2016 UAA Annual Conference

Urbanization presents some of our greatest environmental opportunities and challenges. Changes to the urban landscape can redefine the spaces that support and undermine the natural environment. Urban green spaces (e.g. parks, gardens, and other vegetated areas) can deliver several benefits to urban areas. These benefits, often described as ecosystem services, may promote physical activity, enhance a sense of place, improve psychological health, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Research articulates how socioeconomic gaps and inequitable access to urban green spaces relate to issues in environmental justice. This predicament also has implications on urban health and sustainability that should be further explored. During this roundtable, we feature multiple case studies across the United States to highlight linkages between urban green spaces and the following: 1.) health disparities (e.g. obesity, heat-related illness, and psychological well-being) across demographic groups, 2.) social determinants of health (e.g. neighborhood environment, education, and economic stability) outlined in Healthy People 2020, 3.) and other issues related to urban sustainability. Participants will engage in an interactive discussion on interdisciplinary approaches to regard the natural environment, public health, and other urban affairs.