The future for health promotion

This chapter draws together and articulates the challenges and opportunities facing health promotion in the 21st century. It asks the reader to think about global, national and local challenges facing the promotion of health, and about health challenges, many of which are outside the health system. The inextricable links between the health of the planet and the health of human society is a core focus of health promotion. Continuing to measure cost-effectiveness and use health economic strategies will be important for building an evidence-base for health promotion. The recognition of growing urbanisation combined with the impact of the local environment on population health brings strong recommendations for healthy cities approaches to be part of the future of health promotion. A healthy cities approach embraces systems thinking, addresses fundamental social, economic and environmental determinants, enables participation, is supported by policy and supports health through good governance and guidance