New heat maps reveal cooling effect of trees and green space

New heat maps reveal cooling effect of trees and green space - Friends of the Earth

The analysis finds areas with fewer trees and green space are up to five degrees warmer during UK's hottest days

Today marks one year since the UK’s all-time temperature record was broken in Coningsby in Lincolnshire, where 40 degrees was breached for the first time.
Striking new heat maps from five major English cities show that areas with higher levels of tree cover, green space or both were much cooler
Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to green our streets by boosting tree cover to at least 20% in urban areas and protect existing trees from felling, to help shield communities from the impacts of climate change.

A year after the UK broke national heat records and reached a new all-time temperature high, striking new heat maps from five of England’s biggest cities reveal the huge benefits of trees and green spaces in helping to cool urban areas.

Innovative new analysis, carried out by mapping experts TerraSulis on behalf of Friends of the Earth, helps visualise the stark temperature variances felt by communities living in different areas of five major cities – London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle. The cooling abilities of green space and trees have been well-researched, but this is the first time their combined effects on built up areas have been modelled.

The research finds that inner-city areas with fewer trees and green spaces were up to five degrees hotter than those with more tree cover and plant life during last year's hottest day on record. The new mapping brings this to life, with the hottest areas in each city appearing dark red, and the coolest, most nature-dense areas a cool blue.

Marginalised communities are most impacted by the climate crisis in the UK and overseas. The research finds that people of colour make up 65% of the population in neighbourhoods with the least cooling. People living on lower incomes are also disproportionately affected by a lack of natural cooling near their homes. Air pollution is also worse in the hottest areas.