A role for cities in sustaining Planetary Health

Key Points

• Cities play a key role in affecting planetary health through urbanization and resource use, and can both drive and mitigate climate challenges.
• Environmental crises often originate from urban areas, yet these cities have unique potential to implement sustainable practices effectively.
• Analysis demonstrates that effective ecosystem services in cities can counteract environmental impacts, suggesting a transformative role for urban planning.
• This duality highlights the urgent need for cities to adopt sustainability measures to reduce their adverse environmental effects.