Our thinking

Rooting for Tree Equity

14 February, 2025

It would be wonderful to live in a city where every neighbourhood has plenty of trees, offering cool shade and cleaner air. Trees do more than beautify streets: they reduce pollution, lower temperatures, and improve mental well-being. A high tree canopy can reduce urban temperatures by up to 2.8°C.

However, greenery is not shared equally. Studies show that low-income urban areas in the U.S. have 15.2% less tree cover and are 1.5°C (2.7°F) hotter than wealthier neighbourhoods. This imbalance, known as “tree equity,” highlights both environmental and social inequality.

That’s why we are interested in the new Tree Equity campaign from the Woodland Trust. This initiative raises awareness about tree coverage inequality, its impact on communities, and how we can all push for change. It encourages action to plant more trees in the areas that need them most, to create greener, healthier spaces for all.

Businesses have a real opportunity to help. A simple way to contribute is by involving employees in tree-planting efforts, especially in areas that lack greenery. This improves the local environment while creating a sense of shared responsibility and improve the work culture. Companies can also fund urban forestry programs, working with local councils and environmental organizations to plant trees where they are needed most.

Another effective way is for businesses to integrate tree equity into their sustainability strategies. This includes adding tree-planting to nature restoration goals or using nature-based solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. Some even connect tree-planting to their business activities. Trainhugger, for example, plants a tree in the UK for every train ticket sold in partnership with the Royal Forestry Society.

By promoting tree equity, businesses do more than improve the environment, they help create healthier, more inclusive cities for everyone. And that’s good business.

By Justine Bahoumina