In 2025, the world continues to grapple with complex public health challenges, from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease to environmental threats such as air pollution. Amid these struggles, three cities—Córdoba, Argentina; Fortaleza, Brazil; and Greater Manchester, United Kingdom—have emerged as exemplars of innovation and commitment to improving the well-being of their residents. Recognized at the 2025 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Paris on March 20, these urban centers were celebrated for their groundbreaking efforts in preventing NCDs and injuries, setting a powerful example for municipalities worldwide. This article explores their achievements, the strategies behind their success, and the broader implications for global public health.
The Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit: A Platform for Change
The Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit, co-hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization (WHO), Vital Strategies, and the City of Paris, is an annual gathering that brings together leaders from over 60 cities to share strategies for tackling pressing health issues. In 2025, the summit spotlighted the rising burden of NCDs, which account for over 80% of global deaths, and injuries, both of which are largely preventable through targeted interventions. The three honored cities were selected for their measurable progress, innovative policies, and replicable models—attributes that align with the Partnership’s mission to foster healthier urban environments.
Each city is part of the Partnership’s Policy Accelerator program, which provides technical support and training to help municipal leaders craft and implement effective public health policies. Their recognition underscores the power of local governance in addressing global health challenges, offering a blueprint for others to follow.
Córdoba, Argentina: Transforming School Food Environments
Córdoba, a vibrant city in central Argentina, earned its accolade for a bold initiative to reshape the dietary habits of its youngest residents. In 2025, the city passed a pioneering policy aimed at promoting healthy school food environments by eliminating sugary and artificially sweetened beverages, as well as ultra-processed foods, from all schools by 2026. This move targets the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and related NCDs, such as type 2 diabetes, which have surged in Argentina and across Latin America due to the proliferation of cheap, nutrient-poor food options.
The policy’s rollout has already shown promising results. By mid-2025, 26 schools—serving 15,000 of Córdoba’s 138,000 primary school children—had adopted the new standards. Cafeterias replaced soda machines with water stations and swapped out packaged snacks for fresh fruits and whole-grain alternatives. Teachers and parents were engaged through workshops to reinforce the importance of nutrition, ensuring the initiative extended beyond school walls. Preliminary data suggest a reduction in students’ sugar intake and an increase in awareness about healthy eating, though long-term impacts on obesity rates will take years to fully assess.
Córdoba’s approach stands out for its focus on systemic change rather than individual behavior modification alone. By targeting the school environment, the city addresses a key determinant of health—access to nutritious food—while setting a precedent for other municipalities. The policy’s success hinges on collaboration between local government, educators, and families, demonstrating that collective action can yield tangible outcomes.
Fortaleza, Brazil: Pioneering Air Quality Surveillance
Fortaleza, a coastal metropolis in northeastern Brazil, was honored for establishing the city’s first legal framework for air quality surveillance, enacted through a 2023 decree. This initiative responds to a pressing public health crisis: air pollution, which the WHO estimates causes 7 million premature deaths annually worldwide. In Brazil, urban centers like Fortaleza face heightened risks due to rapid industrialization, traffic congestion, and seasonal wildfires.
The framework mandates local monitoring of air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide, using a network of low-cost sensors installed across the city. These sensors provide real-time data, allowing officials to estimate the health impacts of poor air quality and identify high-risk areas. Fortaleza’s innovation lies in its emphasis on accessibility—unlike expensive monitoring systems that many cities cannot afford, the low-cost sensors democratize data collection, making it feasible for resource-limited settings.
Since implementation, the data has informed targeted interventions, such as rerouting traffic away from densely populated zones and increasing green spaces to act as natural filters. Early reports indicate a modest decline in respiratory hospital admissions, particularly among children and the elderly, who are most vulnerable to air pollution’s effects. Fortaleza’s model highlights the intersection of environmental and public health policy, proving that proactive surveillance can mitigate harm and guide urban planning.
The city’s success also reflects a broader trend in Latin America, where governments are increasingly recognizing the health co-benefits of environmental action. Fortaleza’s framework could inspire other cities in the region, where air quality remains a silent killer, to adopt similar strategies tailored to their unique contexts.
Greater Manchester, United Kingdom: Expanding Smoke-Free Spaces
Greater Manchester, a bustling urban region in northwest England, received recognition for its ambitious efforts to reduce smoking through the expansion of outdoor smoke-free areas. Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable death in the UK, linked to cancers, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. Greater Manchester’s initiative builds on the country’s long history of tobacco control, including indoor smoking bans, by taking the fight outdoors.
A centerpiece of this effort is the opening of the region’s first smoke-free park in 2025, spanning 6.5 acres of public space. This move was accompanied by a series of community consultations and workshops, ensuring resident buy-in and addressing concerns about enforcement. The city also developed a smoke-free toolkit and communication guidance for National Health Service (NHS) hospitals, which has been scaled up to support other organizations in creating smoke-free zones.
The impact is already visible: surveys show a decline in secondhand smoke exposure in public areas, and local health officials report increased interest from businesses and schools in adopting similar policies. Greater Manchester’s approach is notable for its blend of top-down regulation and grassroots engagement, a strategy that balances enforcement with public support. By framing smoke-free spaces as a community asset rather than a restriction, the city has fostered a cultural shift toward healthier norms.
This initiative aligns with the UK’s goal of becoming smoke-free by 2030, but Greater Manchester’s proactive stance sets it apart. Its toolkit offers a practical resource for other cities, proving that scalable solutions can amplify local efforts into regional or national progress.
Lessons and Implications for Global Public Health
The achievements of Córdoba, Fortaleza, and Greater Manchester reveal common threads that underpin effective public health interventions. First, each city leveraged data-driven policymaking—whether through nutritional audits in schools, air quality sensors, or community feedback—to identify needs and measure impact. Second, they prioritized prevention over treatment, addressing root causes like poor diet, polluted air, and tobacco use rather than merely managing their consequences. Third, collaboration across sectors—government, health systems, and residents—was critical to their success.
These lessons carry profound implications for cities worldwide. Urban areas, home to over half the global population, are uniquely positioned to influence health outcomes due to their density, infrastructure, and governance structures. The honored cities demonstrate that local action can tackle global challenges, offering scalable models for others to adapt. For instance, Córdoba’s school food policy could inspire similar efforts in Asia, where ultra-processed foods are gaining traction among youth. Fortaleza’s air quality framework could guide African cities facing rapid urbanization, while Greater Manchester’s smoke-free toolkit could bolster anti-tobacco campaigns in North America.
However, challenges remain. Funding constraints, political resistance, and inequities in access could hinder replication elsewhere. Córdoba’s initiative, for example, requires sustained investment to reach all 138,000 students, while Fortaleza’s sensors need maintenance to remain effective. Greater Manchester must navigate cultural attitudes toward smoking to maintain momentum. Addressing these hurdles will require ongoing support from organizations like the Partnership for Healthy Cities, as well as tailored strategies that account for local contexts.
A Call to Action
The recognition of Córdoba, Fortaleza, and Greater Manchester at the 2025 Summit is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. As NCDs and environmental threats continue to strain health systems, cities must lead the charge in prevention and innovation. These three pioneers show that progress is possible, even in the face of complex challenges, when policies are bold, evidence-based, and community-driven.
For other municipalities, the message is clear: invest in health now to save lives and resources later. Whether it’s rethinking food systems, cleaning the air, or curbing tobacco use, the path to a healthier future runs through our cities. The achievements of 2025’s honorees are a beacon, illuminating what’s possible when urban leaders prioritize the well-being of their people.
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