Trees are an invaluable asset when it comes to improving air quality in cities. They intercept particles on the surface of plants and absorb gaseous pollutants through their stomata, or “pores”, effectively filtering these chemicals from the air. Trees also mitigate the effect of greenhouse gases by trapping heat, reducing ground-level ozone levels and releasing vital oxygen. In addition to providing us with clean oxygen to breathe, trees play a critical role in removing air pollutants and greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Vehicle emissions, deforestation, and the burning of coal and wood as fuel are all major contributors to poor air quality in cities. The world's forests absorb a third of global emissions every year, but if we continue with our current rate of deforestation, it will have serious consequences on our air quality. Ecosia is committed to planting trees and spreading awareness about the vital role that forests play in protecting our planet. Rob McDonald, chief scientist of the world's cities and author of the Planting Healthy Air report, briefly explains the cooling and cleaning benefits of trees.
In addition to absorbing pollutants from the air, trees and other green infrastructure offer a wide range of collateral benefits, which also include habitat for wildlife, stormwater control, recreational opportunities, and the beautification of public and private spaces in cities. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) studied the effects of trees on air quality in 245 of the world's largest cities and documented the findings in the Planting Healthy Air report. Certain high-density neighborhoods in Atlanta, such as downtown neighborhoods along the Interstate 85 corridor, could benefit greatly from increased tree planting, especially to mitigate the heat. An analysis by The Nature Conservancy on financial and political actions to allow for tree planting for public health shows that this is just one strategy that urban planners can use to mitigate heat and air pollution.
Most of the cooling and filtering effects created by trees are fairly localized, so densely populated cities tend to get the highest overall return on investment (ROI) from tree plantations. As the UN coordinates international efforts to mitigate climate change and invest in sustainable cities, tree planting offers a strategy that city leaders can implement in their own communities right now to protect their citizens. Tree planting is an effective way to improve air quality in cities. It helps reduce ground-level ozone levels by trapping heat and releasing clean oxygen into the atmosphere. Trees also absorb gaseous pollutants through their stomata, or “pores”, effectively filtering these chemicals from the air.
In addition to providing us with clean oxygen to breathe, trees play a critical role in removing air pollutants and greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) studied the effects of trees on air quality in 245 of the world's largest cities and documented their findings in the Planting Healthy Air report. This report showed that certain high-density neighborhoods in Atlanta could benefit greatly from increased tree planting, especially to mitigate heat. An analysis by The Nature Conservancy on financial and political actions to allow for tree planting for public health shows that this is just one strategy that urban planners can use to mitigate heat and air pollution. Tree planting offers a number of collateral benefits as well. These include habitat for wildlife, stormwater control, recreational opportunities, and beautification of public and private spaces in cities.
Most of these benefits are localized so densely populated cities tend to get the highest overall return on investment (ROI) from tree plantations. As the UN coordinates international efforts to mitigate climate change and invest in sustainable cities, tree planting offers a strategy that city leaders can implement right now to protect their citizens. It is an effective way to improve air quality in cities while also providing a number of other benefits such as habitat for wildlife, stormwater control, recreational opportunities, and beautification of public spaces.
