Urban Health and Wellbeing: A Systems Approach(UHWB)

Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme is a global scientific programme led by the International Science Council (ISC) and co-organised by the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH). It promotes a systems approach to understanding evolving urban environments and their impact on residents' health and wellbeing, integrating urban health as a critical factor in all decision-making processes. The programme strives to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and foster the healthy development of cities worldwide.

Its International Programme Office (IPO) was established at the Institute of Urban Environment (IUE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in December 2014. The office is jointly funded and operated by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the Xiamen Government. In January 2025, the cooperation agreement for UWHB’s second phase (2025-2034) was formally signed during the third ISC General Assembly.

Since 2014, UHWB and its IPO has proactively organised over 20 international academic exchanges on urbanisation and urban environmental health, establishing a high-level international platform for scientific collaboration in urban health research. In disseminating and popularising urban health knowledge, it has published the "Urban Health and Wellbeing: A Systems Approach" monograph series. Concurrently, it has actively engaged in talent development and collaborative research, providing diverse learning and exchange platforms for early-career scientists from Southeast Asian nations, BRICS countries and beyond.

To date, the programme has forged strong partnerships with more than 40 organisations across over 20 countries and regions. It actively contributes to shaping international policies related to urban environmental health, translating research outcomes into resolutions and implementation plans issued by relevant United Nations agencies. These efforts further advance global urban health and sustainable development while enhancing health and wellbeing for people worldwide.