Urban Green Spaces can promote Health and Well-Being

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How can Urban Green Spaces promote well-being?

Cities today account for more than 55% of the global population, a figure projected to rise to around 68% by 20501United Nations. “68% of the World Population Projected to Live in Urban Areas by 2050, Says UN,” United Nations, 2018, https://www.un.org/. This rapid urbanisation brings significant challenges that can be detrimental to human health and well-being as the modern urban lifestyle is associated with chronic stress, insufficient physical activity, poor diet and exposure to pollution which are linked to the increase in non-communicable diseases like obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and mental illness2Matthias Braubach, Andrey Egorov, Pierpaolo Mudu, Tanja Wolf, Catharine Ward Thompson, Marco Martuzzi, “Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience”, 2017, Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas..

Urban green spaces, such as parks, playgrounds and residential greenery, as well as urban farming, can promote mental and physical health in urban residents by providing psychological relaxation and stress alleviation, stimulating social cohesion, supporting physical activity, and reducing exposure to air pollutants, noise and excessive heat3Matthias Braunbach, “Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience”..

The importance of improving access to green spaces in cities was recognised by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11.7, which aims to achieve the following: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.”4United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. United Nations, no date, https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11

Watch this video to learn more about the link between green urban space and health and the trade-offs cities must consider when deciding to prioritise green urban space over growth in industries and work opportunities for example:

Define well-being in urban environments

The concept of well-being in a contemporary city refers to people’s ability to live healthy, creative and fulfilling lives5Nimish Biloria et al., “Urban Wellbeing in the Contemporary City”, Researchgate, 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/. Well-being therefore includes several key factors:

  • Good health: covers both mental and physical well-being, supported by clean air and water.
  • Good social relations: involves strong community bonds, mutual respect, and caring for others.
  • Security: includes access to resources, personal safety, and protection from natural and man-made disasters, such as food and physical security.
  • Freedom of choice and action: allows individuals to pursue their goals, which is influenced by education and is essential for social fairness and equality.

Urban green spaces can play a vital role in achieving these well-being goals. They can improve air and water quality, regulate climate, support biodiversity, and can also provide social meeting points and increase security, all of which boost both physical and mental health, making cities more sustainable, safe and livable6Luis Valenca Pinto et al, “Green and blue infrastructure (GBI) and urban nature-based solutions (NbS) contribution to human and ecological well-being and health”, Oxford Open Infrastructure and Health”, 2023, https://academic.oup.com/.

Furthermore, when designed well, cities with green spaces not only support healthier citizens but also become more resilient to extreme weather events like heat waves and heavy rainfall, reducing strain on health services and strengthening local economies7WHO, “Urban green spaces and health – a review of evidence”, 2016, https://www.who.int/.

Watch this videos to learn more about well-being:

The Biophilia Hypothesis

Biophilia refers to the innate human connection to nature, reflecting our deep-rooted affinity for the natural world and its positive impact on our well-being.

One of the most famous studies demonstrating the impact of biophilia is Roger Ulrich’s 1984 study on the recovery of hospital patients. Ulrich found that patients recovering from gallbladder surgery healed faster and required less pain medication when their hospital room had a view of nature (trees) compared to those whose rooms faced a brick wall.

The key findings of the study were:

  • Patients with a view of greenery spent fewer days in the hospital.
  • They reported less pain and required fewer doses of strong painkillers.
  • Nurses noted these patients had fewer post-operative complications.

This study provided strong evidence for the biophilia hypothesis, showing how exposure to nature can positively influence both physical and mental health. It has since become a foundational reference for incorporating biophilic design in healthcare settings and beyond8Roger S Ulrich, View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery”, 1984, Science, https://www.researchgate.net/.

Watch this video to think about the impact of nature on your well-being:

Building on the Biophilia Hypothesis in cities – Mental benefits

Building on the biophilia hypothesis, recent research has demonstrated that urban green spaces significantly benefit the mental health of citizens by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, while also enhancing cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities, likely due to nature’s calming influence and its ability to restore mental focus and alleviate fatigue9Marcia P Jimenez at Al., “Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence”, 2021, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.

Green spaces in urban environments provide opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and time spent outdoors, all of which contribute to improved mental health and improved cognitive functions.

Building on the Biophilia Hypothesis in cities – Physical benefits

Green spaces also provide numerous physical health benefits for citizens. Access to green spaces facilitates regular exercise that helps prevent chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension by promoting cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and overall physical well-being10WHO, “Urban green spaces”, 2016.. Furthermore, outdoor exercise in nature is often more enjoyable, motivating people to be more consistent in maintaining their physical fitness11Phi-Yen Nguyen et Al., ”Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review”, 2021, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.

