22 October 2020 – 2:30 – 4:00 PM (CEST) | 7:30 – 9:00 AM (COT) | 8:30 – 10:00 PM (CST)
https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vLQfDS-oRVGBG6s2fo_DsQ

The most effective indicator for a city’s sustainable development is the health and wellbeing of its citizens. Being citizens, local leaders, researchers, funders or practitioners, we can all contribute to create urban environments that enable vibrant community life, preserve natural urban ecosystems, foster economic development, and protect the most vulnerable, ultimately improving health and, in particular promote health equity. While each city is unique, a well-prepared health sector is key to address urbanization in a way that meets the health challenges faced by citizens in the 21^st century, and it is also a drive to ensuring that people are at the centre of the urban transformation.

The main goal of this webinar is to highlight and discuss the role of the health sector in taking decisions and influencing interventions to catalysing action towards healthy and sustainable cities. Focus will be given on the “how-to” both sectors can work together, “bridging the gap from both sides” strengths capacities to (1) foster and sustain intersectoral work, from planning, design to implementation of policies; (2) localize action and engage citizens, communities; (3) track and monitor success; and (4) maximize health, environmental and climate gains, through leadership and guidance. The session will also explore solutions, networks and opportunities already in place to scale up action globally and ensure all urban environments are reached.

The keynote presentation will set the scene for the discussion, providing an overview of the global challenge to deliver health through the transformation of urban environments and the contribution of the health sector to that challenge. The initial presentations will also be an opportunity to share some of WHO and UN-Habitat response for supporting cities and countries on urban health-related issues. The panel discussion will convene a diverse group of experts and practitioners involved in city action to share their experiences with addressing urban health and urban development. Key messages, gaps and opportunities arising from the discussion will be used to inform the global agenda on how to conceive healthy and liveable urban environments by integrating health into urban planning and design.

Finally, the event will also promote the most recent outcome of the longstanding collaboration between WHO and UN Habitat, the publication Integrating health in urban and territorial planning: sourcebook for urban leaders, health and planning professionals.

Friday 30 October - 9:00 AM New York/14:00 Geneva
https://unep.webex.com/unep/onstage/g.php?MTID=e54a96c317c330468c39f2380169bd145

More than half of the world’s population lives in cities today. A city’s most important asset is the health of its citizens. Yet, more than 80 per cent of people living in urban areas are exposed to air pollution levels that exceed World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines, and 98 per cent of large cities in low-income regions suffer from unhealthy air. Without concerted effort, air pollution in many cities will continue to worsen and climate change will accelerate.
 
Around the world, cities are committing to achieve WHO Air Quality Guidelines by 2030 through BreatheLife. BreatheLife combines public health and climate change expertise with guidance on implementing solutions to air pollution in support of global development goals. Cities can play a key role in the fight against air pollution and climate change – by instituting policies and programs to curb emissions and promote the use of clean energy, and driving national action to prevent air pollution from sources outside the urban center.
 
Join us for a webinar that will explore on how cities are overcoming barriers to implementing air pollution solutions that provide multiple benefits for health and climate. Speakers will highlight solutions in the transportation, waste, and household energy sectors, with a specific focus on the role of communities in driving change.
 
Topics to be covered include:

• Tackling urban air quality, climate change and health at the same time;
• Unlocking the power of the health sector to achieve air quality in cities;
• Promoting the transition to electric vehicles in Quito, Ecuador;
• Reducing outdoor air pollution from household sources in Iloilo City, Philippines; and
• Achieving multiple benefits from waste separation in Accra, Ghana.

New BreatheLife members