Environmental wellbeing: how environmental wellbeing can improve the quality of life for everyone

We live at a time in which awareness of the environment and sustainability is not a topic that interests just few people, but it has become a key matter today, and one of great urgency. There are several reasons for this change: from climatic change to air pollution, from the reduction of biodiversity to the importance of ecosystem services which ensure our survival. In this situation the concept of “environmental wellbeing” plays an increasingly vital role in trying to combine the necessity of living in harmony with our planet and the desire to keep our standard of living at a high level.

The protection of nature is often seen as a matter that is "distant" from everyday life: trees, parks and nature reserves are perceived as marginal elements compared to the very fast pace of urban life. However, the health of our environment is closely connected with our physical, psychological and economic wellbeing. Air quality, the availability of green spaces and the protection of biodiversity are just some of the components that contribute to defining this state of "environmental wellbeing", which has a direct impact on our health and prosperity.

In this article, we will explore the concept of environmental wellbeing, analyzing its definitions and facets. We will focus on the importance of air quality, access to green spaces and conservation of biodiversity. We will analyze how each of these elements affects public health, the economy and quality of life by exploring policies and practices implemented or to be implemented to improve the conditions of our living environment.

What is environmental wellbeing?

The concept of "environmental wellbeing" goes far beyond pollution or degradation. It describes a condition of balance in which natural ecosystems thrive and the relationship between humans and the environment is based on respect, sustainability and harmony. In other words, it is based on several conditions that allow people to live safely, to enjoy clean air, drinking water, healthy food, green spaces for regeneration and natural systems capable of renewal and providing essential resources also to future generations.

I problemi ambientali più preoccupanti, anno 2022. Fonte: Istat, Indagine Aspetti della vita quotidiana.

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights how a healthy environment is crucial in preventing many chronic diseases, reducing the risks of pandemics and improving the psychological and physical wellbeing of individuals. The European Environment Agency (EEA) stresses the strong connection between human health and the environment: air pollution, soil contamination and loss of biodiversity have a direct impact on the quality of life and health costs of a country.

If we were to give a short definition of environmental wellbeing, we could define it as the ideal state in which nature can regenerate and satisfy human dreams without suffering irreparable damage. This concept, therefore, involves not only the health of ecosystems but also the way in which human societies decide to relate to them through policies, lifestyles and economic and cultural choices.

Why is environmental wellbeing so important for everyday life?

Environmental wellbeing is a basic necessity, not just a superfluous or an irrelevant aspect of human existence. Consider, for example, the importance of breathing clean air: this is so basic that it seems almost obvious, yet over half the world’s population lives in areas where levels of atmospheric pollution exceed recommended safety levels.

Let us also focus on access to green spaces: contact with nature has been shown to have beneficial effects on the nervous system, contributing to mental wellbeing and even stimulating creativity. Biodiversity, often perceived as a mere "environmental" issue, is also crucial to ensuring the stability of our food and pharmaceutical supplies as well as many other products.

In short, a healthy environment has a direct and concrete impact on our quality of life. The benefits range from reduced stress to better physical health, not considering the financial savings due to reduced incidence of pollution-related diseases and increased employment opportunities in the green economy sector.

People living in big cities are familiar with challenges like traffic jams, air pollution and the lack of green areas. However, the feeling of wellbeing one experiences in parks with trees or intact natural ecosystems is tangible proof of how much the environment affects our health and mood.

The main components of environmental wellbeing

Three factors that, among others, contribute to the definition of environmental wellbeing are key and at the same time the focus of most scientific studies and policies:

1. Air Quality
2. Access to green spaces
3. Biodiversity

Let us have a look, one by one, at the reasons why each of those factors are crucial for our survival and wellbeing.

Air Quality

Air pollution: causes and impacts

Air pollution is one of the main factors that are detrimental to environmental wellbeing. The causes are, among others, industrial emissions, vehicular traffic, heating of homes and forest fires, to name a few. According to the WHO, air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to human health, causing millions of premature deaths worldwide every year.

