ICUH 2024: A Healthier Horizon: Activating Urban Health Strategies for a Climate

Objective:
To discuss participatory approaches in urban health while exploring the case of the Urban Health Citizen Laboratory at the Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health (UM6SS) in Casablanca, highlighting effective strategies for community engagement, identifying challenges, and uncovering future opportunities in Morocco for enhancing urban health outcomes.

PROGRAM:

• Welcome and Introduction (10 minutes)

Brief overview of the session's objectives and agenda
Introduction of speakers
Safwane Mouwafaq

• Talk 1: Participatory Approaches in Urban Health (20 minutes)

Overview of participatory approaches and their significance in urban health
Key principles and methodologies
Examples of successful participatory projects
Sammila Abdala

• Discussion 1  (15 minutes)

Open floor for questions and comments

• Talk 2: Citizen Lab Experience in Barcelona, Spain
  Time: 20 minutes

Overview of the Citizen Lab model and its implementation in Barcelona
Strategies for community engagement and collaboration
Key outcomes and lessons learned
Celia Santos Tapia

• Discussion 2 (15 minutes)

Questions and insights from the audience

• Talk 3: Urban Health Citizen Laboratory at UM6SS, Casablanca (20 minutes)

Presentation of the results of the Urban Health Citizen Laboratory at Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health
Challenges faced and future opportunities
Safwane Mouwafaq

• Discussion 3 (15 minutes)

Audience engagement on the Casablanca experience
Discussion on potential collaborative initiatives and research opportunities

• Closing Remarks (10 minutes)

Summary of key points from the talks and discussions
Acknowledgment of speakers and participants
Information on follow-up actions or resources

The escalation of global political, economic and ecological crises and associated price surges has contributed to interdependent forms of malnutrition – undernutrition, overweight and obesity –- with enduring societal consequences. Poor and marginalised urban residents are already vulnerable to food insecurity as well as diet -related communicable and non-communicable diseases in the context of low and precarious incomes, inadequate market, road, water and sanitation and health service infrastructures, and the proliferation of unhealthy processed foods. Movement restrictions during the Covid pandemic exposed fragilities in urban food systems particularly for the urban poor and those living in informal urban settlements. Changing weather patterns are creating further vulnerabilities by increasing food production uncertainties as well as exacerbating existing infrastructural fragilities. Additional axes of vulnerability that intersect with low incomes are gender, age, disability and migrant/refugee status. Developing climate resilient urban food and health systems faces further challenges related to political settlements and related governance arrangements, including fragmented accountabilities for food production, food distribution, water and sanitation, roads and health services, between municipal and national governments.


This session shares findings from research conducted in 5 African cities through the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) and from research conducted through the ARISE consortium (Accountability for Urban Health Equity) in 5 cities in India and Bangladesh. We will begin the session by sharing the conceptual framework on Access to and Uptake of Healthy Diets developed by ACRC Health, Wellbeing and Nutrition domain researchers, which aims to bring together urban health and food systems in the context of political settlements and urban governance. Presenters from Bukavu, Freetown, Kampala, and Nairobi will then share their analysis of barriers and enablers to uptake of healthy diets in their cities, based on exploratory qualitative research with low-income communities, key informants and governance stakeholders. A presenter from India will then share findings from India and Bangladesh on how the right to food was undermined for residents of urban informal settlements during movement restrictions in the Covid pandemic. All presenters will then reflect on the implications for climate resilient food systems. Presenters will speak for up to to 7 minutes each.

Cities in particular are at the forefront of innovation and transformation, leading the way for bold climate and air quality action towards a more sustainable and healthier future. In recent years, many cities have implemented actions to improve air quality, such as creating low emission zones or banning diesel vehicles. It is necessary to understand whether these actions are not only effective at reducing emissions, but also at reducing exposures, and in turn, improving public health. A growing body of research to assess the effectiveness of air quality actions at improving public health, known as accountability research, has provided important methodological approaches and lessons learned for connecting public health improvements with specific actions. The Health Effects Institute (HEI) has played a prominent role in accountability research. This session will present an overview of this important field of research, highlight recent policy success stories around the world, the challenges, best practice solutions and the lessons learned for future air quality action in a changing urban transportation landscape.

