Health and environment linkages in the urban environment

By promoting a shift from private to public transport and seeking to reduce congestion, urban transport projects not only aim to improve air quality and decrease noise nuisance, but also help to tackle climate change by enhancing energy efficiency and limiting CO2 emissions. EIB financing for sustainable urban transport is in line with the EU’s transport, environmental and energy policies and includes:

• construction, extension or rehabilitation of public transport infrastructures (metro, light rail or tramway systems)
• acquisition of rolling stock in major and medium-sized cities

To achieve a balance between the growing demand for mobility and the quality of the urban environment, limits are set on levels of new infrastructure built and long-term urban planning processes are implemented.

Rapid, unplanned and unsustainable patterns of urban development are making developing cities focal points for many emerging environment and health hazards. As urban populations grow, the quality of the urban environment, will play an increasingly important role in public health with respect to issues ranging from solid waste disposal, provision of safe water and sanitation, and injury prevention, to the interface between urban poverty, environment and health.