Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative

In 2019, the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative continued to consolidate its work programme and collaborations with multiple sectors involved in urban and transport planning. We began activities with the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB-GEMOTT), the Catalan Architects Association (COAC) and Pompeu Fabra University’s Planetary Wellbeing project. We actively worked with the Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM) to make health a cross-cutting component of the 2020-2025 Mobility Plan for the Barcelona Region. We continue working with the Catalan Government to integrate health criteria into municipal and public-space planning. Our work on the Barcelona Superblock Health Impact Assessment earned the Atlas Award from Elsevier publishing. With the UAB, we were awarded a project from the Barcelona City Council to study new mobility modes and, jointly with the UPC, we worked with the Catalan Government to include health-related aspects in its Transport Investment Evaluation System (SAIT). Together with the Chagas Initiative, the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Barcelona City Council, we are fostering citizen engagement in urban and mobility planning through the Living Lab.

In collaboration with the Communication Department, we are producing regular articles on urban health topics for the Barcelona Provincial Council and DKV Insurance. With United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), we co-produced a short video on SDG 3, urban health and local government. ISGlobal continues as the scientific organiser for the Urban Transitions International Conference and serves on the organising committee for the Healthy City Design Conference. Our researchers continue to participate as expert advisors to several bodies, including the WHO and the Barcelona Air Quality Commission.