More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, while only 5% did so in the 18th century. The rapid urbanisation has resulted in, for example, inadequate infrastructure, physical inactivity, gentrification, air pollution, and growing numbers of slum dwellers. All factors challenging the health and wellbeing of the people living in the cities. In addition, when addressing climate change, it has become of paramount importance to look at mitigation and adaptation investments tailored to the urban context.

As stated in the Sustainable Development Goal 11 adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, societies need to be at the forefront in the continuous management and design of urban spaces to secure that cities and human settlements are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. In this course, you will learn about the key determinants of urban health, including demography, climate change, air pollution, noise, transport systems, public and blue and green spaces, and policies and investments affecting the sense of community and public safety. You will get a historical overview of the major trends in urban planning and meet a range of stakeholders in urban planning who will provide examples of innovative methods and people-centered approaches to create sustainable solutions. Finally, you will be provided with a series of resources to inspire you to help create awareness and action around an idea or sustainable solution in the field of urbanisation and health. The course has been developed (with support from EIT Health) in a partnership between the University of Copenhagen, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and the University of Coimbra. Researchers and stakeholders in urban planning will introduce you to cases from cities in Denmark, Spain, Portugal, and many other urban settings across the world. The aim of the course is to further interdisciplinary knowledge on urbanisation and health. We plan for the courses to reach citizens and activists as well planners, practitioners, and decision-makers with a professional interest in sustainable urban planning from countries around the world.