Theatre has always been a source of knowledge and reflection: a school open to all comers, expanding the minds and spirits of its students. The Teatro Grande of ancient Pompeii was built in the second century BC and rebuilt in its present form in the first century BC. It served as an important cultural and educational centre. Ensuring equitable and inclusive quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all (SDG 4) was, and still is, an essential part of community life and sustainable development.  This awareness was the inspiration behind Sogno di volare (Dream of Flying), one of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii’s flagship ventures. It is intended for young people and was made possible through cooperation with schools in the Vesuvian area and major partners from the theatre world. The project invites young people to reconnect with their cultural heritage through art and theatre.  

The Triangular Forum is a fitting example of the relationship between people and nature, making it possible to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15). This forum was used as a sacred area from the earliest times. It housed a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, guardian of shipping, and a double enclosure that was the purported burial place of the hero Heracles, Pompeii’s legendary founder. The temple of Athena looked out over the plain and the sea; the sanctuary of Heracles, the hero who defied the forces of evil and nature to defend the weakest, was immersed in the protective tranquillity of a sacred forest.  

Like the demigod, whose strength was his superpower when facing great challenges and defending the most vulnerable, we too must forge partnerships (SDG 17) to tackle the urgent problem of poverty and ensure a fairer and more prosperous future for all (SDG 1). Only together can we truly ensure that the most vulnerable nations and people can recover and build a better life.  

This partnership must take place on various levels, and include key areas such as finance, technology and trade. Global partnerships for sustainable development face challenges such as poor mobilization of financial resources that hinder developing countries from achieving the SDGs. These problems require constant commitment and active partnership between stakeholders.  

Promoting universal social, economic and political inclusion (SDG 10) through effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels is essential to fostering peaceful societies committed to sustainable development (SDG 16). Developing inclusive policies is crucial to ensure equitable access to land and resources, strengthen rural institutions and offer social protection to those who live in disadvantaged rural areas. The goal is to create an environment where no one is left behind, improving social justice and community inclusion through tangible support and development measures. 

Ensuring access to justice and efficient institutions through sound administration and the proper running of political life was crucial to the citizens of ancient Pompeii. This was the purpose of the Comitium, the political heart of the city, where public meetings and the most salient political and administrative activities took place. The Comitium of Pompeii was built in the second century BC and initially used as a polling station. Later, it became the place where votes were counted and newly-elected magistrates were proclaimed.  

The work conducted by magistrates is a reminder of the importance of law and order for protecting communities and the places that house them through the work of public institutions. The Archaeological Park of Pompeii spearheads support for restoring the rule of law in the wake of damage caused over time to local areas and landscapes by illegal digs and building work and to ensure the protection, conservation and promotion of archaeological finds saved from the illegal trade in cultural goods.

A sustainable city (SDG 11) capitalizes on the potential of various sectors, such as industry, trade and agriculture. It also fosters partnerships between government and private companies (SDG 17) to create vibrant, innovative (SDG 9) and  
people-centred economies (SDG 8).  

As in all Roman towns, Pompeii's public Forum was the hub of daily life in the city: the site of the main public buildings and the place where business, trade, city administration and justice were conducted. According to the Latin writer Varro, who suggested that the word forum was derived from the verb ferre (to carry), this was a space where the entire community came together to sell their wares and air their disagreements. Another Latin author, Festus, maintained that a forum meant a place of judgment, public speeches and markets or fairs. In other words, it was the town’s main gathering place, where government came into direct contact with local businesses. Then as now, sustainable development stood for harmony between social and economic life.  

This is the idea behind FAO's social and economic statistics, which play an essential role in informing decisions, policies and investments that affect food and agriculture issues. A truly sustainable city learns from the past while incorporating innovation and partnership between different sectors to create a prosperous and harmonious future for all. 

Biodiversity was important centuries ago, just as it is today. It is essential for food security and living in harmony with nature. Preserving biodiversity (SDG 15) means enhancing the availability and quality of food resources (SDG 2): diverse ecosystems provide a wide range of nutrient-rich crops, edible wild herbs and traditional foods, all of which benefit a nutritious and balanced diet.  

The ancient hortus of the House of Pansa is an outstanding example of terrestrial ecosystem conservation and restoration. The site was chosen as the location for a project of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii aimed at analysing ancient biodiversity and farming techniques. Under this project, the hortus became the Park's nursery, a centre for producing Pompeiian plant species that could be used to restock the gardens of the archaeological site, thus ensuring its own zero km supply of fresh plants.  

