Urban Improvement, Environmental Pollution and Population Health in the Context of Investment Priorities Working-Out for Sustainable Development

This article analyzes the relationship between the quality of landscaping, the level of air pollution, greening and public health. Most foreign researchers on this topic come to a single significant conclusion that urban green spaces, which are not always an obligatory part of investment projects and urban improvement programs and perform different functions, serve as a key factor in strengthening the urban population health. At the same time, the methodology of market analysis of supply and demand is applicable to investments in green spaces, but is not yet used in the practice of greening Russian cities. At the same time, the quality parameters of greening also play a significant role. Based on the generalization of the results of international studies conducted in North America, Europe and Oceania, covering more than 43 million people, the authors propose a revision of the methodology for determining investment priorities and adjustment of legislation, including the impact of changes in the urban and rural environment on public health and analysis of the quality and volume of vegetation planting to improve the environmental situation (both as an obligatory part of investment projects and programs, and as an independent investment project). In the scientific aspect, it seems relevant to develop this area of practice-oriented research using the WHO concept of Healthy Cities based on the development of an interdisciplinary approach (at the intersection of economic, legal, psychological, medical and other sciences).