National coalition calls for minimum standards for green space in public areas |
|
|
|
|
 |
| 103 sec |
'Highly paved neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly vulnerable to heat'
A broad coalition of social organisations is urging the Dutch government to establish national minimum standards for green space and trees. According to the initiators, more than 800,000 Dutch residents live in heavily paved neighbourhoods with insufficient public green space, while heat is increasingly leading to health problems and reduced liveability.
| Image for illustration purposes, generated with AI |
The appeal is outlined in the manifesto 'Green Space, Cool Cities', which was presented during a heat symposium organised by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Signatories include organisations such as Natuur & Milieu, Aedes, Vereniging Eigen Huis, ANWB, IVN Natuureducatie, Klimaatverbond Nederland and several other social organisations. A national petition has also been launched.
|
|
More than 800,000 Dutch residents live in heavily paved neighbourhoods with insufficient public green space
| |
|
Heat becoming a growing problem
According to the coalition, Dutch cities are increasingly experiencing prolonged periods of heat. Data from the Atlas voor de Leefomgeving show that inner-city areas can be up to 8 degrees Celsius warmer than surrounding rural areas on hot days. At street level, the perceived temperature can rise to as much as 45 degrees Celsius.
The RIVM estimates that heat currently causes around 250 additional deaths per year. Without further measures, that number could rise to 3,800 annually by 2050, according to the coalition. Trees, shaded areas and other forms of cooling are often lacking in heavily paved neighbourhoods.
'Green space is not a luxury, but a basic requirement for healthy and liveable neighbourhoods,' says Rob van Tilburg, programme director at Natuur & Milieu. According to him, the impacts of heat are greatest in areas where little greenery is present.
|
|
The coalition calls for a national action plan to tackle the most heavily paved neighbourhoods by 2035 at the latest
| |
|
Appeal to the government
The organisations are asking the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning to establish national standards for green space and tree canopy cover. They also want municipalities to receive financial and policy support for greening initiatives.
The coalition further advocates a national action plan to address the most heavily paved neighbourhoods by 2035. According to the initiators, municipalities cannot carry this responsibility alone and stronger national leadership is needed.
|
|
Inner-city areas can be up to 8 degrees Celsius warmer than surrounding rural areas on hot days. At street level, the perceived temperature can reach 45 degrees
| |
|
Green space as an investment
The coalition points out that greening not only contributes to cooling, but also supports public health, residential comfort and climate adaptation. In addition, more green space can help reduce damage caused by drought, heat and extreme rainfall.
With the petition launched alongside the manifesto, the organisations aim to demonstrate broad public support for more greenery and cooling measures in residential environments. For municipalities and public space managers, the appeal may add momentum to ongoing discussions about climate adaptation, urban greening and the design of public spaces.
|
|
Heat causes approximately 250 additional deaths each year. Without further measures, that number could rise to 3,800 annually by 2050, according to the coalition
| |
|
This article was previously published on June 16, 2026 on the website of Stad + Groen.
| LOG IN
with your email address to respond.
|
|
|
| There are no comments yet. |
|
| |
Anyone can place small ads for free through their own account.
Place a free ad
|
|
|
|
