URBAN NATURE AS A HEALTH RESOURCE: EVIDENCE TO ACTION ++++++++++++ February 5-6, 2015 IMAGE COURTESY OF FLICKR USER: ED YOURDON Presented by: HIXON CENTER FOR URBAN ECOLOGY at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies 1 ABOUT THE CONFERENCE KEYNOTE ADDRESS ++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ Urbanization and climate change, combined with the need to improve SPEAKER health, enhance healthcare and reduce costs, are leading both environmental and health organizations toward more preventive and William Bird, M.D., CEO Intelligent Health community-based measures. Many are now working to expand the connections between increased access to natural areas and health. The Hixon Center for Urban Ecology at the Yale School of Forestry & ABSTRACT Environmental Studies, in partnership with the Yale School of Public Health, is convening this conference to: (a) share cutting edge research on Over the past 100,000 years we have connected with the natural the connections between nature and health; and (b) learn from innovative environment to ensure that we not only survive as a species but that programs designed to increase time in nature as a pathway to improved we thrive and dominate. However despite our undoubted success health. The time is now for a multi-sector partnership to bring evidence to and with rising life expectancy we have “created” a new sickness action to leverage natural resources and improve health. Join us! that is killing people in greater numbers than at any time in history. Non Communicable diseases have the common risk factor of chronic inflammation which is strongly associated with chronic stress. There is good empirical evidence that when we become isolated or disconnected from a supportive natural environment we become stressed. In this talk I will argue that it is our disconnection from nature that is driving this epidemic of Type II diabetes, obesity, depression etc. Our healthcare systems are not fit for purpose in tackling these diseases. Therefore to consign these diseases to history requires a revolution of new thinking, with nature at the very centre of urban design, healthcare, technology and education. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ++++++++++++ Special thanks to Brad Gentry, Jeannette Ickovics, Mary Northridge and Erika Svendsen for their guidance and support in organizing this conference. 2 3 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ++++++++++++ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 Panel: Environmental & Social Determinants Of Health ...... 10:30 – 12:00 Welcome ............................................................................................... 4:00 – 4:15 Sir Peter Crane, Dean of Yale School of Forestry & » Dr. Jeannette Ickovics, Yale School of Public Health Environmental Studies » Robert Garcia, The City Project » Dr. Ming Kuo, University of Illinois-Urbana Keynote Address ................................................................................ 4:15 – 5:00 William Bird, M.D., CEO Intelligent Health » Moderator: Dr. Albert Ko, Yale School of Public Health » Reflector: Dr. Erika Svendsen, U.S. Forest Service, NYC Urban Field Station Reception .............................................................................................. 5:00 – 6:00 Kroon Hall, Knobloch Environmental Center Lunch .................................................................................................. 12:00 – 1:00 Panel: Multi-level Solutions for Health......................................... 1:00 – 2:30 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 » Dr. Gary Machlis, Clemson University Coffee and registration ....................................................................... 8:00 – 8:30 » Rue Mapp, Outdoor Afro » Catherine Nagel, City Parks Alliance Opening remarks ............................................................................... 8:30 – 8:45 » Moderator: Dr. John Wargo, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Dean Paul Cleary, Yale School of Public Health Studies » Reflector: Dr. Mary Northridge, New York University College of Dentistry Panel: Climate Change and Human Health ................................ 8:45 – 10:15 » Dr. Jason Vargo, Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin Closing Dialogue ................................................................................. 2:30 – 3:00 » Dr. Michelle Bell, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, School of Public Health Closing Coffee Reception ................................................................... 3:00 – 3:30 » Dr. Kristie Ebi, Department of Global Health, University of Washington » Moderator: Dr. Xuhui Lee, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies » Reflector: Brad Gentry, Associate Dean, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Coffee break ..................................................................................... 10:15 – 10:30 4 5 PANEL: CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH ++++++++++++ DR. JASON VARGO, GLOBAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, DR. KRISTIE EBI, DEPARTMENT OF GLOBAL HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Abstract: Climate change is anticipated to change weather patterns, Abstract: Urban land cover change (the urban heat island) is responsible such as heat waves that last longer, are more intense, and occur earlier for a considerable amount of the warming experienced in many large in the warm season. Further, levels of tropospheric ozone, a harmful air metropolitan centers. Several cities are pursuing urban tree planting, pollutant, are anticipated to increase under a changing climate. These or other greening initiatives, to reverse this trend and offset carbon are two key pathways through which climate change can affect human emissions. Alternatives to adding new trees in urban areas involve health. Both are exacerbations of health stressors that exist in the present growth management strategies, which preserve existing natural day. This talk will briefly review key findings and research challenges resources in the face of growing populations. This presentation includes on how climate affects air pollution and heat related health events. Co- a discussion of the potential for urban climate, and associated nature- benefits/costs of air quality and climate change policies will be discussed related mitigation strategies, to influence health including impacts such as policies designed for one objective often additional consequences, as renal failure, asthma, and death. A specific case covering the impact of such as changes in transportation patterns designed to improve local air vegetative strategies on heat-related mortality is detailed for the year 2050 quality, but that also reduce emissions of green house gases. for three large metropolitan areas in the US: Atlanta, GA, Philadelphia, PA, and Phoenix, AZ. DR. MICHELLE BELL, YALE SCHOOL OF FORESTRY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Abstract: The current and projected human health consequences of climate change are diverse and wide-ranging, potentially altering the burden of any health outcome sensitive to weather or climate. Climate variability and change can affect morbidity and mortality from extreme weather and climate events, and from changes in air quality arising from changing concentrations of ozone, particulate matter, or aeroallergens. Altering weather patterns and sea level rise also may facilitate changes ++++++++++++ in the geographic range, seasonality, and incidence of selected infectious MODERATOR: diseases in some regions. Changes in water availability and agricultural productivity could affect undernutrition. » Dr. Xuhui Lee, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies The health risks associated with climate change are a function of the hazard (i.e. changing weather patterns); the exposure; and the underlying REFLECTOR: vulnerability. Increased understanding of these factors and their interactions will enhance understanding of potential risks and will » Brad Gentry, Associate Dean, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental facilitate identification of possible options to better manage these risks. Studies 6 7 PANEL: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ++++++++++++ DR. JEANNETTE ICKOVICS, YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH exciting discoveries in this area, and proposes a single, central pathway by which nature may affect health. While no single pathway can capture Abstract: Contact with nature can be salutogenic: enhancing health. In the myriad positive impacts of nature on people, this framework pulls this data-driven presentation – I will discuss results from a population- together a lion’s share of the documented outcomes and proposed based community health assessment in 13 towns in the greater New mechanisms. This framework may explain not only how nature affects Haven, CT region. We measured direct and indirect effects of nature on health, but also why its impacts are so substantial and so diverse. multiple health outcomes – body mass index, number of chronic diseases, self-rated health and depressive symptoms –and examined factors that may mediate this association. Findings support the conceptual model linking nature to health via several important mediators: air quality, physical activity, social cohesion and stress (Hartig et al., Ann Rev Pub Health, 2014). Those with park access were significantly more likely to have no chronic disease, report excellent or very good health, and have no depressive symptoms – even controlling for important factors such as age, race and income. Results support upstream multi-sectoral approaches that may enhance both access to nature and improve health. DR. ROBERT GARCIA, THE CITY PROJECT