Green infrastructure can help reduce heat stress that results from climate change

A three year study in Würzburg conducted by a research team led by the Technical University of Munich found that green infrastructure can help communities adapt to climate change by lowering heat stress caused by ever increasing temperatures.

The study found that extreme heat felt particularly in towns and cities could be almost halved with around 40% of greenspace in the built environment. The greenspace included green walls, green roofs and grass lawns. The researchers found that green walls, green roofs and grass lawns minimised radiative heat load through increased reflection during summer and more solar radiation in winter to alleviate cold stress in winter.