This City in Colombia Is Tackling Rising Temperatures with ‘Green Corridors’ — And It Has Already Seen Cooler Temperatures 

This City in Colombia Is Tackling Rising Temperatures with ‘Green Corridors’ — And It Has Already Seen Cooler Temperatures 
Credit: Alcaldía de Medellín

Nicknamed the “city of eternal spring” for its beautiful climate, Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, has long been a magnet for tourists. 

However, rapid urbanization and past developmental missteps left the city vulnerable to the heat island effect, where urban surfaces absorb and trap heat, exacerbating temperatures. 

In 2016, rising concerns over heat and air pollution prompted action. The introduction of the “green corridors” initiative marked a turning point, connecting green spaces like parks, vertical gardens, and streams. This move significantly improved air quality and contributed to a notable 35.6°F temperature reduction across the city. 

This ambitious project encompassed over 30 green corridors and about 124 parks, with initial efforts involving planting 120,000 plants and 12,500 trees along roads and parks. The aim was to further enrich the cityscape with 2.5 million smaller plants and 880,000 trees by 2021. 

According to Medellín’s government, the initial investment totaled $16.3 million, with an estimated annual maintenance cost of around $625,000 in 2022. The project garnered global acclaim for its success in cooling the city, enhancing air quality, and fostering biodiversity. 

The Impact of ‘Green Corridors’ in Medellín

Recognized internationally with awards such as the Ashden Award for Cooling by Nature and the C40 Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for the Resilient Future We Want, the green corridors project underscored Medellín’s commitment to environmental sustainability. 

Backed by the local community, the project thrived, with residents actively participating in the municipal budgeting process to prioritize green initiatives. Temperature readings taken pre and post-project implementation revealed a notable drop of up to 35.6°F in select areas of the city center. 

Moreover, wildlife monitoring indicated a resurgence in biodiversity, with the return of various species like birds, lizards, frogs, and bats, some of which had disappeared from the urban landscape for years. 

Do you think this should be implemented worldwide? 

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