Belfast is to undergo an environmental trial involving the analysis of 44 normal trees compared to a special “city tree.”
City trees, also known as Robot Trees and Moss Walls, are large structures that increase air quality in cities using moss and plants.
They capture dust and nitrogen dioxide from the air, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,and can help to reduce urban heat, and the impact of heavy rainfall.
Belfast is one of 11 pilot cities across Europe, and the only from the UK and the island of Ireland, chosen for the Horizon Europe’s Urban Planning 2030 (UP2030) scheme, a three year programme that aims “to guide cities through the transitions required to meet their climate neutrality ambitions.”
Belfast City Council was successful in a bid of €204,250/£176,024 funding to further an integrated approach between urban planning, achieving net zero and aspects of resilience.
The focus of the project is on the development of a net zero neighbourhood framework around three thematic areas: active travel, greening and retrofit. The geographic area of the UP2030 pilot was agreed in March 2023 and covers the Linen Quarter and surrounding city centre communities of Barrack Street, Sandy Row, Donegall Pass and the Market.
The programme started work on the ground last year with its school “walking buses,” and will start this month on retrofitting by engaging with communities in the pilot area to “codesign approaches for net zero delivery.”
The third part of the programme involves a cost benefit exercise on the planting and maintenance of 44 trees in the air quality management area of Cromac Street in comparison to the installation of a city tree.
All work from Belfast City Council is to be returned to the UP2030 consortium at the end of the three year period this November.