Urban health research: shaping integrated policies for health, equity, sustainability, and climate

Urban health is the study of how the physical, social, and cultural features of cities contribute to the unequal distribution of health, disease and overall well-being of urban dwellers. The widespread implications of climate change and other global environmental phenomena are increasingly recognized as major threats to urban health. Shifting from a 'Health in all Policies' to a 'Health for all Policies' approach, policies from different sectors are to be planned and implemented to achieve shared and specific goals. With the aim of considering how urban health interventions and policies interact across sectors, we selected three integrated urban health policies and interventions developed at various governance levels in different parts of Europe. We also offer guidance on how to establish fruitful collaborations with policymakers, stakeholders and citizens in the pursuit of healthier and more sustainable cities. Selected case studies were (i) the local clean air zone implemented in Bradford (UK), (ii) a regional urban renewal policy developed in Barcelona (Spain), and (iii) a European multi-city consortium for healthy and sustainable school meals. We were able to identify impacts beyond health and map their contribution to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Well-designed urban health research can address the multiple health, social and ecological challenges of our time by generating the evidence needed to design and evaluate urban policies and translating this evidence into population health and well-being.