The Green Cities Initiative focuses on improving the urban environment, strengthening urban-rural linkages and the resilience of urban food systems, services and populations to external shocks. By ensuring access to a healthy environment and healthy diets from sustainable agrifood systems, increasing the availability of green spaces through urban and peri-urban forestry, the initiative also contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation. A "Green Cities Network" will allow cities of all sizes - from small, intermediary and metropolitan cities - to share experiences, best practices, successes and lessons learned, as well as building opportunities for city-to-city cooperation.
In September 2020, FAO launched its Green Cities Initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods and well-being of urban and peri-urban populations in at least 100 cities around the world in the next three years, looking to have 1000 cities join by 2030.
Did you know?
55 percent of the world’s population resides in urban areas
If well managed, urban forests and trees can reduce air temperature by up to 8 degrees Celsius, reduce the costs of air conditioning by up to 40 percent, reduce stormwater flows and improve air quality by filtering dust and pollutants
Cities produce about 70 percent of global waste
Metropolitan areas are home to about 41 percent of the world population and contribute to around 60 percent of global GDP
Cities already consume almost 80 percent of the total energy produced in the world and absorb up to 70 percent of the food supply
By 2050 the urban population is expected to rise to 68 percent, mainly in low-income countries
Smaller cities have higher rates of poverty than larger cities
Highlights
