 What are green cities? Meet Greg. Greg lives in a busy city that is filled with smog and air that is polluted by factories. He has a long commute to work and usually gets stuck in traffic for hours. The weather is always gloomy and he is constantly sick. Greg makes many trips to the doctor because of his poor health, which causes him to miss work. Greg's boss is unhappy about all the sick leave. Greg can't afford to lose his job, especially since his healthcare is expensive. He realizes his city is making him sick, financially insecure and really stressed. Many people around the world live like Greg. As more and more people move from rural areas to cities to find work, this problem will only get worse. Many city planners are trying to solve this problem by working towards green cities. Green cities are cities designed with thought to environmental impact. Their planners and inhabitants aim to minimize the output of harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. They are also careful about their city's consumption of energy, water, and food, and try to reduce waste. There are many ways to make a city greener. These include energy efficient architecture and good public transportation, as well as reducing the amount of time that people and goods have to travel. For example, some green cities have urban farming, which is the process of growing and distributing food, as well as raising animals, in and around a city. Green cities don't only help the planet. Remember Greg? His experience shows that the cities we live in impact our health, happiness, social security, and many other aspects of our lives. Through green cities, people are fighting back against climate change, bringing communities closer together, and building healthier environments. Green cities aren't built overnight, but we can work towards them by making one improvement at a time. Where is your community going to start?