A European research project led by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) highlights that integrating nature-based elements into school playgrounds and surrounding environments yields multiple benefits for children, communities and cities.
Over three years, the COOLSCHOOLS project analysed how greening school spaces can contribute to urban health, educational quality, climate adaptation and equity. Greener playgrounds help mitigate urban heat island effects, provide climate-adapted outdoor areas that enhance physical and mental well-being, and foster education on environmental stewardship. The study emphasises that replacing predominantly hard, grey surfaces with vegetation and climate-adapted designs can reduce heat exposure risks for students and support inclusive access to natural environments, with potential positive impacts on biodiversity, social practices and public health.
Experts argue that nature-based solutions in school environments should become primary urban design principles rather than secondary considerations, enabling schools to act as hubs for broader urban transformation toward climate resilience and liveable cities.
