Clean Air Calculator Shows How Plants Shape Healthier Communities – GlobeNewswire

Report on the Launch of the Clean Air Calculator Initiative

Introduction

On November 30, 2025, the Green Cities Foundation (GCF), in partnership with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), launched the Clean Air Calculator. This digital tool is designed to quantify the environmental contributions of urban and residential green spaces, directly supporting Canada’s progress toward several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Tool Functionality and Purpose

The Clean Air Calculator is an interactive, science-based platform that enables users to measure the positive environmental impact of their vegetation. The tool provides quantifiable data on:

• Carbon dioxide sequestration
• Oxygen production
• Air pollutant removal

By translating the benefits of trees, turf, and shrubs into measurable metrics, the initiative aims to foster greater public understanding and investment in green infrastructure as a critical component of sustainable development.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The initiative makes significant contributions to the following SDGs:

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The calculator provides essential data for urban planners and residents, highlighting the role of green spaces in creating resilient, healthy, and sustainable urban environments. It empowers communities to advocate for the protection and expansion of green infrastructure.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By quantifying carbon sequestration at a local level, the tool directly engages citizens in climate change mitigation. It demonstrates that individual and community-level planting efforts are a vital form of accessible climate technology.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The project emphasizes the link between green spaces and public health by measuring the generation of clean air and the creation of cooler microclimates, which are crucial for well-being in urban settings.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The initiative encourages the planting and maintenance of terrestrial ecosystems within populated areas, contributing to urban biodiversity and strengthening the connection between communities and nature.

Community Engagement Strategy

To promote adoption and data collection, the GCF has initiated the “Plants Love You Clean Air Giveaway.” This campaign encourages nationwide participation (excluding Quebec) throughout 2025–2026. The process for participation is as follows:

1. Register for an account on the Clean Air Calculator platform.
2. Utilize the tool to map and calculate the environmental impact of a personal or community green space.
3. Share the calculated impact data through social media channels.
4. Complete the giveaway entry form.

Strategic Vision and Impact

As stated by Alan White, CNLA Vice President, plants represent one of the most accessible forms of climate technology and function as the “lungs of our communities.” The data collected through this initiative will create a comprehensive overview of the collective impact of Canada’s green spaces. This information is intended to equip communities and policymakers to make informed decisions regarding the protection of and investment in nature-based solutions, thereby advancing the national sustainability agenda.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article connects directly to this goal by emphasizing the health benefits of green spaces. The “Clean Air Calculator” is designed to show how plants contribute to “cleaner air” and a “healthier urban climate,” which are crucial for human well-being and reducing illnesses related to air pollution.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The initiative is focused on urban and community environments. The article states the goal is to create “healthier, cooler neighbourhoods” and “more livable cities.” By providing a tool to quantify the value of green spaces, the project encourages investment in urban nature, making cities more sustainable and resilient.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This goal is central to the article’s theme. The calculator measures “carbon dioxide sequestered,” a key aspect of climate change mitigation. Furthermore, the article describes plants as “one of the most accessible forms of climate technology we have,” directly linking the greening of communities to climate action.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  While focused on urban areas, the project promotes the protection and enhancement of terrestrial ecosystems within communities. The article’s call to “protect them and invest in more” green spaces supports the sustainable management of these ecosystems. The calculator helps make the value of these ecosystems “visible in the data,” encouraging their preservation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.9: Reduce illnesses from pollution

  By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s focus on generating “clean air” and creating a “healthier urban climate” directly addresses the reduction of air pollution, which is a primary cause of various illnesses.

• Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

  By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The “Clean Air Calculator” is a tool specifically designed to measure and highlight the positive impact of green spaces on urban air quality, encouraging actions that directly contribute to this target.

• Target 11.7: Provide access to green and public spaces

  By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The initiative encourages “more community greening projects across Canada” and helps communities understand the value of their green spaces, which can lead to better protection and investment in these areas for public benefit.

• Target 13.3: Improve climate change education and awareness

  Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The calculator is an educational tool that allows individuals to “understand the environmental value your plants are providing.” The entire campaign, with its message “Every plant makes a difference,” is an awareness-raising effort to build human capacity for climate action at a local level.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article explicitly and implicitly mentions several indicators:

1. Amount of Carbon Dioxide Sequestered

   This is a direct, quantifiable indicator mentioned in the article. The calculator “estimates the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered.” This metric can be used to measure progress towards climate mitigation efforts under SDG 13.

2. Amount of Oxygen Produced

   The article states the calculator estimates the “oxygen produced” by green spaces. This serves as an indicator of the life-sustaining benefits of urban ecosystems, relevant to SDG 11 and SDG 15.

3. Amount of Clean Air Generated

   This is another explicit indicator from the article, as the tool calculates the “clean air generated by trees, turf, and shrubs.” This can be used as a proxy indicator for measuring improvements in urban air quality, directly relevant to Target 11.6 and Target 3.9.

4. Number of Mapped Green Spaces / User Engagement

   An implied indicator is the level of public engagement with the tool. The “Plants Love You Clean Air Giveaway” encourages Canadians to “map their green spaces.” The number of accounts created and spaces mapped can measure the success of the awareness campaign, which is an indicator of progress towards Target 13.3 (improving education and awareness).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: globenewswire.com