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The City of Sydney has released an ambitious plan to cover 40 per cent of the city in greenery by 2050.

Greening Sydney 2030 sets the directions, targets and actions for all aspects of greening, including ambitious canopy targets and innovative plans to increase green roofs and walls and streetscape gardening. 

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the plan builds on the achievements of the city’s first greening strategy, Greening Sydney 2012, which made the city one of the only councils in the country to increase its canopy cover over the past decade.

“Effective and extensive canopy cover can reduce temperatures on the ground by up to 10 degrees, “ Moore said.

“We will plant more trees, plants and shrubbery, and we will make sure they are species that are hardy and resilient to our changing climate.

“We will use innovation and design to create more green roofs and walls, and we will push ourselves harder to find creative ways to green our network of largely concrete laneways and narrow streets.

“Trees remove thousands of tonnes of pollution from our air, store carbon and help mitigate extreme weather, while also relieving stress, depression and anxiety."

The plan will cost $377 million over the next 10 years.

The strategy was developed in line with research into population health and environmental data science conducted by University of Wollongong Professor Thomas Astell-Burt. 

“Residents tend to be happier, healthier and more social when there’s more green space in the community, with potentially large economic benefits too," Professor Astell-Burtsaid. 

If endorsed by council this month, the draft strategy will go on public exhibition from 19 April - 24 May.