Tuesday 28 April 2020

‘A 30% increase in green spaces in Philadelphia could prevent 403 premature deaths’

A 30% increase in green spaces in Philadelphia could prevent 403 premature deaths and generate an estimated economic benefit of almost $4 billion (£3.2bn).

That's the conclusion of a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the United States Forest Service, which analysed the impact of increasing green spaces on premature mortality in a city and found a 'significant' association.

The scientific team studied three different possible scenarios for the city of Philadelphia for 2025 - the most ambitious was based on the current goal set by the Philadelphia's Council of a 30% increase of tree coverage of land area in each of the city's neighbourhoods.

The results of the analysis showed that if Philadelphia achieves its goal of increasing tree coverage to 30% of the city by 2025, 403 premature adult deaths would be prevented each year, representing 3% of the city’s annual mortality rate.

The study also predicts a 5% and 10% increase in tree canopy could result in an annual reduction of 271 and 376 deaths respectively and suggests neighbourhoods with a low socioeconomic level would benefit most from any increase in green spaces.

Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Study Coordinator and Director of ISGlobal’s Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative, commented: “Although every city has its own characteristics, this study provides an example for all the cities in the world: many lives can be saved by increasing trees and greening urban environments, even at modest levels.

"What’s more, green spaces increase biodiversity and reduce the impact of climate change, making our cities more sustainable
and more liveable."