Human-Nature for Climate Stability Helen Santiago Fink, AICP Urban Climate Researcher and Consultant University of Natural Resources and Applied Life S ciences/ BOKU, Vienna Austria EU International Urban Cooperation – North America helensantiagofink@ gmail.com
Why we need Behavior Change… ..
Global Urban Climate Impact - Why We Need Behavior Change (Source: SEI/C40 2014,)
Behavior Change S trategies for Climate Action Sub-national/City engagement: vertical integration; public engagement, participatory planning, community mobilization for collective civic action, eg: Covenant of Mayors Low-carbon Context and Urban Infrastructure: non-vehicular mobility, sustainable design to enhance access through specific choice architecture; connectivity of services Greening Urban Environment: heighten focus on preserving/expanding urban ecosystems and biodiversity to optimize multi-functionality of Nature through eco-system services for climate mitigation and adaptation as well as cultural services to catalyze environmental consciousness and connectedness to nature, nudging behavior towards for climate action and higher wellbeing, environmental justice and quality of life, eg: Million Trees NYC project Biophilic Design for Built Environment: promotes socio-economic co-benefits and supports climate mitigation and adaptation measures; safeguards against environmental amnesia in future generations given urbanization trend. Education and Messaging: of the Benefits of Nature and Ecosystem Services – to promote awareness, community/social norms and collective action towards environmental stewardship and climate action.
Sustainability Journal Article: Human-Nat ure for Climat e Act ion: Nat ure-Based S olut ions for Urban S ust ainabilit y (S ant iago Fink 2016) Context in the form of regulation and policies as well the biophysical and built environments are fundamental in guiding individual actions and, because of their macro/meso level implications, engaging societies towards collective impact (of behavior) towards climate action.
Urban Ecosystem Services (Nature’s Services) Provisioning Services: eg: food, water, medicine, raw materials Regulating Services: carbon sequestration/storage, extreme events/floods , waste water treatment, air quality, pollination Supporting Services: nutrient cycling, habitats, genetic diversity Cultural Services: health, recreational, spiritual
What is Biophilia? Human beings inherent / innat e relat ionship wit h t he nat ural environment and ot her living t hings Biophilia first coined by German-American psychologist Erich Fromm in in The Anat omy of Human Dest ruct iveness (1973) as the love of all living things Popularized by Harvard biologist, Edward O.Wilson, in his 1984 book Biophilia – identified the environmental/ conservation ethic Biophilia Hypothesis (1993) by Y ale’s social ecologist, S tephen R, Kellert, and E.O. Wilson further elaborated the hypothesis of biophilia and its applications to other disciplines including architecture and health care. Roger Ulrich’s seminal study “ View t hrough a Window May Inf luence Recovery f rom S urgery ” (S cience (1984)) - hospital patients covered from gall bladder surgery faster and required less pain medication on account of simple views of trees from their room windows (control = view of brick wall)
Climate Impact of Urban Ecosystem and S ervices Urban ecosystems provide critical natural capital for climate adaptation and mitigation as well as deliver multiple co-benefits, eg: physical and mental health, social well-being and equity, basic resources, livelihoods Integrate UES into urban planning, policy making, CIP/infrastructure investments; strengthen governance structures for maintenance Investing in green infrastructure provides cost effective climate solutions/climate resiliency for cities UHI/Energy solution - 10 % green cover (street trees) in CBD = reduction of 2.2°C (Gill 2007); 20% tree canopy could result in cooling savings of 8-18 percent and heating savings of 2 to 8 percent ( ASLA 2012) Green roof in WDC retains 15 gallons (56.7 liters) of storm-water per one square foot (0.09 square meter) of coverage or 50%–75% of rainfall on an annual basis (Chesapeake Bay Foundation 2008)
Green Infrastructure – Bioretention
Urban Green/Blue Corridors
Nature’s Local Co-Benefits Place making/Quality of life : Healthy ecosystems fostering deeper insight into nature” (Yli ‐ Pelkonen et al ., 2006, while time spent in natural areas, particularly during childhood, is a key indicator of environmental action; * Education deficit: USA secondary school education lack teaching about nature’s benefits (Earth Institute 2011) Public Health : Nature benefits Human immunological systems, mental health, respiratory illness, obesity and social violence. Mitigates UHI. Importance of nature–human nexus for society in this era of urbanization, sedentary and technology driven lifestyles (American Public Health Association) * New York City’s street trees provide $5.60 in benefits for every dollar - Sustainability: the multi-functionality of Nature’s services – ecosystem services - supports multiple global goals: climate change, sustainable development, SDGs, water access, resource efficiency and environmental justice; social stability; economic livelihoods .
