RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Linking Urban Greening and Community Engagement with Heat-Related Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review of the Literature
JF Arboriculture & Urban Forestry
FD International Society of Arboriculture
SP 379
OP 415
DO 10.48044/jauf.2025.017
VO 51
IS 4
A1 Keenan, Olivia J.
A1 Green, Aalayna Rae
A1 Young, Alexander R.
A1 Katz, Daniel S.W.
A1 Li, Qi
A1 Xi, Wenna
A1 Miller, David L.
A1 Williams, Chris
A1 Maxwell, Emily Nobel
A1 McMillan, Glenn L.
A1 Gohlke, Julia
A1 Ashe, Nathan
A1 Wozniak, Sarah
A1 Demetres, Michelle R.
A1 Gad, Laila
A1 Ghosh, Arnab K.
YR 2025
UL http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/51/4/379.abstract
AB Climate change has amplified the effects of extreme heat events (EHEs), exacerbating heat-related morbidity and mortality, particularly in cities due to the urban heat island effect. While a long-term solution to mitigating heat exists via urban greening, less is known about how to implement an urban greening plan co-designed by community members that addresses heat-related health outcomes. To examine the current state of urban greening interventions focused on communities and heat mitigation, we conducted a scoping review of papers at the nexus of urban greening/forestry, heat-related health outcomes, and community engagement. We then evaluated 46 eligible papers using a conceptual framework informed by the literature with the following criteria: (1) identification of urban green space/trees for climate change-amplified heat mitigation with quantifiable benefits; (2) association between objective heat-related health outcomes/health equity and urban greening intervention design; and (3) sustainable and ongoing community engagement and/or community co-creation. We found multiple differences between study methods. Most papers lacked objective heat-related health outcomes data and instead focused on subjective thermal comfort/heat stress measures. Additionally, almost all papers utilized one-time community engagement methods such as surveys or interviews to inform urban greening recommendations or study findings. Our findings have useful implications for urban greening decision-making, further emphasizing the importance of transdisciplinary cooperation and long-term community engagement, so an equitable, context-dependent urban greening and health intervention can be effectively co-produced by city planners, public health officials, and community members.