Urban Health

Urbanization has positive and negative impacts on health. Many citizens suffer from inadequate housing and transport, poor sanitation and waste management, air pollution, and imperfect access to healthy food and green spaces. At the same time, city governments are in a position to transform living conditions in cities by providing sanitation, clean air and water, public housing, education, and other services. For this reason, it is vital to include local and regional governments in global processes and initiatives that address health, the environment, climate change, energy and housing. Many of these are led by the World Health Organization (WHO).