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Ortiz-Moya F, Reggiani M. Contributions of the voluntary local review process to policy integration: evidence from frontrunner cities. NPJ Urban Sustain 2023; 3:22. [PMID: 37041991 PMCID: PMC10078030 DOI: 10.1038/s42949-023-00101-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relies on effective policy integration at all levels of government. However, integration across policy domains remains challenging for local authorities, particularly when it comes to articulating policies that recognise trade-offs and interactions between different SDGs. This study explores how the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) process-a tool to localise the 2030 Agenda-contributes to policy integration by thematically analysing interviews with city officials in 12 frontrunner cities that conducted a VLR between 2019 and 2020. Our results suggest three main ways in which the VLR process affects policy integration: (1) by facilitating cooperation and interdependencies between different policy sectors; (2) by creating new instruments to mainstream SDGs; and (3) by enhancing sustainability competencies. Hence, our study suggests that conducting a VLR has the transformative potential to achieve greater policy integration and further the 2030 Agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Ortiz-Moya
- City Taskforce, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. 2108-11, Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama Kanagawa, 240-0115 Japan
| | - Marco Reggiani
- University of Strathclyde, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, James Weir Building, Level 5, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow, G1 1XJ Scotland UK
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Astbury CC, Lee KM, McGill E, Clarke J, Egan M, Halloran A, Malykh R, Rippin H, Wickramasinghe K, Penney TL. Systems Thinking and Complexity Science Methods and the Policy Process in Non-communicable Disease Prevention: A Systematic Scoping Review. Int J Health Policy Manag 2023; 12:6772. [PMID: 37579437 PMCID: PMC10125079 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.6772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the complex determinants of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and the dynamic policy landscape, researchers and policymakers are exploring the use of systems thinking and complexity science (STCS) in developing effective policies. The aim of this review is to systematically identify and analyse existing applications of STCS-informed methods in NCD prevention policy. METHODS Systematic scoping review: We searched academic databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE) for all publications indexed by 13 October 2020, screening titles, abstracts and full texts and extracting data according to published guidelines. We summarised key data from each study, mapping applications of methods informed by STCS to policy process domains. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify advantages, limitations, barriers and facilitators to using STCS. RESULTS 4681 papers were screened and 112 papers were included in this review. The most common policy areas were tobacco control, obesity prevention and physical activity promotion. Methods applied included system dynamics modelling, agent-based modelling and concept mapping. Advantages included supporting evidence-informed decision-making; modelling complex systems and addressing multi-sectoral problems. Limitations included the abstraction of reality by STCS methods, despite aims of encompassing greater complexity. Challenges included resource-intensiveness; lack of stakeholder trust in models; and results that were too complex to be comprehensible to stakeholders. Ensuring stakeholder ownership and presenting findings in a user-friendly way facilitated STCS use. CONCLUSION This review maps the proliferating applications of STCS methods in NCD prevention policy. STCS methods have the potential to generate tailored and dynamic evidence, adding robustness to evidence-informed policymaking, but must be accessible to policy stakeholders and have strong stakeholder ownership to build consensus and change stakeholder perspectives. Evaluations of whether, and under what circumstances, STCS methods lead to more effective policies compared to conventional methods are lacking, and would enable more targeted and constructive use of these methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Clifford Astbury
- Global Food System & Policy Research, School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kirsten M. Lee
- Global Food System & Policy Research, School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth McGill
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Janielle Clarke
- Global Food System & Policy Research, School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matt Egan
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Afton Halloran
- World Health Organization European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Department of Nutrition, ExercDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Regina Malykh
- World Health Organization European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Holly Rippin
- World Health Organization European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Kremlin Wickramasinghe
- World Health Organization European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Tarra L. Penney
- Global Food System & Policy Research, School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Luwe K, Sindall RC, Garcia-Becerra FY, Chinyama A, Lohiya H, Hope C, Paczkowski F, Komakech HC, Morse T. Perceptions of Inclusivity and Sustainability in Urban Sanitation in Global South Cities. Environ Health Insights 2022; 16:11786302221139964. [PMID: 36466037 PMCID: PMC9716583 DOI: 10.1177/11786302221139964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) calls for sustainable urban sanitation services for all, but the definitions of "inclusion" and "sustainability" within the framework leave room for interpretation. This study aims to provide an initial understanding of how these terms are currently interpreted by a range of sanitation actors in six cities of the Global South. Urban sanitation professionals from private (n = 16), public (n = 28), non-governmental (n = 43), and academic (n = 10) institutions were interviewed using a standardized tool, and data was analyzed to identify themes and trends. Terms such as "everyone" or "for all" shed little light on how to ensure inclusion, though disabled people, women, children, and the poor were all highlighted when probed. Greater specificity of beneficiary groups in policy is likely to enhance their visibility within sanitation service provision. All three pillars of sustainability identified within CWIS were referenced, with different stakeholders focusing more closely on environmental, social, or economic sustainability, based on their organizational goals and interests. Greater collaboration may foster a balanced view across the pillars, with different organizations acting as champions for each one. The findings can facilitate discussions on a shared understanding of multi-stakeholder engagement in achieving inclusive and sustainable sanitation service provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kondwani Luwe
