As the world faces rising temperatures and extreme weather events, cities are reevaluating their urban planning strategies to build resilience and adaptability. In Paris, a paradigm shift is underway, one that places climate-conscious tree planting and green spaces at the forefront of the city’s future.
The Historical Approach to Urban Trees in Paris
For centuries, Paris has captivated visitors with its grand boulevards and tree-lined streets.
The primary guiding principle behind the city’s tree selection has been aesthetics and shade. Trees with beautiful canopies, such as London plane, horse chestnut, linden, and Japanese pagoda, have adorned the Champs-Elysées, graced the vicinity of Les Invalides, and lined the picturesque banks of the Seine.
This legacy of greenery and elegance was handed down from Baron Haussmann, the architect and city planner responsible for the modernization of Paris in the 19th century.
Embracing Climate Resilience: A New Vision for Paris
As the city prepares for a future marked by rising temperatures and heat waves, Paris is embracing a new vision. No longer solely focused on aesthetics, the city now aims to plant more heat-resistant trees that can withstand the challenges of climate change.
Christophe Najdovski, the deputy mayor for green spaces, emphasizes the need for species that can thrive amid water stress and extreme heat. This transformative approach to urban tree planting is part of Paris’s broader urbanism plan, which seeks to create a “bio-climatic” city, where green spaces emerge from rooftops, public squares, and more public housing.
The Role of Trees in Mitigating Climate Change
Planting trees in urban environments carries immense benefits beyond the purely aesthetic. Trees efficiently sequester carbon dioxide and combat air pollution. They also play a crucial role in mitigating urban heat, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. As concrete and asphalt surfaces in cities retain and radiate heat, green spaces and trees act as natural coolants, tempering the city’s microclimate and providing much-needed relief to urban dwellers during scorching summers.
Challenges in Sustaining Urban Trees
While the idea of planting more trees in cities garners widespread support and enthusiasm, realizing these ambitious tree-planting goals is not without its challenges. Some cities struggle to follow through on their commitments due to a lack of long-term planning and adequate funding for tree maintenance. As trees grow and mature, they require consistent care and attention. Unfortunately, some newly planted trees never reach maturity, falling victim to insufficient care or environmental stressors.
Climate change exacerbates the challenges of urban tree survival. Cities like Madrid have faced low sapling survival rates in the face of prolonged droughts. Copenhagen, too, encountered unexpected costs when implementing tree planting initiatives, leading to compromises on the optimal planting locations. As climate patterns shift and extreme weather events become more frequent, the resilience of urban trees becomes increasingly critical.
Diversifying Paris’ Tree Selection
In response to these challenges, Paris is pursuing a diverse range of heat-resistant tree species to enhance climate resilience. While some tree species, like the Turkish hazel, Montpellier maple, European nettle tree, and holm oak, have already demonstrated heat tolerance in the city’s environment, officials aim to avoid over-reliance on a few species. The city is actively considering the introduction of new tree species that demonstrate effective adaptation to the changing climate.
To ensure the survival of newly planted trees, Paris has implemented a meticulous protocol. Newly planted trees receive regular watering every two weeks during their first three years, providing them with essential moisture during their vulnerable growth phase. The trees are supported by stakes to aid in their development and some are protected by metal girdles to shield them from potential damage caused by dogs. The city has also equipped around 100 new trees with water stress probes, enabling continuous monitoring of their health.
Paris is making commendable strides toward its ambitious tree-planting target of 170,000 trees by 2026. Between November 2022 and April 2023, over 25,000 trees were already planted, 800 of them along the city’s streets. Paris aims to achieve a third of its target by the end of the current planting season, underscoring the city’s commitment to a greener future.
Expanding Green Spaces for a Sustainable Future
The new urbanism plan for Paris not only emphasizes tree planting but also envisions the expansion of green spaces by an impressive 300 hectares. Part of this plan includes the creation of a new park spanning the lower-income neighborhoods of La Chapelle and La Villette in the city’s northern region. Additionally, the city hopes to open private gardens to the public, granting residents and visitors alike greater access to green havens within the city.
Paris’s forward-looking approach to urban planning, with a focus on climate resilience and sustainable green spaces, sets a compelling example for cities worldwide. As the city plants a diverse array of heat-resistant trees and expands its green infrastructure, Paris paves the way for a more sustainable, biodiverse, and climate-resilient urban environment.