Description
The built and natural environment—encompassing spaces where people live, work, and engage in leisure—profoundly shapes daily life, influencing health, well-being, and quality of life. Although neighbourhoods are widely regarded as key intervention points for reducing health inequalities, the pathways connecting environmental qualities and perceptions to well-being remain insufficiently understood. Through comparative, mixed-methods case studies across various locations, we aim to understand the role of urban blue and green spaces, water security, and social environments for well-being, leaving no person or place behind.In Enschede, the Netherlands, we examine how disadvantaged population groups perceive their built and natural environments, including green and blue spaces, and how these affect their physical, social, and mental well-being. While blue spaces support well-being by creating a pleasant living environment, water insecurity and poor access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) can increase water-related disease risks, harm well-being, quality of life, and social relationships. Therefore, we expand to investigate the impact of water (in)security on well-being and productivity in informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya.
Prioritising the experiences and needs of disadvantaged groups from the Global North and South, and integrating community knowledge with scientific research, we aim to guide policymakers toward more equitable, inclusive and sustainable urban development, ensuring a high-wellbeing society with tangible improvements in the quality of life for all.
This research is part of the Horizon Europe funded project Well-being in a Sustainable Economy Revisited (WISER).
| Period | Sept 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Jahrestagung des AK Medizinische Geographie und Geographische Gesundheitsforschung |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Hannover, GermanyShow on map |