É«É«À²

Urbanization, climate change, and biodiversity loss are global challenges that demand urgent solutions. Greening cities—by preserving green infrastructure like trees —is a powerful way to enhance carbon sequestration, reduce urban flooding and heatwaves, and support the well-being of both people and other species.

But simply scattering  greenery here and there isn’t enough. To deliver real local benefits, a sufficient amount of vegetation is needed. Aalto University’s canopy cover map  shows that in some Helsinki neighborhoods, canopy cover reaches as high as 63%, while in others it drops to just 4%. According to the Co-Carbon project, neighborhoods with more than 25% canopy cover act as clear carbon sinks. Adequate canopy cover also ensures cooling benefits during heatwaves.

‘The maps clearly show that the climate benefits of urban greenery are not evenly distributed across Helsinki and the capital region—something policymakers should take seriously. When a city takes care of its trees, the trees take care of the people,’ says Ranja Hautamäki, Professor of landscape architecture at Aalto University.