12/04/2026
🌳 Can trees really cool our cities?
A new global study led by the University of Cambridge has analysed 182 scientific papers since 2010 to assess how effectively trees lower urban temperatures.
Key findings:
🌡️ Trees can reduce pedestrian-level air temperatures by up to 12°C.
🏙️ In 83% of 110 cities, tree planting brought the hottest month’s average temperature below 26°C.
☀️ Cooling is strongest in hot, dry climates (≈9°C reduction), moderate in temperate zones (≈6°C), and more limited in humid regions.
🌙 However, trees can slightly raise night-time temperatures — from +0.4°C in dry to +1.5°C in temperate cities — posing trade-offs for heat recovery.
💡 Urban greening isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s about matching tree traits and city design to local climate realities.
➡️ https://ow.ly/1Hni50XhnfF
