Green spaces: sectoral solutions for air pollution and health

Overview

Exposure to green spaces is widely associated with health benefits, including mental (e.g. reduced risk of depression and anxiety), physical (e.g. improved cardiovascular health), healthy behaviours (e.g. physical activity) and social health (e.g. reduced loneliness). These health benefits can result in major health sector cost savings. Additionally, health co-benefits of green spaces may arise from interventions aimed at improving air quality, which could partially explain the relationship between green spaces and health.

Green spaces: sectoral solutions for air pollution and health highlights highlights the linkages between access to green spaces and the implications on health. The technical brief summarizes barriers, drivers and enablers for implementing green spaces to improve air quality, as well as priority actions for various stakeholders to protect public health.

This document is part of the WHO Air Quality, Energy, and Health Science and Policy Summaries (SPS). These summaries provide concise overviews of current knowledge and evidence on air quality, energy access, climate change, and health. They aim to support decision-makers by presenting key insights from scientific research.

The SPS are developed through a multistakeholder consultation process that includes experts from WHO Advisory Groups – i.e., the Scientific Advisory Group on Air Pollution and Health (SAG), and the Global Air Pollution and Health – Technical Advisory Group (GAPH-TAG) – as well as specialists from WHO Collaborating Centres, UN agencies as well as other experts from academia and civil society.

All Science and Policy Summaries can be accessed here