Building green cities is not simply about planting more trees. Beyond waste recovery, she noted that truly green cities must integrate renewable energy, sustainable transport systems, climate-responsive infrastructure and adequate green spaces to reduce carbon emissions and improve urban resilience. The Yale University Climate Fellow said financing remains one of the biggest barriers to sustainable urban development. He stressed that the concept of green cities extends far beyond tree planting and encompasses cleaner transport systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, responsible waste management and sustainable urban planning. He observed that local assemblies alone cannot deliver green cities because responsibilities relating to roads, housing, transport and sanitation are spread across multiple ministries.