Ten questions concerning the role of urban greenery in shaping the future of urban areas

Abstract

Strengthening sustainability starts with maintaining a balanced relationship between society, the environment, and the economy, and one of the pillars of doing this is increasing the amount of green infrastructure and expanding it in urban areas. Densely populated urban areas with fewer greenery are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, storm surge, heat waves, droughts, and changing diseases, and vulnerable populations in urban areas are likely to be disproportionately affected. In addition to providing multidimensional benefits to all ecosystems, urban greenery is influential in developing sustainable lifestyles and healthy eating habits, increasing individual well-being derived from the need for a sense of belonging and social inclusion, as well as reducing carbon footprint. As urban greenery is part of urban development but less attention is paid to it, the benefits of these areas should be further explored and highlighted. Thus, ten questions were raised concerning the contribution of urban greenery to the future of urban areas. The questions not only to address important issues related to urban greenery and to provide guidance for future studies, but also to offer new perspectives for future policies. The answers to the ten questions are based on the expertise of the authors to highlight the importance and the potential of urban greenery in shaping the future.