Page - 40 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

40 2.6 Conclusion In this chapter, we have presented a summary and synthesis of the current evidence for the links between nature, biodiversity, physical health and climate change with a particular focus on urban areas. We have mainly drawn on recent review papers from the peer reviewed academic literature, supplemented by additional materials from a range of disciplinary fields. Much of the literature is still discipline-based, but increasingly informed by multi-disciplinary research projects and related endeav- ours. We feel that this is a necessary and positive development, and the greater avail- ability of papers with large and diverse authorships is a positive sign that research is increasingly attempting to draw disciplines together to provide insights into the big- ger and most critically important questions for human health and well-being. Nevertheless, we have found little evidence from investigations that explicitly sought to connect climate change with biodiversity and human physical health. The evidence that does exist suggests that links between biodiversity, physical health and climate change are multiple, interconnected, multi-scale and interde- pendent. Their interdependence puts into sharp focus the importance of a holistic approach to the major global challenges of health, biodiversity and climate change. Indeed, a holistic approach in policy and practice is as important as it is in scientific research (see Korn et  al. Chap. 14; Keune et  al. Chap. 15, both  this volume). Some of the existing, and newly emerging, challenges for health can be tackled through technological development and research into new interventions, such as new medi- cines and treatments. However, the extent to which the trends in losses of biodiver- Fig. 2.8 Comparison of metrics associated with tree felling from 2013 to 2017  in an urban district of Manchester (© Getmapping Plc) S. J. Lindley et al.