The social and environmental determinants of urban health inequity

Global research network on urban health inequity in low and middle income countries:

People: A/Prof Sharon Friel, Dr Jane Dixon, Hall, Prof Tony Capon, Libby Hattersley, Bronwyn Issac

Improving urban health equity through action on the social and environmental determinants of health - Global Research Network on Urban Health Inequity in Low and Middle income countries

Urban development and planning remains a pressing health equity issue for countries and cities at all stages of economic development. Using literature synthesis, the GRNUHE is reviewing current knowledge about the social and environmental determinants of urban health inequities; documenting what is and is not working to improve urban health equity; identifying gaps in the evidence base and developing collaborative action-oriented research initiatives particularly in cities in low and middle income countries.

People: A/Prof Sharon Friel, Prof Marco Akerman, Dr Françoise Barten, Dr Daniel Becker, Dr Jean-Cristophe Fotso, Dr Trevor Hancock, Dr Zeinab Khadr, Prof Tord Kjellstrom, Dr Jacob Kumaresan, Prof Michael Marmot, Dr Gordon McGranahan, Dr Thomas Melin, Prof Sergio Meresman, Dr Patricia Monge, Ms Modi Mwatsama, Dr Anita Patil-Deshmukh, Prof Srinath Reddy, Dr Marilyn Rice, Prof Joyashree Roy, Prof Nelly Salgado, Dr Carlos Santos-Burgoa, Dr Shaaban Sheuya, Mr Warren Smit, Prof David Vlahov.The Rockefeller Foundation Global Research Network on Urban Health Inequities (www.ucl.GRNUHE.uk).

Identifying and Characterising Resilient Urban Food Systems to Promote Population Health in a Changing Climate

Globally, urban communities are at risk of food insecurity, creating significant challenges for the health and well-being of their urban populations. Food insecurity exists when individuals or households do not have regular access to sufficient, safe, nutritionally adequate, and culturally acceptable foods. The added pressures from climate change on food yields and price will likely exacerbate existing food insecurity in Australia and potentially globally, with consequences for food-related health inequities. Adapting to climate change in ways that benefit the population’s health and society at large therefore requires a food system that is resilient to climatic shocks and based on principles of sustainability and equity. In this project we use a complex systems framework to scope the diversity of urban food sub-systems in the Greater Western Sydney region. Urban food sub-systems may include highly industrial supply chains (e.g. supermarkets), alternative commercial food chains (producer co-ops, community supported agriculture, hobby farms), as well as civic agriculture chains based on household and community gardens. Each urban food sub-system is examined for its relationship with population health, food security, health equity and environmental health, including climate change, thereby allowing us to assess the relative merits of each sub-system in providing nutritious and safe food in an affordable, socially acceptable and sustainable way.

A/Prof Sharon Friel, Dr Jane Dixon, A/Prof Gillian Hall, Prof Tony Capon, Mr David Mason, Ms Libby Hattersley, Ms Bronwyn Isaacs, Ms Ferne Edwards, Dr Katrina Proust