Accountability Studies on Air Pollution and Health: the HEI Experience and What’s Next.
Dr. Hanna Boogaard, HEI

A Deeper Dive into Accountability Studies on Air Pollution and Health.
Dr. Benjamin Barratt, Imperial College London

Innovative Methods for Proactive Action Against Pollution-Related Events.
Dr. Loren Hopkins, Rice University and Chief Environmental Officer, City of Houston

Rethinking Urban Environments and Health in a Changing Transportation Landscape.
Dr. Cathryn Tonne, Barcelona Institute for Global Health

As urban populations surge, fostering inclusive governance has never been more essential. Young people, as active contributors to urban life and stakeholders in their cities' future, are often sidelined in decision-making processes. In response, UN-Habitat is spearheading the Young Gamechangers Initiative (YGI) in partnership with WHO, a dynamic effort to empower youth voices in urban governance, focusing on building climate-resilient, healthier cities.

Climate change brings deep-seated challenges to young people’s well-being, not only through its physical impacts but also by affecting their mental health and sense of security. From eco-anxiety to the psychological toll of extreme weather events, the stresses of climate change touch every aspect of their lives. If we are to build sustainable cities, young people must have a hand in designing environments that support mental resilience and physical well-being. YGI addresses these challenges head-on, equipping youth with tools for meaningful engagement in urban governance, amplifying their voices, and ensuring their perspectives inform sustainable urban development.

Join us for this panel discussion as UN-Habitat and young leaders share the transformative power of youth engagement in creating climate-resilient cities. Participants will learn about the diverse tools and approaches young people use and explore successful examples.

Young Gamechangers Initiative: ​https://www.unhabitatyouth.org/en/young-gamechangers​​​

The USAID-funded Asia Resilient Cities (ARC) Project is leading the integration of resilience into urban planning and development in secondary cities across Asia, including Khulna (Bangladesh), Rajkot (India), Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), and Makassar (Indonesia). ARC employs a systems thinking approach to tackle complex urban challenges, promote sustainable growth, support low-carbon infrastructure, and incorporate climate-conscious strategies to create adaptable urban environments.

ARC’s methodology begins with a co-creation phase that actively engages diverse stakeholders, fostering a collaborative systems thinking mindset. This comprehensive approach examines urban issues in their entirety, identifies overlapping challenges, and builds strong relationships among residents, governments, and other key players. Central to ARC’s strategy is the development of system maps, which visually represent the intricate connections between perspectives, behaviors, and structures within city systems. These maps are essential for identifying problem areas, prioritizing interventions, and crafting tailored action plans for each city.

A cornerstone of ARC’s approach is its commitment to inclusivity. By incorporating the voices of marginalized and vulnerable populations through community listening and feedback sessions, ARC ensures that traditionally excluded groups are integral to the planning process. This inclusivity not only enriches the system's maps but also ensures that solutions are representative, equitable, and sustainable. ARC’s adaptive framework, guided by the resilience principles of Biggs et al. (2012) allows for continuous refinement based on real-time data and feedback. This dynamic approach ensures that ARC’s interventions remain relevant and effective, fostering cities that can adapt to climate change while prioritizing upstream environmental prevention.

In this panel, we will present how ARC’s systems thinking processes contribute to building effective and sustainable approaches to climate-resilient and adaptable urban environments. We will highlight the practical applications of this innovative approach, featuring a city government representative from one of the partner cities who will share their experiences and successes. This session aims to provide insights for donors, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to creating inclusive, equitable, and sustainable initiatives for enhancing urban resilience in the face of climate change.

