The research team, which includes experts from universities in Nanjing, Exeter, Aarhus, and North Carolina State, utilized satellite data from the world’s 500 largest cities to assess their “cooling capacity.” This capacity measures how much urban green spaces can reduce a city’s surface temperatures. Findings suggest a stark contrast in green space efficiency and availability, with all top ten cities for cooling capacity located in the U.S., including Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham.
In contrast, cities like Mogadishu in Somalia, Sana’a in Yemen, and Rosario in Argentina rank lowest, demonstrating minimal cooling benefits. Even Chicago is noted as the only U.S. city with a cooling capacity below 1°C, indicating potential areas for improvement.
Urban green spaces are crucial for mitigating heat-related illnesses and deaths, especially in densely populated urban environments where the “urban heat island” effect exacerbates heat levels. The average cooling provided by such spaces can lower temperatures by about 3°C during warm seasons, which can be lifesaving during heat waves.
The study points out the unequal distribution of green spaces, often concentrated in wealthier city areas, leaving poorer segments, such as slums in hot regions of India, at greater risk. Professor Chi Xu from Nanjing University explains that the average cooling benefit in the Global South is 2.2°C, compared to 3.4°C in the Global North, primarily due to differences in vegetation quantity and the management of these green areas.
Efforts to enhance urban greenery could significantly improve living conditions in the Global South. Nature-based solutions like vertical gardens, rooftop green spaces, and urban forests are recommended to counter extreme heat. However, as Professor Rob Dunn from North Carolina State University notes, such initiatives can be costly in the short term but are essential for future livability.
This study underscores the urgent need for strategic urban planning and investment in green infrastructure to address climate disparities and enhance global health and safety.
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