As the climate changes, cities scramble to find trees that will survive.
Under normal conditions, trees are among the best defenses against heat, and not just because they provide a shady place to rest. As their leaves transform sunlight into energy, trees give off water vapor through tiny holes called stomata, cooling the air around them with “nature’s own air conditioning”.
Climate change is scrambling the seasons, wreaking havoc on trees. Urban arborists say planting for the future is urgently needed and could prevent a decline in leafy cover just when the world needs it most.
Click here to read the full article that appeared in Grist, a non-profit independent online newsroom dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.