Essay

  - Urban green can help adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change - Urban green spaces have many environmental functions that provide areas within the built environment where adaptation to climate change can take place - making cities greener with parks, more trees and green roofs will provide cooling and ventilation, as well as water storage and infiltration - Plants reduce the urban heat island effect by shading heat absorbing surfaces and through evapotranspiration (ET) cooling, and evidence has shown vegetation lowers wall surface temperatures by 17°C - Urban green spaces can also help to reduce pollution, and act as sinks for carbon dioxide which is a major contributor to global warming - In cities, gardens and parks absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which come from private vehicles in urban transport - Vegetation, particularly trees reduce air pollution by absorbing pollutants in the air, and by intercepting particulate matter - 20 trees can offset t