Human-nature connectedness as a pathway to sustainability: A global meta-analysis

Abstract

Internationally agreed sustainability goals are being missed. Here, we conduct global meta-analyses to assess how the extent to which humans see themselves as part of nature-known as human-nature connectedness (HNC)-can be used as a leverage point to reach sustainability. A meta-analysis of 147 correlational studies shows that individuals with high HNC had more pronature behaviours and were significantly healthier than those with low HNC. A meta-analysis of 59 experimental studies shows significant increases in HNC after manipulations involving contact with nature and mindfulness practices. Surprisingly, this same meta-analysis finds no significant effect of environmental education on HNC. Thus, HNC is positively linked to mind-sets that value sustainability and behaviours that enhance it. Further, we argue that HNC can be enhanced by targeted practices, and we identify those most likely to succeed. Our results suggest that enhancing HNC, via promotion of targeted practices, can improve sustainability and should be integrated into conservation policy.

Keywords: environmental education; human health; human–nature connectedness; meta‐analysis; nature conservation; nature‐based solutions; people and nature; proenvironmental behavior; sustainability.

FIGURE 1

Hypothetical representation of a vicious circle generated by a detrimental worldview (left) and a virtuous circle generated by a sustainable worldview (right). We assess whether and how human–nature connectedness can be used to switch from a detrimental to a sustainable worldview at both individual and societal levels

FIGURE 2

Results from meta‐analyses of experimental (blue background and text) and correlational (green and orange backgrounds and text) studies. Each dot represents the average R estimate for each factor obtained after transforming averaged standardized effect sizes (Fisher's Z for correlational data and Hedges’ g for experimental data) with n, k, and s referring to the number of papers, number of effect sizes and number of participants, respectively. Horizontal lines indicate the 95% confidence intervals for each factor and cross the vertical dot lines when nonsignificant (i.e., environmental education in experimental studies). Single‐headed arrows refer to causal relationships while double‐headed arrows refer to correlational links. Overall R estimates from each broad category are in bold. Details are provided in Methods, Appendix 5, Tables S2–S4, and Figure S4. Experimental studies show that exposure to nature and mindfulness practices improve HNC. Correlational studies confirmed experimental studies and show that HNC is positively linked to nature conservation and human welfare and negatively linked to nonenvironmental values. **p < 0.001; ***p < 0.0001