Strategic Approach to Urban Health: Building Healthier Cities Through Integrated Action 20260928

Future Earth Health & Urban Knowledge-Action Networks Joint Webinar, 28 September 2026 Effective urban health action needs more than a set of isolated interventions. This webinar draws on the WHO guide "Taking a strategic approach to urban health: a guide for decision-makers" (2025) and presents experience from the Philippines, Päijät-Häme (Finland) and Cape Town (South Africa) in building integrated, multisectoral approaches to health in cities. Jointly organized by Future Earth Health KAN and Urban KAN, supported by WHO. SPEAKERS Dr Nathalie Röbbel, World Health Organization Dr José Siri, Principal and Founder, HCx Global Ms Korynne Amber C. Garcia, Healthy Communities Unit Lead, Health Promotion Bureau, Department of Health, Philippines Dr Riitta-Maija Hämäläinen, Head of Sustainable Development, Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme, Lahti, Finland Dr Natacha Berkowitz, Public Health Specialist and Epidemiologist, City of Cape Town Health Department, South Africa FACILITATORS Dr Frances Harris, Future Earth Health Knowledge-Action Network Ms Zeenat Niazi, Future Earth Urban Knowledge-Action Network CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome and introduction 4:47 Opening remarks: Dr Nathalie Röbbel (WHO) 6:51 Keynote: Shaping strategic action for urban health, Dr José Siri 17:42 Philippines: National Framework for Healthy Communities, Ms Korynne Amber C. Garcia 29:25 Finland: Biodiversity, health and climate change for well-being, Dr Riitta-Maija Hämäläinen 42:26 South Africa: From crisis to opportunity, Dr Natacha Berkowitz 54:42 Panel discussion and Q&A 1:21:50 Closing RESOURCES WHO guide: Taking a strategic approach to urban health: a guide for decision-makers https://www.who.int/publications/i/it... WHO case studies of strategic action for urban health https://www.who.int/teams/social-dete... WHO urban health capacity assessment and response https://www.who.int/teams/social-dete... Planetary health cards (shared by Dr Hämäläinen) https://jukuri.luke.fi/items/70b09605... Presentation slides and webinar summary: https://helsinkifi-my.sharepoint.com/... STAY IN TOUCH Future Earth Health Knowledge-Action Network https://futureearth.org/networks/glob... Future Earth Urban Knowledge-Action Network https://futureearth.org/networks/glob... Coming soon: webinars on Nature and Health, and on Wildfires and Health. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizing institutions.