The mortality impacts of greening Italy

Green spaces have been shown to be beneficial to humans, but quantifying these benefits is a challenge for epidemiology. In this health impact assessment study, we exploit satellites to estimate for the whole of Italy the number of deaths that could be prevented in the 49 million adult population by greening residential areas. The exposure was assessed by calculating the normalized difference vegetation index at 10-m resolution within a 300-m distance from homes in 7904 municipalities. In this study we estimate, by achieving nationwide the level of residential greenness currently reached by the 25% of the population, a total of 28,433 (95% confidence interval: 21,400–42,350) preventable deaths and 279,324 (210,247–415,980) preventable years of life lost in Italy in 2022, representing the 5% of the total mortality burden. More green means fewer deaths, thus strong action is needed to increase the amount and accessibility of green spaces in all human settlements. Green spaces are beneficial to humans. The authors estimate, by reaching across the whole of Italy the greenness currently achieved by the 25% of the population, a total of 28,433 annual preventable deaths, representing the 5% of all mortality burden.