Human health and well-being are highly dependent on the "health" of nature. Studies show that being in direct contact with natural environments has direct positive effects on well-being, health and socio-cognitive abilities. The loss of species and biodiversity under climate change will reduce natural space, decrease biodiversity and in turn, decrease human-well-being and health worldwide.
Biodiversity provides services that are essential for human health and productivity, such as breathable air, drinkable water, productive oceans and fertile soils for growing food and fuels. Natural ecosystems also help store carbon and regulate climate, floods, disease, pollution and water quality.
Nature also provides cultural services such as recreation, spirituality and well-being. Specifically, being in direct contact with natural environments (versus urban environment) has a high positive and causal impact on our mood and happiness, our energy-levels, vitality, heart rate, and health issues like depression as well as our attention spans and memory.
