Healthy City Making in Action

Cities host the majority of the world's population and represent both an opportunity and a challenge for public health. Rapid urbanisation, environmental pressures, climate change and social inequalities are redefining the determinants of health in urban environments. Addressing these complex challenges requires innovative, data-driven and participatory approaches.
This event explores how urban regeneration and citizen science can support healthier and more resilient cities. By integrating advanced health datasets, real-time urban monitoring and community participation, cities can better understand health risks, simulate policy impacts and design more effective interventions. Bringing together researchers, Policy maker, urban planners and citizens, the event aims to foster dialogue on how digital innovation and participatory science can strengthen urban health governance and promote more inclusive, sustainable and healthy urban futures.

Session Chair

Chiara Spinato, UNESCO Chair on Urban Health, Sapienza University of Rome

Program

14.00 Introduction by the Session Chair

14.10 Opening address: Healthier and more resilient cities: Urban nature plans and the One Health approach
Fausto Manes, Emeritus Professor of Ecology, Sapienza University of Rome

14.30 The quality of urban climate change adaptation plans
Filomena Pietrapertosa, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Integrated Methodologies for Earth Observation (IMIOT) of the National Research Council (CNR)

14.45 Health at the heart of Emilia-Romagna’s cities: regional initiatives for urban health
Paola Angelini, EQ Ambiente Clima e salute Regione Emilia-Romagna

15.00 Urban Spaces for Health
Lori Zillante, Architect & Engineer, R&D Unit Manager, MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects

15.20 A case study: the city of Taranto
Vito Bruno, Director General Arpa Puglia
Piero Bitetti, Mayor of Taranto

15.40 The Tree Cities of the World Project
Marco Marchetti, Fondazione Alberitalia
Silvia Piconcelli, Fondazione Alberitalia

15.55 Case study
Augusto Ferrentino, DG Smartleaf & COO Sarim

16.10 Discussion and closing remarks by the Session Chair