Urban Health for Urban Sustainability and Resilience

Abstract: This paper examines urban health as a strategic enabler of urban sustainability and resilience, focusing on the interconnections between public health, environmental quality, urban functionality, and social well-being. The scope of the study is to explore how health considerations can be systematically integrated into spatial planning, governance structures, and urban strategies in order to enhance cities’ adaptivity and capacity building in the face of complex and interrelated challenges. Methodologically, the paper adopts a multidimensional approach. It first clarifies key concepts related to urban health, sustainability, and resilience, and then reviews international, European, and national policy frameworks that incorporate health into urban development agendas. This policy analysis is complemented by selected European case studies and a local case from the Greek city of Chalkida, which illustrate practical pathways for embedding health into urban planning and resilience strategies. Through a comparative and synthetic analysis, the study identifies emerging good practices, persistent implementation gaps, and critical needs, focused on cross-sectoral urban health indicators. The paper concludes by outlining policy directions for health-sensitive, evidence-based, and equitable urban planning.