Better Places for People - a global project on health and wellbeing in the built environment

Better Places for People is a long term project, with the following objectives aligned to the WorldGBC North Star Goal for Health & Wellbeing: 'A built environment that delivers healthy, equitable and resilient buildings, communities and cities' Better Places for People works with the member GBCs to transform health and wellbeing in the built environment by; • Reducing contribution from the built environment to global health crises, such as air pollution, through thought leadership and action-based initiatives • Increasing awareness and education on sustainable, healthy buildings •Empowering advocacy around sustainability with health co-benefits • Proving the business case for healthy buildings Better Places for People is a long term project, established in 2013. Some successes from the project that WorldGBC wishes to report on this year are: Shifting the paradigm on Health & Wellbeing: After a two-year consultation, we launched the Health & Wellbeing Framework — a ‘living’ resource driving healthy and equitable buildings for everyone, everywhere. Launched with six international and several national events, the Framework’s six principles advocate a whole lifecycle approach to health and wellbeing. The Framework reimagines the way we consider the indicators of health and can be accessed as an Executive Report and a ‘living’ educational tool. Please find the Framework available for review at worldgbc.org/health-framework. Tackling air pollution: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the relationship between human health and the built environment into focus. WorldGBC’s ‘Air Quality in the Built Environment’ campaign responded by sharing innovative leadership in how to tackle the problem. Our global air quality monitoring programme, Plant a Sensor, now has 23 GBCs working towards realtime air quality monitoring and sharing to address the international air quality crisis. Please see the interactive air quality platform at worldgbc.org/plant-a-sensor Sustainable Reconstruction in war-torn MENA: In partnership with UN Habitat, our MENA Sustainable reconstruction and urban regeneration project is laying the groundwork for an equitable, sustainable recovery in the region. Focusing on conflict-hit areas, the project supports healthy, resource-secure and climate resilient societies. societies. Please reach out to Catriona Brady, Head of Better Places for People, at cbrady@worldgbc.org to discuss ways to get involved.