A new scientific study has shown the positive correlations between public health and tree planting in urban areas. 

In a report published recently by The Lancet medical science journal, a team of European researchers shared data on mortality rates in 93 cities in the summer of 2015 that showed how premature deaths caused by urban heat islands can be mitigated through increased greening strategies. 

The study found 6,700 premature deaths in that period related to the phenomenon. One-third of those deaths, according to the authors, could have been prevented by adding 30% more trees in the urban environments of each city. The data supports established notions that particularly low-income communities can benefit from resiliency measures, adding to a growing chorus of scholarship at a time when climate change is becoming a moribund issue for cities worldwide at an accelerated pace. 

Cities in Eastern and Southern Europe (where at least 6,000 deaths were recorded last summer in Spain and Portugal alone) stand to benefit the most from increased green spaces. The continent is warming faster than any other continent in the world, more than twice the global average. The report also cited a need for other types of mitigation efforts and interventions to supplement tree planting. Currently, the average tree coverage for cities on the continent stands at just 14.9%. 

"All heatwave-related deaths are preventable; no one needs to die from the heat. With climate change projected to increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events, communities need to understand the most effective interventions, particularly developing and deploying heatwave early warning and response systems," University of Washington researcher Kristie Ebi added in a comment. "Encouraging and enabling decision-makers and local communities to develop and implement a Heat Action Plan is an effective way to promote climate resilience as soaring temperatures continue to be felt globally. The tools and guidelines are available; the gaps are in human and financial resources for implementation. The time to start is now."