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Transforming Our Cities: Best Practices Towards Clean Air and Active Transportation

  • Air Pollution and Health (S Adar and B Hoffmann, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Environmental Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

By 2050, 70% of the global population will live in urban areas, exposing a greater number of people to specific city-related health risks that will only be exacerbated by climate change. Two prominent health risks are poor air quality and physical inactivity. We aim to review the literature and state the best practices for clean air and active transportation in urban areas.

Recent Findings

Cities have been targeting reductions in air pollution and physical inactivity to improve population health. Oslo, Paris, and Madrid plan on banning cars from their city centers to mitigate climate change, reduce vehicle emissions, and increase walking and cycling. Urban streets are being redesigned to accommodate and integrate various modes of transportation to ensure individuals can become actively mobile and healthy. Investments in pedestrian, cycling, and public transport infrastructure and services can both improve air quality and support active transportation. Emerging technologies like electric and autonomous vehicles are being developed and may reduce air pollution but have limited impact on physical activity. Green spaces too can mitigate air pollution and encourage physical activity.

Summary

Clean air and active transportation overlap considerably as they are both functions of mobility. The best practices of clean air and active transportation have produced impressive results, which are improved when enacted simultaneously in integrated policy packages. Further research is needed in middle- and low-income countries, using measurements from real-world interventions, tracing air pollution back to the sources responsible, and holistically addressing the entire spectrum of exposures and health outcomes related to transportation.

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  1. Center for Advancing Research in Transportation, Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH), Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), 2929 Research Parkway, 3135 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-3135, USA

    Andrew Glazener & Haneen Khreis

  2. Langford College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Andrew Glazener

  3. ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain

    Haneen Khreis

  4. Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain

    Haneen Khreis

  5. CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain

    Haneen Khreis

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Glazener, A., Khreis, H. Transforming Our Cities: Best Practices Towards Clean Air and Active Transportation. Curr Envir Health Rpt 6, 22–37 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-019-0228-1

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