Greening the city: Thriving for biodiversity and sustainability

Pereira, Paulo; Baró, Francesc

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153032

Cited by 32 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 109 publications

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“…It suggests that, if we find ways to connect people with nature, we could increase their willingness to engage in pro-environmental behaviour, which, in turn, could help address the climate and ecological emergency. Importantly, the theme "species solidarity" highlighted the importance of natural spaces rich in biodiversity for connection to other species, with the quality of biodiversity interventions being key [50,51]. Both nature connection and, in a separate theme, awareness of shifting weather patterns and the influence that they had on our participants' solitude moments put things in perspective for participants, helping them to think about themselves in relation to the natural world in a new and connected light.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to Nature Fosters Well-Being in Solitude

2023

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There has been growing interest in the ways that individuals connected with nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when they were alone in solitude. This study explored key themes describing individuals’ relationships with nature during this period and, more specifically, when individuals were relating to nature during time spent alone. Sixty participants (aged 19–80 years) discussed solitude during in-depth interviews. Participants were from different backgrounds and 20 different countries of origin. Thematic analysis was conducted by two architects (who may have been sensitive to the functional interaction of spaces in connecting people and nature) and identified descriptions of nature from broader narratives of solitude and time spent alone. Extracts from interview transcripts were coded using hierarchical thematic analysis and a pragmatist approach. The results showed that natural spaces were integral to experiencing positive solitude and increased the chance that solitude time could be used for rest, rejuvenation, stress relief, and reflective thought. Being in their local natural spaces also allowed participants to more spontaneously shift from solitude to social connection, supporting a sense of balance between these two states of being. Finally, solitude in nature, in part because of attention to shifting weather, gave a new perspective. As a result, participants reported increased species solidarity—the awareness that humans are part of an ecosystem shared with other species. We interpret the results in terms of the implications for built environments and the importance of accessing nature for well-being.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to Nature Fosters Well-Being in Solitude

2023

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“…Importantly, many greening practices are being established in cities worldwide to mitigate climate change effects (196). Planting trees and native plant species is an important part of creating better means to sequester carbon and reduce temperatures and CO 2 .…”

Section: Increasing Biodiversity and Exposure To Natural Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune-mediated disease caused by climate change-associated environmental hazards: mitigation and adaptation

Agache,

Akdis,

Akdis

et al. 2024

Front. Sci.

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Global warming and climate change have increased the pollen burden and the frequency and intensity of wildfires, sand and dust storms, thunderstorms, and heatwaves—with concomitant increases in air pollution, heat stress, and flooding. These environmental stressors alter the human exposome and trigger complex immune responses. In parallel, pollutants, allergens, and other environmental factors increase the risks of skin and mucosal barrier disruption and microbial dysbiosis, while a loss of biodiversity and reduced exposure to microbial diversity impairs tolerogenic immune development. The resulting immune dysregulation is contributing to an increase in immune-mediated diseases such as asthma and other allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. It is now abundantly clear that multisectoral, multidisciplinary, and transborder efforts based on Planetary Health and One Health approaches (which consider the dependence of human health on the environment and natural ecosystems) are urgently needed to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. Key actions include reducing emissions and improving air quality (through reduced fossil fuel use), providing safe housing (e.g., improving weatherization), improving diets (i.e., quality and diversity) and agricultural practices, and increasing environmental biodiversity and green spaces. There is also a pressing need for collaborative, multidisciplinary research to better understand the pathophysiology of immune diseases in the context of climate change. New data science techniques, biomarkers, and economic models should be used to measure the impact of climate change on immune health and disease, to inform mitigation and adaptation efforts, and to evaluate their effectiveness. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) considerations should be integral to these efforts to address disparities in the impact of climate change.

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“…For improving soundscape quality, natural sounds seem to be preferred and promoted [79,80]. The promotion of natural sound could be supported through the use of renewable biological resources such as the establishment of plants, acting as part of noise mitigation techniques with noise insulation and sound absorption properties [81,82]. Applying the bioeconomic approach [83] in the management of the urban acoustic environment in terms of materials and strategy plans regarding noise mitigation could be a promising field with multiple co-benefits.…”

Section: Urban Green Infrastructurementioning

confidence: 99%

The Sound of a Circular City: Towards a Circularity-Driven Quietness

Tsaligopoulos

Kyvelou

Chiotinis

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The circular economy paradigm can be beneficial for urban sustainability by eliminating waste and pollution, by circulating products and materials and by regenerating nature. Furthermore, under an urban circular development scheme, environmental noise can be designed out. The current noise control policies and actions, undertaken at a source–medium–receiver level, present a linearity with minimum sustainability co-benefits. A circular approach in noise control strategies and in soundscape design could offer numerous ecologically related co-benefits. The global literature documenting the advantages of the implementation of circular economy in cities has highlighted noise mitigation as a given benefit. Research involving circular economy actions such as urban green infrastructure, green walls, sustainable mobility systems and electro-mobility has acknowledged reduced noise levels as a major circularity outcome. In this research paper, we highlight the necessity of a circularity and bioeconomy approach in noise control. To this end, a preliminary experimental noise modeling study was conducted to showcase the acoustic benefits of green walls and electric vehicles in a medium-sized urban area of a Mediterranean island. The results indicate a noise level reduction at 4 dB(A) when simulating the introduction of urban circular development actions.

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Greening the city: Thriving for biodiversity and sustainability

Cited by 32 publications

References 109 publications

Access to Nature Fosters Well-Being in Solitude

Access to Nature Fosters Well-Being in Solitude

Immune-mediated disease caused by climate change-associated environmental hazards: mitigation and adaptation

The Sound of a Circular City: Towards a Circularity-Driven Quietness

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