Mastering mobility: understanding the health benefits of active mobility

In an era defined by the drive towards decarbonised transportation, active mobility is often highlighted as a crucial part of the solution. But active mobility, which encompasses modes of human-powered transportation such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, running, etc; is more than just a way of getting from one place to another sustainably. Active mobility not only helps to decarbonise transportation, but it is also a pathway to improved physical, mental and social well-being; both individually and collectively.

Mastering mobility: noise pollution

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), one in five people living in the European Union are exposed to noise pollution and long-term noise levels that are considered harmful to their health. From sleep disturbances to cardiovascular issues, noise has also been shown to even have impacts on children’s ability to learn. These negative impacts affecting roughly 100 million residents are due to traffic noise. This translates to one million healthy years lost per year to illness, disability or early death due to road, rail and air transport-related noise.
Given that the European Environment Bureau lists noise pollution as one of the most significant threats to public health, after air pollution, there are numerous action plans in place. The reduction of noise is currently a key objective under the EU’s Zero Pollution Plan for 2050, which aims to reduce the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30% by 2030. And the Environmental Noise Directive is the main EU law focused on identifying and addressing noise pollution.

AI Approaches for City Management

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising how cities manage operations, optimise resources, and engage with residents. By embracing AI, municipalities can enhance transparency, foster collaboration, and drive innovation to address complex urban challenges. Across Europe, cities have adopted diverse strategies to integrate AI into their administrative structures, from prioritising trust and transparency to building collaborative ecosystems and pursuing centralised innovation. Here’s how leading cities are creating smarter, more adaptive urban systems.

Will We Live Better?

Please note that this video is in Spanish and does not include subtitles.   Barcelona Connection, Fira de Barcelona’s podcast, visited the 2024 Smart City Expo World Congress, the event that brings together thousands of people seeking solutions to the future challenges faced by cities. Throughout this videopodcast you’ll see and hear from experts answering […]