Effects of urban green space on environmental health equity and resilience to extreme weather

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1 Effects of urban green space on environmental health equity and resilience to extreme weather Matthias Braubach, Andrey Egorov, Pierpaolo Mudu, Tanja Wolf European Centre for Environment and Health WHO Regional Office for Europe

2 Structure 1 Environmental health inequality: the relevance of varying exposure in cities 2 Nature-based solutions and health: a potential mitigation mechanism for targeted and general action 3 The example of urban green spaces: health and equity considerations

3 Examples of environmental / health risks mediated by residential location Air pollution Green spaces Housing Traffic noise

4 Allen/Balfour, Social deprivation and environmental disadvantage 0 % of population

5 Nature-based solutions may have direct health relevance through e.g. Air quality Green space Health Quality of Life NBS Wellbeing Soil Water quality Energy

6 WHO analytical approach for equity

7 Maximizing health benefits of naturebased solutions 35% Environmental disadvantage 35% Environmental disadvantage 30% 30% 25% 25% 20% 20% 15% 15% 10% 10% 5% 5% 0% Very high Vulnerability dimension Very low 0% Very high Vulnerability dimension Very low

8 0% Maximizing health benefits of naturebased solutions 35% Targeted action 30% Geospatial or 25% neighbourhood-specific priorities 20% Target group priorities 15% Consideration of context, 10% use and behaviour 5% Specific mode of delivery Very high Vulnerability level Very low General action City-wide For total population Covering most important needs Multifunctional 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Very high Vulnerability level Very low

9 The example of green spaces Air quality Green space Soil NBS Water quality Energy

10 Health impacts of urban green space Green space characteristics Availability Accessibility Size Functions Public safety Health effect mechanisms Psychological: Viewing/being in green space Socializing Relaxation Physical activity-related: Walking / Cycling Gardening Sports and leisure Ecosystem-related: Noise reduction Air purification Cooling (Urban heat island) Water run-off retention Carbon storage Health outcomes Mental health benefits, stress reduction, etc. General wellbeing All-cause mortality reduction Cardiovascular disease prevention Obesity reduction Improved pregnancy outcomes Quicker recovery

11 Relevance of green space typologies Availability / visual greenery: Mostly affects mood and mental state Small or private green areas (local scale): Leisure, walking, playing, gardening Green structure networks / street green: Active transport (cycling) Large green areas / parks: Sports, jogging etc.; city population Physical benefits Mental benefits

12 Potential risks of NBS Green space Vector-borne diseases (malaria, dengue, West Nile, borreliosis ) Allergies Etc. Potential equity effects (price levels/segregation) Counteracting urban density => rising distances Use of green spaces depends on motivation

13 Limitations for health promotion Green spaces and air purification => Purification capacity only for marginal fraction of urban pollution Green space and UHI reduction: => may reduce peak levels and number of tropical nights but not prevent the risk per se

14 Potential equity benefits Green space: Free of charge!!! Evidence suggest more benefits for disadvantaged groups Co-benefits on social cohesion and stress reduction especially in areas with stressors

15 Assessing accessibility / availability of green spaces WHO ENHIS project Responding to Parma Declaration and SDGs Suggested WHO indicator: Percentage of urban population living within linear distance of 300m from green spaces of minimum 1 hectare Additional indicators: (a) total greenness within a city (NDVI); (b) green space usage (if available) WHO green space and health report with method guide on indicator calculation forthcoming in 2016

16 WHO indicator testing (Utrecht)

17 Conclusions Environmental risks are not distributed equally Less advantaged groups tend to have more risks Nature-based solutions have large potential to affect environmental quality and risks in general, combat climate change impacts, generate direct and indirect health benefits Interventions can be targeted at specific groups or neighbourhoods if strong inequalities exist Green space is a central nature-based solution with multiple positive impacts on health and equity Potential risks and relative effectiveness to be considered

18 Thank you! Contact: Matthias Braubach WHO European Centre for Environment and Health UN Campus, Bonn