Cities Call for Action on NCDs Ahead of UN High-Level Meeting

26 June 2025 (New York, USA)—Every year, 43 million people die from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. With cities home to over half of the world’s population, mitigating the human and economic toll of this crisis has become a defining challenge for mayors.

The experiences of cities in the Partnership for Healthy Cities network—and beyond—have time and again demonstrated the effectiveness of fast, responsive local action for reducing NCDs. Every day, cities put evidence-based policies into effect that save lives and make sense economically—whether improving access to healthy foods in public institutions or creating smoke-free spaces and walkable neighborhoods. They also use local data to tailor their actions, targeting issues and populations most in need.

Through their efforts to reduce NCDs, cities have the potential to protect billions of people from preventable diseases. Yet their crucial role is often overlooked—and under-resourced.

This September, world leaders will attend the Fourth UN High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs. This meeting will focus on accelerating progress towards Target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals: a one-third reduction in preventable deaths from NCDs by 2030. If met, this could save millions of lives. Ahead of this meeting, the Partnership calls on the global community to recognize and empower cities to take a more central role in confronting the challenge of NCDs through the following strategies:

• National governments and policymakers must support local governments in their efforts to adopt and implement population-level policies to limit exposure to NCD risk factors. This includes supporting the mobilization of resources to local governments so that urban health budgets reflect urban health needs.

• Cities around the world must continue to demonstrate leadership and act with urgency by prioritizing NCD prevention on their public health agendas, and by integrating these lifesaving solutions into all aspects of urban planning and action—from transport to education.

• City leaders must exercise their legal authority to adopt, endorse and accelerate policies to prevent NCDs and act as public health champions.

• Cities’ essential role in meeting the global NCD targets must be acknowledged in the Political Declaration of the High Level Meeting on NCDs, highlighting that all levels of government have a role to play in policy development and implementation.

To reduce global deaths from NCDs, cities must be part of the solution. The stakes could not be higher. If cities and their mayors remain limited in their public health efforts, millions more lives will be lost prematurely. An empowered health department is an effective one. Now is the moment to support and resource local solutions to these deadly diseases—and help create healthier, safer communities for generations to come.

Quotes from mayors in the Partnership for Healthy Cities network in support of this statement.

Freetown, Sierra Leone Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said: “This is a health crisis that demands local solutions. Urban policies directly shape the food we eat, how we move, and the quality of the air we breathe. In Freetown, we are proud of our work with stakeholders, including market women, to reduce sodium consumption - a major contributor to hypertension - one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in our city. While there is no quick fix to this global crisis, we as mayors have the opportunity to be bold in our actions and lead by example.”

London, UK Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The health of our cities shapes the health of our people and creates the foundation for a more prosperous London. That’s why I've made it my priority to improve the conditions that shape Londoners' health long before any illness takes hold. From expanding the world’s biggest clean air zone, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), to improve air quality, to restricting junk food advertising across the capital’s TfL transport network and delivering free school meals to hundreds of thousands of children, we are showing that progressive leadership can save lives. Cities are uniquely placed to act ambitiously and equitably, and we must be empowered to do so. These efforts are central to our mission as we build a better London for all.”

Paris, France Mayor Anne Hidalgo said: “International, national and local stakeholders need to stand together to overcome NCDs’ burden. There are no borders for diseases, even the non-communicable ones, hence the necessity of an international strategy. Public health policies can only work if they are strongly supported by and tailored to the targeted populations, which the local level can achieve. The mayors have this pragmatic, on-the-field vision and can connect this vision to the other levels. They also have the power to change the environment and to make it healthier for everyone, by adapting the cities to the present and future challenges, such as climate change. This is what we have been fighting for in Paris for a decade now, with very encouraging results.”

Quezon City, Philippines Mayor Joy Belmonte said: “Cities globally face public health challenges because of NCDs. Quezon City has been proactive in addressing this by enacting policies that promote a healthy lifestyle among our citizens. Through our Calorie-labeling Ordinance, we required food businesses to display calorie labels on their menus to help consumers make informed choices and foster a sustainable food environment that leads to achieving improved health outcomes. I remain committed to this advocacy and believe that the collective action of cities is significant to address this.”

Santiago, Chile Governor Claudio Orrego said: “Cities are where global health challenges meet real-life solutions. In Santiago, we know that a healthier city is a more equitable and resilient one. That’s why we’re advancing sustainable mobility, reclaiming public space for people, and driving urban development that responds to both social and environmental needs. By expanding clean transport options, designing walkable, inclusive neighborhoods, and investing in green infrastructure, we are cutting emissions and improving quality of life. Cities must lead this transformation—because the way we shape our public spaces today will define the health of our communities tomorrow.”

The Partnership for Healthy Cities is a prestigious global network of 74 cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with WHO and the global health organization Vital Strategies, the initiative enables cities around the world to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to reduce NCDs and injuries in their communities.

For interview requests and more information, please contact: Sally Chew, Deputy Communication Director at the Partnership for Healthy Cities at Vital Strategies: schew@vitalstrategies.org