Assessing urban green & blue spaces for human mental health and well-being
Urban areas, hosting two thirds of the population of the European Region, are often unhealthy places to live, characterized by heavy traffic, pollution, noise, abuse and social segregation especially for disadvantaged people, adolescents and young families. To reduce negative mental health effects of environmental degradation and climate change, functional and healthy ecosystems in cities are a necessity. In particular, Green Infrastructure: green (land) and blue (water) spaces that can improve environmental conditions and therefore citizens’ health and quality of life.