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More green spaces 'could help protect Manchester'

15/05/2007

Building more parks and planting more trees in Greater Manchester could help protect the conurbation from global warming, scientists have said.

Researchers at the University of Manchester used geographic information system mapping to create a picture of the city-region's land use to measure the impact of increasing green spaces.

According to the findings, a ten per cent increase in the number of green spaces would reduce urban surface temperatures by as much as four degrees C.

Dr Roland Ennos from the university's School of Environment and Development said that a modest increase in green space would help overcome temperature rises caused by global warming over the next 75 years.

"Opportunities need to be taken to increase green space cover wherever structural changes are occurring within urban areas, as well as planting street trees or developing green roofs," he added.

At present, 12 per cent of Greater Manchester is covered with trees, compared to the national average of 11 per cent.

Campaign group Manchester is my Planet says that the temperature in the city is already one degree higher than it was 50 years ago. Average temperatures are expected to increase by more than five degrees by the end of the century.


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