New Delhi, April 7 -- Increasing tree cover from 3% to 11% in a one square kilometre area during peak summer conditions in Delhi can lower experienced temperatures by as much as 1 degree Celsius (degC), according to a report released by Artha Global and data.org.

This cooling potential far outpaces the warming caused by urbanisation, as the study - titled Mapping Heat Inequality Across Neighbourhoods in Delhi - found that increasing built-up area from 25% to 55% raises experienced temperatures by only about 0.6degC. This "asymmetry" positions modest greening as a far more effective tool for reducing heat stress than concrete is for increasing it.

"Going from a significantly underbuilt green area to a very built area, you're seeing chang...