This workshop is designed to bring together key local and international researchers, with policy analysts in local and central government, NGOs and members of the public, to consider the evidence for co-benefits of active journeys -- particularly benefits for population health, climate change, and quality of life -- and how this evidence can be strengthened and acted upon effectively.
Walking and cycling provide significant health benefits by increasing levels of physical activity. These active modes of transport are associated with substantial relative risk reductions (10-55%) across cardio-vascular disease, cancer, and other diseases. Compared to travel by car, active journeys also reduce air pollution and the carbon emissions that are accelerating climate change. In New Zealand there has been a decline in these active modes and research indicates that mode shift from passive to active travel is difficult to achieve. This is a critical challenge in the face of growing evidence that we need to reduce carbon emissions by around 90% by 2050.
During the day national and international research on the co-benefits of active journeys will be presented including:
· The Model Communities Programme <http://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning/process/model-communities.html> , which has been funded by the NZ Transport Agency to encourage active journeys and is being piloted in Hastings and New Plymouth, will be outlined, along with the community trial that has been designed to analyse the effectiveness of this exciting approach.
· Other community case studies from Canberra, Bogota, London, Rotterdam, Copenhagen and Beijing.
There will be plenty of time for discussion and the day will conclude with a round table with policy makers.
For more information:
http://www.uow.otago.ac.nz/academic/dph/summerschool/course_info/community.html