Introduction. Human health, social and environmental sustainability are deeply interconnected challenges where urban planning is a key leverage point. Urban nature such as green (vegetation) and blue (water) space provide multiple ecosystem services, and is associated with a range of benefits to health, wellbeing and behaviours supporting health and environment. However, population-based studies using high-resolution, individual-level assessments of residential environment (incl. greenspace dimensions) combined with health and behaviour measures have been sparse.
Purpose & methods. A series of large-scale population-based studies in Sweden were conducted (N≈120,000). High-resolution, individual-level assessments of residential greenspace dimensions and other environmental factors (e.g., ambient noise, air pollution, neighbourhood socioeconomics) were linked with national registers of prescription medication use, dementia outcomes, and survey data multiple aspects of mental health, incl. emotional and social, and health related behaviours. Behaviour-related, self-selected nature interactions including frequency and type of nature visits, and it's role in health and wellbeing dimensions, were also studied in sub-cohorts.
Results. Across studies, greater availability of residential greenspace, especially in the immediate surroundings (50-100 m buffer zones), was consistently associated with lower risk of psychopharmacological medication use, better self-reported psychological health and wellbeing. Greenspace further showed potential buffering effects against negative impacts of traffic noise. Self-selected interactions with nature—where spending time in forests and residential gardens stood out—were associated with better mental health and wellbeing, incl. emotional, social and behavioural aspects, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions. Green infrastructure supports human, social, and environmental resilience through multiple pathways, including emotional, cognitive, social, other behavioural processes, and additional ecosystem services. Integrating insights regarding salubrious greenspace dimensions into the policy and practice of designing our living environments offers evidence-based strategies to promote public health, foster social and environmental sustainability, and build resilience in the face of global challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss.