Nature at the Cross-Section of Human Rights and Environmental Justice

Overview: The UN has declared access to nature a human right. While there is no argument on the importance of clean air, water, soil, etc., exploring people’s daily interactions with nature is often overlooked. This presentation will explore the positive influence of nature interactions on individual and community health and well-being.Proposal text: As urban centers grow, people’s connection to nature decreases. Concurrently there is a rise in mental health ailments with many researchers arguing that there is a relationship between nature and well-being (Nadkarni et al., 2017 ). In addition, research shows that youth’s use of technology and the corresponding screen time have a negative impact on their time outdoors and connection with nature (Michaelson et al., 2019), while additional research shows how time in nature can relieve stress and positively influence mental health (Zamora et al., 2021). Ecological theory provides a fitting lens to examine the relationship between humans and nature as it relates to individual and community health and well-being since it focuses on the interaction of people within their environment (Tyler, n.d.).

In October 2021, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations declared “...that having a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a human right” (United Nations, 2021), which supports CSWE’s educational expectations around environmental justice (CSWE, 2015). In social work education we emphasize understanding the person in the context of their environment, and use ecological theory to examine interactions client systems have with the elements of their environment. The quality of the air, water, soil, etc. may be taken into consideration, however, many social workers neglect to extend that examination to clients’ access to and interaction with the natural environment because they are unfamiliar with the healing power of nature.

This presentation will review literature that examines the many ways nature has been linked to better health/mental health outcomes, especially as it relates to vulnerable and historically oppressed populations. For instance, well tended green space has been shown to decrease crime in urban settings (Branas et al., 2018); trees lining city streets can increase physical health (Kardan et al, 2015); and showing images of nature to inmates in solitary confinement can decrease violence in prison settings (Nadkarni, Hasbach, Thys, Crockett & Schnacker, 2017). Nature can improve learning outcomes of school children (Dadvand et al., 2015), increase creative thought (Oppezzo & Schwartz, 2014); and decrease work stress (Largo-Wight, Wlyudka, Merten & Cuvelier, 2017). Research has also shown that people commonly undervalue how time in nature can improve their mood (Nisbet & Zelenski, 2011), and how people who are more connected to nature are more likely to be invested in caring for the environment (Zelenski, Dopko & Capaldi, 2015). Access to nature varies by location and circumstance, however there are creative ways to include nature into everyday life. Examples will be provided along with suggestions for how information about nature's benefits can be infused throughout the social work curriculum.