Rethink the role of soils in shaping healthier, more resilient cities.
Paved roads, parking lots, and high-rises are the visible symbols of urban growth. Yet beneath them lies an often-forgotten foundation of city life: soil . When soils are permeable and vegetated, they can play a key role in cities, absorbing rainwater to reduce flood risks, regulating temperature to ease heat islands, storing carbon, and supporting vegetation that improves air quality and provides food. But when soils are sealed under concrete and asphalt, these life-supporting functions are disrupted, leaving cities more vulnerable to floods, overheating, and pollution. It is against this backdrop that the Global Symposium on Soil Sealing and Urban Soils will take place in Pisa, Italy, on 6–7 October 2025. Co-organized by FAO, its Global Soil Partnership , the FAO Green Cities Initiative , and the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) through its SUITMA Commission , the event will bring together scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to rethink the role of soils in shapi...