Abstract
Non-communicable diseases are rising globally and require holistic responses to address the social and environmental determinants that shape health outcomes. Transport is one such determinant of health, and active transport (walking and cycling) has been correlated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. However, rising urban temperatures pose barriers to active transport goals, by discouraging outdoor physical activity and increasing exposure to heat-related illness. Urban planning has the potential to tackle emerging public health threats through interventions in the built environment that increase physical activity, improve air quality and reduce urban heat. For example, many cities are implementing urban forest strategies and street tree planting. This study triangulates policy and spatial analysis to investigate how the City of Melbourne’s transport and urban forestry strategies are aligned to achieve public health goals. This study finds that while the City of Melbourne embeds the social determinants of health framework into its policies, it can do more to strengthen linkages between policies to achieve public health goals. Additionally, cycling infrastructure and tree canopy can be better aligned to respond to interconnected health and climate challenges. These complex and interconnected challenges require integrated solutions, yet disciplinary silos limit policy and infrastructure alignment.
Policy relevance
City planners are increasingly facing intersecting complex challenges that span multiple policy domains, such as the rise of non-communicable diseases, and resulting public health implications at the same time as climate change impacts, such as urban heatwaves, increase in frequency and severity. These urban challenges require coordinated interdisciplinary solutions. Active transport and urban forestry are built-form interventions that cities may adopt to increase physical activity and facilitate urban cooling. Greater policy and infrastructure alignment will drive more integrated solutions to tackle common public health goals. This study applies a combination of policy and spatial analysis to generate insights into the alignment of active transport, urban forestry and public health and wellbeing policies and goals in the City of Melbourne, with insights applicable to cities around the world. It highlights the benefits that can flow from bringing together policy development across these domains to foster multifunctional outcomes. In particular, aligning the active transport network with existing urban forest canopy may support uptake in the short term, while planning for tree planting locations that create a shaded active transport network may also support the future resilient and healthy city.