Planetary health approaches for dry cities: water quality and heat mitigation

Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity: the Hamburg Declaration

“…Studies have been demonstrating that population health is influenced by the environment in the broadest sense,37 38 54 including economic factors,55 access to green spaces, water and air quality,54 56 employment, access to medical care,57 the availability of safe non-motorised transportation (eg, walking, cycling) systems,30 54 58 as well as education 35 55 59. In this framework, individual behaviour reflects individuals’ personal responsibility through health-promoting behaviours and choices - of which PA is one of the most important 13 21 59 60.…”

“…Policies should create an ecosystem that promotes healthy lifestyles, reduces sedentary behaviour and integrates PA and exercise as medicine in the daily care of patients 37 55 68 69. For example, the WHO has produced a series of guides and toolkits to help implement best practices for integrating PA into the daily lives of the general population and into patient care and rehabilitation 56–58. Collaboration among organisations led to an effort by scientists from all fields to work on this common cause, as reflected in a large number of multidisciplinary publications.…”

“…Active societies can achieve more than the simple provision of health benefits. For example, an active society conserves health system resources, cleans the air and ensures less congestion and safer streets 38 56. In addition, opening schoolyard PA facilities during public holidays is an effective way to promote PA among children in a neighbourhood.…”

“…The ‘global active and smart sports city’ concept, conceived in Hamburg in April 2021, builds on the global active city idea, and this new concept is now being developed for major cities part of the GA, including Olympic cities that will address preventive measures by community interaction 60 73. The concept aims to integrate PA into everyday urban life and to create the conditions to enable citizens to live active lives through interaction with smart technology and urban planning to improve visual attractiveness, create a more sustainable transportation system and promote active commuting (eg, walkability and bicycle friendliness) 56 58 60 68…”

“…60 73 The concept aims to integrate PA into everyday urban life and to create the conditions to enable citizens to live active lives through interaction with smart technology and urban planning to improve visual attractiveness, create a more sustainable transportation system and promote active commuting (eg, walkability and bicycle friendliness). 56 58 60 68 Active hospitals achieve sustainable health goals for their patients Healthcare should be more sustainable, and so-called 'active hospitals' that incorporate PA into patients' treatment plans could be a model of the future. The goal is to systematically integrate PA and exercise interventions into patient care.…”