Berlin’s Bold Plan: Doubling Trees by 2040 Through Smart Urban Design

A million more trees could reshape Berlin’s streets—if planners merge nature with mobility. The city’s bold law redefines urban living for a hotter, greener future.

, and Administrator

2025 November 7 . 1:01 PM

1 min read

There are some bicycles,cars and few other vehicles passing on a road. There are some trees and few... — There are some bicycles,cars and few other vehicles passing on a road. There are some trees and few building in the background.

Traffic Club: Consider Traffic Planning in Tree Law - Berlin’s Bold Plan: Doubling Trees by 2040 Through Smart Urban Design

The German Transport Club (VCD) has urged Berlin to integrate tree planting and traffic planning. The call comes as the city's House of Representatives passed a climate adaptation law, aiming to double its tree population by 2040.

The VCD suggests that new tree planting should prioritise safe pedestrian and cycling paths from the beginning. It demands a unified urban planning approach that includes trees, safe pathways, and public transport links. The club also proposes integrating green spaces and water management into road construction.

The new climate adaptation law, modelled on the citizen initiative BaumEntscheid, aims to increase Berlin's tree population to over one million by 2040. The law also includes measures to expand green spaces, improve rainwater management, and implement heat action plans. The VCD sees climate adaptation and sustainable transport as two sides of the same coin, not opposing goals.

Berlin's new climate law and the VCD's suggestions align in promoting a greener, safer city. By integrating tree planting and traffic planning, Berlin can work towards its goal of doubling its tree population while also improving its transport infrastructure.