Creating a greener, cooler and healthier Medellín

This case study describes the Green Corridors programme in Medellín, Colombia, which implemented urban vegetation to combat rising temperatures and improve public health and air quality between 2016 and 2019.

• The Green Corridors project reduced urban heat in Medellín by planting nearly 880,000 trees and 2.5 million smaller plants along streets and former waterways. Between 2016 and 2019, average air temperatures in these locations decreased from 31.6C to 27.1C, while average surface temperatures dropped from 40.5C to 30.2°C.
• The programme improved air quality and public health outcomes from 2016 to 2019. Particulate pollutant PM 2.5 levels fell from 21.81 µg/m3 to 20.26 µg/m3, PM 10 levels fell from 46.04 µg/m3 to 40.4 µg/m3, and ozone levels decreased from 30.1 µg/m3 to 26.32 µg/m3. Consequently, the morbidity rate for acute respiratory infections dropped from 159.8 to 95.3 per thousand inhabitants.
• The initiative fostered social and economic development by creating 1.5 million m2 of public space and providing employment. Between 2016 and 2019, 2,600 workers were employed and 107 individuals from disadvantaged communities were trained as gardeners and planting technicians. Additionally, the project included 80 km of new bike paths, contributing to a 34.6 percent increase in cycling and a 4 percent increase in walking.

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (2021). Creating a greener, cooler and healthier Medellín. https://www.seforall.org/stories-of-success/creating-a-greener-cooler-and-healthier-medellin

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. Creating a greener, cooler and healthier Medellín. 2021. https://www.seforall.org/stories-of-success/creating-a-greener-cooler-and-healthier-medellin.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=Creating a greener, cooler and healthier Medellín |date=4 June 2021 |url=https://www.seforall.org/stories-of-success/creating-a-greener-cooler-and-healthier-medellin |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sustainableenergyforall2021creating, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{Creating a greener, cooler and healthier Medellín}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://www.seforall.org/stories-of-success/creating-a-greener-cooler-and-healthier-medellin}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }