Citation

Hiscock R, Mudu P, Braubach M, Martuzzi M, Perez L, Sabel C. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014; 11(12): 12312-12345.

Affiliation

School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK. c.sabel@bristol.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph111212312

PMID

25464129

PMCID

PMC4276616

Abstract

To mitigate climate change, city authorities are developing policies in areas such as transportation, housing and energy use, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to their effects on greenhouse gas emissions, these policies are likely to have consequences for the wellbeing of their populations for example through changes in opportunities to take physical exercise. In order to explore the potential consequences for wellbeing, we first explore what 'wellbeing' is and how it can be operationalised for urban planners. In this paper, we illustrate how wellbeing can be divided into objective and subjective aspects which can be measured quantitatively; our review of measures informs the development of a theoretical model linking wellbeing to policies which cities use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, we discuss the extent to which the links proposed in the conceptual model are supported by the literature and how cities can assess wellbeing implications of policies.

Keywords: Bicycles; Bicycling; Pedestrians; Socioeconomic factors; Social inequities; Social differences; Walkability

Language: en