Climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and pollution, urbanization, and air pollution are plaguing our planet Earth, thereby altering the environment in which we live. Although individual parks, trees, gardens, and meadows may seem insignificant in the face of such enormous challenges, these green spaces play a vital role in creating a more resilient, healthier, and pleasant living environment. Green spaces are not merely places for relaxation or for enhancing the appearance of cities or towns. They are part of the natural infrastructure that can help cool cities, retain stormwater, and improve air quality, while also providing habitats for plants and animals, thereby improving the quality of our daily lives.

Environmental challenges are interconnected

In addition to climate change, we are also facing the loss of biodiversity, land degradation, urbanization, and population growth—all of which contribute to air and water pollution while placing increasing pressure on water resources. All of these issues are interconnected. When we replace natural surfaces with asphalt, concrete, and buildings, we lose soil that could absorb and retain rainwater. We remove vegetation that provides habitat for numerous species, sequesters carbon, and cools the surrounding area during the summer months. At the same time, the area becomes hotter, and during heavy rains, water runs off more quickly into the sewer system and waterways. Thus, the consequences reinforce one another.

Climate change is not something far off

Climate change is caused by rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily as a result of human activity. Among the most significant greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is produced primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels, in transportation, industry, and the energy sector, while land-use changes and deforestation also contribute to emissions. Higher concentrations of greenhouse gases intensify the greenhouse effect and cause the atmosphere to warm.

Slovenia is also warming, and due to its geographical characteristics, it is warming faster than the global average. Global temperatures have risen by about 0.8 degrees Celsius over the past sixty years, while in Slovenia, the average air temperature has risen by about 2 degrees Celsius. Higher average temperatures do not merely mean milder winters or hotter summers. They alter the water cycle, the length of the growing season, conditions for plants and animals, and the frequency and intensity of certain weather and climate extremes. Thus, climate change is not only reflected in changes in the numbers on the thermometer, but also through changes in the environment, the economy, and everyday life.

Extreme weather events are becoming an increasingly significant challenge

Extreme weather events include heat waves, droughts, heavy rainfall, floods, landslides, and strong winds and storms. The consequences of these events can vary widely, affecting human health, the economy, and the environment. At the same time, for example, floods and heavy rainfall damage homes, transportation, and municipal infrastructure, and can also cause erosion and water pollution. Prolonged droughts reduce water availability, harm agriculture and natural ecosystems, and increase the risk of wildfires. Heat waves, however, pose the greatest threat to human health, particularly for the elderly, children, people with chronic illnesses, and those who work outdoors. From this perspective, the question of how we shape—or will shape—our built environment is becoming increasingly important.

Water: Sometimes there’s too much, other times too little

Climate change highlights particularly clearly the importance of responsible water management; as the same environment can experience alternating periods of water scarcity and events where there is too much precipitation in a very short time—something we have witnessed and continue to witness in the SAŠA region.

Urban areas often exacerbate the problem. On paved parking lots, roads, roofs, and other impervious surfaces, water cannot seep into the ground as it does on natural soil. It quickly flows into the sewer system and waterways, which can overload drainage systems and contribute to the risk of urban flooding. On the other hand, green spaces act as natural sponges. The soil and plants intercept and retain some of the rainwater, allowing it to gradually seep into the ground or evaporate.

In addition to the quantity of water, its quality is also important. Pollutants from roads, parking lots, industrial sites, and other areas can be carried by stormwater into the ground and waterways. Well-designed green and blue infrastructure can help retain and filter some of the water before it reaches water systems.

Urbanization and Environmental Degradation

Cities and towns need housing, transportation links, jobs, and infrastructure. However, uncontrolled urban sprawl can lead to the loss of fertile soil, natural habitats, and green spaces, as well as the fragmentation of the habitats of plant and animal species.

A problem arises when the soil is covered with impermeable materials. The soil beneath asphalt and concrete can no longer perform all of its natural functions, namely absorbing water, supporting soil organisms, sustaining vegetation, and helping to regulate the local climate. From this perspective, it is important that urban development not only involve the construction of new buildings but also the preservation of existing green spaces, the restoration of degraded areas, and the creation of new green corridors.

Biodiversity loss begins at the local level

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life, ranging from plants and animals to fungi, microorganisms, and the diversity of ecosystems. As natural and semi-natural areas are lost, numerous species also lose their habitats. That is why relatively small green spaces in urban environments are of great importance. Trees, shrubs, flowering meadows, gardens, hedgerows, water bodies, and other structures provide food, shelter, breeding grounds, and connections between different habitats. This is especially valuable when green spaces are not isolated islands but form a connected network through which living creatures can move.

Green spaces also help improve air quality

Heating, transportation, industry, and other human activities are major sources of air pollution. Vegetation can help improve the local environment in several ways. During photosynthesis, plants absorbCO2 and store carbon in biomass and soil. Trees and other vegetation can also trap particles from the air, and their greatest benefit in hot urban areas is often the shade and cooling they provide.

When planning green spaces, it is important to take local conditions into account. For example, dense vegetation in an inappropriate location can hinder air circulation in narrow streets. Good urban green spaces are therefore not merely a matter of quantity, but also of plant species, their layout, the quality of the space, and professional planning.

Why is it hotter in cities than in rural areas?

