Greening cities as a strategic pathway for integrated urban resilience and sustainable development.

The global urban transition is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, particularly in the Global South, intensifying pressure on infrastructure, land and key ecosystems. In response to this, cities are implementing nature-based solutions that integrate ecosystem restoration into broader urban planning.

This session will share experiences from Kenya, Uganda, China, and other contexts where integrated planning approaches are being implemented to enhance urban ecology, climate resilience and food systems, while improving living conditions, particularly in informal areas.

The discussion will highlight how integration of multi-level governance, data, community participation and policies, into planning processes can transform city-level interventions into systemic urban solutions, guiding decisions on what to conserve, restore, or create to maximize ecological, social and economic benefits. It will draw lessons from initiatives such as The Park City Initiative and Green Cities Initiative, and tools such as the Hotspot Stoplight and Integrating Nature-based Solutions into Urban and Territorial Planning, supporting coordinated action across different levels of urban governance.