Qu Dongyu, director-general, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has called for stronger partnerships and investment to scale up the green cities movement.

The chief of the UN agency made this call on Wednesday at the maiden International Green Cities Conference in Rome, Italy, monitored virtually by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN).

Mr Qu said the conference marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s Green Cities Initiative, launched in 2020 during the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, to support cities worldwide in becoming greener, more resilient and inclusive.

He said that cities drive economic growth, but face mounting global challenges, adding that green cities offer the only viable solution for a sustainable future.

According to him, choices made today in urban design, governance and investment will shape the future of economies, ecosystems and human life across the world.

The FAO chief urged stakeholders to deepen engagement, expand knowledge sharing and invest in local innovations that promote greener, healthier and more resilient urban spaces.

“The green city initiative is a global movement but we should build on the local solutions and promote best practices from there.”

He called on stakeholders to deepen engagement, scale ambitions and take the next step in building cities that nourish, inspire, and thrive.

In her opening remarks, UN-Habitat executive director, Anaclaudia Rossbach, highlighted the importance of integrating food systems, housing, land use, and climate action.

Ms Rossbach noted that with over half of the global population living in urban areas, expected to rise to 70 per cent by 2050, cities play a central role in building a sustainable future.

She said partnerships were vital, pointing to the long-standing collaboration between FAO and UN-Habitat on urban forestry, food systems, and sustainable city initiatives.

According to her, the recent African Forum on Urban Forests in Johannesburg produced the Johannesburg Declaration and launched a regional community for urban greening.

She urged countries to turn the vision of green cities into concrete policies, investments and community-led initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

This, she said, requires aligning efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

“Equally important is the resolution on biodiverse and resilient cities adopted by UN-Habitat Assembly Member States, which underscores the need for integrated urban and territorial planning to expand access to urban greening in cities.

“Moving forward, the green cities initiative is a practical way to drive these global agendas and ensure no one is left behind,” she said.

Also speaking, Edmondo Cirielli, Italy’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, emphasised that greener cities offered an opportunity to regenerate development, employment and living standards.

He noted that African cities would absorb 80 per cent of the continent’s population growth by 2050, with 700 million new urban residents expected in the next 25 years.

He said with this in mind, Italy’s flagship initiative, The Green Cities Initiative in Action for Africa, was developed.

According to him, the initiative is already funded with 2.7 million euros and potentially eligible for additional contributions through the Italian Climate Fund.

“This initiative will support 10 cities in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique.

“The aim is to develop green city action plans focused on climate adaptation, urban resilience and social inclusion, reinforcing the connection between urban and rural areas.”

Italy, he added, was also partnering with UN-Habitat to support farmers’ markets and local food systems in African cities to enhance sustainability and resilience.

Mr Cirielli reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to work with FAO, UN-Habitat and African partners to ensure green city initiatives deliver tangible results.

(NAN)