Avoiding the ‘Green Space Paradox’
Cities around the world are usually dominated by towering buildings and huge expanses of housing spreading out from its centre caused by a growing global population and the migration of those living in rural into urban areas. Cities seek economic development for growth which can often come at the expense of the environment and society. Urban green space can restore that balance and create much more sustainable cities.
An urban green space can include any of the following:
- Parks and Reserves
- Sporting Areas
- Riparian Areas
- Greenways and Trails
- Community Gardens
- Street Trees
- Nature Conservation Areas
Environmental Benefits
Green spaces in urban areas have a great number of environmental and social benefits for residents. The ‘heat island effect’ that is common in cities around the world, particularly those in warmer climates, and can often make urban areas a lot warmer than just outside of the urban area. Increasing the amount of green space in a city can lower the air temperature by a few degrees which, with the impacts of climate change, will make cities much more habitable as average temperatures rise.
