Assessing municipal Climate Action Plans through a health lens: the case of the City of Rio de Janeiro

Marcelo Guimarães Araújo; Vinicius Santos Soares; Lilian Bechara Elabras-Veiga

doi:10.18472/SustDeb.v17n1.2026.60296

Authors

Marcelo Guimarães Araújo PhD in Energy Planning, Researcher, National School of Public Health Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Vinicius Santos Soares Economist, Master of Science in Public Health, Analyst and researcher, National School of Public Health – Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Lilian Bechara Elabras-Veiga PhD in Environmental Planning, Professor, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro – IFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v17n1.2026.60296

Keywords:

Urban, Adaptation, Climate change, Planning, Health determinants

Abstract

Climate change is a complex global challenge that requires collaboration across multiple scientific disciplines. In urban areas, its effects are more intense due to several factors, such as high population density, building materials, and transportation emissions. Climate Action Plans (CAPs) are the core documents guiding climate-related strategies and initiatives in urban areas. This article analyses the Climate Action Plan of Rio de Janeiro City (CAP_RJC) to assess how it addresses human health. The methodology employs a Content Analysis guided by the approach Urbanism Favourable to Health developed by EHESP France, which is based on Urban Health Determinants. The results indicate that CAP_RJC addresses several determinants of the Urbanism Favourable to Health approach; however, there remains an opportunity to improve vulnerability assessments at the local level.

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Author Biographies

Marcelo Guimarães Araújo, PhD in Energy Planning, Researcher, National School of Public Health Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Civil Engineer, MSc in Strategy, MSc Geotechnical Eng and DSc in Energy and Environment Planning. Coordination of the Urban Health Group in ENSP/FIOCRUZ. Professional experience in sanitation, environmental engineering, planning and risk management, economic analysis and circular economy. Counsellor at ABES-RJ, Brazilian Association of Sanitation and Environmental Engineering.

Vinicius Santos Soares, Economist, Master of Science in Public Health, Analyst and researcher, National School of Public Health – Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Economist, PhD candidate in the Postgraduate Program in Information and Communication in Health (PPGICS/Fiocruz), Master's degree in Public Health from Fiocruz; specialist in Information Systems Administration from the Federal Fluminense University. Currently works for the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Former member of the Research Ethics Committee of ENSP/Fiocruz. Member of the Society for Ecological Economics - ECOECO.

Lilian Bechara Elabras-Veiga, PhD in Environmental Planning, Professor, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro – IFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

BA Architecture (UFRJ), Master’s in Production Engineering(COPPE/UFRJ), Master’s in Business Administration (Johns Hopkins University), Ph.D. in Environmental Management (COPPE/UFRJ). Professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology. Specialized in the fields of Environmental Management, Industrial Ecology, and the Circular Economy.

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