Tianjin’s green shift and maritime power

By Muhammad Asif Noor 

(ECNS) — Tianjin, China’s coastal powerhouse, stands at the forefront of a remarkable transformation, blending industrial might with environmental leadership. As the host of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit from August 31 to September 1, 2025, the city showcases its dual role as a global maritime hub and a pioneer in sustainable development.

This convergence of economic strength and green innovation aligns seamlessly with the SCO’s growing emphasis on sustainability, positioning Tianjin as a model for regional cooperation in addressing climate challenges. The city’s advancements in smart ports, renewable energy, and eco-friendly industries underscore why it matters for the SCO’s vision of a resilient, interconnected future. Tianjin’s industrial strength is a driving force behind its global influence. In 2024, the city’s GDP reached 1.57 trillion yuan ($220 billion), fueled by a 5.8% annual growth rate that outpaced many regional peers.

The Binhai New Area, a hub for advanced manufacturing and technology, hosts over 400 Fortune 500 companies, with foreign direct investment surpassing $20 billion last year.

Tianjin’s industrial output, particularly in aerospace, artificial intelligence, and green technology, grew by 7.2% in 2024, according to the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The city’s smart factories, such as the Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (COOEC) base, span 575,000 square meters and employ over 600 pieces of energy-efficient equipment, cutting energy consumption by 18% since 2020.

These achievements highlight Tianjin’s capacity to lead industrial innovation, a critical component of the SCO’s agenda for sustainable economic growth. The Port of Tianjin, one of the world’s largest, anchors the city’s maritime dominance. In 2024, it processed 21.8 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), securing its place among the top 10 global ports.

The port’s smart zero-carbon terminal, operational since October 2021, leverages AI, 5G, and big data to enhance efficiency while reducing emissions by 15% over the past five years.

This facility, recognized with national honors for green performance, handles 60% of China’s trade with SCO member states, including vital energy imports from Russia and Kazakhstan.

In preparation for the SCO Summit, Tianjin invested 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in 2025 to upgrade port infrastructure, introducing eco-friendly terminals and digital logistics systems.

These advancements strengthen regional connectivity, exemplified by the China-Europe Railway Express, which recorded 19,000 trips through SCO countries in 2024, a 10.7% increase from the previous year.

The port’s efficiency and sustainability make it a cornerstone of the SCO’s trade and infrastructure goals. Tianjin’s environmental leadership is equally compelling. The city has committed 120 billion yuan ($16.8 billion) since 2020 to renewable energy and urban sustainability projects, with 35% of its energy mix derived from renewables in 2024. Solar and wind capacity expanded by 22% annually, supported by initiatives like the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, a national green development zone established in 2013.

Air pollution levels dropped by 30% over the past decade, earning praise from SCO delegates, including Kazakhstan’s Vice President of the National Oil and Gas Company, Ashat Magauov, who lauded Tianjin’s “green transformation” at the China-SCO Conference on Industrial Cooperation in April 2025. This conference secured 4.8 billion yuan ($665 million) in deals across 18 projects focused on new energy and materials, reinforcing Tianjin’s role in advancing the SCO’s sustainable development priorities.

The SCO Summit provides Tianjin an opportunity to showcase its green-maritime synergy. The city’s hosting of the 2025 SCO Inter-Civilizational Dialogue in July saw experts from member states explore clean energy cooperation, with agreements to develop 2 gigawatts of renewable capacity across Central Asia by 2030.

Tianjin’s smart port technologies, including blockchain-based logistics, have reduced logistics costs by 12% for SCO trade routes, enhancing access for landlocked member states like Uzbekistan.

The city’s sustainable transport initiatives, highlighted at the 12th SCO Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin in June 2025, secured $2 billion in funding for green logistics corridors. These efforts align with the SCO’s Year of Sustainable Development, emphasizing practical steps toward carbon neutrality and regional resilience. Tianjin’s cultural and historical openness amplifies its role as a sustainability leader.

With a 600-year legacy, the city’s blend of Eastern and Western influences — seen in the Five Great Avenues and Ancient Cultural Street — fosters an inclusive environment for SCO collaboration.

The SCO Youth Cultural Festival, launching in Tianjin in 2025, will offer 5,000 scholarships for joint academic programs, promoting knowledge exchange on green technologies. This cultural bridge strengthens the SCO’s “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust and respect, essential for collective climate action.

As the SCO Summit unfolds, Tianjin’s integration of industrial strength and environmental stewardship offers a blueprint for the organization’s sustainability agenda.

The city’s smart ports and renewable energy investments demonstrate how economic growth can coexist with ecological responsibility. By facilitating $890 billion in trade with SCO countries in 2024 and driving green innovation, Tianjin embodies the potential for regional cooperation to address global challenges. Its leadership sets a precedent for SCO member states, proving that maritime power and sustainability can propel a shared vision for a greener, more connected world.

The writer is Secretary General of the Pakistan-SCO Friendship Forum. The views do not necessarily reflect those of ECNS.