The Power of Urban Trees in Cooling Cities
2023 was the hottest year on record globally, and since then we’ve continued to see temperatures soar. Find out more about the cooling power of trees and how you can help cool our cities.
Extreme heat can seriously affect human health and well-being, particularly with vulnerable people such as kids or the elderly. With global temperatures continually surpassing historic records, heat-related mortality has been identified as one of the key risks to human health and is sadly on the rise.
But Trees for Cities is on a mission to combat this - urban trees work wonders by reducing temperatures on hot days and to date we've planted over 1.7 million.
Despite these ongoing efforts, a recent national YouGov survey commissioned by Trees for Cities found that a shocking
37%
of UK adults can’t access trees to help them cool down in hot weather within a 5-minute walk (or equivalent) from their home
help plant more urban trees
If you would like to see more trees in our towns and cities you can help.
By signing up to a regular gift today, you'll help to plant more trees than ever before and help to reduce the escalating effects of the climate crisis.
You can choose how much and how often you give, and you can change or cancel your gift at any time. Together we can make a true difference for people and the planet - thank you.
Whilst 86% of UK adults agree that trees are important to help cool our towns and cities, the vast majority don't know that urban trees and green spaces can cool the air up to 8 degrees Celsius.
This got us curious; on a hot summer's day, do people appreciate the trees around them? To find out, we headed to locations where we've planted trees before and put the question to people out and about in the city.
The power of trees
Trees provide shade - that's an obvious one, but why is this so important and what else do they do? Suzanne Simmons, Urban Forest Director, explains:
One of the most tangible benefits of city trees is their ability to reduce urban heat by between 2ºC to 8ºC, through canopy shade and the cooling effects of air movement as the trees transpire. It might not sound like a lot, but this makes a huge difference to thermal comfort and in reducing the risks of heat-related illnesses.
With over 80% of us living in urban areas, and with tree canopy cover as low as 2% in some places its clear we need more urban trees to help cool us down.
So what can you do to help?
In our 30th anniversary year, we’re looking to the future – in a world where access to nature and green space in towns and cities is more precious than ever, we’ll be doubling down on our efforts to plant and protect urban trees. But we can't do it without you.
To help us on our mission, please consider supporting us with a regular gift today. With just £6 a month you'll help plant trees in streets, parks and schools across the UK, growing greener, healthier happier towns and cities.
Our partners in planting trees
We are thrilled to announce that we have received support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. A huge thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their support, which means we can plant and protect urban trees.
Learn more
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How urban trees turn down the heat
Discover how urban trees work wonders in helping mitigate the effects of the climate crisis. What is the urban heat island effect, and how are trees part of the solution?
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Let's talk trees
Recent research by Forest Research highlights that deprived areas are still more likely to be devoid of trees.
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Next UK government urged to prioritise urban trees
Everyone deserves access to urban trees and nature - if you're an MP, will you sign the pledge to make your constituency a greener and healthier place to live?
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2087 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th - 22nd July 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).