Contributions of Biophilia to Sustainable Development

Abstract

Addressing the application of biophilia in urban areas, this article aims to analyze the effectiveness of its implementation in promoting sustainable development in its three main dimensions: environmental, economic, and social. The study proposes three specific objectives. Firstly, to highlight the intrinsic connection between humans and nature, examining how this relationship has evolved over time and how the biophilic concept reaffirms it as a fundamental core. Next, to analyze how the 2030 Agenda, a global commitment to sustainable development, relates to biophilic principles, and to assess whether Brazilian legislation is contributing to integrating these principles into urban life in the country. Finally, to investigate and understand how the different dimensions of sustainable development connect to biophilic principles and their impacts on well-being in urban areas, especially in achieving goal 11.7 of the aforementioned Agenda. Considering biophilia as one of the guiding principles of sustainable development, it is concluded that when applied in urban areas, it is a principled conception capable of reconciling urban progress and human relations with nature, providing an increase in individuals' well-being and contributing to the expansion of green areas in urban spaces, as well as collaborating with sustainable precepts. The contribution of this study lies in the need to establish a new paradigm for human interaction with the environment through development that promotes harmonious interaction with nature. To achieve the intended scope, the present research employed the hypothetico-deductive method, starting from the concept of biophilia to analyze whether its principles and guidelines can inspire sustainable actions, involving bibliographic and documentary research.