Urban health leaders renew commitment to accelerate life-saving action in cities

As noncommunicable diseases and injuries continue to account for more than 80% of deaths worldwide, global urban health experts concluded the 2026 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Rio de Janeiro this week with a renewed commitment to accelerate life-saving action in cities.

Co-hosted by the World Health Organization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Vital Strategies and the Municipal Health Secretariat of Rio de Janeiro, the Summit brought together health officials, urban planners and global experts from 55 cities. Participants shared proven, scalable solutions that are already improving health outcomes.

With more than half of the world's population now living in urban areas, city leaders are uniquely positioned to act, driving bold, evidence-based policies that reduce health risks and save lives. Noncommunicable diseases including heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, remain the leading causes of death globally, while injuries, including those from road traffic crashes, continue to claim millions of lives each year.

During the Summit, it was announced that Baltimore in the United States of America will join the Partnership, they will be working in overdose prevention, bringing new momentum to the network's growing focus on an emerging priority now being addressed by 11 cities worldwide.

Throughout the Summit, participants engaged directly with Rio de Janeiro's public health initiatives, visiting schools and health clinics - demonstrating how cities can translate global commitments into real-world impact.

Key initiatives showcased included:

• comprehensive tobacco control: Free cessation services integrated across the municipal health system, reinforcing Brazil's global leadership in reducing tobacco use;
• healthy school food environments: A citywide programme promoting fresh, minimally-processed foods while eliminating ultra-processed products from public schools and&nb
• Heat health action protocol: A pioneering, data-driven system that anticipates extreme heat risks and triggers early interventions, from cooling centres to public alerts, offering a model for climate-health resilience worldwide.

Building on momentum from previous Summits hosted in London, Cape Town and Paris, cities across the network continue to implement transformative policies:

• Athens, Greece expanded access to naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths;
• Bengaluru, India strengthened smoke-free laws and banned public hookah use;
• Dublin, Ireland used data to expand safer walking and cycling infrastructure;
• Mexico City, Mexico redesigned streets, increasing safe cycling; and
• Montevideo, Uruguay set nutrition standards across public institutions.

Together, these efforts reinforce a clear global lesson: when cities act decisively, health outcomes improve rapidly - and at scale.