The evidence is clear, spending time in nature is critical for people’s health and wellbeing. But the diverse makeup of urban residents makes it challenging to understand the most effective ways to increase nature engagement across a population. Different groups experience nature and the barriers...
The '3-30-300 rule' is an evidence-based recommendation which states that urban residents should be able to see at least 3 trees from their home; there should be 30% tree canopy cover in each neighbourhood; and 300 metres should be the maximum distance to the nearest...
Our analysis, street by street and footpath by footpath, of Melbourne’s open spaces show there are about half a million people without open spaces within 400 metres walking distance of their homes. But opening up schools and golf courses to public access could change that for...
More than 85% of Australian live in cities, which are becoming hotter under climate change. The number of record hot days in Australia has doubled in the last 60 years. Heatwaves are becoming hotter, lasting longer and happening more frequently. People living in an urban environment...
Omeo sits at the gateway to Victoria's ski slopes deep in Victoria’s alpine country, providing valuable tourism services for the East Gippsland Shire. Like many of Australia’s regional towns, Omeo experiences “resource dependency” - meaning this small community depends on a narrow range of natural...
Climate change must be part of the bushfire discussion In August 2019, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre released Australia’s bushfire outlook for the coming season, showing large areas of eastern Australia facing above-normal fire threat. The Nation has looked on in disbelief as...
Isn’t it time we rethink Maslow’s? It has been said that the greatest need in the modern world is the need for greater mobile coverage and bigger data plans – even before the “physiological” needs such as shelter. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory that focuses on describing...
Cynthia Rosenzweig, the head of the Climate Impacts Group for the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies has proposed that a crucial foundation for effective urban adaptation planning is to co-develop plans with stakeholders and scientists so that urban resilience can be improved. A significant...
The borough of Manhattan in NYC has a population of 1.7 million people increasing to over 3.9 million people on a work day and is the densest population centre in the USA. The people of Manhattan are lucky to benefit from Central Park covering 3.1km2...
The majority of reports internationally regarding wellbeing, liveability or economic wellbeing always tend to result in identifying obesity and mental health issues as chronic challenges for this century. These Chronic Challenges have significant economic costs as well as the obvious personal costs. Just examine any of...