Page - 402 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

402 cantly higher total solids concentration (p  =  0.045) for the green roof than for the asphalt roof. Finally, Fassman-Beck et  al. (2013) found that a green roof (500  m2 on a council civic centre) retained 57% of rain water in comparison to control (bitumen roof). All of these studies were quasi-experiments that collected post- implementation data only. Peng and Jim (2015) found that a green roof displayed significant cooling effects in spring, summer and autumn, with slight warming effects in winter, in a suburban area in Hong Kong compared to a bare roof control site. 17.2.6 Impact of  Urban Green Space Interventions on  Equity Factors There is currently too little evidence to enable us to draw firm conclusions regarding the impact of urban green space interventions on a range of equity indicators, for example those from disadvantaged backgrounds, migrants, the elderly, children, and those with disabilities. Twenty studies were based in disadvantaged neighbour- hoods, with relatively mixed supporting evidence for urban green space interven- tions. For those studies that did show a positive intervention effect in disadvantaged neighbourhoods there is, however, insufficient reported information on whether the community used, or indeed, benefitted from, the urban green space interventions. Previous research demonstrating that urban green space may be ‘equigenic’ (Mitchell et  al. 2015) (i.e. health benefits associated with access to green space are strongest among those in disadvantaged populations) suggests that this is an impor- tant area for future research. 17.3 Lessons Learned and  Key Considerations In summary, there was promising evidence to support the provision of urban green space interventions for environmental, health and well-being effects. In particular, there was strong evidence for park-based interventions employing a dual approach (i.e. a physical change to the urban green space and promotion/marketing pro- grammes) particularly for increasing park use and physical activity; greening of vacant lots for health and well-being (e.g. reduction in stress) and social (e.g. reduction in crime, increased perceptions of safety) benefits; greening of urban streets particularly for environmental benefits (e.g. increased biodiversity, reduced air pollution, reduction in illegal dumping); and roof gardens for managing storm water impacts. There was promising evidence to support the provision of roof gar- dens for environmental benefits (temperature), which has an impact on climate change. R. F. Hunter et al.