Perspective: Lockdown highlights the value of green space in cities
News
Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2020
Where you live, your income, and how your government has responded to the pandemic can result in critical differences in the availability and accessibility of green spaces, as shown here by the experience of SEI researchers around the world. In the recovery, public green spaces should play a key role in “building back better”.
Maintaining positive mental health and well-being to relieve the stress of COVID-19 is seen as critical to avoid longer term psychological costs from the pandemic. Access to natural spaces – so called green-and-blue spaces (parks, lakes and riversides) – is known to have positive effects on well-being that could be especially beneficial in the current crisis.
We need to better understand how these differential impacts could indicate future urban development pathways that will make our cities more liveable, equitable and ultimately sustainable, benefiting public health in multiple ways, not only in terms of well-being but also in responding to climate change.