The Benefits of Trees – Through the Eyes of Warsaw Residents Aged 50+
A study conducted in the summer of 2025 by the Faculty of Sociology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań examined how residents of Warsaw aged 50 and over perceive the benefits provided by trees, as well as their thermal comfort. Data collection was carried out using the LopiAsk geo-survey as part of the international research project:<br>“Urban green spaces mitigate the effects of the urban heat island: a comparative study of Beijing and Warsaw.”
Objectives
Ongoing urbanization is exposing an increasing number of people to the negative impacts of climate change in cities. Currently, more than 57% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and projections indicate that by 2050 this figure will rise to approximately 6.5 billion people. As building density increases and urban infrastructure expands, local climatic conditions are changing, a phenomenon that is particularly strongly felt during heatwaves.
One of the key climate-related phenomena occurring in cities is the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. It refers to the situation in which air temperatures in urban areas are higher than in surrounding suburban and rural areas. This phenomenon results, among other factors, from the high proportion of artificial surfaces (such as concrete and asphalt) that absorb and store heat, the limited presence of vegetation, reduced air circulation, and anthropogenic heat emissions from transport, heating systems, and air conditioning.
As a result, cities heat up more quickly and release heat more slowly, leading to rising temperatures and increased thermal stress on residents. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the urban heat island, as high temperatures can pose a serious health risk for this population group.
In this context, urban green spaces—especially trees—are increasingly recognized as playing a crucial role, as they can effectively lower urban temperatures through shading, evapotranspiration, and improved air circulation. Warsaw, often described as one of the greener capital cities in Europe, provides an interesting example of a city where urban greenery may play a significant role in climate change adaptation.
The study aimed to address the following research question:
To what extent, and in what ways, does Warsaw’s urban greenery help residents aged 50+ cope with extreme temperatures?
The project is carried out in cooperation between researchers from Poland and China and involves a comparative analysis of two capital cities: Warsaw and Beijing focusing on the role of urban greenery in mitigating the effects of the Urban Heat Island.
Polish Research Team
Project Leader:
- Prof. Piotr Matczak, PhD, DSc (Adam Mickiewicz University)
Experts:
- Dr Eng. Patrycja Przewoźna – expert in GIS and decision support systems
- Dr Piotr Jabkowski, PhD, DSc, Prof. AMU – social research
- Prof. Magdalena Kuchcik – climate expert
- Dr Eng. Marcin Witkowski – data processing
- Dr Maria Jędrzejczak – data protection law
PhD Students:
- Zuzanna Kurowska, MA
- Abdurrahman Zaki, MA
Objectives
The project aims to examine the impact of urban green areas on the spatio-temporal extent of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) in two cities—Warsaw and Beijing.
The study includes both an analysis of the UHI phenomenon itself and an assessment of how residents perceive this issue. The analysis of residents’ perceptions is conducted in two stages:
1) a one-time assessment of the importance residents assign to the presence of greenery as a source of shade;
2) an evaluation of self-reported thermal comfort monitored over a longer period during the summer season.
Challenges
Main Research Challenges:
- reaching the senior population,
- precise mapping of the locations indicated by respondents,
- ensuring the accessibility of the digital research tool for individuals with varying levels of technological competence.
Research process
In the first part of the project the LopiAsk geo-survey was used as a tool for the interactive collection of spatial data. Respondents marked trees and green areas in their vicinity on a map, indicating the specific benefits they derive from them (e.g. shade, temperature reduction, opportunities for rest).
To increase the accessibility of the study, senior participants were supported by interviewers who assisted them in using the geo-survey.
Declarative data were complemented by objective temperature measurements conducted in the second part of the study using the GeoSenEsm tool (Geolocation and Sensor Data supporting Experience Sampling Method). Rozwiązanie to umożliwiło łączenie danych lokalizacyjnych i sensorycznych z odpowiedziami respondentów, co pozwoliło zestawić subiektywne odczucia komfortu termicznego z rzeczywistymi warunkami środowiskowymi w przestrzeni miejskiej.
Main findings
The study has been completed and the collected data are currently under analysis. Once the results are published, the case study will be updated.
