Healthier Cities Will Require a Strong Dose of Nature

If current global trends hold true, in 2025 approx 41 million people will die from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and severe mental illness – accounting for about 74 percent of all deaths globally. Despite great advances in medicine over the past few decades, the number of deaths from NCDs is still rising.

One of the main factors in the increase of NCDs is urbanization: Research clearly shows that people living in urban areas without access to green spaces have a higher incidence of NCDs. Considering that by 2050 two out of three most likely living in cities, these trends are extremely worrying.

On the other hand, a number of recent studies on population in different cities around the world shows living people greener fields In addition to presenting a lower rate of NCDs, it also provides significantly better physical and mental health. This relationship remains statistically strong regardless of an individual’s socioeconomic status, age, or gender. In fact, the evidence for this association is so strong that in 2022, 196 countries United Nations Conference of the Parties on Biological Diversity By 2030, the city has signed an international agreement that includes a commitment to significantly increase the green area.

What are the green areas that provide resistance to AIDS? More opportunities for exercise, cleaner air and less heat stress are all reasons cited – with evidence supporting a definite role for urban vegetation in this regard.

Importantly, there is also strong scientific evidence that biochemical pathways are activated in our bodies when we interact directly with nature. beneficial health effects. This research topic started when a group of Japanese scientists tried to determine the true benefits of forest bathing.shinrin-yoku. The evidence they found was so convincing that drugs are now being prescribed to patients with certain NCDs in Japan. spending time sitting in the woods.

The good news is that we can achieve similar health benefits in urban green spaces and indoor vegetation. Clinical experience shows that it is as simple as having something a vase of unscented flowers for example, being at your desk can significantly lower your blood pressure and induce physiological and psychological relaxation. You can also have leafy plants in your home and office, especially plants with green and yellow leaves.