IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-51355-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Green spaces provide substantial but unequal urban cooling globally

Author

Listed:
  • Yuxiang Li

    (Nanjing University)

  • Jens-Christian Svenning

    (Aarhus University)

  • Weiqi Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Kai Zhu

    (University of Michigan)

  • Jesse F. Abrams

    (University of Exeter)

  • Timothy M. Lenton

    (University of Exeter)

  • William J. Ripple

    (Oregon State University)

  • Zhaowu Yu

    (Fudan University)

  • Shuqing N. Teng

    (Nanjing University)

  • Robert R. Dunn

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Chi Xu

    (Nanjing University)

Abstract

Climate warming disproportionately impacts countries in the Global South by increasing extreme heat exposure. However, geographic disparities in adaptation capacity are unclear. Here, we assess global inequality in green spaces, which urban residents critically rely on to mitigate outdoor heat stress. We use remote sensing data to quantify daytime cooling by urban greenery in the warm seasons across the ~500 largest cities globally. We show a striking contrast, with Global South cities having ~70% of the cooling capacity of cities in the Global North (2.5 ± 1.0 °C vs. 3.6 ± 1.7 °C). A similar gap occurs for the cooling adaptation benefits received by an average resident in these cities (2.2 ± 0.9 °C vs. 3.4 ± 1.7 °C). This cooling adaptation inequality is due to discrepancies in green space quantity and quality between cities in the Global North and South, shaped by socioeconomic and natural factors. Our analyses further suggest a vast potential for enhancing cooling adaptation while reducing global inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuxiang Li & Jens-Christian Svenning & Weiqi Zhou & Kai Zhu & Jesse F. Abrams & Timothy M. Lenton & William J. Ripple & Zhaowu Yu & Shuqing N. Teng & Robert R. Dunn & Chi Xu, 2024. "Green spaces provide substantial but unequal urban cooling globally," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51355-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51355-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51355-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-51355-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liqun Sun & Ji Chen & Qinglan Li & Dian Huang, 2020. "Dramatic uneven urbanization of large cities throughout the world in recent decades," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Cheng He & Yuqiang Zhang & Alexandra Schneider & Renjie Chen & Yan Zhang & Weichun Ma & Patrick L. Kinney & Haidong Kan, 2022. "The inequality labor loss risk from future urban warming and adaptation strategies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Gabriele Manoli & Simone Fatichi & Markus Schläpfer & Kailiang Yu & Thomas W. Crowther & Naika Meili & Paolo Burlando & Gabriel G. Katul & Elie Bou-Zeid, 2019. "Magnitude of urban heat islands largely explained by climate and population," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7772), pages 55-60, September.
    4. Shengbiao Wu & Bin Chen & Chris Webster & Bing Xu & Peng Gong, 2023. "Improved human greenspace exposure equality during 21st century urbanization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez & Mark G. Tjoelker & Jonathan Lenoir & John B. Baumgartner & Linda J. Beaumont & David A. Nipperess & Sally A. Power & Benoît Richard & Paul D. Rymer & Rachael V. Gallagher, 2022. "Climate change increases global risk to urban forests," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(10), pages 950-955, October.
    6. Bin Chen & Chen Lin & Peng Gong & Jiafu An, 2023. "Optimize urban shade using digital twins of cities," Nature, Nature, vol. 622(7982), pages 242-242, October.
    7. Kerstin K. Zander & Wouter J. W. Botzen & Elspeth Oppermann & Tord Kjellstrom & Stephen T. Garnett, 2015. "Heat stress causes substantial labour productivity loss in Australia," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 647-651, July.
    8. Lei Zhao & Xuhui Lee & Ronald B. Smith & Keith Oleson, 2014. "Strong contributions of local background climate to urban heat islands," Nature, Nature, vol. 511(7508), pages 216-219, July.
    9. Timothy M. Lenton & Chi Xu & Jesse F. Abrams & Ashish Ghadiali & Sina Loriani & Boris Sakschewski & Caroline Zimm & Kristie L. Ebi & Robert R. Dunn & Jens-Christian Svenning & Marten Scheffer, 2023. "Quantifying the human cost of global warming," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(10), pages 1237-1247, October.
    10. Angel Hsu & Glenn Sheriff & Tirthankar Chakraborty & Diego Manya, 2021. "Disproportionate exposure to urban heat island intensity across major US cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Jonas Schwaab & Ronny Meier & Gianluca Mussetti & Sonia Seneviratne & Christine Bürgi & Edouard L. Davin, 2021. "The role of urban trees in reducing land surface temperatures in European cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Angel Hsu & Glenn Sheriff & Tirthankar Chakraborty & Diego Manya, 2021. "Publisher Correction: Disproportionate exposure to urban heat island intensity across major US cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-1, December.
    13. Camilo Mora & Bénédicte Dousset & Iain R. Caldwell & Farrah E. Powell & Rollan C. Geronimo & Coral R. Bielecki & Chelsie W. W. Counsell & Bonnie S. Dietrich & Emily T. Johnston & Leo V. Louis & Matthe, 2017. "Global risk of deadly heat," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(7), pages 501-506, July.
    14. Léopold T. Biardeau & Lucas W. Davis & Paul Gertler & Catherine Wolfram, 2020. "Heat exposure and global air conditioning," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 25-28, January.
    15. V. Kelly Turner & Ariane Middel & Jennifer K. Vanos, 2023. "Shade is an essential solution for hotter cities," Nature, Nature, vol. 619(7971), pages 694-697, July.
