Upscaling the humanimal concept and solution: A guideline for smart cities

Societies are changing, as are their sensitivities, available resources, and needs. To meet emerging demands innovative solutions and useful responses are required. The human-animal relationships is at the centre of a new cultural interest, both nationally and internationally. The new interest looks mainly to immaterial and relational bonds among humans and animals. In Italy, the number of pets today exceeds the number of residents, while the pet economy itself generates interesting economic and employment opportunities. Research provides growing evidence of the positive impacts of interactions with animals on the physical and psychological well-being of people, particularly those who are vulnerable. The new knowledge opens new perspectives for thinking about useful responses to social and relational needs in the society. Italian society has among the longest life expectancies in the world, while the boomer curve has entered the 60-year threshold. At European level aging is also strong evidence with growing trends. Social demands, even among young populations, are growing, partly because of the pandemic covid-19. For the sustainability of future welfare models the organisation of inclusive and proactive well-being solutions for the population and prevent any fragility is becoming crucial. In this context, adopting innovative solutions capable of producing public goods, such as health, interpersonal relationships, well-being, and social inclusion, by activating simple and readily available resources, such as those of animals, can assume strategic importance. Policies that promote interaction between people and animals (animal-nature-based solutions) receive attention and support from broad segments of society. The EU-INHABIT research project, on solutions for smart cities, piloted the creation in Lucca of the first city with an integrated people-animal policy. Aim was of generating effective responses for the inclusive well-being of its inhabitants, with attention to, but not limited to, vulnerable groups. Enhancing interaction between people and animals can represent a useful solution for inclusive well-being in society, to be achieved through the design of organized and integrated policies on the topic at the national, regional, and urban scales.