In Europe, the European Environment Agency ([EEA](http://)) estimates that fine dust (PM2.5) is responsible for more than 300,000 deaths per year. Exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) can cause and worsen respiratory diseases (such as asthma and chronic bronchitis), cardiovascular diseases and even neurological disorders. In addition, there is the emerging issue of indoor pollution, often caused by chemicals in paints, glues, detergents and environmentally unfriendly furniture.

Impact on health and on the quality of life

Poor air quality not only results in higher health costs, but also in reduced economic productivity. People living in polluted areas experience headaches, eye irritation, fatigue and sleep disturbances more often. In children, exposure to certain air pollutants can affect lung and neurological development, adversely affecting school performance.

Cities with high levels of smog often have a lower quality of life for their inhabitants, which may also impact tourism and economic activities. On the other hand, cleaner air means fewer days for sick leave, greater physical and mental wellbeing, reduced health care costs and increased attractiveness of the area as a favorable place in which to live and invest.

How to improve air quality

• Reduction of industrial emissions: requires cleaner technologies and stringent regulations.
• Sustainable mobility: incentives for public transport, cycle paths, low-emission zones, electric vehicles and car sharing.

• Use of renewable energies: solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy instead of fossil fuels.

• Sustainable construction: thermal insulation, natural ventilation, choice of non-toxic materials.

The concept has now become clear in many European cities and it is to create "people-friendly" urban centres, reducing private traffic and improving public transport. The results of cities like Copenhagen or Amsterdam, which strongly promote cycling, show how economic development and air quality can be combined.

Access to green spaces

The psychological and physical benefits of parks and green areas

Let us now focus on another crucial factor of environmental wellbeing: access to green spaces. Studies by the WHO and several international research bodies have shown that contact with nature has a positive effect on people’s mental and physical health. Walking in a park, exercising outdoors or even just looking out over the green landscape can reduce stress, improve mood and even lower blood pressure.

According to a study published in Environmental Research, spending at least 120 minutes per week in natural environments such as parks or forests is associated with a marked improvement in psychological wellbeing. Another research conducted by the University of Exeter found that living near a green area can reduce the risk of mental disorders and increase overall existential satisfaction. In Japan, "forest bathing" (shinrin-yoku) has long been practiced as a form of natural therapy to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) levels and promote relaxation.

Social and economic benefits of green spaces

Green spaces are not only a place for recreation, but also a social and economic investment. Here are some of the most important advantages:

• Regulation of the urban microclimate: trees and plants help to absorb carbon dioxide, cool air and mitigate the "heat island" effect typical of large cities.
• Increasing urban biodiversity: parks can act as ecological corridors, supporting local fauna and flora.
• Real estate value and attractiveness: Real estate located near green areas often have a higher market value, and the city itself becomes more attractive to residents, tourists and businesses.
• Social cohesion: urban parks and gardens promote people-to-people encounters as well as collective activities, festivals, markets and active citizenship initiatives.

How to increase the access to parks and green areas

• Smart urban planning: allocate specific areas to the creation and protection of parks, urban gardens and shared gardens.
• Urban regeneration: recovering disused industrial areas or degraded peripheral areas, transforming them into green spaces.
• Ecosystem services: promote the planting of trees in streets and squares, and encourage the spread of educational gardens in schools.
• Environmental education: organize guided tours, educational workshops and recreational activities that involve citizens in the care of parks.

Many Italian and European cities have started urban "green" paths, creating vertical forests, garden roofs and shared gardens: examples such as the Bosco Verticale in Milan or the river parks in Turin show that a positive transformation is possible bringing tangible benefits to the community.

Biodiversity

Why biodiversity is crucial

Biodiversity, defined as a variety of animal and plant species and micro-organisms, is not just an aesthetic value or heritage to be admired in documentaries. It is the network that sustains life on the planet and on which fundamental ecosystem aspects such as pollination, soil fertility, water cycle regulation and climate balance depend. To give a concrete example, much of the fruit and vegetables we consume requires pollination by insects, bees in the first place. If these pollinators were to disappear due to pesticides or environmental changes, our food production would be devastated.

