New C40 guide highlights how cities can shape a healthy and sustainable food future
C40 Cities has launched a new guide on how urban governments can collaborate with the private sector to advance sustainable, low-emission food systems. Copenhagen is among the leading examples.
The global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, C40, has published Good Food for Healthy Cities – A Guide to City-Business Collaboration to raise climate ambitions through international diplomacy and scale climate action across high-impact sectors. The publication comes at a time when major urban areas are expected to consume up to 80% of the world’s food by 2025, while already hosting 76% of people experiencing food and nutrition insecurity.
The guide serves as a practical roadmap, showing how cities can partner with businesses to cut emissions, reduce food waste and promote healthier diets. By emphasising partnerships as a driver of change, the guide highlights how collaboration can make urban food systems more sustainable and resilient.
Denmark showcases measurable progress
Copenhagen is featured for aligning public food procurement with the planetary health diet. From 2018 to 2023, the city reduced food-related emissions by 25.6% and reached 87.4% organic share across public kitchens. This achievement reflects Denmark’s broader strengths in public-private partnerships, where cities, researchers and businesses work together to drive sustainable solutions.
The guide’s focus on voluntary action and trust-based partnerships echoes the Danish model, which emphasises cross-sector dialogue and shared responsibility.
Urban food systems at the centre of global challenges
The guide is structured around two key sections. The first part outlines why promoting sustainable diets and reducing food waste are among the most effective ways to cut emissions in cities. The second presents six engagement strategies that cities can use to collaborate with businesses – ranging from support programmes and innovation platforms to local initiatives.
Cities like London, New York, and Tokyo show the model’s global relevance. New York’s Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge calls on businesses to reduce emissions by 25% by 2030, while London and Tokyo demonstrate how zoning and neighbourhood engagement can create healthy food environments.
As cities seek solutions to food, health and climate challenges, the Good Food For Healthy Cities guide offers a practical framework – and Copenhagen’s example highlights Denmark’s role in inspiring change through scalable, collaborative action.
Discover how the Danish food cluster works with health and sustainability in practise