Temperatures have been steadily rising around the world as a result of the increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. This warming trend has led to more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather events. Rising temperatures are also impacting human health, leading to increased risks of heat-related illnesses and a higher number of fatalities during extreme heat events.
One simple but effective way to reduce the health risks from extreme heat is to increase urban vegetation. According to new research led by scientists from Monash University in Australia, increasing urban vegetation by 30% could save more than one-third of all heat-related deaths. The study, which was recently published in The Lancet Planetary Health, examined more than 11,000 urban areas and found that increasing greenery could have saved up to 1.16 million lives worldwide between 2000 and 2019.
The impact of increasing urban vegetation on heat-related deaths varies by climate, greenness, socioeconomic, and demographic factors, with the greatest benefits seen in Southern Asia, Eastern Europe, and Eastern Asia.
Vegetation has a cooling effect on temperature. Vegetation helps regulate the Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, which helps to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Vegetation also cools the environment through shading, moisture release, and evapotranspiration, which reduces temperatures and mitigates heat-related health risks.
Incorporating more vegetation into urban areas is a powerful solution to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect human health.
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Increasing urban vegetation could have saved over 1.1m lives in two decades
Photo, posted July 1, 2023, courtesy of Lauri via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
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