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Letters | Hong Kong needs more, not fewer, cool green spaces
- Readers discuss the importance of urban trees, full-time athletes’ pay, and why Kamala Harris must seriously develop leadership
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Hong Kong’s approach to managing its green spaces, including parks and trees in areas facing urban renewal, deserves closer examination.
Urban trees are more than just an aesthetic addition – they are essential to improving walkability and quality of life in a city. Urban trees can increase property values, reduce stress levels and encourage outdoor activity. In a dense city like Hong Kong, and given the global rise in average temperatures, the cooling effect of urban forests is critical. The situation in Hong Kong is exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, the phenomenon where cities experience higher temperatures as air-cooling greenery is reduced and heat-absorbing surfaces like concrete and asphalt are commonplace.
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The solution lies right before our eyes – or rather, overhead. Trees provide shade, reduce energy demand for cooling and improve public health. A study has estimated that urban green spaces could prevent a third of premature heat deaths.
To safeguard Hong Kong’s livability and combat the effects of climate change, the city must make a commitment to preserving and expanding its green spaces.
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New trees must be carefully selected to ensure they are suited for the local environment. This may require closer collaboration between developers and government agencies, as plants tend to have higher carbon sequestration abilities when cultivated in their native habitats.
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