The first wave of macro-level nature connectedness research: Convergent insights and emerging directions

The human–nature relationship is increasingly recognised as a fundamental driver of environmental issues. This article synthesises and reflects on an emerging “first wave” of quantitative macro-level research on nature connectedness, revealing how the human–nature relationship is shaped not only by individual experiences but by slow-moving cultural, socioeconomic, and historical forces. Drawing on multinational surveys, machine-learning analyses, and agent-based models spanning two centuries, the paper identifies consistent drivers of declining nature connectedness, including urbanisation, economic development, secularisation, and intergenerational transmission. It shows that these macro-factors explain both long-term declines and contemporary global variation, reframing nature connectedness as a societal property rather than an individual trait. This perspective paper synthesises these emergent insights, highlights the conceptual foundations of an integrated science of nature connectedness, and outlines priorities for future research into systemic, multi-level interventions capable of informing policy and societal transformation of the human–nature relationship.