AIPH to Award World Green City Awards Every Two Years
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has decided to award the World Green City Awards every two years. This decision, likely driven by strategic and practical considerations, aims to create lasting green legacies in urban environments. With cities expected to host an additional 2.4 billion people by 2050, the need for sustainable urban growth and green infrastructure is more pressing than ever.
AIPH's Green City Initiative focuses on integrating nature into the built environment, connecting horticulture with city planning, and building greener, more resilient urban spaces. The initiative promotes the essential role of plants in creating resilient, livable urban environments. Cities face increasing challenges such as rising temperatures, air pollution, declining biodiversity, and shrinking green spaces. AIPH's World Green City Awards celebrate innovation, achievement, and commitment to nature-oriented approaches to city design and operation, addressing common urban issues.
The awards help cities understand the benefits of urban greening, which deliver significant advantages across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. These include climate change mitigation, improved air quality, health benefits, and increased property values. AIPH is developing the AIPH Global Green City Standard, a plant-centric framework to plan, implement, measure, and refine urban greening strategies. This standard will provide a comprehensive approach to sustainable urban development, ensuring that cities can effectively manage their growth while preserving and enhancing their green spaces.
By awarding the World Green City Awards every two years, AIPH ensures that cities have ample time to develop and present their projects, fostering continuous improvement in urban greening. As cities are expected to host two-thirds of the global population by 2050, the urgent need for sustainable urban solutions makes AIPH's initiatives and standards invaluable. By promoting the integration of nature into the built environment, AIPH is helping cities create greener, more resilient, and livable urban spaces for their inhabitants.
