Increasing green spaces in cities could prevent many premature deaths every year

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/bifg-igs042320.php

News Release 27-Apr-2020
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)


Increasing the tree canopy to 30% of land area in the city of Philadelphia (United States) could prevent over 400 premature deaths across the city every year and yield an estimated annual economic benefit of almost four billion dollars. This is the conclusion of a study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health, which has, for the first time, analysed the impact of increasing green spaces on premature mortality in an entire city.

•••••

"Although every city has its own characteristics, this study provides an example for all the cities in the world: many lives can be saved by increasing trees and greening urban environments, even at modest levels" concludes Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, the study coordinator and director of ISGlobal's Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative. "What's more," he adds "green spaces increase biodiversity and reduce the impact of climate change, making our cities more sustainable and more liveable".

The study also showed that neighbourhoods with a low socioeconomic level would benefit most from any increase in green spaces. "Many of the deaths prevented would be in the poorest areas of the city, even with a moderate increase in the number of trees," comments Kondo.

Philadelphia is the poorest of the ten largest cities in the United States and its mortality rate is higher than the national average. "Urban reforestation programmes are not only essential for improving public health, they are also a way to reduce health inequities and promote environmental justice," she adds.