Paris has taken a major step to combat rising summer temperatures by expanding its Urban Forest Project. The city has started planting 5,000 new trees in areas most affected by heat, known as urban heat islands. These areas often experience higher temperatures due to dense buildings and limited green spaces. The initiative aims to lower local temperatures, clean the air, and make streets more pleasant for residents and visitors.
City officials said the goal is to create shaded walking paths throughout the city by 2030. The new trees will be placed along busy roads, public squares, and pedestrian corridors that currently lack natural shade. By adding more green spaces, the city hopes to reduce the urban heat effect, which has become more severe during recent summer heatwaves.
The Urban Forest Project is part of a wider climate action plan to make Paris more resilient to global warming. Over the past decade, Paris has faced longer and hotter summers, often leading to heat-related health problems. Planting trees is seen as a natural and cost-effective way to cool the environment. Trees provide shade, absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen, which improves overall air quality. They also help slow down rainwater runoff, reducing the risk of flooding during heavy storms.
Experts say adding trees can lower temperatures in cities by several degrees during heatwaves. More shade means cooler streets, which can reduce the need for air conditioning in nearby buildings. This not only lowers energy use but also helps cut carbon emissions. Cleaner air and cooler public spaces are expected to improve the daily lives of residents, especially children, older adults, and people with health conditions.
The project will also boost local biodiversity by creating habitats for birds, insects, and small mammals. More trees and plants will bring back species that have disappeared from urban areas. This is expected to make the city’s ecosystem more balanced and resilient.
The city plans to involve local communities in caring for the new trees. Residents will be encouraged to help water and monitor the trees during their first years of growth. Schools and community groups will be invited to join tree-planting events, helping raise awareness about the benefits of urban greenery. This community approach aims to build a sense of shared responsibility and pride in the greener city.
Funding for the Urban Forest Project comes from the city’s climate budget and support from private partners. By 2030, the plan is to connect several green corridors across Paris, creating cooler and cleaner paths that link parks and gardens. This network of shaded routes will make walking and cycling more comfortable, reducing car use and traffic pollution.
Urban planners believe the project will play a key role in making Paris healthier and more livable. As climate change continues to drive extreme weather, cities across the world are searching for ways to adapt. Paris hopes its approach will serve as a model for other major cities facing the same challenges.
With 5,000 new trees now being planted, Paris is showing how cities can fight heat and pollution through nature-based solutions. The Urban Forest Project aims to create a cooler, cleaner, and greener future for everyone in the city.
