European Cities: Building Better Urban Futures: From Responding to Crisis to Approaches for Better Urban Futures (Evidence Review).
With their varied physical, economic, socio-cultural, and socio-political presence, European cities have always been highly distinguished urban environments expressive of heterogeneity, diversity of activities, entertainment, excitement, and happiness. They have been, and still are, places for the formulation of and experimentation with new values, social practices, industrial development, and innovative manufacturing. They produce, reproduce, represent, and convey much of what counts today as culture, social norms, environmental knowledge, science, public health, governance, and politics. Characterised by these elements, and while aspiring for resilience and a sustainable urban future, the European city continues to witness various forms of struggles and endures to experience a multitude of influences that include crises which are resulting from both natural and human induced hazards. Across the European continent, cities host the largest share of national populations, continue to accommodate growing communities, and are accountable for the economic, infrastructural, environmental and social contexts in which they live. These cities have already endured the test of time and have withstood significant urban challenges and the associated social and environmental ramifications. This review underscores urban challenges and health problems that emerge from crisis situations and how they were managed, while exploring how environment and health priorities, cities have envisioned as part of their urban resilience strategies, policies, and practices, are being shaped and developed.
