Cities are transforming into more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems to help reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the Green Cities Initiative and Action Plan to facilitate such transformation of cities into agri-food systems.

"For cities to become much greener, more resilient and regenerative, we need to rethink the way urban and peri-urban areas are designed and managed", he said in his opening remarks at the event. "With only ten years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals", QU added, "we need a fundamental change of mindset and remodeling our business approaches".

The Initiative aims to improve the urban environment, fortifying urban-rural linkages, and the resilience of urban systems, services, and populations to external shocks. Ensuring access to a healthy environment and healthy diets from sustainable food systems, it is also expected to aid climate change mitigation and adaptation and sustainable resource management. The Initiative targets to involve at least 100 cities around the world in the next three years, and 1,000 cities by 2030. A Green Cities Network will also be formed for exchange of experiences on best practices, successes, and lessons, and build city-to-city cooperation opportunities.

Read the media release from FAO.