Decarbonising infrastructure: Why we should prioritise health in urban and transport planning

Transport decarbonisation is becoming a greater priority. There are currently more than 320 operational low emission zones (LEZ)s across the UK and Europe to restrict the use of the most polluting ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles. While the reduction of ICE vehicles and the switch to electric vehicles is typically associated first with climate change efforts, the impact of these policies on health can be significant.

Promoting the switch to electric vehicles and the consequent decrease in harmful exhaust fumes in urban and residential areas brings benefits for air quality and therefore, respiratory and cardiovascular health. Independent research conducted by Imperial College London indicated a decline in heart and circulatory issues present in 5 out of 8 LEZ studies. This involved a drop in blood pressure issues, fewer patients dying from heart attacks and a general reduction in hospital admissions in low emission zones.

Beyond the direct air quality impact, a shift away from ICE vehicles in infrastructure planning creates the opportunity to prioritise and promote low-carbon and active forms of transportation such as walking and cycling, which in turn can reduce the health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. A five-year study of 260,000 working UK citizens indicated that those who chose to cycle to work were healthier and living longer compared to those who commuted by car.

As infrastructure planning undergoes a shift to comply with changing environmental standards and expectations, it creates the opportunity for health to become a central consideration in decision-making.

Dr Haneen Khreis from the University of Cambridge and a co-author of a review into the topic of urban and transport planning and its impact on respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses said, “There is a large and preventable burden of respiratory health due to the current urban and transport planning. Our health and wellbeing should be at the core of planning and policymaking.”

Investing in public transport and cycle lanes while providing communities with the EV charging facilities needed to promote a shift away from ICE vehicles can all contribute to improvements in air quality, and in health.