Increasing Urban Tree Canopy Associated With Reduced Mortality: A Longitudinal Analysis of Chicago Neighborhood

A Chicago study covering 2011–2021 looked at how year-over-year changes in tree canopy relate to mortality, rather than the single snapshot of canopy cover most research uses. Neighborhoods that gained canopy had lower death rates, including fewer deaths from cardiovascular, respiratory, mental health, and musculoskeletal causes. In the city's hottest areas — concentrated on the South and West sides — canopy loss tracked with larger increases in mortality. The takeaway: planting and maintaining trees, especially in heat-burdened neighborhoods, could reduce deaths and build resilience against rising temperatures.