Green Space, Young People, and Climate Justice: Enhancing Access, Adaptation and Wellbeing through Nature-Based Solutions

Year
2026
Primary Supervisor
Susanne Lorenz <[email protected]>
Institution
University of Leeds (School of Earth and Environment)
Possibility of becoming a CASE project
No
Collaborative Project
No
Academic Supervisors
Cat Scott <[email protected]> (University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment), Harriet Thew
Research Themes
,
Project Partners
None
Research Keywords
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Relevant Degree Courses
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Expected climate change in the UK is going to result in hotter, drier summers and an increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves. How to equitably prepare for this change especially in densely populated areas, is a crucial question for policymakers, adaptation practitioners and urban planners.

More extensive tree coverage as well as better access to green spaces, is one possible adaptation measure. ‘Green corridors’ – networks of vegetation – play a vital role in mitigating urban heat through shade and evapotranspiration, reducing heat-related morbidity and mortality (Nazish et al., 2024). These “cool corridors” also enhance biodiversity by linking fragmented habitats, enabling species movement, and improving ecological resilience (Wilby & Perry 2006). In densely built environments, such corridors offer co-benefits for humans, including improved air quality, reduced urban heat island effects (Taher et al. 2019), accessible spaces for recreation and mental restoration as well as reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, especially for young people (Whitten 2025, Sampaio Costa et al. 2024), living in deprived urban areas (The Health Foundation 2025).

The aim of this PhD project is to explore how urban green infrastructure—particularly tree planting and green corridors—can support physical and mental wellbeing, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity connectivity in West Yorkshire building on previous work from the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission on nature recovery.

Collaborating with the Climate Commissions for Leeds and Yorkshire and the Humber, the White Rose Forest, and the ESRC funded Joined-up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) Centre, this PhD will examine how local governance, youth engagement, and spatial planning can align to deliver equitable climate solutions.

The project will involve:

  • Adopting a place-based approach to climate adaptation, recognising that local contexts shape both environmental vulnerabilities and opportunities for action.
  • Mapping temperature for a chosen urban setting in West Yorkshire (e.g. Leeds). This could include using satellite-derived data, data from local air temperature sensors and/or data from networks of personal weather stations.
  • Mapping canopy cover and greenspace data (e.g. from satellites, aerial imagery).
  • Critically examining the above data in the context of social and economic vulnerabilities and indicators of deprivation in West Yorkshire.
  • Exploring possible best areas for targeting tree coverage measures.
  • Considering how green infrastructure can be designed to address social inequalities, ensuring that underserved communities benefit from nature-based solutions.
  • Engaging with these communities to co-design possible targeted measures – this could include intergenerational discussions of how different age groups use local green spaces and what their needs are.
  • Building on the Department for Education’s National Education Nature Park, which empowers young people to map, enhance, and steward their local environments. This initiative provides a platform for co-creating green infrastructure with youth, including tree planting and biodiversity corridors that serve as cooling spaces and ecological connectors (DfE, 2025).
  • Aligning with and helping to deliver the Climate Action Plan for Yorkshire and the Humber (possible actions include: A5; C6; C7; D6; E1; E3).

Outputs will include:

  • Methodologies and tools to combine data on temperature, canopy cover/ greenspace and factors of deprivation to quantify the impact of high temperatures in combination with access to cool green spaces (or lack thereof) on the most underserved communities. West Yorkshire will be used as a contextual example, but the research methodology will be globally relevant.
  • City-scale mapping to identify the locations of high risk (high exposure to temperature, lack of access to greenspace and high vulnerability).
  • Recommendations for socially just nature-based adaptation measures for urban settings.
  • Mixed methods, creative methodologies for co-designing socially just solutions with young people such as living labs, participatory mapping and ecological assessments.

This project aligns with the YES DTN’s interdisciplinary mission and commitment to community-led research. It will generate actionable insights for urban planners, educators, and health professionals, contributing to policy on green space provision, climate adaptation, and youth mental health. By foregrounding the voices of young people, it will address a critical gap in research and practice, supporting the development of inclusive, biodiverse, and climate-resilient urban environments. Ultimately, this PhD will empower young people as co-creators of climate justice, fostering deeper connections to nature while addressing mental health disparities and environmental inequality.

References:

Department for Education. 2025. National Education Nature Park: funding overview. [Online]. [Accessed 15.09.2025]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-park-and-climate-action-awards-funding-allocations/national-education-nature-park-funding-guide

Nazish, A., Abbas, K. and Sattar, E., 2024. Health impact of urban green spaces: a systematic review of heat-related morbidity and mortality. BMJ open, 14(9), p.e081632.

Sampaio Costa, M. et al. (2024) ‘Imagine your perfect park: a qualitative study on adolescents’ usage of green spaces, perceived benefits and preferences’, Cities & Health, pp. 1–12. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2024.2313927.

Taher, H., Elsharkawy, H. and Newport, D., 2019, September. The influence of urban green systems on the urban heat island effect in London. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 329, No. 1, p. 012046). IOP Publishing.

The Health Foundation. 2024. Inequalities in access to green space. [Online]. [Accessed 15.09.2025]. Available from: https://library.leeds.ac.uk/referencing-examples/9/leeds-harvard/556/website-or-webpage

Whitten, M. (2025) ‘Invisible and overlooked: young people’s perceptions of managing green spaces for mental wellbeing’, Cities & Health, pp. 1–16. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2025.2458394.

Wilby, R.L. and Perry, G.L., 2006. Climate change, biodiversity and the urban environment: a critical review based on London, UK. Progress in physical geography, 30(1), pp.73-98.