Greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, are the cause of climate change which has numerous health impacts globally. Carbon emissions can be reduced through urban built environments through land use, transport, and buildings, among other factors.
Below is a short evidence review about a selection of evidence-based design and planning measures that can reduce carbon emissions and support health. These are accompanied by a set of example indicators that may inform strategies or be used for monitoring.
Evidence-based design measures
This section summarises work by Margalit Younger and colleagues who reviewed key built environment design measures to reduce emissions, promote health and prepare for climate adaptation. (1)
Reducing motor vehicle travel supports climate change mitigation and may reduce injuries and support active travel. Reducing traffic pollution leads to reduced respiratory illnesses and noncommunicable diseases. It also supports increased social capital which improves mental health and wellbeing. Evidence-based measures to reduce the need to travel via motor vehicles include:
- provision of public transport
- mixed-use development
- active mobility infrastructure
- encouraging food vendors to use local suppliers
Decreasing carbon emissions in buildings can be achieved by:
- Installing decentralised low or zero carbon energy systems
- Using low carbon and/or recycled construction materials
- Increasing energy efficiency in buildings can improve thermal comfort (where cooling is also considered)
- Reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling through building orientation and location
- Situating stairs in prominent locations
- Using low energy or passive lighting and sensors
- Use a sustainable building/neighbourhood standard
Indicators
Here are a selection of indicators used to drive carbon reductions, and in doing so to support health, through strategy development and monitoring:
- Consumption of electricity per household in megawatts/hour (2)
- Electricity generated from renewable sources (% of total electricity generated) (3)
- Number (or %) of new (or refurbished) building stock certified with a sustainable building standard (e.g. BREEAM and LEED) (4)
- See physical activity and mobility infrastructure indicators.
References
(1) Younger M, Morrow-Almeida HR, Vindigni SM, Dannenberg AL. The Built Environment, Climate Change, and Health. Am J Prev Med 2008; 35: 517–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2008.08.017
(2) McCaughey Centre, VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, University of Melbourne. Community Indicators Victoria: Data Framework. http://www.communityindicators.net.au/metadata_items (accessed Feb 17, 2016).
(3) Giap TK, Thye WW, Aw G. A new approach to measuring the liveability of cities: the Global Liveable Cities Index. World Rev Sci Technol Sustain Dev 2014; 11: 176–196. DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2014.065677
(4) Pineo, H., Zimmermann, N., Cosgrave, E., Aldridge, R.W., Acuto, M., Rutter, H., 2018. Promoting a healthy cities agenda through indicators: development of a global urban environment and health index. Cities & Health 2, 27–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2018.1429180