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Challenges and Prospects of Sustainability in the Context of Global Health: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2025 | Viewed by 4564

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Laaser

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Section of International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany
Interests: postgraduate public health education; global health; health policy; one Health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, Centre-School of Public Health and Health Management, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: health management; health systems research; global health; postgraduate public health education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We have the pleasure of inviting you to contribute to the second edition of our Special Issue, “Challenges and Prospects of Sustainability in the Context of Global Health: 2nd Edition”. The recent COVID-19 pandemic underlined once more the global interrelatedness of all our activities. A regionalized, even fragmented world—as it was—is converging rapidly at the beginning of the 21st century. Countries embark increasingly on global arrangements and a globalizing civil society connects across borders, supported by mobile technologies. At the same time, unprecedented waves of migration diversify the northern societies, depleting the qualified workforce in the south (1).

In a globalized world, there are no isolated places; problems and solutions transcend national borders, require international cooperation, and lead to a growing interconnectedness of countries. Global health is an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. It emphasizes transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences; and is a synthesis of population-based prevention with individual-level clinical care (2).

Today, the Sustainable Development Goals are a cornerstone for a minimum set of standards in moving toward global equity in health service delivery, and leadership in global health issues encompasses all levels of society.

The global health challenges are numerous and complex and concern the common problems of all people on the planet. Global warming, global divisions, and global security are considered of strategic importance, as they represent a generational challenge for sustainable development and future generations' health. Numerous global health challenges are interrelated, such as global warming and natural and human-made disasters, floods, drinking water shortages, and deforestation, contributing to the loss of demographic balance, economic divisions, forced migration, poverty, and hunger endangering entire populations. At the same time, in the analysis of global health problems and challenges, there is a well-known rule that is expressed as a ratio of 10/90 and which represents a considerable limitation in overcoming global health problems: 90% of financial resources are directed to improving the health of only 10% of the world's population. The burden of not only contagious but also chronic non-communicable diseases and injuries affects the poorest countries in the world. 

Global health requires cooperation, coordination, and opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from experiences and examples of good practice. The goal is to develop joint action that will protect and improve the health of all people in the world. It is an extensive multi-sectoral area that connects the main areas of development policy, humanitarian aid, research and health, trade, and international policy. Today, health has become one of the global priorities, resulting from undoubted scientific evidence on the connection between health and economic development. This approach is reflected in a strong global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. Examples of pandemics, such as COVID-19, show how health is becoming a global issue affecting all sectors of the economy and politics and requires coordinated international responses. Stakeholders involved in multilateral cooperation in addressing critical global health issues require additional learning, which encompasses two sectors: the health sector and foreign affairs.

  • A Global Public Health Curriculum (2nd Edition, 2016), South Eastern European Journal of Public Health (SEEJPH). doi: 10.4119/seejph-1828.
  • Kоplan PJ, et al. Towards a common definition of global health. The Lancet. 2009;373:1993-5.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Laaser
Prof. Dr. Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • global health
  • global burden of disease
  • pandemics
  • universal health coverage
  • peace and solidarity
  • inclusive health governance
  • bottom-up initiatives
  • gender equity

