Most Global Cities Fail to Meet Adequate Canopy Cover Despite Tree Access

**A study led by RMIT University in Australia highlights the inadequate tree canopy cover in major global cities, even with abundant tree access.** Using the '3-30-300' rule, which suggests every building should view at least three trees, be in a neighborhood with at least 30% canopy cover, and be within 300 meters of a park, the research examined 2.5 million buildings across eight cities. The results showed New York City, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Denver, central Sydney, and central Melbourne fell short on adequate canopy cover. Only Seattle and Singapore met the 30% canopy threshold, with 45% and 75% of buildings achieving it. Dr. Thami Croeser of RMIT highlighted the critical need for urban canopy cover, especially as 2023 marks the hottest year on record. Canopy cover not only cools cities but also mitigates health issues like depression, anxiety, and heatstroke. **Croeser calls for an overhaul in urban planning to prioritize green infrastructure over cabling and pipelines.** This includes planting trees where they have space to grow and access to rainwater. The '3-30-300' benchmark, created by Professor Cecil Konijnendijk, is gaining traction globally, emphasizing the critical need for trees in urban areas to enhance human health and mitigate climate impacts. Collaborators, including Professor Wolfgang Weisser and Dutch firm Cobra Groeninzicht, advocate for using the benchmark to assess cities worldwide and drive action toward achieving it.