Healthy Built Environment

Recently, governments, public health associations and agencies across Canada have taken an interest in the effect of the built environment on population health. At the same time, there is increasing concern over obesity, sedentary lifestyles, pollution, health disparities, and climate change as well as increasing interest in healthy planning and sustainable cities. Built environments significantly influence health promotion and healthy lifestyle choices. Well-planned built environments can positively impact physical activity levels for all citizens, promote adequate access to local nutrition, improve air and water quality, protect green spaces and parks, provide accessible housing, promote arts and culture, encourage safety and contribute to lower injury rates.

The built environment includes our homes, schools, workplaces, parks/recreation areas, business areas and roads. It extends overhead in the form of electric transmission lines, underground in the form of waste disposal sites and subway trains, and across the country in the form of highways. The built environment encompasses all buildings and spaces, the products they contain, and the infrastructure that link and support them.

Health can be impacted by the built environment in a number of ways, such as:

enabling walking and cycling by building trails and bike lines
improving access to healthy food choices through community gardens
enabling social connections by ensuring that parks are accessible and safe

Quick Links

Contents

Government

Healthy Built Environment