Another key focus of FAO's work is to promote sustainable agriculture so that an adequate number of safe, diverse and nutritious foods can be grown for all, while respecting biodiversity and the environment. As the custodian agency for SDGs 2 and 15, FAO provides nations with technical assistance, helping them to enhance, conserve and restore biodiversity in agrifood systems. These efforts aim to achieve food security and promote the sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems, which are two musts for sustainable development. 

A sustainable city ensures the effective management of water resources (SDG 6) and green spaces, as well as waste, renewable energy and infrastructure (SDG 12). Making urban areas inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11) was as much of a challenge for ancient civilizations as it is for us today.  

The House of the Silver Wedding, one of the most imposing examples of a home inhabited by the Pompeiian aristocracy, espouses these principles through its architectural design. Like many Pompeiian dwellings, the building boasts an opening in the roof to let the light in. This is positioned above a drainage basin (impluvium) used to collect rainwater that is channelled into a tank. Unlike other dwellings, this domus features a Rhodian peristyle. The roof is angled upward from the north side to make the best use of sunlight and ensure optimal internal temperature control throughout the seasons.  

Knowing the methods that ancient civilizations used to manage natural resources sustainably teaches us valuable lessons about the importance of sustainable town planning and resource efficiency for creating more sustainable urban areas. Cities affected by urban sprawl and human population growth have much to learn from these tried and tested methods for improving waste management systems, water resources and green spaces – and more. 

Communities around the world have been directly influenced by the quality and quantity of water resources since ancient times. Ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all is one of the most important Sustainable Development Goals for FAO. Water, one of the world's most valuable resources, makes Earth a unique and vital planet. It is essential for food security, nutrition, health, energy, biodiversity and the environment.  

The people of ancient Pompeii developed innovative ways of cleaning and managing drinking water to ensure an adequate water supply (SDG 6). The Central Baths, the largest thermal bathhouse in Pompeii, boasted the same architectural innovations as the spas in Rome. Thermal bathhouses, dedicated to restoring body and spirit (SDG 3), used the beneficial properties of water and offered sanitation systems at a time when most homes had none. The construction of large water systems shows how important it was for the Romans to ensure access to drinking water and sanitation. The Central Baths and the first aqueducts remind us how crucial it is to ensure everyone has access to drinking water, adequate sanitation and natural resources in general. These rights, which are so essential for the emergence of healthy and flourishing societies, are a link with the past and will carry us into the future.  

Pompeii’s House of the Orchard is decorated with frescoes depicting fruit trees, such as lemon trees, arbutus trees and fig trees. These paintings show how important private gardens were in Pompeiian homes: they ensured their occupants always had fresh, quality food on their tables (SDG 2). Today, it is still vital to prioritize sustainable food production and consumption methods (SDG 12). These practices are consistent with the principles of FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme. They emphasize the interconnection between community and land, promoting agrobiodiversity and sustainable management to ensure food security. The GIAHS programme aims to identify, safeguard and sustain long-term agricultural heritage systems of global significance, enhancing landscapes, biodiversity and traditional knowledge to maximize their global, national and local benefits.  

To this end, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii has adopted the far-sighted approach of setting up the Azienda Agricola Pompei [agricultural holding of Pompeii] as a way of reviving some of the ancient town's urban gardens. This project also aims to implement a science-based environmental and land regeneration operation with the involvement of local communities. This will be promoted through educational and social activities (SDG 8).  

Establishing sustainable ecosystems in urban settings contributes to livelihoods while enhancing biodiversity, allowing a range of products to be grown (SDG 11). Some of the rooms in Pompeii’s House of the Europa Ship have been converted for farming activities. The house has its own garden for growing beans, onions and cabbage as well as stables for livestock (SDG 2).  

Through its Pompeii Agricultural Holding Project, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii regenerates the land by growing olives, grapes, flowers, fruit and cereals. It also carries out beekeeping, horticulture, forestry, wildlife management, grazing, composting and scientific research as well as social and educational activities (SDG 15). The aim of this initiative is to protect biodiversity through agricultural regeneration of the land, promoting environmental education and the use of ancient farming techniques. This approach supports food security and nutrition while allowing the sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems and the promotion of sustainable cities and communities in line with FAO’s goals. 

As a global community, we can explore traditional farming techniques from the past to rediscover sustainable methods that will help us mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the planet's natural resources (SDG 13).  

The House of the Triclinium outdoors, which owes its name to a large triclinium with twin fountains in niches, is another  
historically reconstructed green space. This project aims to protect, enhance and utilize the Park's biodiversity, using exclusively organic methods and mirroring the way plants were grown in the ancient world (SDG 15). A modern vineyard in the large garden of the House of the Summer Triclinium commemorates the ones that grew there in 79 AD (SDG 2). Present-day vines are planted alongside the ancient roots and grown using ancient Pompeiian techniques (SDG 2).  

