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Urban areas that have an abundance of green spaces — such as parks and places with numerous trees — report fewer heat-related illnesses and deaths than those with sparse greenery, a new analysis has found.
Why it matters: As climate change advances, a growing share of the population will be exposed to dangerous heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent and intense. People living in cities are particularly vulnerable due to the urban heat island effect.
To mitigate these risks, some cities are painting rooftops white and creating more green spaces, among other interventions. One recent study showed that trees can reduce the surface temperature of European cities in the summer by up to 12°C in some areas.
The latest: Urban vegetation has a noticeable impact on mortality rates and also appears to improve mental health and wellbeing, according to researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who led a comprehensive review of studies from around the world.
One of the studies the researchers looked at, from the Australian city of Sydney, found that greenery reduced heat-attributable mortality by up to 11.7 per day.
“Urban green spaces play a vital role in mitigating heat-related health risks, offering a potential strategy for urban planning to address climate change and enhance public health,” the researchers say.
However, they add that more research is needed to fully understand the extent to which greenery reduces heat-related deaths and how it interacts with other factors such as air pollution and socioeconomic status.
