Health impact assessment of urban and transport developments in Barcelona: a case study

BACKGROUND AND AIM Urban areas are drivers of climate vulnerability and a key public health concern due to their increasing population. However, they can also provide the adequate setting for adaptation and mitigation strategies for tackling these challenges. Barcelona already started rethinking urban spaces, such as superblocks, an urban development which have proven health benefits. The aim of this study is to explore urban and transport developments in Barcelona and estimate the health impacts of their related exposures. METHODS On our first phase, we reviewed secondary data such as policy documents (urban and mobility plans), publicly available health and population data on Barcelona Metropolitan Area. We approached stakeholders involved in the development of these activities for environmental data review. The second stage of this study would be to implement a health impact assessment focused on the health impacts of the air pollution, greenspace, and physical activity that these scenarios bring. RESULTS As preliminary findings there are short and mid-term planning scenarios. On the urban transport scenario, we found the combined effect on air pollution as NOx of three different interventions: the low emission zone area, tactical urban planning (reducing car traffic lanes), and eight superblocks. The three interventions combined have an estimated 25% private car use reduction and a NOx emission reduction of 30%. The reduction in private car use also implies a change in mode of transport of: increases of 15.7% for public transport, 7.5% for walking and 129.4% for cycling. Another scenario is the implementation of new green infrastructures on peri-urban areas of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and their effect on air pollution as NOx and PM2.5. CONCLUSION Barcelona is focusing different transport activities that reduce private car use, promote change in mode of transport and increase green areas. KEYWORDS health impact assessment, urban planning, transport, mobility