PICO
Ecological interactions in cities create opportunities to evaluate the characteristics of urban landscape and how it affects human health and well-being. Urban heat island and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) resulting in excess mortality and respiratory diseases are especially of high concern. Moreover, ecology in cities is also concerned with how urban environment changes, both within and outside buildings and how it affects human health. Furthermore, the ecology of cities and urban ecosystems could examine the health issues arising from environmental and social risks related to human behaviour, like as those related with traffic conditions and biomass burning. Increasing built-up areas in urban ecosystems is one of the largest causes for increasing temperature in such areas can give rise to several health implications and affect their wellbeing. This session focuses on i) understanding the links between urban ecology, urban ecosystems and human health ii) examines the health risks occurred due to increasing air pollution in urban ecosystems iii) assesses the health and wellbeing benefits of urban greenspace, vegetated areas and water bodies as a sustainable solution for better city planning and better urban living. This session is interdisciplinary as it focuses on cross-cutting issues of air pollution-climate change and urban ecosystems by exploring its physical, chemical, biological, and socio-economic sides. It also highlights the agendas of some of the selected SDGs like SDG 3, 11, 13, and 15, and promotes sustainability solutions at the global level.