Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, opened the First International Conference on Green Cities, held in Rome and organised by FAO and UN-Habitat in collaboration with the Italian Government.
The event highlighted the “Green Cities” initiative, launched by FAO in 2020 to promote sustainable urban development in 1,000 cities worldwide, supporting them in identifying and implementing tailored strategies for green urban regeneration. Within this framework, and in line with the Mattei Plan, the support of Italian Cooperation is focused on Africa, with projects in urban reforestation, sustainable waste management, strengthening links between urban and rural areas, and food security.
In his opening remarks, Cirielli emphasised that cities today stand at the intersection of climatic, food, and social challenges, requiring integrated approaches that connect urban and rural development efforts. “In this perspective,” Cirielli stated, “sustainable urban transformation is part of Italian Cooperation’s commitment to strengthening local food systems and improving the quality of life for communities”. The Deputy Minister concluded by presenting the project “Green Cities in Action for Africa”, aimed at supporting 10 African cities in 5 countries (Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda) in implementing sustainable and resilient urban development plans, with a EUR 2.7 million contribution from Italian Cooperation.
