Paris Plans to Replace 60,000 Parking Spots With Trees by 2030 [Video]

A newly released plan would see 60,000 parking spots throughout Paris turn into grounds for tree planting by 2030. The goal of the project is to better prepare for extreme heat events by providing shaded green spaces. The plan still requires approval from the Council of Paris to move forward.

“Trees and nature are natural air conditioners,” Paris officials said, as reported by Yale Environment 360. “Their development makes the city more pleasant to live in during periods of high heat.”

By replacing the selected parking spaces with trees, the project would support a larger city goal to add more than 740 acres of green space in Paris by 2030, with 10% of that green space installed by 2026, Bloomberg reported. In addition to swapping parking spaces for trees, the plan would also incorporate “oasis squares” with trees, other plants and shaded structures for pedestrians to enjoy.

The details are outlined in the city’s new 2024-2030 Climate Plan, which identifies several goals to reduce climate impacts and …