WAT's Sustainable, Waterloo? Welcome to the official Sustainability Office's official podcast: WAT's Sustainable?
On Episode 03 of the podcast, we answer the question: WAT is urban greenspace? We discuss the importance of greenspace in cities for your health, wellbeing and the planet, what challenges exist when creating urban greenspace in existing urban centres, and what you can do to promote urban greenspace in your community!
Referenced resources
- Sustainable Sydney 2030 and related news article
- Toronto Canopy Study (2018)
- Green City Vancouver and City of Vancouver Greenest City Action Plan
- Books: Braiding Sweetgrass, The Hidden Life of Trees and The Last Child in the Woods
- Region of Waterloo’s Community Environment Fund
- Reep Green Solution’s Bloom {in} Box
- University of Waterloo’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy
- Waterloo Region Nature
Additional resources
- Region of Waterloo forests and trails maps
- GoodWork, an environmentally focused job/volunteer board
- USDA (2018) study Urban nature for human health and well-being report
- The importance of greenspace during the pandemic – article from CBC News
Tips for promoting greenspace in your community
- Explore existing greenspaces and reflect on how they make you feel.
- Apply for community funding opportunities to create more greenspace.
- Provide feedback to local development projects.
- Enhance your own greenspaces with native, pollinator-friendly species.
- Volunteer at local organizations that promote conservation and restoration efforts.
- Join university/community clubs pushing for urban greenspace.
Listen now
Go to our podcast feed to listen to episode 3 now!
Download the transcription (.docx) with time stamps and resources. A .txt version of the transcript is also available for accessibility (scroll to bottom of page).
We want to hear from you!
Do you have any ideas or topics you'd like us to cover, accessibility concerns or feedback on a particular episode? Email us at sustainability@uwaterloo.ca.