Trees for Cities has published the results of a new national survey which shows that most UK adults don’t know the full cooling power of urban trees.

As cities experience hotter temperatures due to climate change, people’s health and wellbeing is being put at risk. Trees are one of the best nature-based solutions to offer respite, yet a new national survey shows that the vast majority of UK adults (88%) underestimate or do not know the maximum cooling effect of urban trees, which can be up to 8 degrees Celsius.

Trees can become part of the solution to heat-related health impacts. This YouGov survey, supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, shows that whilst 86% of UK adults agree that trees are important to help cool our towns and cities, most either underestimate or don’t know the maximum cooling effect of urban trees, which can be up to 8 degrees Celsius (according to Forest Research). We operate in cities across the UK to increase awareness on the multiple benefits of urban trees.

The YouGov survey also highlights a disparity facing neighbourhoods across the UK in having limited access to trees and their essential benefits. The 3/30/300 rule by the Nature Based Solutions Institute states that the nearest high-quality public green space should be no less than 300 metres from home, which equates to approximately a five minute walk.

However, the survey shows that many people across the UK have to go further, with over 1 in 3 UK adults (37%) unable to access trees to help them cool down in hot weather within a 5-minute walk (or equivalent) from their home. Indeed, most urban areas in the UK have a tree canopy cover of less than 20% (according to the Tree Equity Map), which is the minimum recommended for UK towns. In some places, it’s as low as 2%.

Heat-related deaths predicted to rise

A new research study has been published, led and co-authored by scientists at the Joint Research Centre at the European Commission.

Temperature-related mortality burden to worsen in Europe

Excessively high or low temperatures presently cause 407,000 fatalities a year. Heat-related deaths, now six times more frequent in southern than in northern Europe, will occur 9.3 times more frequently in the south than in the north by 2100.

A first pan-European assessment reveals that, even if current climate policies succeed in limiting the global temperature rise to 3°C, temperature-driven mortality may increase. Without additional adaptation measures, 55,000 additional deaths could occur annually by the end of this century. This 13.5% increase in temperature-related deaths stresses the cost of delaying climate action.