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The world is becoming increasingly, rapidly, urbanised, with nearly 70% of the world’s population expected to live in urban centers by 2050. Over 1 billion children already live in cities, where new births are increasingly concentrated. While cities are exciting centers of innovation and learning, cultural stimulation and diversity, too many children are exposed to the downside - pollution and obesogenic conditions, poor housing, danger on the streets, and lack of access to nature and safe public places to play. These challenges impact most on vulnerable, marginalized and underserved populations, and have long-term costs for families, communities and sustainable societies.
However, the huge resources, talent and momentum associated with modern urbanization could unlock critical opportunities. Reimagining cities through the eyes of – and needs of - the young child makes sense not only for health, education and early childhood specialists but also for planners, developers, financial stakeholders and governments. Smart investments and nature-based solutions could put human-centered design at the heart of urban transformation around the world, with significant cross-sector, environmental and fiscal benefits.
Urban parks and public green spaces have practical and symbolic value for healthy and inclusive cities. Parks function as ‘agora’ or open spaces with an equalizing function, where individuals from different backgrounds can have fun and build bonds across generations and cultures. Nature promotes physical, mental and spiritual health and wellbeing, not just through better air quality but by encouraging movement, discovery, and calm amidst urban chaos. Children can play freely, whatever their home situations, strengthening self-confidence and curiosity for success in later life. A growing body of evidence suggests that personal experience of nature in childhood is essential to generate a lifelong sense of connectivity and stewardship for the world’s environment and resources. Urban parks and green spaces also play a critical role in promoting climate resilience – a role that will be increasingly important as cities continue to expand.
Healthy place-making is a powerful lever for healthy and creative communities. Child-friendly design, infrastructure and investments will not only help young children thrive in cities but also benefit families, carers and business. Access and safety are fundamental to this end. People need viable walking and public transportation options to reach nature, urban parks and other green spaces. Holistic strategies can revitalize cities, children, and health by prioritizing, designing, planning and investing in natural and cultural public spaces as the building blocks for cohesive communities.
The Child in the City was the third session of the Parks for the Planet Forum, a platform for transformative leadership and action launched by Salzburg Global Seminar with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It took forward outcomes from the Forum’s inaugural 2015 session on Nature, Health and a New Urban Generation. Participants have taken an imaginative approach, looking through the eyes of young children, to develop new collaborations that can benefit individuals, families and long-term social, economic and environmental resilience.
Some key questions and issues that have been examined include:
Download the PDF in English The Salzburg Statement on the Child in the City Health, Parks and Play
The Parks for the Planet Forum is a collaborative platform convened by Salzburg Global Seminar to position nature at the heart of human health and wellbeing, security and prosperity. Embedded in the IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme, the Forum advances action, investment and leadership to implement The Promise of Sydney and the Sustainable Development Goals. It combines high-level meetings on selected topics with an evolving multi-year work program that connects pioneering approaches across sectors and scales. Key topics addressed to date include:
The Promise of Sydney is a ten-year road map adopted by 6000 participants from 160 countries at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014. Affirming that “nature is the ultimate foundation of life, our economy and our aspirations, and underpins our human existence, cultural identity, health and prosperity,” it positions protected and conserved areas, including transboundary protected areas, as critical investments for planetary resilience and human well-being. The Promise is implemented through twelve innovative approaches to transformative change, supported by open-access Solutions and Promises from different stakeholders.
2016 Lancet Series on Early Childhood Development
Natural Solutions - Protected areas maintaining essential water supplies
Natural Solutions - Protected areas are vital for human health and well-being
The Nature Playbook: Take Action to Connect a New Generation of Canadians with Nature
Natural Neighbors - An International Initiative
Urban protected Areas - Profiles and best Practice Guidelines (2014)
Wingspread Declaration on Health and Nature (2014)
Louv, Richard "12 Principles for a Nature-Rich City"
Access to nature reduces depression and obesity, find European study
Nature for Health and Equity - Institute European Environmental Policy
Quality standards for early childhood services: Examples from South and South East Asia
Trzyna,Ted "Connecting People, Nature and Culture"
The Promise of Sydney Vision (IUCN World Parks Congress, 2014)
Healthy Parks Healthy People: The State of the Evidence (2015)
The Salzburg Challenge for Nature, Health and a New Urban Generation (2015)
Navigating Island Earth: The Hawai'i Commitments (World Conservation Congress, 2016)
