Trees are natural ACs for cities, if you plant the right ones
Urban trees are on the rise but researchers are only starting to uncover the best way to cool cities with them. "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today," so the saying goes. Originally published here . Trees have been touted as solutions to many environmental problems, from reducing air pollution to restoring biodiversity. But much planting in cities today is motivated by their potential to mitigate extreme heat. "Most of our signatory cities are reporting extreme heat as their main risk currently, and adding green infrastructure such as trees is one of their key activities to tackle it," says Samie Raichs Tovany, urban heat project officer at C40 Cities, a global network of cities committed to climate action. Nearly half a million people are estimated to die annually from heat-related causes, primarily due to cardiovascular problems . Extra strain is put on the heart as the body tries to cool itself down by circulating large ...
