🍃Health-Focused Urban Greening Initiatives

• In Delhi, health-focused greening is embedded in the Master Plan 2041 through expanded tree cover, restored biocorridors and shaded walking routes. These measures lower street-level temperatures, protect pedestrians during extreme heat and support efforts to curb cooling demand across the city.
• Addis Ababa’s Green Legacy Program shows large-scale, community-supported greening. Mass tree planting, riverbank restoration and new parks reduce heat, improve stormwater management and air quality and expand access to fruit trees that support nutrition and income. The initiative mobilises schools, youth groups and volunteers across the city.
• In Cali, the Community Network of Urban Forests positions greening as a tool for ecological restoration and social equity. Working with the environmental authority (DAGMA), communities expand native tree cover, reopen permeable surfaces and invest in shaded public areas. These neighbourhood forests cool dense districts and improve wellbeing.

Together, these examples show how health-centred greening strengthens climate resilience by reducing heat risk, improving air quality and creating more liveable environments.

Extreme heat and poor air quality have major health impacts, especially in dense urban areas. Greening interventions cool streets, filter pollution and improve comfort in public spaces. They also support wider environmental goals by restoring ecosystems and improving water management. Well-designed greening helps cities protect residents while shaping healthier everyday environments.