- Individuals have less mental distress, less anxiety and depression, greater wellbeing and healthier cortisol profiles when living in urban areas with more greenspace compared with less greenspace.
- A typical grass lawn consumes nearly 3 trillion gallons of water a year, 200 million gallons of gas (for all that mowing), and 70 million pounds of pesticides.
- People living closer to green spaces have 55% less chance of having psychiatric disorders like stress, anxiety and substance abuse.
In collaboration with Galina Nelyubova and Unsplash
Current Problem
In the past decade, a growing feeling/movement to bring greenery into cities has become even more popular. Climate positive landscapes is one way how landscape architects and designers are bringing public spaces and greenery together, while also being beneficial for the environment.
In cities, there is a lack of natural green space. Most of the space is taken up by buildings, streets and parking lots. Environmentally this causes high levels of pollution, increased health risks, and an increase in mental stress. Climate-positive landscapes serve to be beneficial for the environment by reducing pollution and providing more fresh air, but also are helpful for the wellbeing of the city-dwellers.
Climate positive landscapes are also not limited to cities, they extend to considerate landscaping in housing yards and neighborhoods. Typical grass yards require a lot of water, energy and pesticides to maintain, all of which harm the environment. It is beneficial for the environment and the climate to instal native and climate-smart plants, that don’t require as much of our water and energy resources.
The role of urban landscapes and lawns need to change urgently – they need be centered around five (5) things:
- Supporting the local food web
- Feeding our local pollinators
- Managing the local watershed
- Sequestering carbon
- Minimal water usage and/or recycled water
Emerging Solutions
Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, the Burbank Water and Power Eco-campus is a 3.2-acre landscape that resides in between the various water and power facilities. By reinventing the campus it has allowed Burbank Water and Power to reduce energy consumption, use 100% recycled water and overall reduce costs. In a city plagued with high pollution and smog converting the water and power centers of the city serves to be an example for the rest of Los Angeles to follow.
California
In San Francisco, California the Crack Garden is a project focused on taking and creating large cracks within concrete pavements, to grow and plant native plant species. It began as an in-home project to beautiful their home/yard area, all at a low cost. Throughout the state, accredited to the state laws allowing such renovations to be made, individuals can participate in climate positive landscaping in their own homes.
National
In Washington, D.C. the Sidwell Friends School is a K-12 private school that created an environmentally conscious courtyard and quad in addition to having various native plants and water treatment, allowing them to reduce water consumption by 93%.
Global
In the Hebei Province of China, The Red Ribbon, Tanghe River Park is a converted greenspace providing recreation, education, and visual joy. Previously a community garbage dump, this drastic shift from trash to green space shows the power and capability in creating climate positive landscapes. Throughout the world, converting previously harmful land into a space for recreation and enjoyment is becoming ever the more popular and necessary.
Climate positive landscapes encompass everything from planting native backyard plants to converting a garbage dump into a river park. Creating these spaces allows for less pollution, better health, and increased mental wellbeing, while also being accessible and easy to do.
As noted at the top of this page, this article was written by Michael Yoo.
