22-08-2013, 01:59 PM
Urban planning, environment and health
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ABSTRACT
Environmental conditions of urban settings are a major issue both for individual residents and for local and
national governments. However, little is known on the practical mechanisms and local restrictions in
ensuring adequate environmental conditions in cities.
This report presents the results of an expert meeting to develop policy advice on urban planning,
environment and health which was convened in the context of a larger project co-funded by DG Sanco
(grant agreement 2006WHO01, “Enhanced policy advice on environment and health in Europe”). This
project included a work package on environmental health challenges in urban planning which had the
objective to review – based on contributions from scientific experts and urban planners and practitioners –
the impact and effectiveness of current regulatory frameworks and European Directives that affect urban
planning and urban environmental conditions. The perspective of local authorities as the implementer of
urban planning was used for the discussion and case studies on environmental health dimensions of urban
planning were prepared by two cities.
This meeting report provides (a) the summary notes of an expert meeting held in fall 2008, (b) an evidence
review on the urban planning impacts on environment and health, and © summary reports of two case
study cities on their local priority challenges.
Introductory speeches and case studies
The meeting was opened by WHO describing the wider context of the PAVEL
project and the work package on urban planning, which was to provide advice on
dealing with environmental health issues in relation to urban planning. Recognizing
the relevance of the practices and challenges of planning on the municipal level,
the floor was then given to the city delegations from Rennes and Torino as local
case studies.
The city of Rennes reported on its urban planning priorities and challenges which
were especially related to urban growth and space consumption, mobility, air
pollution and noise (environmental footprint), as well as waste management and
water supply. The urban planning tools, distinguishing between local, national and
international scale, were introduced.
The city of Torino described its historic development as an industrial city followed
by deindustrialization and the related urban challenges, mainly reorganization of
urban mobility, urban transformation and environmental regeneration. Key issues
from environmental perspective were considered to be noise, air pollution, and
green space provision next to the waste and water management.
Both cities provided a set of urban data on a variety of environmental risk
parameters (urban risk profiles) and a short summary report (Annex 3 and 4). Both
were used as background document to the expert meeting.
Ambient Air Quality Directive
The Ambient Air Quality Directive has set quantitative levels for exposure to
particulate matter and NO2 and dictates a maximum number of exceedances of
these limits per year. For many larger cities, the levels have proven extremely
difficult to comply to and it has had severe effects on local transport in many cities.
Cities have responded in different ways to reduce the pollution levels but rarely
successful and acceptable solutions have been found to reduce the root cause
which is mobility. Environmental protection zones, regulating the type of cars that
are allowed to enter the zone based on their emissions, have been developed but
large-scale evaluations on their impact on exposure reduction and health impacts
are still to be carried out.
Quality of Life and Environmental Health and Cities
A third group was established upon request of the participants in order to deal with
more general principles and strategies beyond the mandate of specific Directives.
The group chose to discuss on the quality of life in urban settings and discussed
issues related to the EU Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment.
The need for community and local authority participation in defining problems and
solutions was identified as a central factor with a view to achieving equitable
opportunities for enjoying clean environments and being in good health for all
urban inhabitants.
The creation of a ‘master plan’ as the backbone of any urban planning process
does necessarily require political consensus and in consequence, there is great
difficulty in achieving the adequate inclusion of all appropriate strategies which
would first have to all be accepted and agreed upon.
Transport parameters
The working group on transport stated that in general terms, encouraging
alternative means of transportation is always good for the health of citizens and
this should be done by default, irrespective of any data or data trends.
The group agreed that there are no standard solutions available. However, given
the variety of transport networks and contexts, solutions must be adaptable to
local context and situation.
Water and water treatment
The working group agreed on a basic understanding on which to develop the
proposed parameters: water was considered as a basic good and public resource
like air, although in practical terms it is mostly managed and treated by private
companies. It was also agreed that in relation to the importance of safe water for
health, its perception in urban planning and urban environmental discussion is
relatively low.