The City of Yokohama was recently honored with an invitation to the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities, widely recognized as the most prestigious global award dedicated to transformative urban change. Established by the World Resources Institute in partnership with philanthropist Stephen Ross (Founder of Related Companies, Chairman and CEO of Related Ross, and Jury Chairman of the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities), the prize celebrates cities and civic organizations that are reshaping urban life through bold, evidence-based solutions to pressing challenges. Receiving an invitation to participate in this cycle, themed “Catalyzing Healthy Cities”, places Yokohama among over 300 applicants from around the world and helps show the city’s commitment to sustainable urban development.

The 2025–2026 award ceremony was held in the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City and brought together urban leaders, researchers, and changemakers from across the globe. The ceremony was opened by remarks from Stephen Ross. This year’s five finalists, drawn from Atlanta (U.S.A.), Loja (Ecuador), Makassar (Indonesia), Manila (Philippines), and Nairobi (Kenya), represented a cross-section of urban innovation. Hosted by Lulu Garcia-Navarro (New York Times journalist, host of “The Interview,” and CNN contributor), the evening highlighted how cities are already leading the way on health, equity, and climate resilience. The grand prize of $250,000 was awarded to the MoveAsOne Coalition of Manila, a volunteer-led civic movement that has transformed transport policy in the Philippines, securing over 812 kilometers of bike lanes and 47 billion pesos in public transport funding. Each of the other finalists received $25,000 in recognition of their groundbreaking work.

The spirit of the prize, as articulated throughout the ceremony, is that rather than waiting for national governments or international institutions to lead, these cities are already innovating and experimenting on their own. “Cities are factories of innovation,” as WRI’s President Ani Dasgupta put it, and the prize exists to bring these solutions to the surface, amplify them, and bring visibility to the insights gained through them to the rest of the world. With more than 1,200 applicants across five cycles, the prize has become a global repository of urban transformation, and participation alone signals a city’s serious engagement with its mission.

Yokohama is already engaging in its own initiatives which align very closely with the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities’ stated mission. In particular, the STYLE100 Project showcases 100 different ways in which Yokohama’s citizens are getting involved in sustainable development for their city from the ground up. With projects such as educational programs about the city’s waters for children and adults, and projects which take children on field trips to local natural sites to teach them about the importance of their environments, Yokohama is already progressing quickly in its grassroots engagement. Also worth highlighting is Yokohama’s unique involvement in repurposing its stock of unused housing, which, in the context of Japan’s aging society, has become a perennial issue.

Yokohama’s invitation reflects the city’s growing reputation as a leader in sustainable urban development. As cities worldwide grapple with the intersecting challenges of climate change, public health, and social equity, Yokohama stands alongside the world’s most forward-thinking urban communities in demonstrating that real change is not only possible but is already underway. The city looks forward to continuing to learn from and contribute to the global network of innovators that the prize represents.