Daniel Jato

Daniel Jato

Daniel Jato
Position

Professor of Environmental Engineering and Management at the International University of Valencia

European cities are facing ever-increasing health risks arising from climate change, but adaptation measures are not keeping pace

Cities’ adaptation to climate change is not progressing fast enough to protect their inhabitants from increasing heatwaves, infectious diseases and exposure to pollen, which are having an ever-greater impact on the urban population. This is the main conclusion of a study published in The Lancet Public Health, based on 28 indicators from more than 850 European cities, including many in Spain such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. The greatest improvements were observed in cities that increased their green space. The study also suggests that risks are rising more rapidly in southern and eastern Europe.

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Urban forests are essential for climate resilience, biodiversity, and public health

An essay published today in the journal PLOS Climate examines the need for “immediate and sustained” investment to safeguard urban forests. The article reviews the necessary policies, ranging from maintenance and management to legal protections. The authors call on policymakers to “prioritize” these spaces in their strategies to combat climate change, given their positive role in climate resilience, biodiversity, and public health.

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