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City centers need to accelerate and intensify the planting of trees in order to combat the threat of deadly heatwaves in the future, according to experts. Researchers have found that increasing the number of trees in urban areas could potentially lower air temperatures by up to 5C (41F). Other interventions, such as breezeways, water features, and curved buildings, could also help address this issue, but the focus should be on planting more trees, as stated by the team from Cardiff University led by Prof Philip Jones.
A report by the UK Climate Change Committee has warned that heat-related deaths could increase from 3,000 in 2022 to over 10,000 in an average year by 2050. To assess the impact of rising temperatures on cities like Cardiff, Newport, and Wrexham, the Cardiff University team conducted extensive research. The human body aims to maintain a core temperature of around 37C (98F), but during hot weather, the body must work harder to keep cool, potentially leading to dangerous heat exhaustion.
Recent research by the team focused on the effectiveness of green interventions, with results indicating that planting trees can make a significant difference in cooling urban areas. Prof Jones emphasized the necessity of increasing tree coverage to around 30-40% to achieve a cooling effect of 4-5C (39-41F). The team’s computer model was developed in collaboration with researchers from Tsinghua University Shenzhen International School and involved on-site temperature measurements in Grangetown.
According to Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Cardiff currently has 15.1% tree canopy cover, with ambitions in Newport to raise this to 25%. NRW’s urban green infrastructure advisor, Peter Frost, highlighted the urgency to start planting larger tree species immediately to mitigate heat stress. He emphasized the importance of incorporating trees into sustainable drainage systems to manage rainfall effectively. The potential benefits of increased tree canopy cover extend beyond cooling urban areas during heatwaves, as they also provide shade, reduce heating costs, and support wildlife
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