The natural environment is important for human health. Greater access to parks, trees and greenspaces in dense urban areas is linked to lower risks for several of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Canada. The Nature of Health report explores the opportunity to leverage these connections and illustrates the role that nature-based solutions can have for building healthier and more resilient Canadian communities.
Despite a promising link between urban nature and human health, quantifying these health benefits continues to present a significant challenge for Canadian decision-makers seeking to capture the full value of using nature-based solutions. Ensuring an equitable distribution of health benefits from using nature-based solutions is an additional, ongoing concern. To address these challenges, the report aims to provide a better understanding of the emerging nexus between urban nature, human health and climate change, while highlighting the necessary tools, data, assessment methodologies and evaluation techniques that are needed to capture the full value of health benefits from using nature-based solutions.
It also emphasizes the growing number of opportunities and project tools available to support local and regional governments in Canada to accelerate the integration of environmental health considerations in their long-term strategic plans.