The world is becoming more and more urbanized with 57% of the population living in cities (2022). By 2050 the urban population is expected to reach 68%, and over 90% of this increase will occur in the urban areas of low-income countries, especially in Africa and Asia.

Population growth and rapid urbanization are exacerbating the limitations of our current food systems (increased greenhouse gas levels, deforestation, food loss and waste), and growing competition for natural resources. It is becoming increasingly difficult for local governments to provide urban and peri-urban populations with access to sustainable and nutritious food, resistance to zoonotic diseases, development of green spaces and reduction of food waste, while a growing population implies an increasing demand for food, land, water, energy, and basic services.

Therefore, as of today there are many challenges cities are already facing, such as food and nutrition insecurity, degradation of natural resources, environmental crises, climate, health and economic shocks, and social inequalities.

To support cities in addressing these challenges, in 2020 FAO launched the Green Cities Initiative and Action Plan during the 75^th session of the UN General Assembly.

About the GCI

The Green Cities Initiative aims at improving the resilience of cities and the well-being of urban and peri-urban populations in the face of global crises, targeting at least 100 cities around the world by 2023, up to 1000 cities by 2030.

Building on FAO’s expertise on sustainable urban and peri urban agriculture and forestry, and urban food systems, the Green Cities Initiative supports local governments to plan, design and implement innovative green actions bringing together sustainable, resilient and inclusive agri-food systems, multifunctional green infrastructure, and natural resources management.

By integrating urban and peri-urban agriculture, forestry, and urban food systems into urban planning, policy, and actions, municipalities can:

• increase food security and access to green spaces for all;

• improve public health, nutrition, air quality, and resilience to extreme weather events;

• improve the local economy and creation of green jobs;

• better mitigate risks from multiple shocks (climate change, economic, pandemic, etc.);

• reduce the ecological footprint.

The Green Cities Initiative targes all types of cities - small, intermediary, or metropolitan – and support them in finding ways to make their unique urban environment a cleaner, greener, more resilient, and healthier place to live.

Everyone everywhere should be able to live in a green healthy environment with access to nutritious diets from sustainable agri-food systems.

The world is becoming more and more urbanized with 57% of the population living in cities (2022). By 2050 the urban population is expected to reach 68%, and over 90% of this increase will occur in the urban areas of low-income countries, especially in Africa and Asia.

Population growth and rapid urbanization are exacerbating the limitations of our current food systems (increased greenhouse gas levels, deforestation, food loss and waste), and growing competition for natural resources. It is becoming increasingly difficult for local governments to provide urban and peri-urban populations with access to sustainable and nutritious food, resistance to zoonotic diseases, development of green spaces and reduction of food waste, while a growing population implies an increasing demand for food, land, water, energy, and basic services.

Therefore, as of today there are many challenges cities are already facing, such as food and nutrition insecurity, degradation of natural resources, environmental crises, climate, health and economic shocks, and social inequalities.

To support cities in addressing these challenges, in 2020 FAO launched the Green Cities Initiative and Action Plan during the 75^th session of the UN General Assembly.

The subprogramme will be implemented in cities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

So far, Cameroon, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sri Lanka, Dominica and Honduras, have agreed to conduct relevant actions in their cities. More countries and cities will be selected in the coming months. Various activities have been designed, such as projects, quick-win actions, training, surveys, technical assistant, and City-to-City exchanges. Partnership is strengthened through the implementation, such as UN-Habitat, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Future Food Institute.

Through the implementation of the subprogramme, knowledge, capacities and partnerships will be built to support the scaling up of GCI related activities at national, regional and global levels.

The subprogramme will establish multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms to support the inclusion of urban and peri-urban forestry, agriculture, and urban food systems in policy, legislation, and planning processes.

The subprogramme will enhance stakeholders' capacity, implement and scale-up integrated quick-win actions related to agriculture, forestry and food systems within selected cities.

Challenges and lessons learned

Through the implementation of the subprogramme, several challenges and lessons have been identified, such as:

• Municipalities in low-income countries are overwhelmed by the pace of growth of their cities and fail to protect agricultural land, green spaces and forests from concrete encroachment. The integration of agriculture, forestry, and food systems into urban planning is weak and needs to be strengthened.
• As a result, their vulnerability to climate change, shocks and food insecurity is increasing.
• Immediate actions to protect urban green spaces, and to make agrifood systems more sustainable and efficient, are feasible and can contribute to build a middle / long-term transformation strategy
• Partnership is key to involve as many cities as possible.
• Innovative and smart resource mobilization strategies are required to implement actions in cities.
• Cities need to provide and/or find match fundings to make the programme sustainable.

Green Cities Initiative https://www.fao.org/green-cities-initiative/en/