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

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 make the city greener. To further prepare for extreme heat, the latest version of the plan also includes adding more cooling centers throughout the city, installing more reflective or insulated roofs on public buildings, and replanning outdoor working schedules to protect people during the highest temperatures of the day.

The proposed plan continues the city’s progress toward a less car-centric and more sustainable community. In February 2024, voters in Paris approved a measure for higher parking fees for SUVs, and in December 2023, the city announced it would build an urban forest at the site of a busy roundabout to help curb the urban heat island effect.

In 2021, the city announced its Plan Velo: Act 2, an initiative that aims to make the city completely cyclable by 2026. As part of that plan, traffic lights will prioritize cyclists and public transportation over individual cars, according to the city’s official website.

So far, Paris has accomplished a total of 1,442 kilometers of cycling routes and 130 oasis squares, in addition to incorporating more renewable energy in the city’s heat networks, adding more sustainable food options in schools, and reducing household waste per capita by 450 kilograms per year, or around 20% down compared to 2005, according to the new plan.

Although the newest Climate Plan still needs to be approved through a Council of Paris vote, Bloomberg reported the council is likely to pass the plan.