Yes, it is possible to see both the forest and the trees. Just ask Dr. Haris Doukas, the Mayor of Athens, Greece. His city can be unbearably hot, which stifles tourism, residential life, and economic activity. Due to climate change, it's only getting worse.
When Doukas, a Ph.D. mechanical engineer dubbed by Politico (February 2, 2024) as "the man who came from nowhere," pledged on the mayoral campaign trail to do something about the extreme heat, the standard-issue naysayers came out of the woodwork. Of course they did; they always do. No doubt they made fun of planting (or hugging) trees and called Dr. Doukas an egghead. He actually specified that he would work to reduce the "feeling temperature" by 5C within five years. He did so within one year.
First, his administration planted 25,000 trees. Anyone who chooses to believe in science and common sense understands that trees significantly improve air quality by reducing pollutants and temperatures, providing shade, cutting down on evaporative emissions, and reducing the need for air conditioning. The city of Athens is using heat maps to document the reduction in temperatures as well as to identify heat-rising areas in need of additional tree plantings.
Then, Doukas decided to use new materials for building, paving, and resurfacing roads. These materials do not store or reflect as much heat. Yes, they are more expensive in terms of initial cash outlays, but far less expensive over time by reducing heat and, in the process, improving quality of life, health, and the economy. Ah yes, remember when serious governments invested in such things.
Doukas' Center-Left administration has received nothing but resistance from the Center-Right party running the Greek national government. In a move described as "vengeful," the Center-Right gang stripped the mayor of considerable powers and budget when he took office. Of course, in keeping with the script found all over the world, these obstructionists are now embroiled in scandals ranging from misuse of public monies to use of shadow, off-the-books financing. If you can't work to make people's lives better as politicians, then get the hell out of the way.
Image courtesy of Naftemporiki.