Assessing health and environment impacts of transport systems

Assessing the health and environmental impacts of policies, strategies, programmes, projects and legal measures with implications for transport and mobility, and ensure that public health authorities are involved in these assessments at all levels.

Assess and provide information about the public health impacts of different modes of transport, in terms of health benefits and disbenefits. Quantify the consequences for public health of increasing levels of physically active modes of transport, notably walking and cycling.

Apply health and environmental indicators and impact assessments as a basis for transport, water and land use policies, urban and regional development planning, location decisions, infrastructure planning and investment programmes, with the full involvement of environmental and health authorities.

Develop and apply innovative methodologies such as "backcasting" and impact assessment, as well as indicators and other tools for monitoring the health and environmental impacts of transport, thus providing objective guidance to policy-makers and stakeholders.

Develop guidelines for making health impact assessments of policies, strategies, programmes, projects and legal measures with implications for transport.

The greater use and integration of health impact assessments with environmental impact assessments can be achieved by disseminating tools and methods, sharing good practice, and providing education and expert training.