Week 12: Built Environment

Human-made or modified physical surroundings in which people live, work and play. These places and spaces include our homes, communities, schools, workplaces, parks/recreation areas, business areas and transportation systems, and vary in size from large-scale urban areas to smaller rural developments

Unhealthy Inequitable Unmaintainable

When the consequences of built environments negatively affect human health outcomes and the health of other species

When groups are disproportionately exposed to environmental contaminants, have reduced access to amenities or healthy environments

The high quality of the environments cannot be passed on to future generations Using up resources needed to maintain quality

Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas

Extensive road and infrastructure construction Segregation of land uses Homogeneous architecture, landscapes Social and economic homogeneity Focus of capital investments on the periphery Absence of regional planning for sustainability

Automobile dependency Air pollution, inefficient energy consumption Social relationships

Neighbourhood cohesion Connectivity Affordable and safe housing Link to nature Affordable and healthy food

Decline in physical activity from childhood to adolescence and beyond Carry important consequences for future (adult) health Sedentary activities dominating youth time