If current global trends are correct, in 2025, around 41 million people will die from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—which include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory illness, and severe mental illness—representing around 74 percent of all deaths globally. Despite major advances in medicine over the past few decades, the numbers dying from NCDs are still on the increase.
One of the main factors for the rise of NCDs is urbanization: Research clearly shows that people who live in urban areas without access to green spaces have a higher incidence of NCDs. Given that by 2050, two out of every three people are likely to be living in cities, these trends are extremely worrying.
On the other hand, a number of recent population-level studies in cities across the globe indicate that people who live in greener areas not only present a lower rate of NCDs but also have…
