Green Spaces in Europe Cities
Green spaces in cities mitigate the effects of pollution and can reduce a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect, which refers to heat trapped in built-up areas. The urban heat island effect appears in towns and cities as a result of human activity. The heat generated by people, transport, shops and industry is trapped in the narrow roads and concrete structures, unable to escape to the atmosphere. By 2050, 68% of the global population will live in cities. That's 2.5 billion more people than today. Planning cities to include green spaces wherever possible is the first step in making our urban areas healthier. Having soil, plants and greenery on our roofs would both reduce surface temperature and serve as insulation for the structures below, reducing the energy needed to heat and cool the buildings. Green roofs can also help regulate rainwater, trapping it as it falls and filtering out pollutants.
Having green spaces in urban areas is important on multiple counts. They not only provide communities with places to relax, exercise and socialize, but they also bring wildlife to the area and help in the fight against global warming through carbon dioxide sequestration. If we check the list of green spaces cities in Europe: we see the Oslo has the greatest share of green space at 77 percent, followed by the Zagreb 74 percent and the Ljubljana with 67 percent.
When summer arrives, many of us would rather not spend the entire day in the museums, closed in four walls. Instead, we'd love to get some fresh air and relax far from the crowds and the hustle and bustle of the city. In Warsaw, there's certainly a lot to choose from! The capital of Poland is one of the greenest cities in Europe, with around 40% of its area being covered with forests, parks, and green squares! So, take a look at our article to choose the green area that is closest or that seems the most interesting for you.