Urban forests as essential infrastructure for climate resilience and biodiversity: A call to policymakers

By 2050, nearly 70% of the global population will live in cities (UN, 2018), increasing the demand for urban green spaces.Urban areas are facing increasing risks from climate change, including heatwaves, flooding, wildfires, and growing social inequality, which challenges urban planning and design.Urban forests form the backbone of green infrastructure supporting resilient, equitable, and sustainable cities. Importantly, their cost-effective benefits advance sustainable development, climate action, and biodiversity conservation.