The role of Mediterranean cities and regions in building urban health policies, in particular through sustainable urban mobility measures

With fast urbanization rates and growing multifaceted pressure on cities, urban health has become a paramount issue to be addressed at the institutional level. As such, the Mediterranean region is no exception, facing additional challenges related to its peculiar geographic and historical nature. The urban mobility sector plays a key role in determining the degree of people's health in cities. Issues like traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, road safety and land consumption have in fact a direct impact on the creation of healthy urban environments, as well as the likelihood of citizens to develop diseases, high levels of stress and unhealthy lifestyles. Rabat and Tunis represent two examples of how Southern Mediterranean capital cities are trying to address these issues, promoting urban health by means of sustainable mobility measures. Both cities are currently implementing positive concrete actions in the framework of wider strategic planning, that are expected to improve the quality of people living in the cities by enhancing the mobility and transport sector. As key recommendations drawn by the two case studies and other European best practices, such measures shall be integrated into overall urban health strategies, in order to monitor their implementation and directly link their success or needed improvement to the achievement of clearly measurable targets. In this sense, local and regional authorities should deploy adequate resources to monitoring the impact of their policies, while promoting a participatory approach aimed at raising awareness among citizens, as well as at deeply understanding the needs of the communities impacted by their policies. To promote the translation of plans into action, it is key to ensure stable financial and political commitment, as well as a clear identification of responsibility within the implementing institutions.