Delivering NCD co-benefits through healthy cities and towns

This session explores the transformative potential of healthy cities and towns, highlighting co-benefits on public health and beyond.
As over half of the global population resides in urban areas, creating environments that promote health and well-being is vital. A whole-of-city approach that reduces air pollution, promotes mental health, ensures access to health services, improves diets, and encourages active living, can significantly reduce the prevalence of NCD risk factors, morbidity, and mortality, fostering healthier, more resilient, communities.

The session highlights success stories from cities with innovative, evidence-based, and multi-sectoral policies and practices that improve public health, foster social cohesion, reduce inequities, and ensure environmental sustainability. Participants will engage with leaders and advocates, gaining insights into practical strategies and collaborative approaches that have led to success. Interactive activities will help attendees adapt key principles locally, with a focus on the roles of communities, civil society, and people with lived experience, in advocating for healthy urban environments and implementing changes