COP26 Side Event "How we can make cities both healthier and carbon-neutral: Urban and transport planning pathways to carbon-neutral, liveable and healthy cities"

Cities are complex systems that face social, political and environmental challenges that require evidence-based and systemic, participatory
solutions to the current climate crisis. They are society’s predominant engine of innovation and wealth creation, yet they are also hotspots of
motorized traffic, pollution, CO2 emissions and disease. Suboptimal urban and transport planning practices have led to increased exposure to air
pollution, noise, urban heat islands, high CO2 emissions, a lack of green space and low physical activity levels, and a related high burden of
disease and premature mortality. However, cities are also well placed to contribute to the solutions. This session will address the current
problems and discuss solutions and demonstrates how climate action, urban and transport planning and health go hand in hand to create carbon
neutral, healthy and liveable cities.

Panelists:
Dr. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Research Professor, Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative, and Director of the Air pollution and Urban Environment Programme at ISGlobal.
Dr. Christian Brand, Senior Research Fellow and Associate Professor at the Environmental Change Institute and Transport Studies Unit in the Oxford University.
Dr. Gara Villalba, Professor at the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Dr. Audrey de Nazelle, Senior Lecturer and Co-Deputy Director of the Centre of Environmental Policy at the Imperial College London.
Dr. María José Rojo, Project Manager and Coordinator of Active Travel and Health at POLIS Network.
Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission´s
Mobility and Transport Directorate-General (DG MOVE).