- Centre for Water, Sanitation, Health, and Appropriate Technology Development, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Rebecca C Sindall
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Research & Development Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | | | - Huda Lohiya
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Research & Development Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Utrecht University, Netherlands
| | - Caitlin Hope
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Hans C. Komakech
- WISE- Futures Centre, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania
| | - Tracy Morse
- Centre for Water, Sanitation, Health, and Appropriate Technology Development, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
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Davies M, Belesova K, Crane M, Hale J, Haines A, Hutchinson E, Kiesewetter G, Mberu B, Mohajeri N, Michie S, Milner J, Moore G, Osrin D, Pineo H, Pluchinotta I, Prasad A, Salvia G, Symonds P, Taylor J, Turcu C, Tsoulou I, Zimmermann N, Wilkinson P. The CUSSH programme: supporting cities' transformational change towards health and sustainability. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:100. [PMID: 35028422 PMCID: PMC8686329 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16678.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes a global research programme on the complex systemic connections between urban development and health. Through transdisciplinary methods the
Complex Urban Systems for Sustainability and Health (CUSSH) project will develop critical evidence on how to achieve the far-reaching transformation of cities needed to address vital environmental imperatives for planetary health in the 21st Century. CUSSH’s core components include: (i) a review of evidence on the effects of climate actions (both mitigation and adaptation) and factors influencing their implementation in urban settings; (ii) the development and application of methods for tracking the progress of cities towards sustainability and health goals; (iii) the development and application of models to assess the impact on population health, health inequalities, socio-economic development and environmental parameters of urban development strategies, in order to support policy decisions; (iv) iterative in-depth engagements with stakeholders in partner cities in low-, middle- and high-income settings, using systems-based participatory methods, to test and support the implementation of the transformative changes needed to meet local and global health and sustainability objectives; (v) a programme of public engagement and capacity building. Through these steps, the programme will provide transferable evidence on how to accelerate actions essential to achieving population-level health and global climate goals through, amongst others, changing cities’ energy provision, transport infrastructure, green infrastructure, air quality, waste management and housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Davies
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | | | - Melanie Crane
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Joanna Hale
- Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andy Haines
- Dept of Public Health, Environments and Society, Dept of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Emma Hutchinson
- Dept of Public Health, Environments and Society, Dept of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Gregor Kiesewetter
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Air Quality & Greenhouse Gases (AIR), Luxemburg, Austria
| | - Blessing Mberu
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nahid Mohajeri
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | - Susan Michie
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - James Milner
- Dept of Public Health, Environments and Society, Dept of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Gemma Moore
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Helen Pineo
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | - Irene Pluchinotta
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | - Aarathi Prasad
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giuseppe Salvia
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | - Phil Symonds
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | | | - Catalina Turcu
- Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ioanna Tsoulou
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | - Nici Zimmermann
- Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London, UK
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- Dept of Public Health, Environments and Society, Dept of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Cristiano S, Zilio S. Whose Health in Whose City? A Systems Thinking Approach to Support and Evaluate Plans, Policies, and Strategies for Lasting Urban Health. Sustainability 2021; 13:12225. [DOI: 10.3390/su132112225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
An increasing interest has been present in scientific literature and policy making for the links between urban environments and health, as also learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaboration between urban planning and public health is therefore critical for enhancing the capabilities of a city to promote the well-being of its people. However, what leverage potential for urban health can be found in existing plans, policies, and strategies that address urban health? Starting from the relationship between urban systems and health issues, the purpose of this contribution is to broaden the systemic knowledge of urban systems and health so as to try to figure out the impact potential of local urban governance on public health. Considering the systemic nature of health issues, as defined by the World Health Organisation, this is done through a systems thinking epistemological approach. Urban health proposals are studied and assessed in four European cities (Copenhagen, London, Berlin, and Vienna). Current criticalities are found, starting from the guiding goal of such proposals, yet a systemic approach is suggested aimed at supporting and evaluating lasting and healthy urban planning and management strategies.
