New York's $400M tree bet cools city from extreme heat

New York's MillionTreesNYC initiative, a nearly $400 million campaign that planted one million trees from 2007 to 2015, is now proving effective in mitigating extreme heat as climate change worsens. The mature canopies shade streets, reduce the urban heat island effect, and deliver an estimated $120 million in annual environmental and economic benefits. The city now aims to increase tree canopy to 30% by 2040, prioritizing heat-vulnerable neighborhoods to address climate inequality.