Montreal Study Reveals unequal Access to Cooling Greenspaces, Linking Heat Vulnerability to Socioeconomic Factors
Montreal, QC – A new study from Concordia University has uncovered a stark correlation between urban heat in Montreal and unequal access to greenspaces, highlighting how socioeconomic factors exacerbate the impact of rising temperatures on vulnerable communities. The research, published recently, demonstrates that neighbourhoods with lower incomes and higher proportions of visible minorities often experience less tree cover and, consequently, greater heat vulnerability.
The study leveraged data from the 2021 Canadian Census – including demographics on age, education, income, and visible minority status – alongside vegetation coverage data from the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal’s Metropolitan Canopy index, utilizing LiDAR and aerial imagery. Researchers then built a statistical model to pinpoint how vegetation impacts surface temperatures, focusing on percentage of tree canopy (high vegetation), percentage of shrubs and grass (low vegetation), and the size and connectivity of tree clusters using a “large patch index of high vegetation.”
The model proved highly accurate, explaining approximately 80 per cent of the variation in surface temperatures across the island of Montreal. Crucially, it confirmed that increasing vegetation coverage reduces temperatures, with larger, interconnected patches of trees providing amplified cooling effects.
researchers then developed a “cooling supply index” (ranging from 0 to 1, representing low to high cooling capacity) and a “cooling demand index” based on the proportion of residents in vulnerable age groups. The comparison revealed significant disparities.
Wealthier areas like Outremont and the West Island benefited from greater tree cover and, therefore, more cooling, while neighbourhoods such as Saint-Léonard, Montréal-Nord, and Anjou – areas with higher concentrations of visible minorities and lower average household incomes – were found to have fewer trees and a higher concentration of heat-vulnerable residents.
“Urban areas have limited space, so we cannot create as many green spaces as we would like,” explained lead researcher Li. “We have to better understand how to manage our urban green infrastructure to maximize its benefits.”
The study, a collaborative effort involving Concordia professors Angela Kross (Geography, Planning and Surroundings), Carly Ziter (biology), and Ursula Eicker (Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering), underscores the need for targeted urban planning. The findings suggest that prioritizing the development of parks and greenspaces in underserved neighbourhoods is crucial for creating a more equitable and resilient city.
The research was financially supported by the Trottier family Foundation and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of canada.
The full study, “Analyzing spatial patterns of urban green infrastructure for urban cooling and social equity,” is available on ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866725003176.