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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21 pages, 20232 KiB  
Article
Promoting Public Health Through Urban Walkability: A GIS-Based Assessment Approach, Experienced in Milan
by Pei Ma, Andrea Rebecchi, Fabio Manfredini, Moritz Ahlert and Maddalena Buffoli
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2939; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072939 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 393
Abstract
Introduction. The global challenge of physical inactivity necessitates innovative approaches and strategies to optimize built environments in order to promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles, such as active transportation. For this reason, walkability is a crucial area of research in urban health, with several [...] Read more.
Introduction. The global challenge of physical inactivity necessitates innovative approaches and strategies to optimize built environments in order to promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles, such as active transportation. For this reason, walkability is a crucial area of research in urban health, with several studies focusing on assessment frameworks. However, a gap persists between theoretical development and practical implementation. This study explores the application of the Milan Walkability Measurement Tool (MWM-Tool), a walkability assessment framework previously developed by Politecnico di Milano, to evaluate the urban features in favor of walkability by integrating GIS technology with an extended testing scope. It is based on a scientific approach utilizing 10 sub-indicators divided into three macro-areas (Density, Diversity, Design), identified through a comprehensive literature review. Method. Focusing on the application of the MWM-Tool in Milan, the study employs the 88 Nuclei of Local Identity (NILs), which are the official designations for Milan’s neighborhoods, as the units of urban analysis. Based on previous experience, the digitalization of the assessment framework has been improved: geospatial data corresponding to 10 sub-indicators were filtered to generate vector layers, primarily sourced from two public geographical platforms. The GIS-based method produces thematic maps evaluating all neighborhoods according to the dimensions of Density, Diversity, and Design. Darker and lighter colors represent the range of the scores. Both single indicators and macro-area maps, as well as overall walkability level maps, were generated to illustrate the results. Result. The results of the macro dimension assessment, combining 10 sub-indicators, provide an objective view of the distribution of walkable space quality in Milan. Only 7 out of 88 neighborhoods achieved the highest score, all of which are located in the city center, while suburban areas showed significantly lower scores. By incorporating census GIS data, the study also identified the population distribution across areas with varying walkability levels. Based on the results of the assessment, it may be possible to develop and prioritize the optimization of walkable features, revitalizing underserved areas and fostering a healthier community environment. Conclusion. The georeferenced-data maps represent an effective tool to highlight both neighborhoods with high urban quality, which could be used to promote active mobility and healthy lifestyle adoption, as well as those requiring improvement strategies from policy and decision makers. The research output provides a reference for further urban planning initiatives in Milan and contributes to enhancing pedestrian-oriented built environments. Using GIS open-source data, the method is scalable and can be easily replicated in other cities. It could also be used as a system for monitoring walkability over time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Prospects of Sustainability in the Context of Global Health: 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 1905 KiB  
Article
Impact of Biodiversity Loss on Pollen Allergies: A Bibliometric Analysis
by Karoline Braun and Daniela Haluza
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9285; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219285 - 25 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1956
Abstract
The incidence of allergic respiratory diseases has increased in recent decades, with declining biodiversity identified as a potential contributing factor. While directly linking this increase to biodiversity loss is challenging, the research on pollen offers crucial insights into how environmental changes impact patients [...] Read more.
The incidence of allergic respiratory diseases has increased in recent decades, with declining biodiversity identified as a potential contributing factor. While directly linking this increase to biodiversity loss is challenging, the research on pollen offers crucial insights into how environmental changes impact patients with pollen allergies. This paper explores the complex relationship between declining biodiversity and type 1 pollen allergies from 1998 to 2022 by synthesizing the scientific insights using the mapping software VOSviewer version 1.6.19. The graphical representation provides a visual overview of the evolution of the research on pollen and biodiversity aspects combined, showing a shift from localized studies to global, interdisciplinary approaches. The research in this field has expanded significantly, particularly since 2010, with European countries leading the scholarly contributions. Pollen allergy has become a key intersection of public health and environmental science. This bibliometric review underscores the critical need for enhanced interdisciplinary research and international collaboration to address these interconnected challenges, promoting sustainable solutions in a rapidly advancing field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Prospects of Sustainability in the Context of Global Health: 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
The Evolution and Sustainability of Environmental Health Services in the Azraq Refugee Camp, Jordan: A Qualitative Study
by Nikki Behnke, Brandie Banner Shackelford, Amjad Dawood, Rachel A. Oommen, Raymond Tu, Marielle Snel, Iyad Al Samawi, Samer Talozi, Darcy Anderson, Ryan Cronk and Jamie Bartram
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7758; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177758 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1406
Abstract
The Syrian civil war displaced more than half of the Syrian population, including over 660,000 registered refugees who fled to neighboring Jordan. Environmental health services (e.g., water, sanitation, hygiene, and solid waste management) are critical for refugee health. Still, they may strain resources [...] Read more.
The Syrian civil war displaced more than half of the Syrian population, including over 660,000 registered refugees who fled to neighboring Jordan. Environmental health services (e.g., water, sanitation, hygiene, and solid waste management) are critical for refugee health. Still, they may strain resources in host communities and must evolve in protracted crises. We studied environmental health services in the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan to identify the stakeholders and their roles in service provision, assess stakeholder communication and coordination, and evaluate sustainability. We conducted 25 interviews with stakeholders involved in environmental health service provision. We found that non-governmental and United Nations organizations had well-defined responsibilities, but the roles of donors, the Jordanian government, refugees, and the host community needed clarification. Conflicting standards and mismatched donor expectations with on-the-ground needs sometimes created challenges for coordinated and efficient service provision. The basic needs of refugees were generally met and services improved somewhat over time, but political obstacles and inadequate resources complicated the path toward sustainable services. Early incorporation of sustainability in planning and increased efforts to build the capacity of refugees to contribute and take ownership of environmental health services will likely enhance long-term environmental health service provision and development outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Prospects of Sustainability in the Context of Global Health: 2nd Edition)
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