MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 06: People run and walk their dogs during the Arcaplanet Dog competition … [+]
City leaders and planners have been urged in a new report to put health at the heart of urban development.
of the new edition of the Healthy and Climate Resilient Cities report from Bupa, C40 Cities and the Norman Foster Foundation looks at how stakeholders can create health and climate-focused urban environments.
He argues that city leaders and urban designers of the future will need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect populations from the devastating impacts of climate change.
To achieve this, the report calls on city leaders to prioritize health-focused urban design.
This includes seeing health as the basis for equitable and climate-just urban planning.
And accelerating adaptation efforts that will build city resilience and health resilience to climate change.
“City dwellers are likely to face some of the worst consequences of the climate crisis, such as air pollution mainly from fossil fuel burning, extreme heat, water scarcity, heavy rainfall and flooding,” the report said.
“They also usually experience a lack of nature and green space.”
The report also describes the support that future city leaders and urban designers need to realize this new model of cities.
This includes supporting the development of detailed methodologies that calculate the impact, cost-benefits and return on investment of urban health-focused interventions.
The study also says they will need training on how to assess community needs and engage with those who use the spaces to encourage active mobility, create vibrant social public spaces and mixed-use land areas.
It also requires deeper knowledge and examples of how health care works and can play an active role in guiding preventive health interventions.
According to the previous study by the C40 Cities group, more than 1.6 billion city dwellers will face extreme heat in 30 years and 800 million will be at risk of flooding.
Additionally, the European Union’s climate watchdog recently said it was “virtually certain” that 2024 will be the planet’s hottest year on record.
Renowned architect and president of the Norman Foster Foundation, Norman Foster, said a “holistic approach to urban interventions” could lead to more vibrant cities and “drive meaningful progress towards our global climate goals” in a statement.
“The report underscores the critical importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together knowledge and innovation to address the complex challenges of modern urban living,” added Foster.
The report coincides with the end of the first year of the Norman Foster Institute’s Masters in Sustainable Cities programme, where postgraduate students engage in a year of hands-on learning to help them create sustainable, healthy and climate-resilient urban environments.
As the programme’s health partner, Bupa brought together leading cross-sector experts, including public and urban health specialists to discuss with students how to prioritize health-focused urban design.
The exchange between interdisciplinary experts and students forms the basis of this report.
“Our approach to health must be woven into the fabric of our cities, support healthier lifestyles for citizens and improve access to healthcare for more people through digital solutions,” said Bupa’s head of sustainability and workforce, Nigel Sullivan in a statement.
“This report reinforces our commitment to upskilling tomorrow’s leaders so they can create urban environments that foster healthier lives and use technology to meet demands in ways that are sustainable and equitable for all.”