Preformed Panel : UIR-IPORA One Health Approaches to Enhance Urban Health Resilience: Addressing Environmental Stressors and Disease Impacts In : https://sched.co/1jpX3
Organized by: International University of Rabat (UIR) in collaboration with the IPORA Project (CGS/UIR)
Lead Organizers
• Prof. Nawal Benabdallah - Professor & Researcher, Higher School of Architecture of Rabat, Architecture, Urban Innovation and Heritage Laboratory (UIH Lab), College of Engineering & Architecture, International University of Rabat (UIR)
• Prof. Ihsane Hmamouchi - Professor & researcher, International Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Research Center (CReSS), Vice-Dean of the International Faculty of Medicine of Rabat, International University of Rabat (UIR)
Session Description
In recent years, the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health has become increasingly evident, leading to the adoption of the "One Health" approach. This approach recognizes that the health of people is closely linked to the health of animals and our shared environment.
Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of environmental stressors, including air pollution, water contamination, and climate change. This roundtable will explore interdisciplinary strategies to address the impact of these stressors on chronic and infectious diseases, focusing on improving urban health resilience within the "One Health" framework.
The session will bring together experts in clinical epidemiology, urban health, environmental sciences, and public health to discuss innovative approaches to mitigate the health effects of environmental stressors in urban settings. Speakers will examine the complex interactions between environmental factors and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and infectious diseases, and discuss evidence-based interventions to improve urban health resilience.
The panel will explore how urban planning, policy development, and community engagement can contribute to creating resilient cities that prioritize health equity and sustainability, ensuring the inclusion of vulnerable populations such as migrants. This session aims to highlight the importance of collaborative efforts between medical, urban, and environmental sciences to develop comprehensive disease prevention and control strategies.
Key discussion topics include
1. Identifying environmental stressors and their impact on urban health outcomes
2. Implementing interdisciplinary approaches to combat the health effects of air pollution, water contamination, and climate change
3. Strengthening health systems and public health infrastructure to enhance urban health resilience through the "One Health" approach
4. Promoting community engagement and participatory approaches in urban health interventions
5. Addressing social determinants of health to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity of urban populationsRoundtable Composition
Urban Health Strategies: Integrating Health, Environment, and Innovation
• Prof. Najia Hajjaj-Hassouni - Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Director of the Health Sciences Research Center (CreSS), International University of Rabat (UIR), Member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, Member of the French Academy of Medicine
Theme: Urban Planning Favorable to the 3 Healths: A Response to the Triple Planetary Crisis
• Prof. Asmae Arbaoui - University Professor, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, Director of the Energy Thermodynamics Laboratory
Theme: An Innovative and Interdisciplinary Vision of Urbanism, Where Energy, Water, and Pollution Management Combine to Improve Both the Energy Efficiency of Cities and the Health of Their Inhabitants
• Prof. Ihsane Hmamouchi – Professor & researcher, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Research Center (CReSS), Vice-Dean of Faculty of Medicine, International University of Rabat (UIR)
Theme: Addressing Urban Health Challenges Through Communication, Collaboration, and Innovation
International Perspectives on Urban Health: From Brazilian Experience to Moroccan Implementation
• Prof. Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa - Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Director of the Belo Horizonte Urban Health Observatory (OSUBH)
Theme: Experiences of the Belo Horizonte Urban Health Observatory
• Prof. Elis Borde - Associate Professor, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Theme: Qualitative and Participatory Methods for Stakeholder Engagement and Community Resilience: Insights from the Urban Health Observatory (OSUBH)
• Prof. Simone Marques de Sousa Safe - PhD in Geography from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Coordinator and professor of the Landscape Architecture master 1 course at IEC/PUC Minas.
Theme: Salutogenic Landscape as an Approach to Better Qualify and Distribute Vegetated Open Spaces in the Urban Environment
• Prof. Nawal Benabdallah - Professor & Researcher, Higher School of Architecture of Rabat, Architecture, Urban Innovation and Heritage Laboratory (UIH Lab), College of Engineering & Architecture, International University of Rabat (UIR)
Theme: Healthy Urban Planning in Morocco: From International Expertise to Local Action
Policy, Governance, and Management for Healthy Cities
• Prof. Abdellatif Bouazza - Professor & Researcher, Mohammed V University (UM5), Country Director of UN-Habitat in Morocco
Theme: Integration of Health in Urban Development Policies in Morocco
• Prof. Zineb Omary - Professor & Researcher, Sciences Po Rabat, Center For Global Studies (CGS), Coordinator of IPORA (Interdisciplinary Policy-Oriented Research On Africa), International University of Rabat (UIR)
Theme: Public Policies and Governance for Urban Health in Africa: Towards Interdisciplinary Approaches
• Prof. Oussama Alami Marrouni - Professor & Researcher, School of Aerospace & Automotive Engineering (SAAE), College of Engineering & Architecture, In charge of Rankings, Coordonnator of WP2 IPORA (Interdisciplinary Policy-Oriented Research On Africa), International University of Rabat (UIR)
Theme: Management for sustainable cities instead of healthy cities
This diverse panel brings together expertise from architecture, urban planning, public health, environmental sciences, and policy-making, offering a truly interdisciplinary approach to addressing urban health challenges within the One Health framework.
Through interactive discussions and case studies, this panel aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, health professionals, researchers, and community stakeholders working to promote urban health resilience and mitigate the health impacts of environmental stressors.
We invite policymakers, urban planners, health professionals, researchers, and community stakeholders to join us for this critical discussion on the future of healthy, resilient, and inclusive urban environments. /End of text

Cities across Asia face countless climate vulnerabilities: extreme heat, air pollution, water salinization, and weather-related disasters (landslides, tsunamis, cyclones, etc.). These phenomena affect mental health, in the short and long term, via multiple pathways, predominantly through psychological distress associated with the loss of livelihoods, closure of schools, food and water insecurity, and generalized eco-anxiety. The factors described above are also connected to increased gender-based violence, a significant detriment to mental health and wellbeing. For climate migrants who are trying to integrate into cities, the loss of traditional community support networks exacerbates the scale and scope of negative mental health outcomes.


