Webinar: Cleaner air through better places – the Directory of resources for planning healthy environments
Webinar: Cleaner air through better places - the Directory of resources for planning healthy environments World Health Organization (WHO)
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Join the WHO Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit for the webinar “Cleaner air through better places. The Directory of resources for planning healthy environments”
Date and Time: 20th March 2024 at 15:00-16:00 (CET)
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, and urgent action is needed to lessen its harmful effects. This involves working across different sectors such as transportation, land use, energy, industry, and agriculture. Air pollution is also tied to other environmental risks, such as climate change and noise pollution. When taking action to reduce the health impacts of these environmental risks, air pollution will be reduced too. Similarly, improving air quality can lead to healthier populations by reducing the health effects of other environmental risks and by developing healthier environments, while considering a multisectoral approach.
There’s a lot of information, tools, and training available to help tackling air pollution and create healthier environments. Nevertheless, there is a need to bring all these resources together to smoothen the process for policymakers, researchers, city representatives and other actors to make resources easier accessible. This is the goal of the Directory of Resources for Planning Healthy Environments.
The Directory is an online repository with open access resources and tools updated on a regular basis providing information on the importance of planning and designing urban areas from a health perspective, as well as concrete guidance on how to do it. The aim is that country stakeholders are equipped with this compilation of almost 200 resources to inform decision-makers, and to translate the evidence into policies and actions. The Directory is also available in Spanish and French.
This work is integrated in the strategy of the Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit (WHO-HQ) to protect public health through evidence-based actions to improve air quality and ensure access to clean, sustainable energy solutions.
Access the directory here.
Objective of the webinar:
- Launch and preview the directory of resources for planning healthy environments, including its multilingual versions (Spanish & French).
- Discuss the main opportunities and gaps in the field of environmental health, for exploring better solutions for a healthier environment.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Agenda
Chair
Abraham Mwaura, Project Officer, Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
Opening remarks
Heather Rohani-Adair, Unit Head a.i., Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
Air pollution: The leading environmental threat to our health
Pierpaolo Mudu, Technical Officer, Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
Brief overview of air pollution as a leading environmental risk affecting human health. Discussion on the sources, impacts, and the urgent need for strategies to combat this invisible killer.
Beyond air pollution: Exploring the spectrum of environmental health risks and solutions
Cristina Vert, Technical Consultant, Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
Overview of the interlinkages between air pollution and other environmental health risks. With a focus on interventions and solutions that enhance health co-benefits while improving air quality, we will introduce the directory of resources for planning healthy environments.
The strengths and gaps of the Directory
Janna Radi Mohamed, Research Assistant at the Centre for Global Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto
Losang Sadutshang, graduate student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto
This session intervention will explore the recent update of the directory, highlighting the gaps identified by researchers. The discussion will examine potential causes for these gaps, such as a possible lack of engagement with these topics by the public and environmental health communities.
Spanish version of the Directory. Making the evidence available across regions
Andrea Cortinez, Universidad de la Frontera, Chile
Dr. Josiah Kephart, Climate Change and Urban Health in Latin America (SALURBAL-Climate) & Drexel University, USA
Overview of the Spanish version of the directory, including a quick tour and assessment of main findings and gaps. Air quality, health, and inequity in Latin American cities: Data and findings from SALURBAL-Climate.
French version of the Directory: a new resource to support the transition towards healthier environments
Anne Roué Le Gall, Associate professor, EHESP French School of Public Health
Guilhem Dardier, Senior research officer & PhD candidate, EHESP French School of Public Health
Quick overview of the EHESP “healthy urban planning” webpage/platform, with a focus on the French version of the directory and air pollution.
Q&A and discussion
Christelle Lahoud, UN-Habitat
Closing remarks
Graham Alabaster, UN-Habitat
Confirmed Speakers
- Abraham Mwaura – Project Officer, Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
- Heather Rohani-Adair – Unit Head a.i., Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
- Pierpaolo Mudu – Technical Officer, Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
- Cristina Vert – Technical Consultant, Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit, WHO
- Janna Radi Mohamed – Research Assistant at the Centre for Global Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto
- Losang Sadutshang – Graduate student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto
- Andrea Cortinez – Universidad de la Frontera, Chile
- Dr. Josiah Kephart – Climate Change and Urban Health in Latin America (SALURBAL-Climate) & Drexel University, USA
- Anne Roué Le Gall – Associate professor, EHESP French School of Public Health
- Guilhem Dardier – Senior research officer & PhD candidate, EHESP French School of Public Health
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:
- SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- SDG 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
- SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- SDG 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, and accounts.
Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article:
- Air pollution levels
- Number of deaths and illnesses related to air pollution
- Access to clean and sustainable energy solutions
- Adverse per capita environmental impact of cities
- Integration of climate change measures into policies and planning
- Integration of ecosystem and biodiversity values into planning and development processes
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Targets Indicators SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. – Number of deaths and illnesses related to air pollution SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. – Access to clean and sustainable energy solutions SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. – Adverse per capita environmental impact of cities SDG 13: Climate Action Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. – Integration of climate change measures into policies and planning SDG 15: Life on Land Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, and accounts. – Integration of ecosystem and biodiversity values into planning and development processes Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: who.int
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