Journal
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH, VOL 42, 2021
Volume 42, Issue -, Pages 317-328Publisher
ANNUAL REVIEWS
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-102511
Keywords
green space; green infrastructure; air pollution; violence; crime; health
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The health benefits of green infrastructure, including small elements like green roofs and walls, are not directly linked to health. Larger green infrastructure can help reduce temperatures, air pollution, and crime, but the connection to health is less clear. Parks and street trees offer many health benefits, but may not always be considered part of green infrastructure.
The health benefits of green space are well known, but the health effects of green infrastructure less so. Green infrastructure goes well beyond the presence of green space and refers more to a strategically planned network of natural and seminatural areas, with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services and possibly to improve human health. In this narrative review, we found that small green infrastructure, such as green roofs and walls, has the potential to mitigate urban flooding, attenuate indoor temperatures and heat islands, improve air quality, and muffle noise, among other benefits, but these effects have not been linked directly to health. Larger green infrastructure has been associated with reduced temperatures, air pollution, and crimes and violence, but less so with health, although some evidence suggests that it may be beneficial for health (e.g., good health, decreased mortality). Finally, parks and street trees show many health benefits, but it is not clear if they can always be considered green infrastructure.
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