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Pineo H, Audia C, Black D, French M, Gemmell E, Lovasi GS, Milner J, Montes F, Niu Y, Pérez-Ferrer C, Siri J, Taruc RR. Building a Methodological Foundation for Impactful Urban Planetary Health Science. J Urban Health 2021; 98:442-452. [PMID: 32572677 PMCID: PMC8190224 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-020-00463-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic environmental change will heavily impact cities, yet associated health risks will depend significantly on decisions made by urban leaders across a wide range of non-health sectors, including transport, energy, housing, basic urban services, and others. A subset of planetary health researchers focus on understanding the urban health impacts of global environmental change, and how these vary globally and within cities. Such researchers increasingly adopt collaborative transdisciplinary approaches to engage policy-makers, private citizens, and other actors in identifying and evaluating potential policy solutions that will reduce environmental impacts in ways that simultaneously promote health, equity, and/or local economies-in other words, maximising 'co-benefits'. This report presents observations from a participatory workshop focused on challenges and opportunities for urban planetary health research. The workshop, held at the 16th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) in Xiamen, China, in November 2019, brought together 49 participants and covered topics related to collaboration, data, and research impact. It featured research projects funded by the Wellcome Trust's Our Planet Our Health (OPOH) programme. This report aims to concisely summarise and disseminate participants' collective contributions to current methodological practice in urban planetary health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Pineo
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0NN, UK.
| | - Camilla Audia
- Department of Geography, School of Global Affairs, Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Daniel Black
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, First Floor, 5 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Matthew French
- Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, 8 Scenic Blvd, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Emily Gemmell
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Gina S Lovasi
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3600 Market St 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - James Milner
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Felipe Montes
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra 1E#19A-40, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Yanlin Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Carolina Pérez-Ferrer
- CONACYT ─ National Institute of Public Health, Avenida Universidad 655, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - José Siri
- Our Planet Our Health, Wellcome Trust, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Ruzka R Taruc
- Public Health Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan KM 10, Makassar, Indonesia
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7
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Davies M, Belesova K, Crane M, Hale J, Haines A, Hutchinson E, Kiesewetter G, Mberu B, Mohajeri N, Michie S, Milner J, Moore G, Osrin D, Pineo H, Pluchinotta I, Prasad A, Salvia G, Symonds P, Taylor J, Turcu C, Tsoulou I, Zimmermann N, Wilkinson P. The CUSSH programme: learning how to support cities’ transformational change towards health and sustainability. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:100. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16678.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Complex Urban Systems for Sustainability and Health (CUSSH) project is a global research programme on the complex systemic connections between urban development and health. Through transdisciplinary methods it will develop critical evidence on how to achieve the far-reaching transformation of cities needed to address vital environmental imperatives for planetary health in the 21st century. CUSSH’s core components include: (i) a review of evidence on the effects of climate actions (both mitigation and adaptation) and factors influencing their implementation in urban settings; (ii) the development and application of methods for tracking the progress of cities towards sustainability and health goals; (iii) the development and application of models to assess the impact on population health, health inequalities, socio-economic development and environmental parameters of urban development strategies, in order to support policy decisions; (iv) iterative in-depth engagements with stakeholders in partner cities in low-, middle- and high-income settings, using systems-based participatory methods, to test and support the implementation of the transformative changes needed to meet local and global health and sustainability objectives; (v) a programme of public engagement and capacity building. Through these steps, the programme will provide transferable evidence on how to accelerate actions essential to achieving population-level health and global climate goals through, amongst others, changing cities’ energy provision, transport infrastructure, green infrastructure, air quality, waste management and housing.