In densely built-up areas, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect occurs. This is a phenomenon in which a city, due to changes in soil structure and topography as well as heat generation, alters the local climate to a noticeable degree. Concrete, asphalt, dark roofs, and other built surfaces absorb solar energy during the day and later release it into the surrounding environment. At the same time, cities often have less vegetation and thus less natural cooling through water evaporation. As a result, densely built-up parts of a city can be significantly warmer than the surrounding green areas, even at night. This is particularly problematic during heat waves, as if the environment does not cool down sufficiently at night, the human body remains exposed to heat stress for a longer period of time.

What can we do to make cities cooler?

Cities can adapt to rising temperatures through various measures. Among the most important is increasing high-quality green spaces, particularly by preserving large mature trees and creating new areas with sufficient space for tree canopies to develop. Parks, tree-lined streets, green corridors, green roofs and facades, community gardens, water features, green balconies, and the removal of unnecessary paved surfaces also help in this regard.

Cooling strategies also include the use of lighter-colored materials that absorb less solar energy, providing shade in public spaces, carefully orienting buildings and streets, and facilitating natural ventilation. Particularly effective is the integration of green and blue infrastructure—that is, vegetation, soil, and water. Instead of draining rainwater from the city as quickly as possible, it can be retained and used as a source for plants and natural cooling.

What can we do about climate change?

We have two options for responding to climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation involves reducing the causes of climate change—that is, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using energy more efficiently, transitioning to low-carbon energy sources, sustainable mobility, and preserving ecosystems that sequester and store carbon. Adapting to climate change, on the other hand, means preparing society and the built environment for the changes we are already experiencing or expect in the future. This includes flood protection, adapting to droughts, mitigating the effects of heat waves, protecting water resources, and building more resilient cities. Green spaces contribute to both approaches, which is precisely why they are so valuable.

Green spaces aren’t just parks

When we talk about green spaces, the first thing that comes to mind is large city parks, but urban green infrastructure is much more diverse. Green spaces include city and landscape parks, forests and wooded areas, tree-lined avenues, individual trees, public lawns, playgrounds with greenery, sports fields, community and private gardens, green interior courtyards, hedges, meadows, riparian green belts, green roofs, and green facades… Small areas are also important, such as a small garden in front of an apartment building, a group of trees next to a parking lot, a green space next to a school, or a green balcony,… Together, all of these can form a network of green spaces that improves the functioning of the entire urban environment.

Green Spaces and Quality of Life

Green spaces are not only important for the environment; they are also directly linked to quality of life. Greenery provides shade and a more pleasant microclimate, facilitates recreation and physical activity, offers space for socializing, and creates a visually appealing environment. Access to green spaces and nature is linked to improved well-being and opportunities to relax from everyday stress. Well-maintained parks can also serve as places for children to play, for the elderly to take walks, for people to meet, for sports activities, for observing nature, and as a refuge from the summer heat.

In addition, green spaces constitute an important part of a city’s social infrastructure. Of course, it is important that these spaces not be accessible only to residents of certain privileged neighborhoods. Green spaces must be safe, pleasant, and accessible to as wide a range of residents as possible, including people with limited mobility.

How Much Green Space Do We Need?

An interesting and easy-to-understand framework for thinking about the necessary amount of urban green space is the 3-30-300 rule, introduced by urban forestry researcher Cecil Konijnendijk. His concept is based on three simple numbers:

  • 3: At least three trees should be visible from every home, as the view of trees contributes to a direct connection with nature and a higher-quality living environment
  • 30: Each neighborhood should have approximately 30% canopy cover, as sufficient canopy cover helps provide shade, reduce overheating, create a more pleasant microclimate, and provide a habitat for other organisms
  • 300: A high-quality green space should be located no more than approximately 300 meters away, meaning that every resident has access to a high-quality public green space within a distance that most people can reach with a few minutes’ walk.

This concept is not a one-size-fits-all solution for every city or street, but it does serve as a framework for reviewing existing green spaces and adding new ones.

Green spaces must be planned for the long term

Urban greening isn’t just about planting as many trees as possible. It’s important to ensure that each tree has enough space for its roots, enough water, suitable soil, and appropriate growing conditions. It is important to select species that are suited to the local environment and will be able to thrive even in a changing climate. It makes sense to ensure diversity in species and age and to avoid over-reliance on a single tree species. It is particularly important to preserve existing mature trees, as newly planted young trees cannot provide the same amount of shade, canopy size, and ecological functions as a large mature tree for decades. Green spaces therefore require long-term planning, maintenance, and protection.

Although we won’t solve major environmental problems with just a few flower beds and trees, local actions are very important. Every mature tree that is preserved, every garden, every lawn, every restored park, every green roof, and every landscaped yard can contribute to a broader network of green infrastructure. At the same time, it is important to create an ecologically rich space with diverse plants, permeable soil, shade, and the ability to retain water.

Green Cities Are More Resilient

Climate change clearly shows that the way we plan our urban spaces affects our ability to cope with heat, drought, heavy rainfall, and other extreme events. Green spaces are the answer to this, as they help cool the environment, retain water, protect the soil, support biodiversity, improve air quality, and create a more pleasant living environment. Above all, they allow for daily contact with nature, something that can easily be lost in cities.

When thinking about the future, we must ask ourselves not only how much we will build, but also how much space we will leave for nature. A single park, a single tree-lined avenue, a single garden, or a few large trees may seem like a drop in the ocean. However, when these areas are connected into a thoughtfully designed green network, they become vital infrastructure for adapting to climate change and for quality of life.

Green spaces are not a luxury, but an investment in the future of our cities. Toward healthier, more pleasant, and more resilient cities that will provide an environment where we can continue to live well in the future.

 

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