"Close to nature - live well in the city" (Natur ganz nah -gut leben in der Stadt) is Germany's theme for this year's World Environment Day, which will be celebrated worldwide tomorrow. "With this theme we are tackling an issue that is crucial to the quality of life of our citizens living in cities" stressed Federal Minister Barbara Hendricks. "The foundations for a good life, social cohesion and economic prosperity in an increasingly urban society are access to and availability of natural spaces and functioning eco-systems."
More and more people are living in urban areas, in Germany this equates to over 75% of our population. This means that easily accessible recreational spaces in urban regions and a wide range of possibilities for experiencing nature in cities are even more important.
This can be seen in the new found enthusiasm for gardening in the city, referred to as "urban gardening", which is becoming a trend worldwide. Federal Minister Hendricks commented: "Urban gardens improve the urban climate, they are habitats for animals and plants, contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and ground water formation. They are also places of recreation and environmental education and promote neighbourly solidarity and the integration of social and cultural communities - in a nutshell: a good life in the city."
Attractive green spaces in and near urban life and the quality of urban environmental protection and nature conservation are increasingly important factors when it comes to the location of companies and skilled workers. At the same time these spaces ensure fairness as it is about improving the living conditions of those with a low social status, who are more frequently and worse affected by traffic, noise and traffic-related air pollution and who have limited access to green areas.
Therefore, there are many reasons for investing in ecological and social urban development. "If we in Germany can manage to transform our cities into centres of ecological and social development, then other countries can do the same. How we choose to cultivate our cities and rural areas in the future, whether we preserve open areas and valuable ecosystems, how we interconnect traffic, living, culture and work are all key issues for sustainable global development." highlighted Hendricks.
Background
To mark the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm on 5 June 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and, at a later point Germany, declared 5 June Environment Day. Approximately 150 countries around the world take part by organising different events, actions and measures on this day that aim to raise awareness, in particular of the fact that humans themselves are the ones threatening the diversity and stability of the environment.