The links between socioeconomic and environmental inequalities and nature connectedness

人们越来越一致地认为，暴露在自然环境中对人类的福祉是有益的。这在城市环境中尤其重要，在城市环境中，空气污染等环境风险一直与糟糕的身心健康有关。然而，对幸福感和自然环境之间关系的研究往往没有定论，考虑到幸福感衡量标准、自然环境指标、分析技术和使用的空间单位的广度，比较研究也很困难。由于这一领域的工作越来越受到政策的重视，迫切需要更有力的证据。使用纵向的高分辨率空间数据有相当大的潜力提供新的见解和理解。从不平等的角度来看，人们普遍认为，生活在更贫困地区的人更有可能获得更少的自然空间，这些自然空间的质量也往往较低。个人如何利用自然环境的不平等意味着，所获得的潜在利益并不是所有人都能体验到的。在当前的新冠肺炎大流行期间，这一点得到了特别强调和加剧。然而，关于这些不平等如何与自然环境的特征相关，或者一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来决定福祉，人们知之甚少。改善我们与大自然的联系和接触会带来相当大的社会、经济、健康和福祉好处。这在那些与自然格格不入的人口中尤其重要，对于那些从提高自然质量和与自然的联系中获益最多的人来说，这一点尤为重要。例如，英国一项大型调查的结果显示，生活在英国最贫困地区的人中，24%的人每月在大自然中度过的时间不到一次，甚至从不。这一奖学金将建立在我博士工作的基础上，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.通过在这一高度相关的研究领域发展科学理解和知识以及关键的方法进步，做出重要的学术贡献。这项工作将通过世界级期刊出版物、在重要国际会议上发表演讲以及通过研讨会演讲和访问大学等联网活动方案来传播。我在研究员期间提交的第一篇论文将是试图量化观察到的生物多样性对主观幸福感衡量标准的影响的少数几项研究之一，第二篇论文将为全球关于社会经济学、人口密度和生物多样性之间关系的讨论提供证据。与政策制定者和非学术利益攸关方接触，以建立关于城市绿色基础设施、获取自然方面的不平等、基于自然的解决方案、绿色恢复政策以及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方面的知识并制定政策。通过共同设计和共同提供一系列传播和公众参与活动，我的目的是启发公众认识生物多样性的重要性，并花时间在大自然中。开展创新研究计划，制定并提交一份完整的拨款提案。研究金的研究部分将是此类研究的第一个部分，并将对知识作出新的贡献。这笔全额赠款将建立在这项研究的基础上，通过提出以下问题来解决理解上的关键差距：“接触生物多样性和加强自然联系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？”这项工作有可能通过影响基于证据的决策和个人行为而产生有意义的社会影响。

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.