Nature Connection: A Necessity in the Face of the Climate Crisis
When children and people across the world are facing death from starvation, homelessness, child labour, violence and war, access to nature and increasing nature connectedness can feel like a luxury or the preserve of the West.
Access to nature isn't a ‘luxury’ or a ‘luxury belief' as some MP’s might have you believe; it's a fundamental human right. Humans’ connection to the rest of the natural world is vital for our well-being and survival. The climate crisis, exacerbated by historical fossil fuel consumption, affects everyone, particularly those in the Global South who already face soaring temperatures, desertification, crop failure, and mass starvation. The West's contribution to the crisis is significant and its effects are felt worldwide and biodiversity loss goes hand in hand with a changing climate.
This January, the UK saw temperature’s reach 19.6०C and it hardly got a mention in the press. September 2023’s “Indian Summer” was memorable for all the wrong reasons and too hot for my liking. Soon followed a winter of flooding in never-seen-before-scale across the UK. It’s a fact, 2023 was the hottest year on record.
From extreme weather events to biodiversity loss, the urgency to act is undeniable. Climate change is affecting us and the rest of the natural world in ways beyond many people's imagination – over 4,500 people died in the UK’s heatwaves in 2022 and our children are at grave existential risk.
Promoting everyday nature and opportunities for nature connection creates behaviours of planetary stewardship. Connecting with the nature around us is therefore not only beneficial to our mental health but crucial to protecting our only home, Earth.
Policies for a greener, safer and more equitable world:
Prioritise walking, wheeling and cycling as modes of transport in cities. People are happier in a walkable neighborhood yet walking is deprioritised and underfunded. The car-based school-run accounts for nearly 30% of morning traffic in London. Shockingly, almost a quarter of English children are obese at the end of primary school. The cost to society being £8.7bn due to the increased risk of cancer, diabetes and other health conditions. Walking is good for you physically and mentally. It also gives you oportune moments to connect with nature.
Funding for green infrastructure projects to create and maintain accessible green spaces in urban and rural areas. Priority projects should include addressing disparities in access to nature. Marginalised communities often have limited access to green spaces or badly maintained examples, exacerbating existing inequalities. Rewild cities. Rewild Gardens. Rewild Balconies, Rewild Parks.
Integration of biodiversity net gain policies into development plans to ensure that new developments contribute to biodiversity conservation is important and not just a box ticking exercise. Spending time in nature, meaning well maintained spaces, has been shown to have numerous psychological and health benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, and enhancing overall well-being. By encouraging people to connect with nature everyday, we can promote mental and physical health while fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Inclusion of nature connectedness education in school curriculums and community outreach programs is vital. By teaching people about the importance of nature and providing opportunities for hands-on nature connection experiences (which evoke positive emotions) we can inspire future generations to become stewards of the environment. There’s no reason why this should just be for the young, given nature connectedness wide-ranging benefits.
Nature Connection: Exploring the Vital Link Between Nature Engagement and Environmental Resilience
Nature connection is important on a global scale.
It’s important to note that different regions and cultures may have unique perspectives and challenges related to conservation and their relationship with the natural world. It's essential to recognize and respect diverse cultural relationships with nature and to tailor conservation efforts accordingly. Indigenous peoples have long demonstrated the importance of living in harmony with nature. There is much that can be learned here rather than the other way around!
We have to be realistic, we’ve left fixing the issue so late that climate adaptation and nature-based solutions have to be a key part of our global climate mitigation strategy moving forward. Alongside urgent climate adaptation, we should all make it an absolute priority to reconnect the human race with the rest of the natural world. We must relearn and re-love nature in all its wild, wonderful and sometimes scary and powerful enormity.
Lasting nature connection will rely on humans reconnecting with everyday nature, the kind of nature that’s on your doorstep. Your local park, the sunset views from your window, the breeze on your face and the distinct smell after rain has fallen in our urban areas..
Nature is a human right.
Without nature, we are all lost, homeless, miserable, unwell and at war. This is our home, it’s not just “the environment”. Join the movement to prioritise nature connection. Build it into your daily life. Enjoy a daily walk, make space in your life to tune into nature. Link it to how it makes you feel. Good, right? This small but impactful act could go a long way towards securing a safer, greener and more sustainable future.
For further insights, explore articles on Decolonising the Outdoors and the transformative power of walking.