Barriers and Enablers for Integrating Public Health Cobenefits in Urban Climate Policy

Annu Rev Public Health. 2022 Apr 5:43:255-270. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052020-010820. Epub 2021 Dec 22.

Abstract

Urban climate policy offers a significant opportunity to promote improved public health. The evidence around climate and health cobenefits is growing but has yet to translate into widespread integrated policies. This article presents two systematic reviews: first, looking at quantified cobenefits of urban climate policies, where transportation, land use, and buildings emerge as the most studied sectors; and second, looking at review papers exploring the barriers and enablers for integrating these health cobenefits into urban policies. The latter reveals wide agreement concerning the need to improve the evidence base for cobenefits and consensus about the need for greater political will and leadership on this issue. Systems thinking may offer a way forward to help embrace complexity and integrate health cobenefits into decision making. Knowledge coproduction to bring stakeholders together and advance policy-relevant research for urban health will also be required. Action is needed to bring these two important policy agendas together.

Keywords: cities; climate change; coproduction; local government; transportation; urban public health.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Climate
  • Climate Change
  • Humans
  • Policy*
  • Public Health*
  • Urban Health