Rome: “Green Obsession” by Stefano Boeri Architetti, wins the United Nations SDG Action Awards

Rome: “Green Obsession” by Stefano Boeri Architetti, wins the United Nations SDG Action Awards.

Green Obsession was awarded among 5.000 projects from 190 countries, for its commitment to changing the paradigms of cities and promoting urban forests as a priority for governments around the world, to ensure a greener future for all.

Stefano Boeri Architetti's Green Obsession wins the SDG Action Award, the "Oscar" dedicated to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals which, as part of the United Nations SDG Action campaign, reward initiatives that mobilise, inspire and connect community to promote positive change.

Born with the aim of enhancing the relationship between nature and design and implementing the principles of urban forestry, “Green Obsession” is the design philosophy of Stefano Boeri Architetti which over time has also generated conferences, public programs and a book (“Green Obsession: Trees Towards Cities, Humans Towards Forests”, published by Actar in 2021 and supported by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts): has now won the United Nations SDG Action Awards (dedicated to activists and protagonists of change recognized for their work in implementing and spreading sustainability values) thanks to the unique approach to architecture and urban planning, but above all thanks to the new way of imagining the future of contemporary cities.

“Green Obsession presents a vision of a future in which cities are transformed through rooftop gardens, community gardens in backyards, urban agriculture and rows of trees in streets. Increasing connectivity between forests, gardens and green areas and promoting the creation of ecological corridors are fundamental objectives of the Green Obsession: an attitude that goes beyond the single project, bringing a transformative urban forestry strategy and a new perspective on the future of the global urban landscape ” states Maria Chiara Pastore, Head of the Research Department of Stefano Boeri Architetti and Researcher at the Polytechnic of Milano, accepted the award on behalf of the studio last night.
Selected from over 5.000 applications from 190 countries that covered the full range of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals Green Obsession, which won in the INSPIRE category, encourages a new perspective on cities, promotes global collaboration and supports transformative policy action. It envisions sustainable cities and communities that prioritize good health and well-being, while scaling up climate action through its creative approach to urban planning, ecological connectivity and urban forestry – meeting SDGs 3, 11 and 13 .

“We are happy and proud for this important recognition. Green Obsession collects 20 years of ideas and projects by Stefano Boeri Architetti to bring living nature and in particular trees and forests into our cities. We must bring trees and plants wherever possible: in the squares, in the courtyards, in the avenues, on the roofs and on the facades of the houses. The two great challenges of biodiversity and cohabitation between living species are in fact the basis of every ecological transition project and reduction of the damage caused by climate change. Green Obsession is therefore a commitment to work and at the same time a feeling that we would like to share with anyone who looks with courage and optimism to the future of our cities and of our species on planet earth" declares the architect Stefano Boeri.

“The 2023 UN SDG Action Awards come as we approach the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, a key crossroads on our journey towards a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive future for all,” he said Marina Ponti, Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign. “More importantly, they gave us the opportunity to honor and recognize the extraordinary people who are inspiring change and driving meaningful action on the SDGs”.

UN SDG Action Campaign:

A special initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General hosted by the Executive Office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It was established to unite people around the world to take action for the SDGs and to connect civil society, local governments and people working in the arts and culture, media and private sectors to advocate for the SDGs in homes, communities and beyond. In this role, the campaign is tasked with MOBILIZING, INSPIRING AND CONNECTing people and organizations across all sectors and geographies to take action to achieve the SDGs, including through the annual UN SDG Action Awards.