Today's rates of urbanization have no precedent in history. By 2045, over two-thirds of the world's population will live in towns and cities, with most of that increase taking place in Asia and Africa. As cities expand and new cities are born, the way that urban populations, planners and innovators interact with nature will directly shape global prospects for health, well-being and sustainable development.

A key outcome of the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 was the realization that nature - and nature connectedness - can and must be deployed to tackle impacts on human health and well-being linked to rapid urbanization. Action is particularly urgent to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases, which could otherwise cost low- and middle-income countries an estimated US$7 trillion in cumulative economic losses between 2011-2025.

There is a compelling business case to connect nature-based solutions and health as our towns and cities are transformed. Research and cross-sector initiatives increasingly highlight the benefits of nature and outdoor recreation for social cohesion, cognitive development, and healthier lifestyles. Nature has major benefits for aging populations and for the prevention and treatment of mental and behavioral diseases, including dementia. The world's biodiversity and protected area systems, meeting global standards set by IUCN for effectiveness, can provide a critical resource to realize this potential.

Unlike the technology-driven coordination around "smart cities," public health stakeholders are surprisingly absent from policy and practice for protected areas, urban planning, and renaturing cities. Moreover, awareness of and connection to nature seem to be declining among youth around the world - putting future support for nature conservation at risk.

2015 is therefore a pivotal year to launch the Parks for the Planet Forum, as the international community adopts Sustainable Development Goals and a new Climate Change Agreement.

This landmark session - marking the first anniversary of the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 - will highlight the potential to reconnect growing urban populations with nature to achieve co-benefits for health and well-being, while reducing vulnerability to climate-related and environmental challenges.

Urban and Youth Engagement: How do younger generations view opportunities to experience nature on their own terms? What approaches and urban gateways work best to build appreciation of and access to nature to improve their health and well-being? What additional steps are needed for minority groups and people with disabilities?

Strategic Coalitions for Health, Cities and Nature: What initiatives can best deliver coordination between the nature conservation sector, public health stakeholders and health insurers to expand access to nature? How can we influence policies and programs to scale up best practices? How can we better integrate "smart cities" technology-based infrastructure and nature based solutions for long-term benefit?

The Business Case for Urban Transformation: What investments by other sectors work best to connect young urban people to nature? How can we promote economic opportunities that support the health and well-being benefits of protecting and restoring the natural environment?

Communication, Tools and Data: How can we better understand and communicate the value of nature for human well-being? What systems can harness data and measure trends in nature awareness, health, and environmental attitudes and behaviors? Could citizen science initatives become powerful tools at community and regional levels?

• High-level understanding of benefits of integrated planning and investment for nature conservation, health, and urban development and technology.
• Personal commitments from leaders to move key agendas forward.
• Cross-cutting partnerships and initiatives to deliver the Promise of Sydney.
• Strategic recommendations and actions for the IUCN World Conservation Congress (Hawaii, September 2016) and other key fora.