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Szetey K, Moallemi EA, Ashton E, Butcher M, Sprunt B, Bryan BA. Co-creating local socioeconomic pathways for achieving the sustainable development goals. Sustain Sci 2021; 16:1251-1268. [PMID: 33747238 PMCID: PMC7955906 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-021-00921-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise the importance of action across all scales to achieve a sustainable future. To contribute to overall national- and global-scale SDG achievement, local communities need to focus on a locally-relevant subset of goals and understand potential future pathways for key drivers which influence local sustainability. We developed a participatory method to co-create local socioeconomic pathways by downscaling the SDGs and driving forces of the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) via a local case study in southern Australia through contextual analysis and community engagement. We linked the SSPs and SDGs by identifying driving forces and describing how they affect the achievement of local SDGs. We co-created six local socioeconomic pathways with the local community which track towards futures with different levels of fulfilment of the SDGs and each encompasses a narrative storyline incorporating locally-specific ideas from the community. We tested and validated the local pathways with the community. This method extends the SSPs in two dimensions-into the broader field of sustainability via the SDGs, and by recontextualizing them at the local scale. The local socioeconomic pathways can contribute to achieving local sustainability goals from the bottom up in alignment with global initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Szetey
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, 3125 Australia
| | - Enayat A. Moallemi
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, 3125 Australia
- Designing Systems for Informed Resilience Engineering, The 4TU Centre for Resilience Engineering, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Ashton
- Forrest Gateway Project, Forrest, 3236 VIC Australia
| | - Martin Butcher
- Fire and Regions, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Geelong, 3220 VIC Australia
| | - Beth Sprunt
- Forrest Gateway Project, Forrest, 3236 VIC Australia
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010 Australia
| | - Brett A. Bryan
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, 3125 Australia
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Yang L, Cormican K. The Crossovers and Connectivity between Systems Engineering and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Scoping Study. Sustainability 2021; 13:3176. [DOI: 10.3390/su13063176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The United Nation’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) are interconnected and indivisible and need to be addressed in a systematic and holistic way. However, a lack of stakeholder perspective, fragmented responses, and a dearth of integration across sectors have long been perceived as the SDGs’ main pitfalls. In recent years, scholars are calling to address these issues by adopting a systems engineering perspective, as this approach espouses a stakeholder-focused position, embraces a holistic and dynamic mindset, and provides a variety of technical and managerial toolkits, which can help to untangle the complexity and interactions inherent in global sustainability. Nevertheless, little has been done to map the existing literature, comprehensively review, and synthesize research evidence in this field. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct a scoping study that analyzes the extant evidence to uncover the contributions of systems engineering in advancing the SDGs. A three-phase methodology integrating natural language processing and systematic literature review is used to investigate this space. We conclude that systems engineering has been an active catalyst promoting the SDGs, and that systems engineering has the potential to support more transdisciplinary research to achieve long-term transformational and sustainable change across sectors and disciplines.
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Asekomeh A, Gershon O, Azubuike SI. Optimally Clocking the Low Carbon Energy Mile to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from Dundee’s Electric Vehicle Strategy. Energies 2021; 14:842. [DOI: 10.3390/en14040842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Dundee City has been successful in installing green infrastructure for charging electric vehicles (EVs). This intervention matches the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of affordable clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and climate action (SDG 13) of the United Nations General Assembly Agenda 2030 (Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development). Local authorities can align interventions with SDGs according to needs. The purpose of this paper is to consider whether Dundee’s EV strategy represents the most viable and equitable intervention that could be adopted given the city’s context. We adopt a positive review and value argumentation approach to determine the extent to which the strategy satisfies the criteria of “level of urgency”, “systemic impact” and “policy gaps”, which have been employed in the extant literature as the basis for a multi-criteria analysis (MCA). We eclectically review elements of the strategy against the city’s peculiar physical and socio-economic environment, as well as argue their fit against these criteria. We interpret these criteria based on the complementarity and benefits of the strategy from the lenses of SDG 7, SDG 11 and SDG 13. Additionally, we consider the alignment of the EV strategy with the other SDGs. The criteria also allow us to evaluate the strategy based on the localisation principles of equity, acceptability and affordability of the intervention. Our review shows that the EV strategy represents a sustainable and community life-enhancing intervention that aligns with some key SDGs. However, the outcome raises concerns about the equitability of the strategy. Smaller, similar or bigger cities could utilise this approach. However, we recommend the evaluation of local priorities to improve alignment with the SDGs and the provision of clear justifications for selecting an intervention from a range of responses.
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Hussain S, Javadi D, Andrey J, Ghaffar A, Labonté R. Health intersectoralism in the Sustainable Development Goal era: from theory to practice. Global Health 2020; 16:15. [PMID: 32079530 PMCID: PMC7033925 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-020-0543-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2015, the United Nations’ (UN) Member States adopted a bold and holistic agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrating a vision of peace and prosperity for people and planet. Extensive work within, between, across sectors is required for this bold and holistic agenda to be implemented. It is in this context that this special article collection showcases multisectoral approaches to achieving SDG 3—Good Health and Well-Being—which, though focused explicitly on health, is connected to almost all other goals. A confluence of social and health inequities, within a context of widespread environmental degradation demands systems thinking and intersectoral action. Articles in this issue focus on the SDGs as a stimulus for renewed multisectoral action: processes, policies, and programs primarily outside the health sector, that have health implications through social, commercial, economic, environmental, and political determinants of health. Case studies offer critical lessons on effectively engaging other sectors to enhance their health outputs, identifying co-benefits and ‘win-wins’ that enhance human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameera Hussain
- Canadian Society for International Health, 1 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 7B7, Canada. .,School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3, Canada.
| | - Dena Javadi
- Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization, 20 avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean Andrey
- Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Abdul Ghaffar
- Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization, 20 avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Labonté
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3, Canada
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