Can urban greenspace combat climate change? Towards a subtropical cities research agenda

Abstract

It now seems likely that we are locked into irreversible climate change - at least for the next century. A noticeable effect has been a pole-wards expansion of the tropics and by extension, an increase in the number of subtropical cities. The consequences of climate change for subtropical cities include higher temperatures, increased flooding and more severe storms. This article explores how urban greening might help subtropical cities adapt to climate change, using a model to conceptualise the factors shaping the efficacy of urban greening as an adaptive strategy. It discusses current research and maps out issues for future consideration. They include the potential problems facing planners who might employ greenspace to combat climate change in subtropical cities.