Theme 1: Health-promoting urban planning

Axe 1 : Urbanisme favorable à la santé et justice environnementale

Our work therefore aims to generate knowledge and develop tools and methodologies based on a systemic approach to support the integration of health into policies (urban planning and development operations) and thus help promote living environments that are conducive to health, the environment, and the climate.

By addressing the complexity of a living environment (including built and natural environments) through its various components and activities, our overall objectives are (1) to understand how they interact and influence the health of populations, the environment, and the climate, and (2) to identify levers for action to minimize the exposure of populations, particularly vulnerable groups, to risk factors (pollution and nuisances, urban heat islands, social isolation, etc.) and promote their exposure to protective factors (physical activity, access to healthcare, access to green and blue spaces, etc.) and (3) to promote exchanges at the science-policy-society interface (boundary spanning) to support evidence-based decision-making.

Figure: A conceptual model to grasp the complexity of the relations between the various components of an urban setting, cumulative exposure to different health determinants and health according to a system thinking approach (Adapted from Roué Le Gall et al., 2022).

Three key principles underpin our approach and research work

  • Adopting a comprehensive, dynamic, and positive approach to health, based on an analysis of the determinants (individual, environmental, and socioeconomic) of population health and well-being, and considering both risk factors and protective factors.
  • Promoting an integrated approach to public health, environmental, and climate issues, identifying co-benefits to encourage a cross-cutting approach to public policy.
  • Considering living environments as complex, dynamic systems, taking into account the diversity of contexts (political, socioeconomic, health, and environmental), actors, and the specific characteristics of population groups.

Members of the axis

Anne Roué Le Gall Anne Roué-Le-Gall EHESP research professor Show email address
Ianis Delpla Ianis Delpla EHESP research professor Show email address
Marie-Florence Thomas Marie-Florence Thomas EHESP research professor Show email address
Pauline Rousseau-Gueutin EHESP research professor Water resources, contaminants, hydrogeology, extreme water events Show email address
Quentin Montiege Quentin Montiege Geographer, Research Engineer Urban planning and development, Health and environment, Climate change, One Health, Systemic approaches Show email address
Virginie Migeot Virginie Migeot University Professor, Hospital Practitioner Show email address