Impact of access to nature positive environments in promoting social cohesion and reducing inequalities in urban and peri urban settings

HORIZON‑CL2‑2027‑01‑TRANSFO‑01

Program Type: Research and Innovation Action

Research areas: Studies show that disadvantaged communities have fewer and lower-quality green and/or blue spaces, but less is known about the mechanisms through which access to nature-positive spaces strengthens cultural identities (at the individual and group levels), cohesion and resilience, particularly in lower-income communities and across generations.

Proposals may explore:

• The community-level impacts of initiatives aiming to introduce green and/or blue spaces and an understanding of how intentional design and planning can help improve societal outcomes throughout the community.
• Knowledge gaps around the long-term impacts of lack of access to quality green and/or blue spaces, and how this amplifies existing socioeconomic inequalities,.
• The role that community-based projects play in strengthening community agency, identity, place attachment, and sociopsychological, mental and material well-being and social capital.
• The role of green and/or blue spaces in the mitigation of inequalities in pollution exposure, a source of concern in many disadvantaged communities.
• The potential contributions of local businesses and social economy actors to the implementation of green and/or blue spaces, as well as the meaningful participation of individuals, representing different economic/labour sectors and collective identities within the community.
• The contribution of nature to place-making and the ways in which approaches from the arts and humanities can contribute to how we understand place, and shape future places, in concert with local communities.

Total Funding Available: €12M for 3 grants of €3-4M