Assessing and communicating the economic value of urban green in German Cities

Abstract Background Cities and their inhabitants are heavily affected by climate change and the resulting increase in e.g., heat, vector-borne diseases, or stormwater events. Urban green provides diverse ecosystem services and is a crucial resource in the regulation of climate change impacts on human health. Nevertheless, urban growth, competing interests in land use, and limited financial resources pose a challenge for municipalities and urban planners alike to preserve, develop, and expand urban green. These processes are further complicated as the benefits of urban green are often perceived as abstract. Methods In the project Value of Green Urban Spaces III (Stadtgrün wertschätzen III) an interdisciplinary research team develops an online assessment tool quantifying the economic benefits of urban green in 193 German cities. Microclimate simulations are implemented through the approach of urban standard typologies. Ecosystem services such as the reduction of air pollution, the retention of water, or heat impacts on health and productivity of urban inhabitants are modeled for several urban green elements. The data derive from a literature review, empirical data of emergency departments, and a representative survey of urban residents. Results This publicly available tool will provide information on the estimated economic effect of the addition or removal of urban greenery with regard to the ecosystem services in each city. The effects on health and productivity, as well as the resilience of cities to environmental impacts, will be visualized via interactive green scenarios. Conclusions The information on ecosystem services provided by the online tool can be an important asset for municipal actors, urban planners, politicians, and inhabitants in assessing the economic value of urban green. In the face of climate change, the displayed effects on human health and other ecosystem services are valuable for the informed decision-making regarding municipal development. Key messages • This tool provides valuable information for stakeholders regarding the health impacts of urban green and potential economic benefits. • Municipalities, urban planners, and political actors can use the information for decision making and transformative urban planning.