TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring health outcomes as a motivator for low-carbon city development
T2 - Implications for infrastructure interventions in Asian cities
AU - Sperling, Joshua B.
AU - Ramaswami, Anu
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by an Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Grant (IGERT; NSF Grant #DGE- 0654378 ) from the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) to the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure Systems at University of Colorado Denver.
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - Sustainable urban infrastructure interventions can help achieve both public health and low-carbon goals in cities. This paper explores the extent to which civil infrastructure (i.e., water, sanitation, energy, transport and building infrastructures) and environmental factors (e.g. air and water quality) associated with these infrastructures shape current urban health outcomes in cities in Asia using Delhi, India as a case study. Current mortality data for Delhi are used as context to estimate the extent to which urban health outcomes are shaped by infrastructure and infrastructure-related environmental factors, some of which could directly or indirectly reduce mortality through low-carbon interventions. Mortality data along with a preliminary survey of expert opinion indicate up to 19 percent of all recorded deaths in Delhi may be infrastructure-related. More detailed epidemiology studies and infrastructure models are needed to confirm these initial findings. The findings suggest public health outcomes may be a large factor in motivating low-carbon development in Asian cities.
AB - Sustainable urban infrastructure interventions can help achieve both public health and low-carbon goals in cities. This paper explores the extent to which civil infrastructure (i.e., water, sanitation, energy, transport and building infrastructures) and environmental factors (e.g. air and water quality) associated with these infrastructures shape current urban health outcomes in cities in Asia using Delhi, India as a case study. Current mortality data for Delhi are used as context to estimate the extent to which urban health outcomes are shaped by infrastructure and infrastructure-related environmental factors, some of which could directly or indirectly reduce mortality through low-carbon interventions. Mortality data along with a preliminary survey of expert opinion indicate up to 19 percent of all recorded deaths in Delhi may be infrastructure-related. More detailed epidemiology studies and infrastructure models are needed to confirm these initial findings. The findings suggest public health outcomes may be a large factor in motivating low-carbon development in Asian cities.
KW - Healthy and low-carbon cities
KW - Sustainable infrastructure
KW - Urban environment
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U2 - 10.1016/j.habitatint.2011.12.013
DO - 10.1016/j.habitatint.2011.12.013
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84867140979
SN - 0197-3975
VL - 37
SP - 113
EP - 123
JO - Habitat International
JF - Habitat International
ER -