The 2nd Cities and Regions Summit convened under the theme “Flip the Script: Cities and Nature,” and examined the multiple benefits nature can provide to cities.

Cities are hubs of innovation and opportunity. They can showcase innovative solutions to how we live and manage our lives and infrastructure with nature in mind, underscoring cities as champions of nature. The Summit considered these issues in light of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It assessed the levers of change, ranging from local to global and from policy to finance.

The programme included:

• A high-level opening session, outlining the objectives and ambition of the Summit;
• Two thematic sessions on ‘Urban Nature-Based Solutions to Counter Climate Risks and Limit Global Warming’ and ‘Leveraging Sustainable Food Systems for Nature-Positive Cities’; and
• A high-level closing session on how to scale up solutions to harness the power of nature in cities.

This event was hosted under the umbrella of the Fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” the framework of the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration, and the Edinburgh Process under the CBD.