Trees are important for our cities!
By 2025, it is estimated that two out of every three people will be living in cities or other urban centres (UN report). It is also estimated that by 2030 there will be 43 so-called megacities, cities with more than 10 million inhabitants. Today there are 31 megacities. Most of the megacities will be in developing countries. It is easy to think that cities are unconnected to nature, but the video below talks about how trees have played a vital role throughout history in creating successful cities.
This connects directly to the idea of Treescrapers — buildings that don’t just include trees, but work like them, producing oxygen and managing water the way a real tree does.
The Dutch architect and urban designer Stefan Al is part of TED-Ed’s Earth School. Earth School is a 10-step action plan designed to help us reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Look at this brilliant tool by I-Tree to learn more about the financial benefits of trees.
Finally, I got a big surprise when I checked out MIT’s web-based tool that allows you to compare the visible green canopy of different cities, such as London, Amsterdam, Singapore, Vancouver and New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.