We are already feeling the effects of climate change. The environmental impacts are clear, and the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, have long drawn attention to related health impacts: It is increasing food and water insecurity, the prevalence of water- and vector-borne diseases, and our exposure to pollutants. No matter where one resides — rural or urban areas, developing or developed countries — climate change will adversely affect our health.
In peri-urban and urban areas, where social and economic ecosystems are clustered, these health risks are rising at an alarming rate, especially for the most vulnerable. Using health to inform climate change adaptation and mitigation in cities is not merely a suggestion; it must be a mandatory part of urban planning moving forward. Creating better policies, empowering city leaders, and strengthening urban health services will build climate-smart cities that better protect the health of our global population — for now and for generations to come.
Here are three ways in which integrating health goals into urban planning can help build more climate-smart cities:
About the author
Debora Freitas López
Debora B. Freitas López, a director in the Southern Africa region at Chemonics with almost 15 years of experience in international development, is responsible for the USAID-funded Mozambique Coastal City Adaptation Project (CCAP) and a member of the health technical practice. She is a health and social and behavior change (SBC) expert with in-depth experience in the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of multi-level initiatives, particularly in SBC.
