Last winter, Finland’s first ‘Planetary Health Physician’, Dr. Hanna Haveri, sat down to speak with ICLEI about her work with urban greening initiatives in ICLEI member city Lahti (Finland). In recognition of its long-standing history and achievements in sustainable city planning, Lahti was awarded the title of 2021 European Green Capital. Lahti’s sustainable initiatives include efforts to connect its citizens closer to nature and natural green spaces, for example, through its involvement in ‘Planetary Health’. Planetary Health is a 3 year project launched by the UNFCCC and Rockefeller Foundation that encompasses the need for healthier communities while recognising a responsibility of governments to safeguard natural ecosystems.

In the interview, Dr. Hanna Haveri lends a window into her exciting work with Planetary Health and Urban Greening initiatives. The City of Lahti has a 10 year initiative, the Nature Step Program, to engage with public health and environmental initiatives on the municipal level. A wide range of stakeholders are working to make the forest in Lahti more accessible to residents in all facets of life. In collaboration with GoGreenRoutes, an ICLEI supported project, the city of Lahti is piloting the concept of a "health forest" to be implemented next to the healthcare centre in Kintterö. The healthcare centre will support well-being and recovery for staff patients and visitors and will be open to all Lahti citizens to provide the health benefits that nature has to offer.

Read the full Revolve interview here to learn more about a typical day in the life of a Planetary Health Physician.