Bitung, a coastal city in North Sulawesi and one of Indonesia’s designated Special Economic Zones (SEZs), participates in the GEF-7 UrbanShift program to align economic development with marine and environmental sustainability. Known for its rich coastal and marine biodiversity, Bitung’s economy depends heavily on fisheries and agriculture-based industries such as coconut and fish processing. However, pollution, unsustainable practices, and coastal degradation threaten both livelihoods and ecosystems. Through UrbanShift, the city is focusing on improving industrial waste management, restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, and reducing pollution in key watersheds. The program also promotes nature-based disaster risk reduction and integrated land–sea planning to strengthen resilience to floods, landslides, and earthquakes. Bitung’s participation demonstrates how smaller industrial cities can adopt sustainable and climate-smart practices while protecting biodiversity and community well-being.