Mobile trees to cool Swiss cities during heatwaves

As heatwaves intensify, Swiss cities are exploring innovative solutions to combat rising urban temperatures. The simple act of planting trees offers a powerful, natural remedy to the "heat island" effect, where urban areas become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas.

Studies confirm the cooling power of trees. Research published in Communications Earth & Environment indicates that tree planting can keep monthly maximum temperatures below 26°C in 83% of cities. The shade and transpiration from trees can reduce temperatures for pedestrians by up to 12°C.

However, the effectiveness of this green solution is not uniform. Factors such as the specific characteristics of the trees, the surrounding urban morphology, and prevailing climatic conditions all play a role in determining how much cooling can be achieved. Municipalities must consider these variables to maximize the benefits of urban forestry in their fight against the heat.