First International Green Cities Conference
14–15 October 2025 | Rome, Italy
Join FAO, UN-Habitat and partners for the inaugural International Green Cities Conference,
a key event for all those involved in urban development for sustainable, healthy and more resilient cities.
By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities bringing significant challenges for food security, resource management, and environmental sustainability. Launched in 2020 by the FAO Director-General, the Green Cities Initiative (GCI) supports cities in becoming more sustainable, resilient and inclusive by integrating urban forestry, urban agriculture and circular bioeconomy solutions.
The First International Green Cities Conference brought together mayors, ministers, city leaders, UN agencies, civil society, private sector actors, and financial institutions to celebrate achievements, exchange knowledge, foster partnerships, and mobilize resources for the adoption of integrated urban solutions. The conference also marked two important milestones. It presented the FAO Green Cities Principles and Criteria, a set of conditions that cities must meet to be recognized as FAO Green Cities. The conference also involved the adoption of a Conference Communiqué, which includes commitments and next steps, to be presented at the World Urban Forum, Baku 2026.
Objectives
- Showcase the achievements of the FAO Green Cities Network
- Mainstream integrated green urban approaches into policies and planning
- Mobilize finance and partnerships for sustainable, resilient cities
Outcomes
- Launched the FAO Green City principles and criteria
- Adopted a Conference Communiqué to be presented at the World Urban Forum, Baku 2026
Contact
Day 1 – Technical Session
14 October 2025 | 09:00–17:00 | Architecture department of Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
Keynote presentations, panels and exchanges with mayors and experts focused on:
- Reimagining urban landscapes through forestry, agriculture and bioeconomy.
- Transforming urban agrifood systems for food security, circularity and jobs.
- Unlocking finance and partnerships to scale up urban greening.
Day 2 – High-level Segment
15 October 2025 | 08:30–10:30 | FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy
This segment convened ministers, mayors, city leaders, UN agencies, private sector actors and financial institutions to:
- Celebrate achievements of the FAO Green Cities Network.
- Highlight innovative policies and multistakeholder action for resilient, sustainable cities.
- Launch the FAO Green City principles and criteria.
- Adopt a Conference Communiqué.
High-level segment - 15 October 2025
Opening
QU Dongyu
FAO Director-General
Anacláudia Rossbach
UN-Habitat Executive Director
Edmondo Cirielli
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy
Moderator
Henry Bonsu
British radio presenter
Setting the scene - Keynote speech
Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan
FAO Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa
Green Cities “Walk”: Celebrating the achievements of Green Cities
Carla Andrea Amtmann Fecci
Mayor of Valdivia, Chile
H.E. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak
Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Bahrain
George Mwanza
Mayor of Chipata, Zambia
Liu Bing
Director General, Three North Program Administration of NFGA, China
Moving forward: Expanding FAO GCI Network for future cities through youth, partnerships and investments
Rt. Hon. Justine Lumumba Kasule
Minister of General Duties in Prime Minister’s Office, Uganda
Dan Lambe
Chief Executive Officer of the Arbor Day Foundation
Launch of the FAO Green Cities Principles & Criteria
Tiina Vahanen
Deputy Director, Forestry Division, FAO
Closing remarks
Godfrey Magwenzi
FAO Deputy Director-General