How the Urban Tree Canopy Can Save Lives in a Heat Wave

New research reveals the direct link between planting more trees and a reduction in heat-related deaths.

1 minute read

February 6, 2023, 8:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Trees

Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

A new study published in The Lancet reveals that urban trees can have a direct impact on heat-related deaths. “Of the 6,700 premature deaths attributed to higher temperatures in 93 European cities during 2015, one third could have been prevented, according to the findings.”

“Modeling found that increasing tree cover to 30 percent would shave off 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.7 degrees Fahrenheit) locally, on average, during hot summer months.” However, the study notes that “just under 15 percent of urban environments in Europe, on average, are covered by some kind of foliage.”

As extreme heat waves become more common, cities will need to take steps to mitigate the harm and reduce the urban heat island effect. According to Laurence Wainwright of the University of Oxford's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, “Urban tree planting—on the right scale, in the right places, and under certain other conditions—likely leads to a modest-yet-real reduction in heat-related deaths in many urban areas.”

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 in Phys.org

View down New York City alleyway at nighttime

Red Cities, Blue Cities, and Crime

Homicides rose across the nation in 2020 and 2021. But did they rise equally in all cities, or was the situation worse in some than in others?

March 12, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

babyt Boomer Homeowners

The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?

In the first of a two-part series, PlaceMakers’ Ben Brown interviews housing guru Arthur C. Nelson on the sweeping demographic changes complicating the housing market.

March 12, 2023 - PlaceShakers and NewsMakers

Yellow on black "Expect Delays" traffic sign

A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts

Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.

March 14, 2023 - Todd Litman

Black and blue bags of trash piled on a New York City sidewalk

New York Garbage ‘Containerization’ Pilot Not Replicable at Scale

The city’s sanitation department says the program, while successful on one block, would be too difficult and expensive to implement citywide.

2 minutes ago - StreetsBlog NYC

Washington D.C. Protest

IPCC Report: The World Is Running Out of Time on Climate Change

The planet is not doing enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent report published by the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

March 20 - International Panel on Climate Change

A view of the Boise skyline, across tress int he foreground. The state capitol is visible amongst other office buildings.

Skyline-Defining High-Rise Potentially Coming to Boise

A rendering making the rounds in Boise depicts a 40-story apartment building that would be taller than all other buildings in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.

March 20 - Boise Dev

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.