Warming cities can’t afford to sacrifice their urban parks
Some of my earliest memories of Bengaluru, where I spent my summer holidays, are of looking up in wonder at the towering canopy of trees in Cubbon Park. Even in the height of summer, Bengaluru could be cool enough to require a light jacket. Today, the iconic Cubbon Park, the pride of the city I now call home, is under threat. So is Lalbagh Botanical Garden, another of the city’s iconic green…
Bengaluru's iconic Cubbon Park, a source of wonder for generations, now faces a threat from a new Karnataka law. This law permits up to 5% of protected parkland to be converted for public infrastructure, potentially endangering 12 acres of Lalbagh Botanical Garden and 15 acres of Cubbon Park. Protests erupted, with thousands rallying for the preservation of these green spaces.
The battle against infrastructure encroachment is not unique to Bengaluru. Similar movements have emerged in cities worldwide, from Mumbai's Save Aarey to Singapore's defense of the Maju forest. A 2024 UN-Habitat report revealed that urban green spaces have dwindled globally, with East and Southeast Asia experiencing a steep decline.
In contrast, some Chinese cities, like Shanghai and Beijing, are proactively expanding their green spaces. Shanghai aims to create 2,000 parks by 2036, while Beijing plans to increase forest cover to 45% and provide ample park space per capita by 2035. The cooling effect of mature trees in urban parks is significant, with temperature reductions of up to 5.8 degrees Celsius during the day and 12 degrees at night.
Preserving existing parks is crucial, as their established trees offer environmental and public health benefits that cannot be easily replicated.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
