Urban Food Sustainability and Multilateral Environmental Governance Frameworks: Directional and Operational Complexities and Opportunities

Book Title: 
Urban Food Security in a Crisis Prone World - The Urban, Water, and Food Nexus
Author(s): 
Nidhi
Nagabhatla
Gaurav
Thapak
Sisir
Bhandari
Editor(s): 
Atif A.
Kubursi
Nathaniel K.
Newlands
Amani
Alfarra
Publication Year: 
2026
Publisher: 
Springer
DOI: 
doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-89440-4_14
ISBN: 
978-3-031-89439-8
Pages: 
193-211
Abstract: 

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) report, titled “People-Smart Sustainable Cities,” highlights the intricate connections between urban development, the 2030 Transformation Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other Multilateral Environmental Governance Agendas (MEAs) like the Sendai Framework. The MEA outlines directional guidance, insights, and perspectives for program, policy, and regional/international cooperation that can be adopted or adapted toward sustainable urban development plans and policies. Progress has been made in implementing these global agendas, but significant gaps remain, particularly regarding food security for growing urban populations. In our synthesis, we tried deconstructing urban food sustainability, linking it to SDG 11, and advocating for resilient and sustainable cities.

This synthesis suggests that the urban plans and policies identify food security objectives and create concrete results-oriented activities plugged into multi-sectoral structures and interventions in the infrastructure, municipal, and community settings. We also emphasize the need for urban plans and policies to incorporate food security objectives within multi-sectoral frameworks. By using examples from various economies that demonstrate a commitment to integrating urban food sustainability into their obligations under the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda, this chapter stresses the importance of recognizing interlinkages within the water-food-energy nexus and adopting innovative, nature-based solutions such as community gardens and urban food spaces. Furthermore, by analyzing current challenges and opportunities, we argue for a comprehensive approach to urban and peri-urban sustainability solutions (UPS) involving citizens, governments, and stakeholders in codeveloping effective responses and argue that the UPS vision requires alignment with existing sustainability.

Keywords: 
Multilateral Environmental Governance Agendas (MEA), Peri-Urban Sustainability Solutions (UPS), Urban planning and Water-food-energy nexus
URL: 
Springer Nature Link