UK needs more ‘natural air conditioning’

As the UK counts the cost of a deadly summer, new reports say a single street tree can provide the cooling of ten air-conditioning units. But millions of people still live too far from green space to benefit.

The UK’s parks, gardens and street trees are a crucial defence against extreme heat, but are too far away from many people’s homes, according to two new reports.

Temperatures in the UK reached up to 38C this summer. The heatwaves in May and June alone have been estimated to have caused more than 2,700 deaths.

New research by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) found that green infrastructure can cut city temperatures by up to 5°C during heatwaves.

Its report says grass surfaces can be up to 24°C cooler than asphalt, and that trees can reduce harmful heat exposure by up to 96%.

One large street tree can provide the cooling equivalent of around ten air-conditioning units, it says.

Who is missing out on this natural cooling?However, the HTA points out that some eight million people live more than a 15-minute walk from a green space, with lower-income households and ethnic minority communities disproportionately affected.

Separate research from the Wildlife Trusts and Liberal Democrats for Nature and Climate, published last week, echoed these findings.

Its research revealed 238 English parliamentary constituencies (44% of the total) where at least a fifth of properties are more than 15 minutes’ walk from green or blue space, such as parks or water.