This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Green spaces could play a key role in helping cities cope with the effects of climate change, yet they still play only a minor role in climate strategies. These were the findings of researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), who analyzed the climate strategies of 25 major European cities.
Of the approximately 2,500 individual measures evaluated by the team, only 11.6% included green spaces and urban open spaces. Cities mainly focus on measures to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions. The study was published in the journal Progress in Disaster Science.
Cities are particularly hard hit by storms, heavy rain and heat waves because of their dense development, large populations and extensive paved surfaces. Urban green spaces could help alleviate these effects by absorbing rainwater and lowering temperatures. "Although the positive effects of urban green spaces have been thoroughly studied and are well known, this knowledge is not consistently reflected in the climate strategy documents of many large European cities," says senior lecturer PD Dr.
Marcin Spyra from the Institute of Geosciences and Geography at MLU. The researchers analyzed the planning reports of 25 European capitals and other large cities. The team categorized the individual measures described in the plans according to their type, objective and use of green spaces and other urban open spaces.
"One key positive is that climate action is a strategic priority in almost all urban development plans, with a wide range of climate measures," Spyra says. The analysis also revealed a predominance of measures aimed at reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, known as climate mitigation, in most plans. "The proportion of measures aimed at protecting against the already noticeable consequences of climate change is increasing.
Green spaces feature much more prominently in adaptation strategies than in plans focused solely on mitigation. However, they remain underrepresented overall," says Dr. Victoria Dietze from JLU.
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