If current global trends prove true, in 2025 it will be approx 41 million people will die from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and grave mental illnesses, accounting for approximately 74 percent of all deaths worldwide. Despite significant advances in medicine over the past few decades, deaths from non-communicable diseases continue to rise.
One of the main factors behind the boost in the number of non-communicable diseases is urbanization: The research clearly shows that people living in urban areas without access to green spaces are more likely to suffer from non-communicable diseases. Considering that by 2050 two out of three people likely to live in cities, these trends are extremely worrying.
On the other hand, a number of recent population-level studies in cities around the world indicate that the people who live there greener areas not only do they have a lower rate of non-communicable diseases, but they also have much better physical and mental conditions sanity. This relationship remains statistically sturdy regardless of the socio-economic status, age or gender of the individual. In fact, the evidence for this link is so sturdy that in 2022, 196 countries in the world United Nations Conference of the Parties on Biological Diversity signed an international treaty, part of which was a commitment to significantly boost urban green space by 2030.
What is it about green spaces that provides immunity to non-communicable diseases? Increased exercise opportunities, cleaner air and less heat stress are all touted reasons – along with evidence supporting a role for urban vegetation in this regard.
Importantly, there is also solid scientific evidence showing that when we interact directly with nature, biochemical pathways are triggered in our bodies that result in significant beneficial health effects. This research topic began with a group of Japanese scientists trying to determine the true benefits of forest bathing:shinrin-yoku. The evidence found was so compelling that in Japan, drugs are now prescribed instead to patients with certain non-communicable diseases spend time sitting in the forests.
The good news is that we can obtain similar health benefits in urban green spaces and indoor plants. Clinical experiments show that something as basic as having a vase with scentless roses for example, on a desk, it can significantly lower blood pressure and provide physiological and mental serene. You can do the same if you have leafy plants in your home and office, especially those with green and yellow leaves.