Ever wonder what’s the most cost-effective solution to cool the temperature? Simple. Planting more trees or incorporating more vegetation/plants in city design. It puts a new slant on the idea of the ‘urban jungle’.
Climate change is one of the most serious risks to urban life. Our cities are heating up. The dangers of the urban heat island — when concrete buildings, asphalt roads and other urban infrastructure absorb and re-emit solar radiation more than natural landscapes — are well documented, increasing temperatures in built-up areas which can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Poorly planned city development increases this risk. According to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, only 40 percent of the urban areas expected to exist by 2030 exist, meaning significant further urban development will occur over the next decade.
