The Nature Connection project has released a new policy summary translating national research findings into clear, decision-ready insights for governments and policy makers.
The report, Nature connection and pro-environmental behaviours in Australia: A summary for policy makers, distils evidence from a large national survey into practical guidance on how strengthening Australians’ connection with nature can support wellbeing outcomes and encourage pro-environmental behaviours.
Rather than focusing on theory, the summary is designed to help policymakers understand:
- how nature connection functions as a leverage point for sustainability
- which types of environmental behaviours are most strongly linked to nature connection
- how policies can be shaped to better support both people and the environment.
What the policy summary shows
The report highlights that nature connection is strongly associated with a wide range of pro-environmental behaviours, including advocacy, consumer choices, conservation activities and gardening.
Importantly for policy design, the findings show that:
- nature connection consistently predicts environmental behaviours across demographic groups
- people with higher nature connection report higher wellbeing
- policies that enable people to connect with nature can deliver social and environmental benefits at the same time.
These insights provide an evidence base for integrating nature connection into policy frameworks, programs and investment decisions.
Read the Nature Connection Policy Maker Summary
Aligning with Australia’s Strategy for Nature
Australia’s Strategy for Nature identifies “connecting all Australians with nature” as its number one goal. This policy summary directly supports that objective by showing how connection to nature influences behaviour and wellbeing in real-world contexts.
The report also highlights the role of urban environments, inclusive programs and community-focused initiatives in creating opportunities for people to connect with nature, aligning with national and state biodiversity and wellbeing strategies.
Supporting better policy decisions
By translating complex survey data into accessible insights, the Nature Connection project is supporting policy makers to:
- design policies that encourage environmental action
- embed nature connection into wellbeing, planning and sustainability initiatives
- invest in programs that deliver long-term benefits for communities and ecosystems.
This approach reflects the Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub’s commitment to producing research that informs decision-making and delivers real-world impact.