Increased green spaces also lead to better air quality which reduces the incidence of respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies. Exposure to nature has also been shown to boost the immune system by increasing the body’s natural killer cell activity, which helps fight infections and illnesses. Time spent outdoors in green spaces often means exposure to sunlight, which is vital for synthesising vitamin D, essential for bone health, immune function, and preventing diseases like osteoporosis12​​Liisa Andersen et Al., “Nature Exposure and Its Effects on Immune System Functioning: A Systematic Review”, 2021, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. The combination of increased physical activity, better air quality, and natural health boosters makes green spaces critical for promoting physical health in urban environments.

Urban green space recommendations

Access to urban green space is essential for citizen health and well-being and as a result, the WHO recommends that all residential homes in Europe should be within 300 meters from a green space measuring at least 0.5 hectares. Results show that 62% of the European population lives in areas with less green space than recommended13Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen: “Why More Green Space Is Essential for Cities”, 2021, https://www.isglobal.org/.

Cecil Konijnendijk, an urban forester, goes a step further and proposes the 3-30-300 principle as a rule of thumb for green space in cities in Europe14Prof. Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch, “Promoting health and wellbeing through urban forests – Introducing the 3-30-300 rule”, 2021, https://iucnurbanalliance.org/.
Here’s how it works:

  1. 3 Trees from Every Home: Everyone should be able to see at least three trees from their home. This proximity to greenery significantly enhances mental health and well-being. Cities like Frederiksberg in Denmark have already implemented the policies needed to meet this objective.
  2. 30% Tree Canopy Cover in Every Neighborhood: A minimum of 30% tree canopy in neighbourhoods helps cool the area, improve air quality, reduce noise, and promote both physical and mental health. Leafy environments also encourage outdoor activities and social interaction. Ambitious cities like Barcelona and Vancouver have adopted this target, which can be adjusted for local conditions, such as prioritising certain types of vegetation in arid climates.
  3. 300 Meters to the Nearest Park or Green Space: Everyone should live within a 5-10 minute walk (300 meters) of a green space, as easy access to parks promotes recreation, physical activity, and mental well-being. This aligns with the World Health Organization’s recommendations and can be adapted to local needs, including linear green spaces in dense urban areas or parks in suburban neighborhoods15Prof. Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch, “Promoting health and wellbeing through urban forests – Introducing the 3-30-300 rule”, 2021, https://iucnurbanalliance.org/.

Check out how European cities rank regarding Urban Green Space: https://isglobalranking.org/

Case Study

Bibliography
Notes
  • 1
    United Nations. “68% of the World Population Projected to Live in Urban Areas by 2050, Says UN,” United Nations, 2018, https://www.un.org/
  • 2
    Matthias Braubach, Andrey Egorov, Pierpaolo Mudu, Tanja Wolf, Catharine Ward Thompson, Marco Martuzzi, “Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience”, 2017, Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas.
  • 3
    Matthias Braunbach, “Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience”.
  • 4
    United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. United Nations, no date, https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11
  • 5
    Nimish Biloria et al., “Urban Wellbeing in the Contemporary City”, Researchgate, 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/
  • 6
    Luis Valenca Pinto et al, “Green and blue infrastructure (GBI) and urban nature-based solutions (NbS) contribution to human and ecological well-being and health”, Oxford Open Infrastructure and Health”, 2023, https://academic.oup.com/
  • 7
    WHO, “Urban green spaces and health – a review of evidence”, 2016, https://www.who.int/
  • 8
    Roger S Ulrich, View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery”, 1984, Science, https://www.researchgate.net/
  • 9
    Marcia P Jimenez at Al., “Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence”, 2021, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
  • 10
    WHO, “Urban green spaces”, 2016.
  • 11
    Phi-Yen Nguyen et Al., ”Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review”, 2021, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
  • 12
    ​​Liisa Andersen et Al., “Nature Exposure and Its Effects on Immune System Functioning: A Systematic Review”, 2021, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
  • 13
    Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen: “Why More Green Space Is Essential for Cities”, 2021, https://www.isglobal.org/
  • 14
    Prof. Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch, “Promoting health and wellbeing through urban forests – Introducing the 3-30-300 rule”, 2021, https://iucnurbanalliance.org/
  • 15
    Prof. Cecil Konijnendijk van den Bosch, “Promoting health and wellbeing through urban forests – Introducing the 3-30-300 rule”, 2021, https://iucnurbanalliance.org/