WE ARE IN the midst of an unprecedented environmental crisis – yet so often, many of us feel nothing about it.

Europe, on our doorstep, experienced yet another heatwave this summer. Hundreds of people died from heat-related illnesses, and wildfires wreaked havoc. But this is just the beginning; worse is yet to come due to unchecked climate change. And still, we read the articles, watch the news, and move on, often feeling nothing at all.

This response, this collective inability to feel strongly enough about the crisis to act on it, is, I believe, linked to our disconnect from the natural world. Our relationship with nature is broken.

A recent study has reported that people’s connection with nature has dropped by 60% since 1800. We are caught in a vicious circle where environmental degradation, fuelled by accelerated urbanisation, has eroded our connection to the natural world.

This is a symptom of a broken system, one in which nature is only seen as valuable when it directly benefits the economy. As a result, only a small fraction of Ireland consists of healthy natural ecosystems.

Most of us live in urban areas and spend the majority of our lives indoors. Consequently, many of us are suffering, often unknowingly, from a collective “nature deficit disorder”. It is no wonder why many struggle to care, or to act.

But this disconnection is not beyond repair. I believe that by rebuilding our relationship with the natural world, we can not only experience the immense health benefits of spending time in nature, but also become more inclined to protect and preserve our shared environment.

The benefits of spending time in nature are nearly endless. From the obvious physical advantages to improvements in mental health, reducing stress, boosting mood, and enhancing sleep, to more mysterious effects such as trees potentially boosting the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which play a key role in fighting cancer and other diseases.

While not yet fully understood, these effects only reinforce the idea that nature truly is a miracle drug. There are social benefits too as nature has an extraordinary ability to bring people together, foster social interactions and........

© TheJournal