{"id":50848,"date":"2024-09-03T13:36:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T12:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=50848"},"modified":"2024-09-03T13:36:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T12:36:28","slug":"why-green-spaces-are-key-to-combating-extreme-heat-in-the-global-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/why-green-spaces-are-key-to-combating-extreme-heat-in-the-global-south\/50848\/","title":{"rendered":"Why green spaces are key to combating extreme heat in the Global South"},"content":{"rendered":"
This disparity, when compared to cities in the Global North, highlights a pressing need for urban greening strategies to combat the escalating threat of heat-related illnesses and deaths.<\/p>\n
The study, conducted by an international team including researchers from Nanjing, Exeter, Aarhus, and North Carolina State universities, found that cities in the Global South have only 70% of the ‘cooling capacity’ provided by urban green spaces compared to their counterparts in the Global North.<\/p>\n
This difference is starkly evident as temperatures rise globally and urban heat island effects intensify, making cities significantly hotter than surrounding rural areas.<\/p>\n
Professor Tim Lenton of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter emphasises the importance of urban green spaces, noting: “Urban greenery is a really effective way of tackling what can be fatal effects of extreme heat and humidity.<\/p>\n
“Our analysis suggests green spaces can cool the surface temperature in the average city by about 3\u00b0C during warm seasons \u2013 a vital difference during extreme heat.”<\/p>\n
Urban green spaces, such as parks, urban forests, and rooftop gardens, play a crucial role in cooling cities through shading and transpirational cooling\u2014the process of water evaporation from plants.<\/p>\n
These spaces not only lower surface temperatures but also contribute to better air quality<\/a>, reduced energy consumption, and enhanced biodiversity. In the face of climate change<\/a>, the environmental benefits of green spaces extend beyond temperature regulation.<\/p>\n