Environment

2nd June 2020 / Issue 543

Subscribe to free bi-weekly News Alert.

Source:Mueller, N., Rojas-Rueda, D., Khreis, H., Cirach, M., Andrés, D., Ballester, J., Bartoll, X., Daher, C., Deluca, A., Echave, C., Milà, C., Márquez, S., Palou, J., Pérez, K., Tonne, C., Stevenson, M., Rueda, S. and Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2020). Changing the urban design of cities for health: The Superblock model. Environment International, 134, p.105132.

Contact:mark.nieuwenhuijsen@isglobal.org

Promoting health with people-centred city design: the ‘Barcelona Superblock’ model

Car-centred urban planning has resulted in high levels of pollution, sedentary lifestyles and increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change. The superblock model is an urban and transport planning strategy that reclaims public space for people, reduces motorised transport, promotes active lifestyles, provides urban greening and mitigates the effects of climate change. A study now estimates the health impacts of applying this model across Barcelona.

SCIENCE FOR ENVIRONMENT POLICY

The effects of climate change are of global concern, with urban centres prone to the effects of urban heating. Such effects can be mitigated by improving city environments — by promoting active mobility to lower greenhouse gas emissions, for instance, and creating opportunities for greening and cooling.

The EU actively seeks to develop cities with sectoral policies on water, waste, noise and air, and promotes integrated urban policy via the 7th Environment Action Programme1. The Commission also promotes sustainable urban mobility planning as the key mechanism to render local transport greener and more efficient while increasing quality of life for all citizens2.

The EU’s Horizon 2020 programme has provided financial and intellectual support to help cities grow sustainably through initiatives, such as the Smart, green and integrated transport work programme3 , which aimed to achieve a resilient, resource-efficient and climate-friendly European transport system for citizens and society. In 2019, the EU outlined the European Green Deal, with an overall goal of climate neutrality in Europe by 2050, including a 90% reduction in emissions from transport4.

This study explores the potential of the Barcelona superblock model, an urban and transport planning strategy that shifts from car-centric to people-centric city design5.The researchers

Environment

Promoting health with people-centred city design: the ‘Barcelona Superblock’ model (continued)

SCIENCE FOR ENVIRONMENT POLICY

Read more about: Air pollution, Climate change, Environment and health, Green infrastructureNoise, Sustainable development and policy assessment, Urban environment

The contents and views included in Science for Environment Policy are based on independent, peer-reviewed research and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission. Please note that this article is a summary of only one study. Other studies may come to other conclusions.

To cite this article/service:“Science for Environment Policy”:European Commission DGEnvironment News AlertService, edited bySCU, The University of theWest of England, Bristol..

Subscribe to free bi-weekly News Alert.

define superblocks as constructed cells that transform the city into sustainable, healthy, compact and connected neighbourhoods, with mixed land use and high potential for social capital.

Within the superblocks is a slowed local road network that is accessible foremost to pedestrians and cyclists, and secondly to residential traffic moving at a maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour (km/hr). A road network connecting traffic at higher speeds than 20 km/hr frames the superblocks, carrying cars, motorbikes and separate cyclist and pedestrian infrastructures, as well as separate bus infrastructure for rapid transit. Bus stops are placed every 400 metres in gridded neighbourhoods and buses circulate at a higher frequency, making public transport an attractive alternative to cars.

The researchers applied a comparative risk assessment framework followed by a standard health impact assessment (HIA), comparing the baseline data for Barcelona with that for the superblock scenario. The HIA was used for Barcelona residents aged 20 years or above, living in the 503 projected superblock areas. The statistical analysis covered a range of estimated endpoints (preventable premature mortality, changes in life expectancy, economic impact), changes (in transport-related physical activity (PA), air pollution, road traffic noise, green space, the urban heat island effect), and health pathways (air pollution, noise, heat reduction, increase in green space, transport-related PA).

The results showed that 667 premature deaths a year could be prevented by implementing the superblock model in Barcelona. Most of this reduction (293, 44%) was due to decreases in nitrogen dioxide air pollution; noise reduction could prevent 163 deaths, heat reduction 117 deaths and green space development 70 deaths. An estimated 65 000 Barcelona residents in the superblock area transferred from cars and motorcycles to public and active transport, preventing an estimated 36 deaths. Adults living in Barcelona saw an average increase in life expectancy of almost 200 days, resulting in a yearly economic impact of €1.7 billion.

The Barcelona superblock model reduced harmful environmental exposures (i.e. air pollution, noise and heat) while simultaneously increasing PA levels and access to green space, providing substantial health benefits. To maximise health benefits equally for all, the researchers suggest implementing the superblock model across the entire city. Under the model, similar health benefits can be expected for other cities facing similar challenges of environmental pollution, climate change vulnerability and low PA levels.

1. General EU Environment Action Programme to 2020: ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’.

2. https://www.eltis.org/mobility-plans/sump-concept

3. Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-20: Smart, green and integrated transport

4. A European Green Deal: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

5. This paper offers a ‘modelling’ approach to one sustainable urban transport strategy (the superblock model); however, other strategies exist. The results compare the impact of this urban planning change to a continuation of the current situation.