AIPH World Green City Awards 2022 Finalists

The AIPH World Green City Awards 2022 are designed to champion ambitious nature-orientated approaches to city design and operation.

After assessment by the Technical Panel, eighteen entries to the 2022 Awards were selected as finalists. The shortlist comprises the three highest-scoring entries in each of the six categories. Below, you can find more details about each of the finalists in the form of case studies.


Living Green for Biodiversity

Addressing the loss of species, habitats, ecosystem health, and genetic diversity.

Living Green in a city provides habitats to support ecological communities for a diverse range of living organisms. Plants provide the backbone for all nature to thrive. City Biodiversity has an increasingly important role to play in global conservation efforts. This category also recognises urban and peri-urban agriculture which contribute to food security, minimum waste, and circular economies for food.


Living Green for Climate Change

Tackling the root causes and effects of climate change in order to build more liveable and resilient cities.

Living Green solutions such as street trees, green roofs and walls, and parks and gardens, all contribute to moderating the impacts of climate change. In solving problems such as the urban heat island effect and poor local air quality, nature-based-solutions deliver quantifiable cash value to city authorities as well as enhancing the quality of life for citizens.


Living Green for Health and Wellbeing

Addressing the medical, behavioural, and social determinants of health for residents.

People are measurably happier when they work and live in green surroundings. This comes from both physical and psychological benefits. Improved health results in lower costs for health-care providers, and benefits the economy through improved productivity and lower absenteeism and staff turnover.


Living Green for Water

Ensuring water resources are safeguarded and wisely used, with clean water available to all while also protecting residents from flooding risks.

Water issues related to drought and flooding are already a significant impact of climate change, with traditional engineering solutions commonly overwhelmed. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems incorporate plants into water management systems, thereby offering considerable advantages over engineering solutions, an, at the same time, providing additional benefits of amenity and recreation, and space for wildlife.


Living Green for Social Cohesion

Fostering belonging, trust and inter-generational as well as cross-cultural relationships to prevent exclusion, marginalisation and violence.

Greener environments encourage people to spend more time in outdoor spaces, improving social interaction and community cohesion which in turn contributes to reduced crime. Community cohesion is especially important in multi-cultural communities and also enable inter-generational social relationships.


Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth

Creating systems and solutions that allow all city residents to overcome economic distress and thrive.

It is now widely recognised that quality Green Infrastructure increases the value of both residential and business property. A more attractive environment stimulates inward investment and encourages additional visitors to a city. Examples of this are neighbourhood regeneration, and new developments that offer green space as a key commercial attraction.