According to IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) about a million animal and plant species is at risk of extinction in the next few decades, a number never seen before in human history. The main causes are habitat destruction, pollution, over-exploitation of resources and introduction of invasive species. Biodiversity loss is not just a problem for those involved in nature conservation: it means that ecosystems are less able to adapt to climate change, and this also affects food security and availability of water resources..

Impact on human health and economy

An environment rich in biodiversity is more resistant to disease and pests, reduces the need for chemical pesticides and supports a more varied and nutritious diet. The FAO, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, points out that the diversity of plant and animal species is crucial to ensuring global food security. Many drugs are also derived directly or indirectly from plants and natural organisms: the disappearance of plant species could prevent potential medical discoveries.

 

From an economic point of view, biodiversity supports whole sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, nature tourism and pharmaceuticals. Without proper ecosystem services, there will be an increase in farming costs (for example, increased use of fertilizers and pesticides) and production systems will be less resilient to external shocks (extreme weather events, drought, pest invasions).

 

Actions to protect biodiversity

• Protection and restoration of natural habitats: creation of national parks, marine reserves and protected areas, and promotion of green areas in degraded neighborhoods.
• Sustainable agriculture: reduction of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, crop rotation, organic farming and permaculture techniques.
• Conservation of endangered species: targeted projects aiming at rearing and reintroducing those species, gene banks, ecological corridors.
• Reducing pollution: better control of industrial and agricultural waste, limit plastic in the seas, promote clean mobility and energy.
• Monitoring and research: to strengthen scientific studies on biodiversity, including through citizen science, to understand how populations of key species are evolving.

The importance of environmental wellbeing for human health, the economy and the quality of life

We have seen how air quality, green spaces and biodiversity contribute to environmental wellbeing. It is important to link these elements with the concrete benefits that a community can achieve when its environment is healthy.

Direct benefits on health

• Reduced risk of respiratory diseases: cleaner air means fewer fine dust and fewer pollutants, and therefore fewer cases of asthma, chronic bronchitis and cardiovascular disease.
• Support for mental health: contact with nature, especially in green areas, reduces stress and anxiety, improves concentration and promotes a more stable mood.
• Reducing allergies: protecting ecosystems helps to keep the balance among the different variety of plant species, reducing the proliferation of invasive plants that can cause allergic reactions.
• Better food quality: biodiversity ensures that soils are fertile and pollinators do their job, providing more abundant and nutritious crops.

Economic benefits

• Reduced health costs: fewer pollution-related diseases result in lower expenses for the health system and families.
• Increased attractiveness for tourism: areas with valuable natural landscapes and clean air attract more tourists, contributing to the local economy.
• Job opportunities in the green economy: supporting sustainability creates new job opportunites, for environmental engineers, organic farmers, nature guides, renewable energy experts and so on.

 

• Resilient productive ecosystems: a healthy environment allows to better cope with climate crises or extreme natural events, limiting economic damage.

Actions to protect biodiversity

• Living in more livable cities: less traffic and smog, more green spaces, cycle paths and pedestrian zones. All this makes urban life more serene and stimulating.
• More opportunities for recreation: from forest trails to urban cycle paths, parks, nature areas and agricultural tourism, a healthy environment offers countless opportunities for recreation.
• Social cohesion: the care of common spaces, such as parks and urban gardens, promotes the encounter between citizens, creating a sense of belonging and solidarity.

Policies and practices to promote environmental wellbeing

The promotion of environmental wellbeing requires an integrated approach involving institutions, companies, citizens and the scientific community. Let us look at some of the policies and good practices already in place or to be encouraged.

Global initiatives

• International climate agreements: the Paris Agreement (2015) sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to contain the rise in global temperatures.
• UN 2030 Agenda: the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework to address challenges such as hunger, poverty, health, education and environmental protection.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): aims at protecting biodiversity, promoting the sustainable use of ecosystems and the fair sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources.

