Baby It’s “Nature” Outside: Nature Beyond Governance and Governance Beyond Nature

When I was asked to write this book review essay, many ideas came to mind. However, I have a soft spot for talking about the everyday benefits of nature, trees, and urban green areas in cities, so here we are. In 2011, The Better Halves released the song “Baby It’s Hot Outside”1, sparking a new era for climate activism especially for those working on extreme heat, health effects, and mortality rates in relation to cities and the urban heat phenomena. Inspired by this song, I decided to explore Galle’s book, The Nature of Our Cities, from three different perspectives. First, from a nature perspective; second, from a governance perspective; and third, from a reader perspective. Here, I engage with critical questions about the concept of nature provided throughout the Galle book, including “What definition of nature?”, “Which nature is worth protecting?”, “Where do we find nature around us?”, and “Nature for whom?”