Urban governance and the systems approaches to health-environment co-benefits in cities

Cad Saude Publica. 2015 Nov:31 Suppl 1:25-38. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00010015.

Abstract

The term "co-benefits" refers to positive outcomes accruing from a policy beyond the intended outcome, often or usually in other sectors. In the urban context, policies implemented in particular sectors (such as transport, energy or waste) often generate multiple co-benefits in other areas. Such benefits may be related to the reduction of local or global environmental impacts and also extend into the area of public health. A key to identifying and realising co-benefits is the adoption of systems approaches to understand inter-sectoral linkages and, in particular, the translation of this understanding to improved sector-specific and city governance. This paper reviews a range of policies which can yield health and climate co-benefits across different urban sectors and illustrates, through a series of cases, how taking a systems approach can lead to innovations in urban governance which aid the development of healthy and sustainable cities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Cities*
  • Climate Change*
  • Environment Design
  • Environmental Health*
  • Health Policy*
  • Humans
  • Urban Health*
  • Urban Population