At least 1,300 hectares of greenery have disappeared from larger Swedish cities over the past five years, a survey by Sveriges Radio Ekot shows.
The survey, which looked at cities with at least 50,000 inhabitants, shows that most cities have less greenery today than five years ago. In Malmö, which has the lowest proportion of greenery at 43 percent, 300 hectares have disappeared.
Cities with less greenery become more vulnerable to climate change.
Greenery in cities has many benefits. It dampens heatwaves, provides air purification, regulates stormwater and flood protection, reduces noise pollution and increases biodiversity, says Gustav Strandberg, climate researcher at SMHI, to Ekot.
