Event

Asia-Pacific Urban Forum 8

SEI Asia will be hosting a session at the 8th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-8), held from 23 to 25 October 2023 in Suwon City, Republic of Korea. The Forum brings together the experiences of diverse stakeholders to reflect on the colliding crises faced by cities in Asia and the Pacific, synthesize innovative approaches and actions to support sustainable urban development in the context of the New Urban Agenda and the decade for action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Photo: SEI Asia

23 October 2023 at 15:30 +9

ending at 17:00 +9

Republic of Korea

Event contact

Diane Archer / diane.archer@sei.org

[SEI Session] Towards health and wellbeing in cities for people and planet: engaging urban stakeholders

Parallel Session at the Eighth Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-8)

Date and time: 23 October 2023, 15:30-17:00 hours

Where: Meeting room 203, Suwon Convention Center, the Republic of Korea

Organizers: This parallel session will be organized by SEI Asia, Urban Futures & Policy at Thammasat University’s School of Architecture and Planning, and Udon Thani Municipality.

About the session

Urban wellbeing hinges on clean, safe, and inclusive spaces that grant residents equal opportunities for healthy living. Natural environments are increasingly recognized for their positive impact on mental health. Green and blue spaces also aid urban climate adaptation.

Drawing insights from a case study in Udon Thani, Thailand, the session will explore how secondary cities worldwide can prioritize health and wellbeing in urban development, addressing COVID-19’s impact on residents’ access to outdoor spaces and highlighting disparities in walkability, safety, green areas, and essential services.

Key questions for reflection during the session

What is the role of different city-level actors in enabling better health and wellbeing – for both people and planet?
How can tools facilitate engagement by city stakeholders in decisions around planning for health and wellbeing?
How can city governments better integrate health and wellbeing concerns into their planning decisions, including budgeting?

Thematic Interlinkages

This session is especially relevant to the following APUF themes: Urban and Territorial Planning and Policies (by focusing on multistakeholder engagement through tools for urban planning for health and wellbeing); Urban Climate Action and Resilience (by focusing on the role of green spaces and nature-based solutions for planetary as well as human health); Inclusive Urban Digitalization and Innovation (by highlighting the role of tools for engagement, including online tools).

Programme

Activity	Speaker
Welcome and opening remarks – outline of session structure and intended outcomes	Diane Archer
Presentation of Udon Thani city vision with focus on urban health and wellbeing	Deputy Mayor Mr Nitat Noichanad Deputy Mayor Mr Phoonkiat Phuttharak
Presentation of Thammasat University project in Udon Thani – serious games as a tool	Dr Wijitbusaba Marome
Introduction of SEI Toolbox for Liveable Cities – what tools for urban health and wellbeing?	Diane Archer
Group activity around use of tools in city planning	Guide questions for participants: What tools have been used in your city? How has your city used tools to engage local communities in planning processes? How can tools better be integrated in city planning to address thematic concerns such as health and wellbeing?
Plenary discussion of group activity results Closing	Implications for inclusive urban planning for health and wellbeing, and how to scale up

[Featuring SEI] Addressing Data Gaps for Urban Air Pollution Action and Regional Cooperation

Date and time: 24 October 2023, 15:30-17:00 hours

Where: Meeting room 404, Suwon Convention Center, the Republic of Korea

Organizers: This parallel session will be organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Programme

Activity	Speaker
Welcome and opening remarks	Matthew Perkins, UN ESCAP
Keynote Remarks Highlights from experience of Lao PDR in addressing air pollution	H.E. Vilaykham Phosalath, Vice Minister, Lao PDR
Importance of a Socially Differentiated Approach to Air Pollution Analysis and Action Paper Presentation	Diane Archer, SEI Asia, “Air pollution in Bangkok: addressing unequal exposure and enhancing public understanding of the risks”
Innovative Approaches to Data for Local Action Paper Presentation	Ukkyo Jeong, “First-time comparison between NO2 vertical columns from Geostationary Environmental Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) and Pandora measurements”
Q&A and Closing remarks	Matthew Perkins