We have come a long way in our efforts to scale back, and one day end, death from cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We now understand that one third of all cancer deaths are due to a handful of drivers — including tobacco use, environmental hazards such as poor air quality, and dietary risks — that we have the tools and expertise to address. Cancer caused 8.93 million deaths in 2016. Vital Strategies is working around the world so that millions of people won’t lose their lives to preventable cancer every year.

As the world rapidly urbanizes, cities are uniquely positioned to lead take on cancer and other NCDs. This World Cancer Day, as we recommit to reducing cancer’s toll, we have the opportunity to look beyond diagnosis and treatment and work to prevent cancer before it starts — where it starts. We support effective, immediate actions at the city-level to stop the spread of this devastating disease globally.

We have great models for city action around the globe such as those addressing tobacco use, the leading single driver of cancer and NCDs (World Health Organization). One example is the Partnership for Healthy Cities. Led by Michael R. Bloomberg, the WHO Global Ambassador for NCDs and former New York City Mayor, the Partnership is a network of 54 cities around the world working to save lives by preventing NCDs and injuries. In many countries, the number of people using tobacco products is increasing, due in large part to the efforts by Big Tobacco.

The industry has expanded into emerging markets, drawing a new generation of children and young people into the world’s deadliest habit. We have efforts underway to stop industries like tobacco from undermining health. Eleven of the 54 cities in the Partnership are implementing anti-tobacco public policy initiatives. These cities are taking action to ban smoking in public spaces and to limit tobacco advertising and sponsorship so that fewer people, especially children, will be drawn to smoke or use other tobacco products.

While tobacco is responsible for the majority of lung cancer cases worldwide, air pollution is estimated by experts to be responsible for 16.5% of the world’s 1.7 million annual lung cancer deaths, and is a risk factor for chronic lung and cardiovascular disease. Vital Strategies’ Environmental Health Division is working to ensure healthy and sustainable outcomes for people living in an increasingly urbanized world. By developing the technical capacity to address environmental threats beyond the traditional span of public health control — reducing air pollution, mitigating climate change, and improving water, sanitation, and transportation systems — we support cities in their quest for healthy environments. This involves assisting in prioritizing investments that can amplify health gains in urban areas and engaging the public to recognize the immediate and long-term health impacts as of air pollution.

Two-billion people worldwide are overweight or obese, including 42 million overweight children under the age of five. Obesity and poor diet are major risk factors for cancer, heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes. To tackle this issue, Vital Strategies works with cities through The Partnership as well as our obesity prevention program to help implement programs that stem the rising tide of this epidemic. Through local partnerships, Vital Strategies has helped run media campaigns informing the public of the harmful effects of sugary drinks, and we have called on governments to pass taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce consumption. Our programs are also pushing for policies that ensure access to healthy food, and remove vending machines, in schools.

The global movement to prevent and one day find a cure for cancer is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. We do not deny the complexity and difficulty of achieving a world free of preventable cancers, but we must not allow the immensity of the challenge to deter us from moving forward. We have pragmatic solutions available that can help us meet our goals. This is especially true in cities, where concentrated populations and resources can produce exponentially greater effects from public health interventions. Cities can be an incredible engine for change and should take immediate action to address the burden of cancer. On World Cancer Day, Vital Strategies is proud to be a part of this effort, and of the greater global community united to end cancer.