Greener, longer life: More trees reduce premature deaths in cities

Umberto Bacchi

2019-11-20

Thomson Reuters Foundation

Keywords: Premature deaths, Air pollution, Urban green spaces, Tree cover, Health benefits, Environmental health, Urban forestry

Any premature deaths caused by health conditions such as heart or respiratory diseases were factored in.

The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, found that in cities from Barcelona to Perth, a 10% increase in greenery led to an average 4% reduction in premature mortality.

A study indicates that increasing tree cover in cities worldwide could significantly reduce premature deaths caused by air pollution. The research, which examined data from 62 cities, suggests that more trees could lead to a 4% reduction in premature mortality, highlighting the potential health benefits of urban green spaces. It also highlights some climate impacts that green spaces have- such as flood control, heat reduction

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Tags: Urban health, Air quality, Environmental impact, Urban planning, Green infrastructure