Urban forestry: The 3-30-300 rule for climate adaptation

Environmental chemist Dr. Kostas Nikolaou has highlighted the importance of the international ‘3-30-300’ rule as a framework for helping cities adapt to the climate crisis, including heatwaves, floods, and air pollution.

Proposed in 2021 by urban forestry researcher Cecil Konijnendijk, the rule sets three specific targets for urban resilience and public health: every home, school, or workplace should be able to see at least three well-developed trees; every neighborhood should have at least 30% tree canopy cover; and every residence should be within 300 meters of a high-quality public green space.

Nikolaou noted that the city of Volos is currently lagging behind these standards, estimating its canopy cover is well below the 30% target. He emphasized that effective climate adaptation requires tree cover to be distributed throughout neighborhoods, streets, and sidewalks rather than being concentrated in single large parks.