Wednesday 11 January 2023

Mayors come together to clean up cities

Mayors from around the world are coming together at a UN conference in March to discuss how to clean-up cities.

Stopping urban pollution and lowering the risk of respiratory and heart diseases are key aims.

The UN has predicted that by 2050, 2.5 billion of the world’s population will be living in cities and making them safer is now a priority for the future.

There are plans to discuss London’s implementation of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which prevents highly polluting vehicles from driving in certain parts of the city.

There are plans for this sort of measure to be introduced into other cities, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan stating: “Toxic air makes us sick from the cradle to the grave, leading to asthma and stunted lung growth in the young and dementia in the elderly.”

On the upcoming meeting, he added: “I look forward to learning from and sharing knowledge with other city leaders and coming together to address the key health challenges of the future.”

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “WHO and partners are working with mayors to create programmes and policies that place health at the centre of urban design, such as safe streets that promote active mobility, local sources of fresh and healthy food, and smoke-free spaces.

“These are vital for building cities that foster good health and well-being, by fighting noncommunicable diseases like heart and respiratory diseases, cancer and diabetes.”