With World Health Day coming up on the 7th of April, we reflect on how cities are more than concrete and skyscrapers – they are homes to millions seeking healthier, happier lives. By bringing nature back into the heart of urban living and fostering communities that thrive mentally and physically, cities can reshape how people connect with their environment.
Throughout history, humans have been deeply connected to nature, relying on it for survival, from the air we breathe to the water we drink, to the food we grow. Nature connectedness explores how we think, feel, and interact with the natural world. Feeling close to nature fosters a sense of belonging, encourages us to seek it out, and enhances our happiness when immersed in it. Without nature, there is no “us.” When we feel very close to nature, we recognise ourselves as part of the natural world and value our relationship with it.
Contact with nature has many benefits; studies demonstrate that people with high nature connectedness tend to have frequent, long-term contact with nature, spend more time outdoors, exhibit ecologically aware attitudes and behaviours, and are happier. Moreover, exposure to urban nature promotes pleasant moods. Research shows that people who are more connected with nature are usually happier in life since nature can generate positive emotions, including calmness, joy, and creativity (Nisbet & Zelenski, 2011). A population survey revealed that a strong connection to nature significantly boosts well-being, with its impact on life satisfaction being four times greater than socioeconomic status (Martin, White, Hunt, et. al., 2020).
By spending more time enjoying and connecting with nature, our society’s motivation to protect it might increase, ultimately supporting a cycle of benefits for people and the environment. The journey to connect with nature begins with an introspection of our ways of being in, engaging with, and relating to nature. The Nature Connection Handbook provides 5 pathways to nature connection:
Sense: explore and experience nature through all senses
Beauty: seek and appreciate the beauty of the natural world
Emotion: notice and welcome the feelings nature inspire
Meaning: celebrate and share nature’s events and stores
Compassion: help and care for nature
This approach aligns with GBF Target 12 which aims to ensure biodiversity-inclusive urban planning to improve human health and wellbeing.
Numerous studies have shown that access to green spaces in cities has profound effects on human health:
Mental health benefits
Spending just two hours a week in nature significantly reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, according to research published in Nature (2019). Exposure to green environments has been shown to lower cortisol levels, significantly reducing the body’s primary stress hormone.
Physical health improvements
Urban greenery encourages physical activity such as walking, jogging, or cycling, helping combat lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. The presence of trees and parks is linked to improved air quality, reducing respiratory problems.
Community connection
Shared green spaces foster social cohesion and a sense of belonging, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation, especially among vulnerable groups like the elderly.
Barcelona’s superblocks: The city has transformed car-dominated streets into vibrant pedestrian-friendly zones filled with greenery. This initiative has reduced air pollution by 25% in some areas and increased physical activity among residents. See Barcelona’s CitiesWithNature profile here.
High line, New York City: This elevated linear park repurposed an old railway track into a lush green corridor, attracting over 8 million visitors annually while improving mental well-being and local biodiversity. See New York’s CitiesWithNature here.
Tokyo’s green walls and rooftops: The city incentivizes green roofs and vertical gardens, providing mental relief and lowering urban heat islands, which improves overall livability.
Singapore’s therapeutic gardens: Designed specifically for mental well-being, these gardens are used for stress relief and dementia care, showcasing how tailored green spaces can address public health needs.
Del Carmen’s Mangrove Management Program: Demonstrated how environmental restoration can enhance both ecosystems and human health. The city created a science-backed plan that not only conserved mangroves but also improved the lives of locals. Key strategies included policy changes, environmental education, and raising awareness about the link between nature and well-being.
Utrecht’s NbS for urban resilience and wellbeing: The city promotes healthy urban living through a green and blue framework that integrates climate regulation, noise reduction, recreation, and cleaner air. The city’s tree policy addresses environmental challenges while providing green spaces for recreation, contributing to the physical and mental well-being of residents.
Human health and well-being are inextricably linked to the health of the natural world. International scientific assessments, including the IPCC and IPBES, emphasize that achieving sustainability requires halting and reversing biodiversity loss. The IPBES further claims that sustainable goals will not be achieved without a ‘transformative change’ including an increase in ‘awareness of connectivity in the environmental crisis and new norms regarding interactions between humans and nature’.
It’s now widely acknowledged that we are facing a triple planetary crisis caused by humans’ use of Earth’s resources. Large-scale political, economical, social and cultural shifts are needed to meet the challenges we face in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution emergencies. The principle of nature connection can be applied at subnational and local levels to foster nature-positive change, enabling communities to lead meaningful, healthy, and happy lives.
Cities and regions with strong ties to nature can drive sustainable development by aligning the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prioritizing long-term interventions and collective action to protect urban biodiversity is essential to prevent irreversible harm to the natural systems we rely on.
Create green infrastructure
Expand urban parks, plant trees, and invest in green roofs and walls.
Prioritize accessibility
Ensure green spaces are safe, inclusive, and accessible to all, particularly in underserved communities.
Promote nature-based activities
Encourage outdoor recreation, gardening programs, and eco-education to foster deeper connections with nature.
Engage the community
Collaborate with local groups, schools, and businesses to co-create spaces that reflect community needs.
By embedding nature into the fabric of cities, we can nurture happier, healthier communities while addressing global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. Cities can transform into thriving ecosystems that serve both the planet and people.
To learn more about what cities are doing for nature visit our Action Platform.