The Environment

The Healthier Futures Environment theme examines the multifaceted impact of environmental conditions on human health through a dual lens: planetary health and the built environment. We look at how natural and constructed settings contribute to health outcomes, addressing both their potential to improve health and wellbeing and their role in perpetuating health inequalities.

We all depend on a healthy planet to live a healthy life, as we rely on the environment for clean air, safe water, and food. However, communities around the world are being impacted by a myriad of environmental issues, from pollution and deforestation to climate change and habitat loss. Not everyone is impacted equally, with many of the poorest people living in the countries most impacted by pollution and climate change.

The built environment plays a dual role in influencing both physical and mental health outcomes: it can mitigate environmental hazards and adversities, foster wellbeing and good health, and address existing disparities stemming from unequal access to resources and opportunities; on the other hand, it can also exacerbate environmental challenges and introduce or intensify inequalities.

Our approach is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on expertise from environmental science, urban planning, public health, and social sciences to build a comprehensive understanding of how environments shape health outcomes. This cross-disciplinary integration is vital in designing interventions that are both innovative and effective in translating research findings into policy and practical solutions.

Priorities for the theme and key areas of focus include:

  • How does the quality and design of housing influence physical and mental health outcomes across different populations? What housing policies effectively address health inequalities, and what are the implications for housing affordability and quality in promoting health equity?
  • In what ways do transportation systems and urban mobility solutions impact public health, particularly in under-served communities? How can urban planning promote equitable access to mobility?
  • What are the short-term and long-term health effects of exposure to varying levels of air pollution? How can policy interventions more effectively reduce exposure in high-risk areas?
  • How does the design of public spaces contribute to the mental and physical health of a community? What elements of placemaking are most effective in fostering community resilience and wellbeing?
  • What are the measurable health benefits of increased access to natural environments? How does ecosystem restoration impact health outcomes at a community level?

The Environment theme leads:

Dr Caglar KoksalLecturer in Urban Planning

Dr Tom Bannan, Lecturer in Atmospheric Sciences

Case studies

Institutes