Lunchtime talk on the topic: The role of urban planning in enhancing health and climate equity
In the context of increasing urbanisation, the role of urban planning is gaining in importance. The design of urban living spaces offers solutions for future challenges: resilient cities not only aim to mitigate the impacts of climate change, but also positively influence the quality of life, housing, and recreation of urban population. In addition, it can be seen as a lever to promote health and reduce the impacts of pre-existing inequalities. Flashlights on science, on practice and on policy outlined the triple-win potential of urban planning in terms of climate change mitigation, health promotion and social equity.
The Competence Centre for Climate and Health is pleased to present the following experts aiming to address this important intersection from different perspectives:
Natalie Mueller, Barcelona Institut for Global Health (ISGlobal): “The research perspective: health impacts of urban and transport planning practices and the way forward to build resilient, environmentally-just and healthy cities for all.”
The flashlight on science outlined scientific research and it’s methods to gain insight in lived realities of European cities. The presented scientific evidence clearly showed how climate impacts and health burdens are socioeconomically patterned. Policy solutions resulting from research in Barcelona, Madrid, Vienna, Bradford indicates that urban planning approaches contribute to health and climate equity. A holistic approach in re-thinking cities is recommended.
Natalie Mueller is an Assistant Research Professor at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) She is an enivironmelntal epidemiologist with a strong expertise in environmental exposure assessment, risk assessment and health impact assessment.
Alba Godfrey, EuroHealthNet: “The practice perspective – involving communities to foster a triple-win for health, climate and equity”
The flashlight on practice showcased how to act on the environments in which people live, making health-promoting, sustainable solutions accessible to everyone. It put an emphasis on participatory approaches to involve all population groups in a green, fair and healthy transition to more sustainable lifestyles. The presentation underlines the importance of co-created, accessible and affordable measures to include communities across all social gradients.
Additional links:
Alba Godfrey is a Project Coordinator at EuroHealthNet, substantially involved in the Horizon 2020 PSLifestyle project as well as the Horizon 2020 INHERIT project.
Maria Vassilakou, Vienna Solutions: “The policy perspective – healthy streets are made for walking. Managing the transition from policies to projects”
If we agree that walking is key to inclusive healthy cities, most of our cities currently face the challenge of a major transformation. Rethinking the street as a place for life and public space, as a place to slow down, reallocating urban space, designing bottom-up policies by involving local communities and, most importantly, translating policies into projects: alll these aspects are crucial to create cities, where people want to live.
In her role as Vienna’s Vice Major, Maria Vasillakou was actively involved in Vienna city planning for more than 10 years. She is the founder of Vienna Solutions, a network of experienced Viennese urban experts.
Additional link:
Welcoming
Judith delle Grazie
Head of Department on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (VII/A/4)
Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
Hosting and moderation
Ilonka Horváth
Senior Health Expert at the Competence Centre on Climate and Health
Gesundheit Österreich GmbH
*** The event will took place in the framework of the European Public Health Week – Health throughout the life course and was co-organised by the Competence Centre on Climate and Health ***