National and regional policies

• Energy saving and emission reduction plans: many regions and cities have adopted strategies to encourage renewable energy sources and limit the use of fossil fuels.
• Protected areas and national parks: Italy, for example, has a vast system of parks and nature reserves that helps to preserve unique habitats and species.
• Strategies for biodiversity: some countries are adopting specific plans to protect flora and fauna with measures to reintroduce extinct species and conserve habitats.
• Waste regulations: separate collection, recycling and reducing landfills are key elements of a circular economy that aims at reducing the waste of resources.

Local and citizen actions

• Urban farming and shared gardens: growing vegetables and fruits in the city reduces the impact of transport, promotes sociability and allows to recover disused urban areas.
• Gentle mobility: promote the use of bicycles, public transport and electric vehicles on daily routes.
• Environmental education: awareness campaigns in schools and among citizens, training courses, thematic events and educational workshops.
• Green Design and green building practices: to prefer natural, non-toxic and low-impact materials, to design energy efficient buildings and exploit renewable sources.

The role of companies

Companies play a key role in the process of ecologic transition. Increasingly more companies are realizing that supporting sustainability is not only a moral duty, but also a business opportunity:

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): many companies include strategies of sustainability in their budgets, reporting on the ecologic actions they have taken.
• Circular economy: the adoption of production and consumption models that extend the life cycle of products, reducing waste and environmental impact.
• Technological innovation: the development of clean technologies, innovative materials and energy-efficient production processes.

How each of us can contribute

Despite the crucial role of global, national and local policies, individual behavior remains a key factor in improving environmental wellbeing. Here are some concrete actions that we can all put into practice:

1. Reduce waste: go food shopping bearing in mind to avoid waste and to buy just what is needed, store food properly and use products that last.
2. Limit the use of cars: choose public transport, share journeys (car pooling), walk or cycle when possible.
3. Energy saving: use LED bulbs, insulate your house thermally, switch off electronic devices completely instead of leaving them in stand-by.
4. Take care of urban greenery: participate in initiatives for planting trees, take care of shared vegetable gardens, report plant degradation or disease to responsible citizens.
5. Promote sustainable consumption: prefer local and organic products, ecologic materials, sustainable clothes, eco-friendly cleaning products.
6. Collect information and raise awareness: read, study and share information on good environmental practices; participate in initiatives to clean urban spaces or to organize events for raising awareness.

Examples of good practices and effective models

To make the visual impact of some initiatives more concrete it is worth mentioning some virtuous examples:

• Vertical urban farms: in Singapore, but also in other European towns, projects of vertical farming have been developed allowing to grow vegetables and medicinal herbs in small areas saving lots of water and without using chemical pesticides.
• Urban forests: with the project “ForestaMI” Milan aims to plant about 3 million trees within 2030 to improve air quality and create green corridors between different areas of the city.
• Rewilding projects: in some areas of Europe (such as The Netherlands or Scotland) large areas have been returned to nature, encouraging the return of animal species that had disappeared and the reconstitution of more resilient ecosystems.
• Plastic-free policy: different coastal and lake areas in Italy and worldwide have banned the use of single-use plastic, drastically reducing polluting waste landing in the sea and surrounding environment.

Environmental wellbeing is a vast multidimensional concept that includes the health of ecosystems, air quality, access to green spaces, biodiversity and, above all, the balanced relationship between man and nature. A healthy environment is not just a moral responsibility to the planet: it is an investment in our future ensuring that future generations can also make use of vital resources, enjoy amazing landscapes and development opportunities.

Whether you live in a big city or in a small village, every action you make every day can make the difference. Reducing the use of plastic products, choosing sustainable means of transport, supporting virtuous companies and living in a more natural way are all actions that create actual changes. Policies and practices to promote environmental wellbeing can be complex and take years of work, but the perseverance of citizens, governments and companies will trigger real change.

That is why your contribution is important: enquire, share your knowledge, participate in local projects to protect environment and push institutions to do more, demanding from yourself and others a conduct that is consistent with the objective of protecting nature. Only through a shared and conscious commitment can we hope in a future that respects biodiversity, preserves ecosystems and, therefore, the health of everyone.