Pioneering Public Health and Urban Resilience in Valletta
Combining health and environmental data to deliver transformative solutions
Reduced heat by 2–4°C in high-risk zones, improved green access for 32% of residents, and €5M+ in benefits unlocked with blue-green infrastructures
SUMMARY
Malta’s capital city, Valletta, is taking bold steps to address the interconnected challenges of urbanization, climate change, and public health disparities. Through a collaboration with ISGlobal and BitaGreen, supported by EIT Urban Mobility, the city leveraged the BGI Health feature to guide nature-based and sustainable transport interventions. By improving green space access for 32% of residents, reducing localized heat stress, and achieving an ROI exceeding 4:1, this initiative demonstrated how data-driven tools can transform urban planning, bridging the gap between resilience and public health.
Funded by:
Scale of adaptation: City level
Location: Valletta, Malta
Users: City of Valletta, Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), local policymakers and urban planners
BACKGROUND
Valletta, Malta’s capital city, faces a confluence of urban challenges driven by climate change and rapid urbanization. Limited green spaces, extreme heat stress, noise pollution, and a reliance on private cars contribute to growing health inequalities and a declining quality of life. Vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, are disproportionately affected, underscoring the urgent need for equitable, evidence-based interventions.
To address these challenges, Malta partnered with BitaGreen and ISGlobal to develop the BGI Health feature, a cutting-edge addition to BitaGreen’s geospatial platform. The collaboration, supported by EIT Urban Mobility, sought to create a tool that could identify priority zones for intervention, quantify health and environmental benefits, and enable planners to make informed decisions that promote a healthier, greener, and more equitable future.
THE CHALLENGE
Malta’s city planners faced pressing questions: Where should interventions be implemented? What solutions would deliver the greatest impact? How could equity be ensured in planning? BitaGreen was tasked with addressing these challenges by developing a data-driven tool that integrated health metrics into urban planning scenarios.
This required:​​​​
Mapping environmental health risks, including heat stress, air pollution, flooding and noise, to identify high-burden zones.
Integrating health outcomes (e.g., DALYs and YLLs) into planning models to quantify preventable mortality and morbidity under different scenarios.
Performing cost-benefit analyses to demonstrate the economic viability and return on investment (ROI) of proposed interventions.
Beyond technical challenges, BitaGreen navigated cultural barriers, including resistance to reducing car dependency and limited collaboration between agencies. By tailoring the tool to Malta’s unique context, BitaGreen aimed to empower stakeholders with actionable insights for data-driven, equitable decision-making.
OUR APPROACH
In collaboration with ISGlobal and Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), BitaGreen developed the BGI Health feature as an advanced tool for urban and health planning. The project unfolded in three key phases:​
Baseline Mapping
A high-resolution baseline was established at a 100m grid cell resolution, integrating data on population density, land use, and environmental risks such as flooding, urban heat islands, noise pollution, and green space accessibility. This baseline provided a clear picture of the city’s most vulnerable zones, enabling city authorities to prioritize interventions in identified hotspots or high-risk zones.
Scenario Development and Simulation
Using the BGI Health feature, multiple intervention scenarios were modeled, including compliance with the 3/30/300 rule to promote access to urban nature. The tool quantified environmental and health outcomes, such as reductions in premature deaths, heat stress, and cardiovascular disease, alongside economic benefits like avoided flood damages and reduced cooling costs.
Stakeholder Engagement and Refinement​
Regular workshops and feedback sessions ensured alignment with local priorities. Stakeholders helped shape scenario parameters, from green infrastructure placement to active mobility strategies. The tool also integrated socio-economic and demographic data, emphasizing equity-focused planning.
THE OUTCOME
BitaGreen’s collaboration with Valletta delivered measurable environmental, health, and economic benefits, reinforcing the city’s commitment to equitable and sustainable urban planning.
Environmental and Health Impacts
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Compliance with the 3/30/300 green space rule improved access for 32% of residents, particularly in neighborhoods with limited greenery.
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Targeted nature-based solutions reduced localized heat stress by up to 2–4°C, significantly mitigating urban heat island effects.
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Interventions reduced the burden of cardiovascular and mental health conditions, contributing to improved quality of life for vulnerable populations.
Economic Benefits
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Cost-benefit analyses highlighted €+3M in avoided flood damages and €+1M in cooling cost savings under medium and ambitious scenarios.
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An ROI exceeding 4:1 demonstrated the financial sustainability and long-term value of proposed interventions.
Scalability and Equity
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Hotspot analysis identified priority zones for interventions, ensuring resources were allocated to the most vulnerable communities.
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Designed for scalability, the tool demonstrated potential for application in other cities, reinforcing its value as a global resource.
By integrating public health into urban planning, BitaGreen empowered Valletta’s policymakers to make evidence-based decisions that bridged environmental sustainability and public health. This partnership laid the groundwork for a resilient, equitable, and nature-positive urban future.