Despite recognizing a global mental health crisis, low and middle income countries across Asia have limited resources to address mental health, with few trained providers or modern facilities. This resource gap is worse for urban migrant communities, many of which reside in informal settlements and/or climate vulnerable urban zones; environments that often have physical insecurity (e.g. flood risk and poor quality housing), poor air quality, and limited access to green spaces and other adaptive measures. Many urban populations use maladaptive coping strategies, such as substance abuse, to help them manage stressors of being in the city.


This 60 minute panel presentation will explore the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) work at the intersection of climate change, mental health, and cities in Asia. The panel will begin with an overview of climate change and mental health in urban Asia, with references to USAID programming. The Agency’s Mental Health Coordinator will then present relevant findings and recommendations from USAID’s first-ever mental health position paper (launched in May 2024). That policy document outlines USAID's approach to mental health: 1. Promote sustainable, enabling environments; 2. Apply contextually-appropriate approaches in partnership with communities; 3. Promote ethical, human-rights based and Do No Harm practices; 4. Address key barriers, especially stigma and the need to diversify and strengthen partnerships. A third panelist will then share programmatic examples from USAID’s urban and primary health activities in Asia. The panel will conclude with an audience question and answer session.

Urban health in Bangladesh faces significant challenges, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and climate change. Poor urban planning, a lack of green space, and inadequate waste management further exacerbate health issues, leading to the spread of vector-borne diseases and respiratory illnesses. The Bangladesh government, through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), along with other relevant agencies, is working to strengthen the country’s climate resilience. However, integrating health and climate strategies is essential for proper planning and implementation of adaptive measures for sustainable and resilient urban communities.


The Bangladesh Urban Health Network (BUHN) has proposed a workshop with objectives to disseminate information on climate change impacts in Bangladesh, highlight challenges, and identify areas for improvement. The workshop aims to bring together experts to discuss strategies for enhancing resilience, sustainable development, and climate adaptation to safeguard Bangladesh's future. The interactive panel discussion will have a chairperson and a moderator, five presenters highlighting five themes aligning climate resilience with urban health sustainability. The workshop will include presentations on the theme of understanding Climate Change with Impacts and Projections, Urban Resilience for Planning Cities to Withstand Climate Change, Community-Led Adaptation to Empowering Local Actions, Disaster Preparedness and Response and Bridging Health with Climate Change in Urban Bangladesh.


The themes of presentation will cover current environmental status, existing strategies and policies of Bangladesh aligning with health perspective, impacts, projections and strategies to be adapted for sustainability and resilient climate in urban health settings, engagement of different public and private stakeholders, NGOs in building community resilience, disaster management and preparedness as well as integration of climate resiliency with urban health initiatives through policy and advocacy for sustainable urban health in Bangladesh.


The panel discussion will address the intersection of urban health and climate resilience, aiming to tackle challenges posed by urbanization and climate change. It will facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders to improve urban health and climate resiliency and establish future directions for urban health policy and practice.

Drawing on research from the Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation, this panel will critically reflect on how to transform places through evidence-based research for healthy and sustainable urban living. Building on debates around climate action and rising inequalities, the panel will present research findings from interdisciplinary projects on the following urban health themes:

• Creating Healthy Cities (Juliet Carpenter): Juliet will present results from the Commission on Healthy Cities report and the Healthy Cities Toolkit, to highlight the evidence-base needed to tackle healthy place-shaping in cities.
• Healthy place-making (David Howard): Healthy New Towns are considered an effective place-making strategy in English cities to deal with shaping built and social environments to support the health and wellbeing of residents. David will critically engage with debates on designing urban spaces in line with health considerations, reflecting on recent research in two Healthy New Towns in Oxfordshire to assess whether the promise of healthy place-making is being delivered.
• Street Voice and deliberation in local policymaking (Alison Chisholm): Following concerns about social, environmental, and economic inequalities in decision-making processes, Alison will report on research results from the project Street Voice and how it informed local politics on environmental and health issues in local transport planning.
• Ageing-in-place (Hannah Grove): Drawing on health geography perspectives, Hannah will consider how to support older people to age well in place, recognising dynamic personal, social, environmental and climate contexts.
• Eco-social innovation and policy for transformation (Astrid Krisch): Building on debates of effective transformative change needed to enable climate-friendly and healthy urban living, Astrid will critically reflect on strategies “from below” through social innovation, and strategies “from above” through social policy, exploring how both can be shaped by an integrated approach to social and environmental concerns at multiple scales.

