pledged by the major to help
local boroughs to implement
changes to improve air quality.
A 2016 global report from the
Nature Conservancy explored
the ways in which targeted tree
planting campaigns within cit-
ies could be utilised to reduce
temperatures, ease the pres-
sure on storm water systems
by absorbing rainwater, and
soak up fine particle pollution.
Trees take in both heat and
sunlight, providing shade dur-
ing heatwaves and cooling
down city temperatures. The
report found that well placed
trees can reduce temperatures
by anywhere from 0.5 degrees
Celsius to 2 degrees Celsius
during the hottest summer
days - something that could be-
come increasingly more signifi-
cant as global temperatures
creep upwards. This also re-
duces electricity use by be-
London taxis licensed after
January 1st 2018 will have to
be zero-emissions capable -
plans for zero emissions ranks
and rapid charge points have
been laid out
So whilst Sadiq Kahn and his
Labour administration are
clearly taking some measures
to combat air pollution in the
capital, we feel that London,
and many other cities in the
UK, could benefit from the
most cost-effective way of
fighting air pollution and the ef-
fects of climate change; plant-
ing trees.
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