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Approaching Environmental Health Disparities and Green Spaces: An Ecosystem Services Perspective

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  • Viniece Jennings

    (USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Integrating Human and Natural Systems, 320 Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Cassandra Johnson Gaither

    (USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Integrating Human and Natural Systems, 320 Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Health disparities occur when adverse health conditions are unequal across populations due in part to gaps in wealth. These disparities continue to plague global health. Decades of research suggests that the natural environment can play a key role in sustaining the health of the public. However, the influence of the natural environment on health disparities is not well-articulated. Green spaces provide ecosystem services that are vital to public health. This paper discusses the link between green spaces and some of the nation’s leading health issues such as obesity, cardiovascular health, heat-related illness, and psychological health. These associations are discussed in terms of key demographic variables—race, ethnicity, and income. The authors also identify research gaps and recommendations for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Viniece Jennings & Cassandra Johnson Gaither, 2015. "Approaching Environmental Health Disparities and Green Spaces: An Ecosystem Services Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:2:p:1952-1968:d:45698
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    1. Catharine Ward Thompson & Peter Aspinall & Jenny Roe & Lynette Robertson & David Miller, 2016. "Mitigating Stress and Supporting Health in Deprived Urban Communities: The Importance of Green Space and the Social Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, April.
    2. Guo, Zhangdong & Zhang, Xiaoning, 2024. "Has the healthy city pilot policy improved urban air quality in China? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Mengyao Wang & Yu Yan & Mingxuan Li & Long Zhou, 2024. "Differences in Emotional Preferences toward Urban Green Spaces among Various Cultural Groups in Macau and Their Influencing Factors," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Viniece Jennings & Omoshalewa Bamkole, 2019. "The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Evan Elderbrock & Kory Russel & Yekang Ko & Elizabeth Budd & Lilah Gonen & Chris Enright, 2024. "Evaluating Urban Green Space Inequity to Promote Distributional Justice in Portland, Oregon," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Marcia P. Jimenez & Nicole V. DeVille & Elise G. Elliott & Jessica E. Schiff & Grete E. Wilt & Jaime E. Hart & Peter James, 2021. "Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    7. Kathleen L. Wolf & Sharon T. Lam & Jennifer K. McKeen & Gregory R.A. Richardson & Matilda van den Bosch & Adrina C. Bardekjian, 2020. "Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-30, June.
    8. Jian Gong & Jingye Li & Jianxin Yang & Shicheng Li & Wenwu Tang, 2017. "Land Use and Land Cover Change in the Qinghai Lake Region of the Tibetan Plateau and Its Impact on Ecosystem Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, July.
    9. Viniece Jennings & Lincoln Larson & Jessica Yun, 2016. "Advancing Sustainability through Urban Green Space: Cultural Ecosystem Services, Equity, and Social Determinants of Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Sonja Wilhelm Stanis & Emily Piontek & Shuangyu Xu & Andrew Mallinak & Charles Nilon & Damon M. Hall, 2024. "Residents’ Perceptions of Urban Greenspace in a Shrinking City: Ecosystem Services and Environmental Justice," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, September.
    11. Benjamin Guinaudeau & Mark Brink & Beat Schäffer & Martin A. Schlaepfer, 2023. "A Methodology for Quantifying the Spatial Distribution and Social Equity of Urban Green and Blue Spaces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-20, December.
    12. Viniece Jennings & April Karen Baptiste & Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Renée Skeete, 2017. "Urban Green Space and the Pursuit of Health Equity in Parts of the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, November.
    13. Anna J. Kim & Jasmine Jones-Bynes & Nisha Botchwey & Terry L. Conway, 2021. "How Youth of Color Create Communities of Hope: Connecting Advocacy, Activity, and Neighborhood Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-22, March.
    14. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Viniece Jennings & Alessandro Rigolon, 2021. "Green Gentrification and Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-23, January.
    15. Viniece Jennings & Alessandro Rigolon & Jasmine Thompson & Athena Murray & Ariel Henderson & Richard Schulterbrandt Gragg, 2024. "The Dynamic Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space in Diverse Communities: Opportunities and Challenges to Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-17, June.

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