n. pl. ha`bi`tus re`search

research, tools and collaboration for healthy, resilient, inclusive communities.

Green space
Our work with Toronto Public Health and the David Suzuki Foundation leads to call for more green space by Toronto's Medical Officer of Health

Our work with Toronto Public Health and the David Suzuki Foundation leads to call for more green space by Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health

On September 22nd, Toronto’s Board of Health approved a report by the city’s Medical Officer of Health calling for an increase in urban green space to support the physical and mental wellbeing of local residents. The report prioritized green space investment in disadvantaged and historically under-serviced neighbourhoods in the city. Our work on: The Impact of Green Space...
Our work with the David Suzuki Foundation shows how urban green space cuts air pollution and cools cities

Our work with the David Suzuki Foundation shows how urban green space cuts air pollution and cools cities

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The Nature of our Cities: building health from the ground up

The Nature of our Cities: building health from the ground up

I was honoured to deliver a keynote at the European Forum on Urban Forests. More than 80 international delegates gathered for this week-long meeting, hosted in Europe’s Green Capital, Ljubljana, Slovenia, to discuss the future of urban forests, particularly in the face of climate change.
Green Divides In Cities Are Also Health Divides

Green Divides In Cities Are Also Health Divides

    Tackling health inequalities is a major global health priority, and ensuring equitable access to nature must be part of that strategy.      
A road to health paved with green interventions

A road to health paved with green interventions

Our systematic examination of almost 15 years of peer reviewed evidence shows that urban green space can support healthier births, reduce morbidity, and decrease stress (see report: Green City: Why Nature Matters to Health – An Evidence Review ).  But it’s community stories, like Tish Carnat’s, that reveal the heart hidden in the science.
Cooler, healthier, more equitable cities?

Cooler, healthier, more equitable cities?

Unprecedented urban growth has intensified extreme heat and air pollution, and the health risks that go with them.  Green spaces have a natural capacity to provide fresh air, reduce ground temperatures, cool urban air and provide relief from heat stress.