On the impact of nature-based solutions on citizens’ health & well beingOn the impact of nature-based solutions on citizens’ health & well being Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2021-12-202020enThe research has been developed in the framework of ThinkNature project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Call H2020-SC5-2016-2017 Greening the economy, under grant agreement No 730338.In an increasingly urbanizing world, governments and international corporations strive to increase the productivity of cities, recognized as economy growth hubs, as well as ensuring a better quality of life and living conditions to citizens. The urban environment has been associated with citizens' human health and wellbeing, such as infant mortality, emotional health, and psychopathology, infectious disease risk, nutrition, and obesity. Moreover, citizens suffer from various environmental hazards such as pollution, overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate waste disposal, and insufficient access to safe drinking water. Nature-based solutions, when integrated into the urban environment, in the form of parks, green spaces, blue spaces, and biodiversity, may have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of citizens. The present paper aims to review and analyze the impact of nature-based solutions on citizens ‘health and wellbeing. More than fifty case studies are categorized and discussed versus their psychological and physiological effect. The analysis shows that people’s proximity to natural environments is associated with lower stress, faster recovery from psychological events, improved air quality, reduced urban overheating, and increased level of physical activity. Therefore, nature-based solutions can contribute to a considerable reduction of urban life depression and provide alternative ways of overcoming negative impacts on health.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Energy and Buildings229 Kolokotsa Dionysia Κολοκοτσα Διονυσια Lilli Aikaterini Λιλλη Αικατερινη Lilli Maria Λιλλη Μαρια Nikolaidis Nikolaos Νικολαιδης Νικολαος Elsevier Nature based solutions Health and wellbeing Urban environment Physiological impact Psychological impact