Human health and wellbeing

Human health and wellbeing are one of the key focus issues when it comes to evaluating the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events with catastrophic consequences to infrastructure and settlements as well as growing susceptibility and vulnerability to climate change results in increased losses of lives as well as direct consequences for the human health such as increased morbidity and mortality [1]. There are also direct links between biodiversity and human health. Biodiversity supports functioning of ecosystems and delivery of ecosystem services humans depend on, including food, water and air, and is similarly impacted by climate change as well as human activity [2].

NBS as multifunctional solutions aim at restoring the functioning of ecosystems and (re)establishment of biodiversity as well as reducing the impact of human health and wellbeing. NBS and urban greening have been associated with, among many, mental restoration, lowering anxiety and stress, especially in children and elderly, enhanced physical activity as well as reduced exposure to air pollutants [3]. However, distribution of health and wellbeing benefits of NBS was found to be strongly associated with the aspects of justice and inequality.

Vulnerable populations including children, elderly, lower-income neighbourhoods, immigrants, and other marginalised groups are at highest risk of being affected by climate change due to distribution of NBS and adaptation measures [4], [5]. Carefully designed urban green spaces can promote social health and as well as offer refuge during extreme weather events or other events such as the pandemic [6], [7]. In the Nordics, it was emphasised that integrating NBS in municipal planning and management should start with the policy level that has the potential to align the ongoing activities and tie them together. Aligning departments is another critical step towards designing and managing green spaces [8].