Currently, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to almost 70% by 2050. And with climate change escalating preventable illnesses, the design of our daily environments is becoming a frontline defence in reducing the burden on our healthcare systems. In many cities, rising temperatures and air pollution are causing heart and lung conditions - while a lack of green spaces means fewer venues for social connection and managing stress and anxiety, worsening both physical and mental wellbeing.
In 2025, Bupa’s Healthy Cities programme supported over one million people across more than 50 cities in 24 countries by advancing preventative health and investing in urban nature regeneration. In 2026, it continues to grow as a global movement focused on creating climate‑resilient cities and behaviours that support the wellbeing of the people living in them.
We speak to Glyn Richards, Bupa’s Group Director of Sustainability and one of the key architects of the global programme. He explains how healthy cities can lay the foundation for better health for Bupa’s people, customers and communities.
Health doesn’t only start in hospitals, but also in the daily environments that shape how we live, move and thrive.
Glyn Richards
Group Director of Sustainability
In brief:
- Our daily environments play a huge role in our health – making cities a critical frontline for preventative care
- Simple, scalable urban interventions could save over 725,000 lives per year
- Community-led green initiatives improve health while strengthening social connection
Why healthy cities?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), up to half of all health outcomes are determined by our surroundings - and with more of us living in cities than ever, how we design and build our urban environments has become one of the most critical factors shaping global public health. Cities are the places where human health and climate impacts meet, and where the greatest opportunity exists to improve both. Resilient cities don’t just respond to these health challenges - they reduce the likelihood of them emerging in the first place.
As a global healthcare company, Bupa is helping people take charge of their own health while improving the cities they live in - creating communities that are greener, cleaner and more resilient to the health challenges of a changing climate.
Health starts before illness
Health doesn’t only start in hospitals - it also starts in the environments we move through every day. When cities make it harder to walk, breathe clean air or connect with others, they increase the risk of social isolation, burnout and chronic disease. But when designed well, cities can help to prevent or mitigate these outcomes - reducing pressure on healthcare systems.
Globally, we are facing a convergence of health crises: physical inactivity and modern lifestyles are driving a rise in cardiovascular disease, while over a billion people are living with mental health conditions. These problems can be compounded by our environment, with 99% of the world’s population exposed to pollution above WHO guideline limits, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses. Building healthier urban environments that include access to nature and shared spaces can help to mitigate all of these effects, creating long-lasting, measurable benefits.
Healthy cities support healthy people
For someone living in a dense, high-traffic city, even small changes can mean the difference between daily exposure to harmful air and a healthier, more active life. Our recent research as part of the Resilient Cities, Reimagining Health partnership, shows that a small set of low-cost, evidenced-based interventions could, if replicated across cities, save over 725,000 lives per year - for instance, by using green spaces, cool roofs and congestion management to reduce heat and air pollution.
Since 2023, Bupa has been working in partnership with the Norman Foster Foundation to equip the next generation of designers, architects, urban engineers and city practitioners with the training to design cities that support people’s wellbeing - teaching them to understand and track the interconnections between health and climate change.
Projects like Tåsinge Plads - Copenhagen's first climate-change-adapted urban space - show how urban life and nature can meaningfully coexist, while environmental not-for-profit Trees That Count is already driving lasting, positive outcomes in small spaces. In London, Camden Breathing Better, with Bupa's support, is bringing together community groups, businesses and clinicians to tackle air pollution and improve respiratory health, creating a blueprint for more global change. These sorts of efforts show what's possible with creative thinking and courage, giving us clues as to where we might best focus our efforts.
Greener spaces, stronger communities
Green space in urban areas isn’t just a luxury, but also preventative health infrastructure. Restoring nature cools and cleans the city air, and also provides vital space for people to exercise, connect and improve their mental wellbeing. Research shows that just sitting in nature or green spaces can reduce stress or improve mental health, while social connection can also reduce stress and help communities flourish. From street-level tree planting to large-scale ecosystem restoration, Bupa’s Healthy Cities programme creates community volunteering projects that bring people together.
Healthier cities for everyone
Putting people at the heart of healthcare means looking at the spaces where we spend most of our time. The future of healthcare won’t come from hospitals alone, but also the places we live and work in. With imagination, investment and collaboration, we can meet the changing needs of a global population, and - hopefully - be the first generation to leave the planet better than we found it.