    16. Kirsten Schwarz & Michail Fragkias & Christopher G Boone & Weiqi Zhou & Melissa McHale & J Morgan Grove & Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne & Joseph P McFadden & Geoffrey L Buckley & Dan Childers & Laura Ogden & S, 2015. "Trees Grow on Money: Urban Tree Canopy Cover and Environmental Justice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    17. Jun Wang & Yang Chen & Weilin Liao & Guanhao He & Simon F. B. Tett & Zhongwei Yan & Panmao Zhai & Jinming Feng & Wenjun Ma & Cunrui Huang & Yamin Hu, 2021. "Anthropogenic emissions and urbanization increase risk of compound hot extremes in cities," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(12), pages 1084-1089, December.
    18. Bin Chen & Shengbiao Wu & Yimeng Song & Chris Webster & Bing Xu & Peng Gong, 2022. "Contrasting inequality in human exposure to greenspace between cities of Global North and Global South," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wan Ting Katty Huang & Pierre Masselot & Elie Bou-Zeid & Simone Fatichi & Athanasios Paschalis & Ting Sun & Antonio Gasparrini & Gabriele Manoli, 2023. "Economic valuation of temperature-related mortality attributed to urban heat islands in European cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Zamponi, Virginia & O’Brien, Kevin & Jensen, Erik & Feldhaus, Brandon & Moore, Russell & Lynch, Christopher J. & Gore, Ross, 2023. "Understanding and assessing demographic (in)equity resulting from extreme heat and direct sunlight exposure due to lack of tree canopies in Norfolk, VA using agent-based modeling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 483(C).
    3. Noa Levin, 2023. "Book review essay: City, Climate and Architecture; Coping with Urban Climates," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(13), pages 2725-2730, October.
    4. Zander, Kerstin K. & Mathew, Supriya, 2019. "Estimating economic losses from perceived heat stress in urban Malaysia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 84-90.
    5. Ivan Rudik & Derek Lemoine & Antonia Marcheva, 2024. "Equity and Efficiency in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Adaptation Investments," NBER Chapters, in: Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, volume 6, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Jones, Andrew & Nock, Destenie & Samaras, Constantine & Qiu, Yueming (Lucy) & Xing, Bo, 2023. "Climate change impacts on future residential electricity consumption and energy burden: A case study in Phoenix, Arizona," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    7. Luke J. Harrington & Kristie L. Ebi & David J. Frame & Friederike E. L. Otto, 2022. "Integrating attribution with adaptation for unprecedented future heatwaves," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 1-7, May.
    8. Aerzuna Abulimiti & Yongqiang Liu & Lianmei Yang & Abuduwaili Abulikemu & Yusuyunjiang Mamitimin & Shuai Yuan & Reifat Enwer & Zhiyi Li & Abidan Abuduaini & Zulipina Kadier, 2024. "Urbanization Effect on Changes in Extreme Climate Events in Urumqi, China, from 1976 to 2018," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-25, February.
    9. Sabrina Katharina Beckmann & Michael Hiete & Michael Schneider & Christoph Beck, 2021. "Heat adaptation measures in private households: an application and adaptation of the protective action decision model," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Pennell, Grace & Newman, Sarah & Tarekegne, Bethel & Boff, Daniel & Fowler, Richard & Gonzalez, Juan, 2022. "A comparison of building system parameters between affordable and market-rate housing in New York City," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    11. Emanuele Massaro & Rossano Schifanella & Matteo Piccardo & Luca Caporaso & Hannes Taubenböck & Alessandro Cescatti & Gregory Duveiller, 2023. "Spatially-optimized urban greening for reduction of population exposure to land surface temperature extremes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    12. Bakhtsiyarava, Maryia & Schinasi, Leah H. & Sánchez, Brisa N. & Dronova, Iryna & Kephart, Josiah L. & Ju, Yang & Gouveia, Nelson & Caiaffa, Waleska Teixeira & O'Neill, Marie S. & Yamada, Goro & Arunac, 2023. "Modification of temperature-related human mortality by area-level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics in Latin American cities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    13. Kaustubh Anil Salvi & Mukesh Kumar, 2024. "Imprint of urbanization on snow precipitation over the continental USA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Andrea Baccarelli & Dana C. Dolinoy & Cheryl Lyn Walker, 2023. "A precision environmental health approach to prevention of human disease," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Risto Conte Keivabu, 2022. "Extreme Temperature and Mortality by Educational Attainment in Spain, 2012–2018," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 38(5), pages 1145-1182, December.
    16. Jonathon P. Schuldt & Adam R. Pearson, 2023. "Public recognition of climate change inequities within the United States," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(8), pages 1-14, August.
    17. Claire Conzelmann & Jeremy Hoffman & Toan Phan & Arianna Salazar-Miranda, 2022. "Long-term Effects of Redlining on Environmental Risk Exposure," Working Paper 22-09R, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
    18. Jacob F. Piil & Chris J. Mikkelsen & Nicklas Junge & Nathan B. Morris & Lars Nybo, 2019. "Heat Acclimation Does Not Protect Trained Males from Hyperthermia-Induced Impairments in Complex Task Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-12, February.
    19. Shi, Han & Wang, Bo & Qiu, Yueming Lucy & Deng, Nana & Xie, Baichen & Zhang, Bin & Ma, Shijun, 2024. "The unequal impacts of extremely high temperatures on households’ adaptive behaviors: Empirical evidence from fine-grained electricity consumption data," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    20. He, Bao-Jie & Wang, Junsong & Zhu, Jin & Qi, Jinda, 2022. "Beating the urban heat: Situation, background, impacts and the way forward in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51355-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.