Trees Cool Cities: Karlsruhe's Success in Fighting Extreme Heat
Cities worldwide are battling extreme heat, with trees emerging as a key ally. Planting trees today is the next best thing to planting them 20 years ago, as they can significantly reduce urban temperatures. Cities like Karlsruhe, Germany, have seen notable success with this approach.
Heatwaves pose serious risks, comparable to regular smoking or alcohol consumption. They can increase a person's biological age and contribute to nearly half a million deaths annually, mainly from cardiovascular issues. Trees can help combat this, lowering pedestrian-level air temperature by up to 12°C in 83% of 110 global cities studied. Even a minor increase in tree canopy cover, just 1%, can reduce average temperatures by up to 2°C. In hot and dry climates, trees can provide cooling of over 9°C and warm cities at night by 0.4°C. The cooling potential varies greatly depending on tree species, urban layout, and climate conditions.
Karlsruhe's efforts to mitigate extreme heat by planting trees and converting public green spaces have led to localized temperature reductions of up to 10°C. Most cities report extreme heat as their main risk and are adding green infrastructure like trees to tackle it. This strategy helps offset the urban heat island (UHI) effect, where cities have higher temperatures than surrounding countryside due to fewer trees, more concrete and brick buildings, and increased energy use.
Urban tree planting is a vital strategy to combat extreme heat, with proven cooling effects and potential health benefits. Cities worldwide are embracing this approach to mitigate heat-related risks and improve the lives of their residents.
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