The links between socioeconomic and environmental inequalities and nature connectedness

社会经济和环境不平等与自然连通性之间的联系

• 批准号: ES/W005883/1
• 负责人: Sarah Knight
• 金额: $ 12.37万
• 依托单位: University of York
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FW005883%2F1
• 关键词: links; between; socioeconomic; environmental; inequalities

There is growing consensus that exposure to the natural environment is beneficial for human well-being. This is particularly important in urban environments, where environmental risks such as air pollution have been associated with poor physical and mental health. However, research into the associations between well-being and the natural environment are often inconclusive, and comparative studies are difficult given the breadth of well-being measures, natural environment metrics, analytical techniques and spatial units used. Due to the increasing policy priority attached to this area of work, there is a urgent need for more robust evidence. The use of longitudinal, high-resolution spatial data has considerable potential to provide new insights and understanding. From an inequalities perspective, it is widely accepted that people living in more deprived areas are more likely to have less access to natural spaces and that these natural spaces also tend to be of a lower quality. Inequalities in how individuals access the natural environment mean that the potential benefits gained are not experienced universally. This has been particularly highlighted and compounded during the current Covid-19 pandemic. However, very little is known about how these inequalities are related to characteristics of the natural environment, or how an individual's psychological connection to nature influences how these inequalities interact to determine well-being benefits. There are considerable social, economic, health and well-being benefits from improving our connection and exposure to nature. This is particularly important amongst demographics who are particularly disconnected from nature, or to those who stand to gain the most from increased quality of, and connection to, nature. For example, findings from a large UK survey showed 24% of those living in the most deprived parts of the country spend time in nature less than once a month or never. This fellowship will build on my PhD work to further provide a meaningful contribution to academia, policy and practice. The fellowship has three aims:1. To make important academic contributions through developing scientific understanding and knowledge, as well as key methodological advancements in this highly relevant research area. This work will be disseminated through world-class journal publications, delivering talks at key international conferences, and through a programme of networking activities such as seminar talks and university visits. The first paper I submit during the fellowship will be one of only a handful of studies that attempts to quantify the effect of observed biodiversity on measures of subjective well-being, and the second will contribute evidence to the global discussion about the relationship between socioeconomics, population density, and biodiversity.2. To engage with policy makers and non-academic stakeholders in order to build knowledge of, and shape policy on, urban green infrastructure, inequalities in access to nature, nature-based solutions, green recovery policies, and connecting people to nature to reduce inequalities and maximise health and well-being benefits. By co-designing and co-delivering a series of dissemination and public engagement activities, I aim to inspire members of the public about the importance of biodiversity and spending time in nature.3. To undertake an innovative research programme and develop and submit a full grant proposal. The research component of the fellowship will be the first of its kind and will make a novel contribution to knowledge. The full grant will build on this research to address key gaps in understanding by asking "To what extent could exposure to biodiversity and enhanced nature connectedness offset the impacts of social determinants on health inequalities?" This work has the potential to make meaningful societal impact by influencing evidence-based policymaking and individual behaviour.

人们越来越认识到，接触自然环境有益于人类福祉。这在城市环境中尤其重要，因为空气污染等环境风险与身心健康状况不佳有关。然而，对福祉与自然环境之间关联的研究往往没有定论，而且考虑到福祉衡量标准、自然环境指标、分析技术和所使用的空间单位的广度，比较研究也很困难。由于这一工作领域的政策优先权日益增加，迫切需要更强有力的证据。纵向、高分辨率空间数据的使用具有提供新见解和理解的巨大潜力。从不平等的角度来看，人们普遍认为，生活在较贫困地区的人们接触自然空间的机会可能较少，而且这些自然空间的质量也往往较低。个人在获取自然环境方面的不平等意味着所获得的潜在利益并未被普遍体验到。在当前的 Covid-19 大流行期间，这一点尤其突出和复杂化。然而，人们对这些不平等如何与自然环境特征相关，或者个人与自然的心理联系如何影响这些不平等如何相互作用以确定福祉效益知之甚少。改善我们与自然的联系和接触可以带来相当大的社会、经济、健康和福祉效益。这对于那些与自然特别脱节的人群或那些希望从提高自然质量和与自然的联系中获益最多的人来说尤其重要。例如，英国一项大型调查结果显示，生活在该国最贫困地区的人中有 24% 每月花在大自然中的时间少于一次或从不花在大自然中的时间。该奖学金将以我的博士工作为基础，进一步为学术界、政策和实践做出有意义的贡献。该奖学金有三个目标：1。通过发展科学理解和知识以及在这一高度相关的研究领域取得关键方法论进步，做出重要的学术贡献。这项工作将通过世界一流的期刊出版物、在重要国际会议上发表演讲以及研讨会演讲和大学访问等网络活动计划进行传播。我在奖学金期间提交的第一篇论文将是少数几篇试图量化观察到的生物多样性对主观幸福感影响的研究之一，第二篇论文将为有关社会经济学、人口密度和生物多样性之间关系的全球讨论提供证据。与政策制定者和非学术利益相关者合作，建立关于城市绿色基础设施、接触自然的不平等、基于自然的解决方案、绿色恢复政策的知识并制定政策，并将人与自然联系起来，以减少不平等并最大限度地提高健康和福祉效益。通过共同设计和共同开展一系列传播和公众参与活动，我的目标是激发公众了解生物多样性和花时间接触大自然的重要性。3。开展创新研究计划，制定并提交完整的资助提案。该奖学金的研究部分将是同类中的第一个，并将对知识做出新颖的贡献。全额拨款将建立在这项研究的基础上，通过询问“接触生物多样性和增强自然连通性在多大程度上可以抵消社会决定因素对健康不平等的影响？”来解决理解上的关键差距。这项工作有可能通过影响循证决策和个人行为来产生有意义的社会影响。

项目成果

A practice-led assessment of landscape restoration potential in a biodiversity hotspot.

• DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0070
• 发表时间: 2023-01-02
• 期刊: PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
• 影响因子: 6.3
• 作者: Wills, Abigail R.;Shirima, Deo D.;Villemaire-Cote, Olivier;Platts, Philip J.;Knight, Sarah J.;Loveridge, Robin;Seki, Hamidu;Waite, Catherine E.;Munishi, Pantaleo K. T.;Lyatuu, Herman;Bernal, Blanca;Pfeifer, Marion;Marshall, Andrew R.
• 通讯作者: Marshall, Andrew R.

The importance of ecological quality of public green and blue spaces for subjective well-being

• DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104510
• 发表时间: 2022-07-04
• 期刊: LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
• 影响因子: 9.1
• 作者: Knight, Sarah J.;McClean, Colin J.;White, Piran C. L.
• 通讯作者: White, Piran C. L.