Urbanisation and Health - Promoting Sustainable Solutions

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/urbanisation-health-promoting-sustainable-solutions

Introduction

**Course Review: Urbanisation and Health - Promoting Sustainable Solutions** In the contemporary world, urbanization is one of the most significant phenomena impacting health, environment, and community wellbeing. The Coursera course titled “Urbanisation and Health - Promoting Sustainable Solutions” offers a comprehensive exploration of this critical intersection, providing learners with the insights and tools necessary to address the pressing challenges posed by rapid urbanization. ### Overview The pace of urbanization has skyrocketed over the past few centuries, with more than half of the world's population now residing in urban areas—an increase from a mere 5% in the 18th century. This profound shift has resulted in myriad issues, including inadequate infrastructure, gentrification, decreased physical activity, air pollution, and a rising number of slum dwellers—all contributing to health disparities and compromised wellbeing. Additionally, urban areas are at the forefront of the climate change crisis, necessitating focused mitigation and adaptation strategies tailored to these environments. This course lays the groundwork for understanding these challenges while promoting sustainable solutions. ### Course Syllabus Highlights 1. **How Urbanisation, Health and Urban Planning Relate** - This module dives into the intricate relationship between urbanization and health, presenting an overview of key determinants of urban health. Learners will explore European urbanization history, assessing how historical health concerns have shaped city designs globally. Furthermore, the module tackles critical health hazards such as air pollution and noise, inviting students to analyze their urban settings through these lenses. 2. **Ageing and Gentrification** - As urban populations age, this module highlights the implications of an aging demographic on urban health, especially concerning the design of urban environments. It also addresses gentrification and its differential impacts on various segments of the population, supported by cases and databases from different cities. 3. **Nature-based Solutions** - This module emphasizes the integration of nature into urban design as a mechanism to enhance health and combat climate change. By exploring blue and green planning, learners will understand the benefits of urban green spaces and small-scale urban farming, as well as innovative public space designs that encourage physical activity and community engagement. 4. **Innovative Solutions** - Here, principles of urban planning are aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This module focuses on tackling obesity and health-related issues linked to transport systems through innovative strategies and stakeholder engagement. Students will gain hands-on tools and frameworks for addressing urban health challenges. 5. **Innovation and Communication** - This final module encourages participants to develop their innovative ideas for sustainable urban solutions. By solidifying their understanding of determinants affecting urban health and learning about effective communication strategies, students will be equipped to share their ideas compellingly, utilizing various tools and design guides to visualize their data and arguments. ### Recommendations I highly recommend “Urbanisation and Health - Promoting Sustainable Solutions” for anyone interested in public health, urban planning, or environmental science. The interdisciplinary nature of the course appeals to a wide range of professionals, from city planners to public health advocates. It offers a unique blend of theoretical foundations and practical applications that can empower individuals to create impactful solutions within their communities. Additionally, the course's emphasis on innovative thinking and stakeholder collaboration prepares learners to tackle real-world challenges, making it particularly relevant for those aiming to contribute positively to urban development. ### Conclusion In a world increasingly dominated by urban lifestyles, understanding the implications of urbanization on health and wellbeing is imperative. This Coursera course provides an invaluable resource for those looking to explore the nuances of urban health challenges and engage in meaningful conversations about sustainable solutions. By fostering knowledge and skills in this area, participants will be well-prepared to influence the design and infrastructure of healthier, more sustainable urban environments.

Syllabus

How Urbanisation, Health and Urban Planning Relate

This module will provide you with an overview of the key determinants of urban health. We will take you on a journey mainly through the European history of urbanisation and urban planning to reflect on the way health concerns and wellbeing have been considered and how general trends here have influenced the design of cities all across the world. Finally, we will dive into the causes and effects of air pollution and noise, two of the major health hazards in today’s urban settings. We hope the readings and resources will inspire you to begin exploring your own urban setting in terms of e.g. density and different kinds of pollution.

The world population is undergoing major changes. The share of urban population is increasing, as does that of people aged 65 or over. In this module we will focus on the concept of ageing across the lifecycle, and on how different features of urban environment influence health and the ageing process. Furthermore, we will explore the phenomenon of gentrification and its impact on health in different segments of our populations. In the reading and resources section you will find shortcuts to databases and cases from different cities.

On many different levels evidence confirm how crucial the integration of elements of nature in the urban design is to sustain physical as well as mental health. In this module you will be introduced to blue and green planning as an instrument to promote health and mitigate and adapt to climate changes. We will look at the benefits of green space and small-scale urban farming from a community and health perspective. You will also meet examples of how new ways of designing public space motivates citizens to lead a daily physically active and healthy life. In the readings and resource section you will find more in depth material on nature based solutions and effects on climate change.

How can we align urban planning with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals? In an urban context, how can we bend the curve of obesity? How can we reduce mortality and disease associated with the layout of the urban space and namely the way we design our transport systems? In this module you will meet stakeholders who are globally engaged in the development and implementation of sustainable approaches to resolve some of the major health related challenges that cities are facing globally. Further, you will get access to tools and frameworks for your own use

Maybe you are already involved in activities that support a healthy and sustainable development in your own neighborhood or city, or even across cities. Or maybe you would like to get started or take action in a new way. Now is your chance to mature and consider how you can best convince others to engage in your idea! In the previous modules we have identified the key determinants to urban health and provided examples of prevailing methods to come up with sustainable solutions. We now add to the palette some overall principles and frameworks commonly used for innovation to improve health. You will also be introduced to some tools to effectively communicate your specific idea, including ways to visualize the data you build your arguments around. In the resource section you will find a variety of toolkits and design guides and we invite you to study each of them and consider which parts could be helpful to identify and come up with a suggestion for a sustainable solution to a specific problem you are engaged in.