Like the traditional Soave vineyards, designated as a GIAHS site, the Pompeiian vines represent an agroeconomic system that has been providing over 3 000 families with livelihoods for 200 years. The vineyards still use traditional growing methods and have managed to provide income and security for the stakeholders involved in the value chain (grape growers, wine producers, bottlers and more) even in times of hardship. 

Water was of enormous importance for ancient towns and is still crucial for communities today. It is indispensable for daily life, agriculture, marine ecosystems, sanitation and social development (SDG 6).  

The House of Octavius Quartio, built in the second century BC, is a quintessential example of a Pompeiian dwelling where water featured prominently as a symbol of life and prosperity (SDG 14). This particular dwelling, home to a bourgeois Pompeiian family, had a garden with a long watercourse and a central fountain. Water motifs were everywhere, including fish swimming in the fountain troughs. Fossilized roots of the plants that grew along the artificial pond came to light during excavation, underscoring the need for innovative crop and water resource management techniques.  

Aquaponics is a present-day example of good water management. This integrated cultivation system combines aquaculture and hydroponics, using fish waste as a plant fertilizer. The plants absorb the nutrients from the water, which is then filtered and recycled in clean form back to the fish tanks. These globally-used systems can be used with fresh, salt or brackish water. They offer high yields with minimal water use, thus contributing to global food and nutrition security. 

Sustainable and energy-efficient solutions are needed to tackle global challenges such as climate change and natural resource depletion (SDG 7).  

With their ingenious water heating systems, the ancient Romans have much to teach us about developing eco-friendly methods (SDG 6). The large town house owned by Giulia Felice was built in the first century BC. It comprised a house with an atrium, an extensive garden, residential rooms and a bathhouse. The baths, open to all, were among the greatest technological inventions of the time, with a complex system of cold and hot water tanks.  

Gender equality was a far-off dream at the time of Pompeii, with women excluded from public life and managerial roles. Yet by renting out her rooms, Giulia Felice established herself as a businesswoman and public figure in Pompeii. This demonstrates the freedom of action that Roman women enjoyed within their community (SDG 5). 

This historical example of female inclusion and independence has a modern parallel in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii 's social agriculture initiatives. The house’s many green areas and gardens with fruit trees have made Giulia Felice’s Praedia a favourite among young people studying social agriculture under agreements entered into by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii with local associations and cooperatives. These courses are intended to foster inclusive activities for the wellbeing of the community and the local area. 

In Roman culture, gymnasia were places where intellectual as well as physical skills could be developed. The Large Gymnasium of Pompeii, built in the first century BC, was dedicated to physical exercise and intended to encourage political thinking among young citizens. Pompeiians set great store by wellbeing and quality education (SDG 3.4). These spaces encouraged a healthy lifestyle, preventing disease and improving overall health. They also provided an inclusive, quality education, fostering the development of citizens' intellectual and moral capacities.  

The Large Palaestra was a large, open, four-sided piazza, enclosed by porticoes, with ten gates through which the square could be accessed. Ancient plane trees lined three sides of the inner courtyard, with a large pool (natatio) at the centre. Today, the Large Palaestra represents one of the places in ancient Pompeii that best reminds us of the importance of wellbeing and quality education. These principles are extremely topical in the quest for the sustainable development of communities and individual territories. Quality education empowers people, fosters inclusive societies and offers opportunities for lifelong learning. To fulfil this purpose, the porticoes of the Palestra now host exhibitions and exhibition projects, curated by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. Fittingly, the site serves as a historical record of the physical and intellectual practices of antiquity while continuing to function as a centre of cultural dissemination and education, carrying forward values that are fundamental to society’s progress and wellbeing. 

Since the dawn of time, trees have been venerated in history, legends, art, poetry, spirituality and tradition. Learning how to protect and preserve trees and plants is crucial for safeguarding their vital role in ecosystems and building a sustainable future (SDG 15).  

SDG 15 of the 2030 Agenda emphasizes the crucial importance of biodiversity as a support system for human life and nature. But the ongoing depletion of forests, coupled with the alarming rate of species’ extinction and the gridlock in preserving key biodiversity areas, jeopardizes the delicate balance of our ecosystems. To combat this problem, FAO seeks to restore forests, improve the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities and help nations manage their forests sustainably. 

The Archaeological Park of Pompeii also promotes the regeneration of trees and its Urban Forest, in a bid to preserve its history. The 2022–2024 reforestation programme for the green areas around Pompeii’s ancient walls aims to enhance the biodiversity of over 50 hectares with trees and shrubs from Roman times. The programme manages existing shrubs and trees, introduces new plant species and restores original pathways to encourage a harmonious relationship between human beings and nature, giving the modern city back its great green lungs.