Integrating Health into Urban and territorial Planning: A Sourcebook

Abstract

Urban and territorial planning (UTP) is a critical enabler for health and well-being in cities and regions, and our health is influenced by many factors beyond the health sector. Planning has a central role in the prevention of diseases in the 21st century, as urban policies define the air we breathe, the quality of spaces we use, the water we drink, the way we move, our access to food, and also the treatment of diseases through adequate access to health care for all. Planning decisions can create or exacerbate major health risks for populations, or they can foster healthier environments, lifestyles and create healthy and resilient cities and societies.