Beleidsdenken over stedelijk groen en gezondheid : en de mate waarin dit zich laat onderbouwen vanuit het onderzoek

This project investigated the importance assigned to urban green space in national and local policies with respect to the following three issues: climate change, biodiversity, and public health and wellbeing. The study concentrated primarily on the health and wellbeing effects of green space. This was done by conducting interviews. Our conclusion is that green space has received increasing policy attention in recent decades, motivated by climate change, biodiversity loss and concern for the quality of life in urban areas. The Covid-19 pandemic has provided an additional impetus. Using green space to mitigate the effects of climate change appears to be the most concrete policy objective. Policymaking authorities are still looking to improve their knowledge on how green spaces can be designed to deliver the greatest wellbeing benefits and on the size of the health and wellbeing benefits that can be obtained in this way. Based on literature research, this appears not to be a case of the required scientific evidence not yet having found its way into policymaking circles, but rather of such evidence not (yet) being available. For the time being, the best approach would appear to be to provide ample, varied and well maintained green space within residential areas; this should not be restricted to green areas, but should also include smaller green elements in the streetscape.