Urban Governance for Health and Well-Being
A section of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).
Section Information
Urban Governance for Health and Well-being focuses on how urban management strategies and policies can be designed and implemented to enhance the physical and mental health and overall well-being of urban residents. It encompasses a wide range of aspects, from the provision of healthcare services to the creation of healthy living environments. Key research agendas include creating supportive environments for all demographics, addressing the social determinants of health, and tackling the systemic inequities that manifest in urban spaces.
This section of the journal is mainly interested in topics such as urban health policies and their impact assessments, the equitable distribution of urban public health services, community-based health governance models, and the role of urban planning in promoting health-friendly environments. We welcome submissions from related fields including public health, urban studies, social work, and urban policy-making. Whether it is research on innovative urban governance mechanisms for health promotion, the evaluation of existing urban health-related policies, or case-study-based analyses of successful urban health-improvement initiatives, high-quality papers that contribute to the understanding and practice of urban governance for health and well-being are highly valued.
This section encourages submissions related to:
- Health-in-All-Policies and health impact assessments;
- Inclusive environments and age-friendly/family-friendly city design;
- Housing equity, spatial justice, and the right to the city;
- Urban safety, crime prevention, and their links to well-being;
- Community resilience, social cohesion, and mental health;
- Governance of public health emergencies and urban health resilience;
- Equity in access to health-promoting resources (e.g., green space, recreation).
Editorial Board
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Child and Adolescent Health in Urban Environments (Deadline: 5 February 2026)
- Shaping the Equitable Future of Urban Living: Exploring Well-Being and New Mobility in Low-Carbon Cities (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Environments of Belonging: How Built and Natural Spaces Shape Social Wellbeing in Urban Contexts (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Addressing the Challenges in the Development and Management of Public Spaces in Contemporary Cities (Deadline: 1 July 2026)
- Urban Green Space and Health (Deadline: 30 September 2026)
- Risk and Resilience of Social–Ecological Systems in Urban Areas (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Urban Air Pollution: New Insights into Exposure and Health Risks (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Urban Air Quality, Climate Change, and Public Health (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Urban Heat Exposure: Health Risks and Socioeconomic Impacts (Deadline: 31 December 2026)