AWS (Alliance for Water Stewardship) Sustainable Water Management System is the only international system standard for water resources management published by the International Alliance for Sustainable Water Management. It provides a framework for action to manage water risks and improve water management performance systematically.  The International Sustainable Water Management Alliance has now established a global certification and accreditation system that allows more responsible water users to be audited by independent assessment bodies to obtain AWS international certification and gain market and public recognition. The corresponding national recommended standard 'Sustainable Water Management Evaluation Requirements (GB/T 38966-2020)' was published in June 2020.

The Suzhou Industrial Park Sustainable Water Management International and Domestic Dual Certification Demonstration Project aims to develop a systematic, timely and comprehensive water management framework, promote sustainable water management capacity building for supply chain enterprises and key water users in the park to make the park meet AWS standards and national standards, promote the park's ability to cope with climate change and enhance urban resilience and become the first in the world and the first in China to obtain sustainable It has become the first park management committee in the world and the first in China to be certified for sustainable water management, providing a vivid case study for the green, low-carbon and sustainable development of 2,543 industrial parks at the provincial level and above across the country and the world.

The theme of World Environment Day 2021 is "Harmony between man and nature", which aims to raise further the awareness of biodiversity conservation and climate change in the whole society, strengthen the confidence and determination to fight the battle of pollution prevention and control, and gather consensus and strength for building a beautiful home where man and nature co-exist in harmony. The signing of the "double standard" certification demonstration project will also further promote the sustainable development of water resources in the park and the industrial parks in the Yangtze River basin and make useful exploration for the construction of green water and green mountains and "beautiful China".

Director Song said that SIP is a founding member of the GPIPC and one of the world's top industrial parks. The demonstration project on a sustainable water management system will provide a model for the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of industrial parks nationwide and globally. As the secretariat of the GPIPC, the Centre will actively promote the "Park Experience" under the framework of the tripartite MOU and continue to encourage the application of the AWS system in industrial parks in China. It will also continue to participate in the green actively and low-carbon development initiatives of the park and graft on more socially responsible companies to collaborate with the Park on green innovation.

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Since its establishment, Suzhou Industrial Park has always adhered to the development concept of "ecological and environmental protection" and actively promoted the construction of ecological civilisation, which has led to a continuous improvement in the quality of the environmental environment alongside rapid economic and social development. The Park has ranked first in the comprehensive assessment of national economic development zones for five consecutive years. It has risen to fourth place in the evaluation of national high-tech zones, with the basic framework of a world-class high-tech park initially constructed. The Suzhou Pilot Free Trade Zone (60.15 sq km) of China (Jiangsu) is located in SIP. SIP is one of the founding board members of the GPIPC and the fourth chairman of the League.

The AWS Sustainable Water Management System (SWMS) is the only international system standard in the field of water resources management published by the International Sustainable Water Management Alliance (ISWMA). It provides a framework for action to manage water risks and improve water management performance systematically. The International Sustainable Water Management Alliance has now established a global certification and accreditation system, enabling more responsible water users to obtain AWS international certification through audits by independent assessment bodies and gain market and public recognition. The corresponding national recommended standard 'Sustainable Water Management Evaluation Requirements (GB/T 38966-2020)' will be published in June 2020.