Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health
Research & Innovation Programmes Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health
Research

Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health

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The Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health (CANU) programme aims to strengthen the evidence base in the field of the health effects of climate variability and change and urban exposures, and assess the health co-benefits of climate action. The focus is on exposures such as air pollution, temperature, green spaces, and noise, in outcomes such as premature mortality, cardiovascular and respiratory health, and cognitive function. This research is complemented by computational modelling of global climate variations and tipping points and their impact on health.

The ultimate objective is to support healthy (urban) living, and forecast and reduce the health impacts of climate change.

Specific Goals

The overall aim of the CANU programme is to support healthy (urban) living, and forecast and reduce the health impacts of climate change, by:

  • Strengthen the evidence base on the health effects and impacts of climate variability and change and urban exposures, and assess the health co-benefits of climate action.
  • With a focus on:
    • Exposures: air pollution, temperature, green spaces, noise
    • Outcomes: premature mortality, cardiovascular and respiratory health, cognitive function, birth outcomes, mental health, infectious disease, health behaviors (e.g., diet, physical activity), emotional health (e.g., loneliness), cancer
  • Perform computational modelling of global-to-urban climate variations and tipping points and their impact on health.
  • Conduct experimental and observational studies to evaluate intervention effectiveness.

Main Research Areas

Climate and health

The climate and health area researches the Earth's Tipping Points and their critical thresholds in relation to the ongoing climate change. Special attention is paid to the Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice collapses, the Amazon and other tropical forests' dieback, impact on climate extremes (e.g., heatwaves, droughts) and the regime shift in ENSO in the Pacific. Consequent effects on human health are being studied and modelled, working towards developing a new generation of computational models for enhancing prediction of health extremes and climate-sensitive diseases (CSID) and towards improvement of their early-warning systems. It is also investigated, in our climate change context, the role of airborne microbes and aerosols’ chemistry as key determinants of human health.

  • Xavier Rodó
  • Leonardo López

Projects

Adaptation, mitigation and health

In the area of adaptation, the analysis focuses on how different societies and population groups are differently adapting to climate change, and which environmental, socioeconomic and demographic drivers explain inequalities in adaptation and maladaptation. Surveillance platforms, early warning systems and climate change projection, detection and attribution assessments are also developed to transform basic research into innovative tools increasing societal resilience to environmental threats. The health implications of specific strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sinks (i.e. climate change mitigation) are modelled, particularly through exposure pathways including air and noise pollution, nature access, physical activity and road traffic injury.

  • Cathryn Tonne
  • The Adaptation Group - Joan Ballester
  • Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
  • DataHealth Lab - Otavio Ranzani
  • Guillaume Chevance
  • Matilda van den Bosch
  • Cristina O'Callaghan-Gordo
  • Xavier Basagaña
  • Margarita Triguero-Mas
  • Sarah Koch

Projects

Air pollution and health

The aim of the air pollution and health research area is to quantify the effects of air pollution exposure on human health over the lifecourse. Towards this aim, the research focuses on different aspects, including: improved air pollution exposure assessment; the study of the short-term and long-term effects of air pollution exposure on different health outcomes from the prenatal life until older ages; the study of the health effects of different air pollution constituents and sources; and the estimation of the health benefits of air pollution abatement strategies. 

  • Xavier Basagaña
  • Payam Dadvand
  • Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
  • Xavier Rodó
  • Cathryn Tonne
  • BrainChild Lab - Mònica Guxens
  • The Adaptation Group - Joan Ballester
  • Natalie Mueller
  • DataHealth Lab - Otavio Ranzani
  • Judith Garcia-Aymerich
  • Juan Ramón González
  • Jordi Sunyer
  • Michelle Turner
  • Eider M Arenaza-Urquijo
  • Ioar Rivas
  • Sarah Koch

Projects

Nature and health

The objectives of the nature and health research area are to: 1) examine causal mechanisms between nature exposure and human health and wellbeing using state-of-the-art research methods and 2) inform evidence-based practice and policy for health care practitioners and urban planners in using natural spaces in health promotion as well as disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Through large-scale and global initiatives, it is advancing descriptive, epidemiological, experimental methods, and systematic review expertise to generate knowledge about nature’s impact on human health across the life course and to understand mediating and moderating factors.  Interdisciplinary frameworks are applied, engaging diverse stakeholders across sectors, drawing on the disciplines of psychology, sociology, medicine, epidemiology, natural sciences, urban and landscape planning, design, and computer science, to co-create theory-informed approaches and foster cooperation and communication to realise broader impacts. Core projects of the nature and health area are bridging nature-based solutions and health systems to address loneliness, quality of life, metabolic syndrome and the policies and practices to advance evidence-based solutions, such as nature-based therapy and nature-based social prescribing.

  • Jill Litt
  • Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
  • Payam Dadvand
  • Margarita Triguero-Mas
  • Guillaume Chevance
  • Matilda van den Bosch
  • Judith Garcia-Aymerich
  • Sarah Koch

Projects

Urban health

The aim of the urban health research area is to assess holistically the effects and impacts of urban and transport planning related exposures such as air pollution, noise, green space, temperature, light at night and physical activity on urban health. Several tools and methodologies are used, such as exposure assessment, epidemiological and health impact assessment methods to quantify the exposure levels, health effects and impacts. Besides, GIS, satellite data and smartphone data for exposure assessment is also used. Urban interventions and policies are being evaluated to provide quantitative information for policy and decision making. The translation activities of this research area were originally articulated through ISGlobal’s Urban Planning, Environment and Health initiative and are now fully integrated within the corresponding research programme. The ultimate objective is to promote healthy urban living. The work is based around EC funded projects such as the UBDPolicy, (which utilises a dataset of nearly 1000 cities to assess the health burden and effective policy interventions), EXPANSE and ATHLETE, among others.

  • Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
  • Cathryn Tonne
  • The Adaptation Group - Joan Ballester
  • Payam Dadvand
  • Natalie Mueller
  • Jill Litt
  • Matilda van den Bosch
  • Judith Garcia-Aymerich
  • BrainChild Lab  - Mònica Guxens
  • Eider M Arenaza-Urquijo
  • Sarah Koch

Projects

Translation and Impact

Our work does not end with the publication of scientific results, as the ultimate goal is to apply our research findings so that they generate tangible health and societal benefits. To this end, we carry out translation activities with the dual purpose of disseminating scientific evidence and promoting its uptake in policies, practices and behaviours that advance health equity. In this regard, the Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme builds on the experience accumulated in previous years through the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative.

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Our Team

Leadership

  • Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
    Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen Scientific Director of the Severo Ochoa Programme, and Director of the Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme

Principal lnvestigators of the Programme

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