DISTINGUISHED MAYORS,
URBAN HEALTH CHAMPIONS,
COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
Good morning and welcome to Manila and the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office.
More than half of the world's population today lives in cities. By the year 2050 we expect that seven out of every 10 people will live in urban areas.
While this shift brings many positive changes, it also poses many challenges. For a large and growing number of people and communities, urban living means urban poverty and isolation, new health risks and challenges, and a wider gap in health inequities.
This year, World Health Day recognizes the significant impact that cities and growing urbanization have on our individual and collective health. With the global theme "1000 cities, 1000 lives", WHO has encouraged and supported 1000 cities to hold events and raise awareness of the role of cities in promoting health, and to tell the remarkable stories of 1000 champions who have had a positive impact on urban health.
The rapid growth of cities has seen transportation demands often exceeding capacities with an uncontrolled growth in the number of motor vehicles. As a result, there are more road traffic accidents, an increase in air and noise pollution, fewer people walking, and greater numbers of people exposed to second-hand smoke in confined public transport areas. Poorly designed and inadequate urban transport systems not only damage people's health in a variety of ways, but they also harm our environment.
This is why World Health Day 2010 in the Western Pacific Region is showcasing "Environmentally Sustainable and Healthy Urban Transport" - or ESHUT - as one of the major approaches towards making cities healthier.
The ESHUT initiative began in 2009 as a collaborative effort of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, the United Nations Centre for Regional Development, and the Alliance for Healthy Cities. Its objective is to work together on "win-win" strategies, to address urban transport challenges in an environmentally sustainable manner.
To achieve this objective, we have to change our way of thinking about urban mobility. We need to look at the issue through the lens of sustainability, support and the environment.
For example, people with disabilities and older persons can travel more freely if public transport systems are easy to access and barrier-free. People will be more likely to use bicycles and be more physically active if there are bicycle parking areas next to public transport stations. Making public transport and stations smoke-free will reduce exposure to second‑hand smoke. Encouraging non-motorized transport will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. These alternatives and many more should be considered in the design of urban transport systems.
We cannot underestimate the challenges of the growth of cities and we need to learn from experience. This is one of the reasons why we are here this morning - to learn from each others' experiences.
Through this forum, we are reaffirming our commitment to healthy cities. We are also launching ideas, policies and actions on environmentally sustainable and healthy urban transport across the Region.
You have a hectic and exciting schedule ahead of you. After this morning's presentations from five cities, you are invited to enjoy the international buffet we prepare every year on World Health Day. This afternoon you will head to Marikina City and see for yourselves what has been accomplished there. And this evening, more urban health champions will be given recognition.
I am pleased to see government executives, officials and experts from around the Region this morning. Your presence is proof of your unwavering support and your strong commitment to build healthy urban transport systems in your cities. As we also celebrate World Health Day, let me extend my sincere thanks to all of you for attending this forum and sharing your ideas, best practices and experiences.
This is only the beginning. I truly hope that following in your footsteps, more cities will place health and the environment at the heart of their development.
Thank you for being urban health champions. I wish all of you an inspiring World Health Day.
Thank you all very much.