The world is seeing an extraordinary and unprecedented increase in urbanization, with 70% of the global population predicted to be living in cities by 2050; an increase from 3.5 billion people today to 7 billion in just 35 years. At the same time, global levels of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancers, respiratory, and heart diseases are soaring, particularly in towns and cities, due to the change in diet and lack of exercise that many people experience. Coupled with this, nature is being squeezed out of urban areas, despite the mounting body of evidence that shows nature has a crucial role in tackling the decline of city-dwellers’ health and wellbeing. These health and urbanization trends, combined with an increased disconnection between humanity and nature, affect not just people’s physical health, but their mental and spiritual health too.
