The European project “U-CARE” aims to transform urban health by addressing pressing health and climate challenges through innovative spatial planning and research
The recently launched U-CARE project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, is set to tackle the pressing health and climate challenges of contemporary urban environments. Coordinated by Technische Universität Berlin and supported by five leading academic and research institutions across Europe, including the Society and Urban Form (SURF) Research Lab of the University of Cyprus, U-CARE will develop pioneering tools and methodologies to enhance urban health through spatial planning.
Urban health is defined as the outcomes of the physical and social environment that impact urban residents’ and communities’ health, wellbeing and quality of life. It is recognised as a crucial factor in sustainable development, particularly in light of the global climate crisis. Despite this, research and professional guidance in the field remain fragmented, resulting in significant delays in the implementation of evidence-based solutions aimed at supporting positive health outcomes. According to the European Commission’s Science and Knowledge Service, the urban health gap poses a major obstacle for the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Reimagining Urban Health through a Comprehensive Approach
The U-CARE project will introduce the UrbanCare 3-step methodology as part of its innovative educational approach. This methodology involves conducting urban health research to assess environmental risks in neighbourhoods, performing neighbourhood diagnostics to investigate urban infrastructures, their dynamics, and their potential impacts on the environment and population health, and organising decision-making workshops to engage citizens, policymakers, and professionals in planning processes and the development of strategies and action plans. Through these steps, U-CARE will establish new learning modules focusing on different aspects of urban health at the participating universities, aiming to prepare the next generation of urban planners, architects, and public health professionals delivering healthy and sustainable environments.The project will implement a variety of actions across four European cities—Florence, Gothenburg, Berlin, and Nicosia, including:
- developing urban health indicators to monitor and improve urban living conditions
- conducting mixed-methods research at the pilot sites to gather data on urban health challenges
- building a user-friendly U-Care Web Platform to visualise urban health data in a way that is easily accessible and understandable by stakeholders
- organising decision-making workshops in each city to discuss research findings, address site-specific challenges, set goals, and shape visions for neighbourhood design solutions.
In Cyprus, the project’s study area is the neighbourhood surrounding the Archbishop Makarios III Hospital in Strovolos. The U-CARE project will engage a wide range of stakeholders. Students and academics from partner universities will benefit from new training materials and research opportunities, while professionals in urban planning, public health, and environmental sciences will contribute their expertise and enhance their capacity to tackle climate change challenges. Citizens, civil society, policymakers, decision-makers, and local governments will gain valuable insights to drive policy changes and shape design interventions that improve urban health.
The U-CARE project is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union under grant agreement number 2023-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000161246
For more information about the SURF Lab, visit https://www.surf.com.cy/
Contact: Ilaria Geddes, Research Fellow, [email protected]
Notes to editors:
- Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
- The project partners are Technical University of Berlin (Project Coordinator), University of Cyprus, Chalmers University of Technology, University of Florence, BHL Building Health Lab UG and RESET Ltd.
- The project runs for three years from November 2023 to October 2026.
The total budget for the project is 400,000.00 Euro.
Press Release by the University of Cyprus
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