There is growing recognition worldwide that people, animals, and ecosystem health are intertwined. This perspective is termed “One Health” and has become a top priority at ICLEI Europe, where we are actively exploring opportunities to increase awareness of the concept and supporting cities and regions in integrating the concept into their sustainability planning frameworks. ICLEI is joined by cities including ICLEI Members Lahti (Finland) and Bogota, (Columbia), in seeking to increase awareness of the impacts biodiversity loss will hold for human and ecosystem health.
At the recent ICLEI World Congress, experts, including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), non-governmental organisations, and academia, convened to explore links between Nature-based Solutions and One Health – in particular how the two approaches can align to foster resilient, healthy urban environments and communities.
Cristina Romanelli, Program Officer for Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Health at WHO, made it clear what is at risk if we do not adopt a one health approach. “Why are we doing this work? Because one of the fundamental things is that one in every four premature deaths is attributable to preventable environmental factors.”
Wilson Ramírez, Director, Centre for Nature based Solutions at the Institute Alexander von Humboldt (CONEXUS), Colombia, working on Nature-based Solutions in Bogota, echoed this sentiment by stressing the importance of ecosystem health in urban planning. “If the ecosystem is not healthy, the city is not healthy. Mayors need to understand that nature is the priority. We need more data on how nature benefits cities.”
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the essential role of natural spaces in enhancing human health. During lockdowns, many found solace in the presence of wildlife and the tranquility of green and blue spaces, which became safe havens for mental and physical well-being. This period highlighted that cities cannot thrive on infrastructure alone but require the richness and diversity of natural ecosystems to support life.
This sentiment was underscored recently at the European Urban Resilience Forum which explored the Blue Economy in and beyond the Mediterranean and explored health impacts of green and blue space. Paula Lepori of the European Commission brought attention to the impact of the broken water cycle in our cities. The EU Green Deal deeply integrates NbS as a tool to tackle this. Aino Kulonen of Lahti explained how the EU-funded GoGreenRoutes project encourages people to access nature for their well-being, using additional infrastructure to interact more deeply with already existing areas. For example, the development of the Health Forest in Lahti was influenced by the objectives of an earlier policy, Nature Step to Health. Such innovative urban projects exemplify the practical application of these principles. These initiatives demonstrate how integrating environmental and health objectives can lead to significant benefits, including improved public health, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation.
As the Horizon 2020 projects CONEXUS and GoGreenRoutes collaborate with cities like Lahti and Bogota, they exemplify the transformative impact of Nature-based Solutions on urban health and sustainability. By continuing to champion these integrated approaches, ICLEI Europe aims to build cities that not only support human, animal, and plant life by fostering ecological stability and resilience.