Trees could cut urban heatwave mortality by a third: study

Modelling found that increasing tree cover to 30% would shave off 0.4ºC locally, on average, during hot summer months. Photo: AFP

Planting more trees in urban areas to lower summertime temperatures could decrease deaths directly linked to hot weather and heatwaves by a third, researchers said on Feb 1.

Modelling found that increasing tree cover to 30% would shave off 0.4ºC (0.7ºF) locally, on average, during hot summer months, they reported in The Lancet.