Introduction
Greener city design is not just an aesthetic choice—it’s essential for health, wellbeing, and sustainability. As urban populations grow, how cities are built—from parks and public spaces to transport systems—has real, measurable impacts on physical health, air quality, and mental wellbeing. Recent WHO and UN-Habitat reports show that thoughtful urban planning can reduce disease, encourage activity, and buffer communities against environmental risks.
What evidence shows the impact of parks and clean transport on people’s lives? And how can cities transform to become healthier spaces for all?
Health Benefits of Green Public Spaces
UN-Habitat’s Healthier Cities and Communities Through Public Spaces highlights that green and open spaces are more than leisure. They are engines of public health. Parks encourage physical activity, reducing obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes. They also improve mental health by reducing stress and loneliness, fostering community connection, and providing safe places for children to play [1].
WHO’s Urban Green Spaces and Health review reinforces this evidence: communities with nearby, high-quality parks show lower cardiovascular mortality, better pregnancy outcomes, and reduced depression and anxiety [2]. Green space is not just a luxury; it is health infrastructure.
Real-world examples prove this. In Copenhagen, more than 90% of residents live within 15 minutes of a park or green space. the city consistently ranks among the healthiest in Europe. In Medellín, Colombia, the creation of “green corridors” lowered local surface temperatures by up to 2°C, while also providing shaded pedestrian routes and reducing traffic-related air pollution.
Clean Transport: Pathways to Healthier Cities
Clean, active, and sustainable transport is the second pillar of greener city design. WHO/Europe emphasizes walking and cycling as essential for public health, noting that cities with strong cycling and pedestrian networks show reduced pollution and increased daily activity [3]. Public transit powered by clean energy also cuts air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
For children, older adults, and those with asthma or heart conditions, reduced roadside emissions can mean fewer emergency visits and better quality of life. Designing streets for walking, cycling, and clean public transit is therefore both a health and climate strategy.
Singapore offers a compelling case, For example, its investment in mass transit and walkable city planning has reduced car dependency. As a result, the city enjoys cleaner air. Similarly, Amsterdam’s extensive cycling infrastructure makes biking the primary form of daily transport, cutting emissions and boosting physical activity rates.
Integrating Equity Into Greener City Design
The WHO and UN-Habitat frameworks emphasize that access to green spaces and clean transport must be equitable. In many cities, wealthier neighborhoods have leafy parks and shaded sidewalks, while poorer areas face concrete, traffic, and pollution. Designing healthier cities means ensuring that public parks are distributed fairly, safe to access, and inclusive for all ages and abilities.
For example, in some U.S. cities, studies show that low-income neighborhoods often have 40% less tree cover than wealthier areas, leaving residents more exposed to heat islands. In Europe, migrants and low-income groups are more likely to live near busy roads with high air pollution, yet have less access to clean transport [1][2].
A One Health Perspective on Greener City Design
A One Health perspective reveals that greener cities improve not just human wellbeing but also environmental and ecosystem health. Parks and green corridors regulate temperature, support biodiversity, reduce flood risk, and improve water quality. Trees along roads absorb pollutants while offering shade, creating safer, cooler, and healthier microclimates.
Clean transport reduces emissions, benefiting both climate stability and public health. Fewer cars mean cleaner air for people. In addition, they lead to lower carbon emissions for the planet, and less harm to wildlife in urban ecosystems. By designing greener cities, we create urban environments that are resilient, sustainable, and supportive of both human and natural systems [2][3].
Conclusion
Designing greener cities—with accessible parks, inclusive public spaces, and sustainable transport—goes far beyond beautification. It reduces disease, strengthens mental health, lowers pollution, and builds resilience against climate change.
WHO and UN-Habitat research is clear: when city leaders commit to greener city design, they improve equity, protect vulnerable populations, and create healthier futures for millions. Cleaner air, cooler streets, and thriving public spaces are within reach—if cities prioritize people, health, and the environment in every design choice.
References
- UN-Habitat (2025). Healthier Cities and Communities Through Public Spaces. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/healthier-cities-and-communities-through-public-spaces
- World Health Organization (WHO Europe) (2023). Urban Green Spaces and Health: A Review of Evidence. Available at: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2023-7508-47275-69347
- WHO/Europe (2024). WHO promotes active mobility for healthier, greener European cities. Available at: https://urban-mobility-observatory.transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/who-promotes-active-mobility-healthier-greener-european-cities-2024-11-11_en
