AIPH Green City Briefing: Inspiring green cities of the future

Creating cities suitable for the next generation means creating urban environment that are resilient and sustainable.

For young people growing up in cities, urban green spaces provide a vital place to connect with nature. Featuring the winner of the AIPH Green City Award Youth Jury Winner, join this webinar to hear how innovative urban design is integrating green infrastructure as a response to the challenge of creating future proof cities.

Programme

13:00 – Welcome by MC Sudha Kottillil, Global Youth Biodiversity Network

13:15 – ‘Urban nature for wellbeing of young people’ by Birgitta Gatersleben, Professor of Environmental Psychology

A vast and growing body of evidence shows that exposure to and engagement with nature benefits people’s health and wellbeing. Most of this work has focused on adult populations. In this talk I will provide a brief overview of key findings from this work and explore the environmental and design features that may support or undermine wellbeing experiences in nature. I will then discuss some research that has examined nature experiences of young people and women. I will conclude with reflections on providing natural spaces for young people in cities.

13:30 – The Winning City of the AIPH Youth Award 2024 

Three cities were selected as finalists for the AIPH Youth Award by the impressive Youth Jury.

• • Green Factor Tool – City of Melbourne, Australia
  • Rita Lee Park – Rio Olympic Park Legacy – Rio de Janeiro City Hall, Brazil
  • Climate Change Strategy – City of Joondalup, Australia

The winning city will be announced on 25th September 2024 at the gala dinner event at the Future Green City World Congress  in Utrecht, the Netherlands. AIPH is proud to be a partner of this event. Registrations are open to attend the congress.

13:45 – Q&A

14:00 – Briefing closes

MC: Sudha Kottilil

Sudha Kottillil is a researcher and ecologist from India working on marine conservation, fisheries management and sustainable fisheries with a focus on elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates). She has a master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Natural Resource Management following an undergraduate degree in Zoology and Biotechnology. Previously she has also carried out research and worked on different terrestrial conservation projects. She is part of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), where she engages in the UN policy space to push for youth inclusion and participation in biodiversity related decision-making platforms. As part of GYBN she attended CBD COP15 and the 7th GEF Assembly. She is also one of the coordinators of the India chapter of GYBN – Indian Youth Biodiversity Network.

Professor Birgitta Gatersleben

Birgitta Gatersleben is Professor of Environmental Psychology (EP) at the University where she runs the EP research group (EPRG) and related MSc program. Birgitta has over 25 years of experience studying human-nature experiences focusing particularly on exploring when and how natural spaces benefit wellbeing and for who. In addition to that her work explores how we can encourage people to live more sustainably and the role of social science in supporting sustainable wellbeing for people and the planet.

Winning City of the AIPH Youth Award 2024

The name of this city will be announced on 25th September 2024 at the gala dinner event at the Future Green City World Congress  in Utrecht, the Netherlands. AIPH is proud to be a partner of this event. Registrations are open to attend the congress.