Biophilic Design
Biophilic Design – Pocket Park (Paley Park, East 53rd S treet b/ w Madison and 5th Ave.)
Economic Benefits of Biophilic Design Source: Terrapin Bright Green, LLC (2012) Sector Design element Human/Societal Benefit Economic Benefits/year Business/Office Views of Nature Increased productivity; $3.6 million/ employer reduced stress Hospitals Views of Nature Medical – Reduced hospital stays $93,324,031/ year (industry after surgery savings); Education Daylighting Heighten cognitive 7-26% improved test scores capacities Real Estate/health care Access to park (500 m) Restoration of 5% premium in residential physiological and mental prices; $2,200/ person saving to states health care industry to address obesity Retail Daylighting Positive environment 40% increased sales Criminal Justice Views/ simulations to/ of Reduced aggression, 52% fewer felonies (of public nature stress and violence housing residents); approx. $162,200 savings/ yr by S tate (Illinois)
Behavior Change towards Climate Action Human “ Connectedness” to Nature shapes values and attitudes towards the biosphere (S chultz et al., 2004); essential to prevent “ environmental generational amnesia” (Kahn et al., 2008 [52]) and support conversation. “ Greening of Cities” to positively exploit the ecosystem services AND optimize the cultural services to catalyze inherent human biophilic; eg: NYC MillionTreesNYC initiative uses tree planting as a “ hook” to promote environmental stewardship and support New Y ork City’s sustainability plan – BEHAVIOR CHANGE. “ Context” is key in shaping behavior (Kurz et al., 2015 [64]) in form of regulation and policies as well the biophysical and built environments because of their macro/ meso level implications, engaging societies towards collective impact towards climate action. “ Urgent biophilia” suggests individuals and communities are drawn to nature and greening practices to restore human and physical states and promote healing in situ in times of disaster (Tidball, 2012)--- thus biophilia in the proactive (rather than reactive) sense may be cultivated to evoke environmentally sensitive behavior for climate resiliency, if not for human survival. Theory of “ topophilia” , vested interests in the preservation of ‘ Place’ supports potential of human cultural-based learning for sustainability and its need for urban populations (Beery et al., 2015 [51]).
ARC3.2 Chapter 8: Urban Ecosystems and Biodiversity (2016) - (Urban Climate Change Researchers Network (UCCRN), http://uccrn.org/ MAJOR FINDINGS: Urban species and ecosystems are already being affected by climate change. Climate change and urbanization are likely to increase the vulnerability of biodiversity hotspots, urban species, and critical ecosystem services Urban ecosystems are rich in biodiversity and provide critical natural capital for climate adaptation and mitigation. (Tim Beatley, UVA, Biophilic Cities Network) Investing in urban ecosystems and green infrastructure can provide cost-effective, nature- based solutions for adapting to climate change while also creating opportunities to increase social equity, environmental justice, green economies, and sustainable urban development A systems approach to an ecology in, of, and for cities - interdisciplinary, multi-scalar focus on interactions and feedbacks among social, ecological and technological systems (SETs) (Grimm et al., 2000; Pickett et al., 2001; McDonald et al., 2013; Childers et al., 2014, 2015; McPhearson et al 2016) .
Advancing Urban Ecology towards a S cience of Cities (McPhearson et al 2016)
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