The panel will consider how approaches to sustainable urban development intersect broader issues of health and wellbeing of both people and planet, focusing on how ecological and social needs can be balanced and places transformed to accommodate multiple urban complexities.


We invite audience members to critically reflect on their experiences in research, policy and practice to catalyse discussion between session participants.

As the world’s population grows older and increasingly urban, significant urban health challenges emerge globally. Particularly, how to enable age-friendly cities and communities (AFCCs) under steadily more hostile climate conditions causing deadly events such as violent flooding or extreme heat. While considerable progress has been made in advancing both knowledge and action on AFCCs, urban and territorial planning often lacks tailored scientific evidence for supporting healthy aging environments. This gap between knowledge and action can result in situations where interventions or practices are not evidence-based. Conversely, evidence produced may not respond to the needs of cities and communities working to become more age-friendly.


To address this gap, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently launched the Age-friendly Environments Knowledge & Action HUBS on Urban and Territorial Planning (K&A-HUB UTP), which operates as a trans-disciplinary knowledge translation platform and is hosted by the WHO Global Network for AFCCs. Our panel discussion aims to leverage the opportunity given by ICUH’s trans-disciplinary audience to raise awareness about the K&A-HUB UTP, and facilitate discussions between researchers, policy and decision-makers on how to bridge the gap between knowledge and action regarding AFCCs. Moreover, as the ICUH comes back to the African continent, we use this opportunity to have participants from this region, which is currently underrepresented in the Global Network for AFCCs.


The panel will feature three 10-minute presentations facilitated by Dr. Vitor Pessoa Colombo (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne). First, Dr. Amanda Fernandes (WHO) will introduce the WHO Global Network for AFCCs and the AFE K&A-HUB UTP, focusing on the urban and territorial planning (UTP) hub. Second, Dr. Bachir El Diop (Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique) will discuss knowledge gaps regarding the inclusion of older populations in UTP, focusing on urban mobility in Africa. Third, a member of the Global Network for AFCCs will present examples of interventions promoting AFCCs. The presentations will be followed by a round-table discussion open to the public. The main outcomes will be: recommendations on how to address the knowledge-action gap on AFCCs in UTP, and an increased visibility of the AFE K&A-HUB UTP among key stakeholders.

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana, nestled between Venezuela, Suriname, and Brazil, is renowned for its rich biodiversity, encompassing vast rainforests, rivers, mountains, and savannahs. Geographically, it is the third smallest country in South America and a crucial part of the Guiana Shield, one of the oldest geological formations on earth, which hosts over 40% of the Amazon rainforest and stores 20% of the world's carbon. Preserving this region and its inhabitants is vital for global environmental health. However, Guyana faces significant challenges due to its vulnerability to sea level rise, flooding, and torrential rains, exacerbated by climate change and their recent oil discovery in 2015.


The exploitation of oil reserves in Guyana present both opportunities and challenges. The influx of oil revenues offers a potential boost to Guyana’s economy, which has historically struggled due to legacies of colonialism and post-independence political instability. However, this economic advancement comes with the risk of increased carbon emissions, posing a significant environmental challenge. In addition, the boost in economic development provides an opportunity for health systems strengthening and transformative care in health sector indicators.


This panel will explore the delicate balance between economic growth and preserving environmental and public health in Guyana. Former Guyana Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, along with honorary colleagues, will discuss strategies to achieve sustainable development while focusing on preserving the hinterland regions and maintaining climate resilience amidst commercialization. One key strategy to be highlighted is the utilization of telehealth, aiming to reduce the need for transfers to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) by providing at-home care, thereby enhancing healthcare accessibility, and reducing the environmental impact of medical transportation in Guyana.


This session will provide insights into sustainable development practices that respect and protect Guyana's unique ecological and heritage while promoting health equity and economic growth. Moderators from Northwell’s Center for Global Health will highlight case-studies of resource constrained countries enhancing climate resilience, facilitating the pivotal conversation.