After the two major heatwaves that Paris experienced even before July, with temperatures soaring well above 40°C, the conclusion is clear: while the capital is developing its cool islands, there still aren't enough of them to cope with these heat episodes. A new idea is emerging: to transform building courtyards into greener spaces that better shield against the heat. In 2023, the City of Paris is launching CoprOasis with the goal of encouraging and helping co-owners to turn their courtyards into greener and cooler spaces — a project more relevant than ever.
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900 hectares of green space in Paris
In the 12th, then in the 19th… Gradually, some Parisian properties are joining the program. As our colleagues from Parisien explain, with this initiative, the City of Paris is offering €5,000 to property owners to study ways to green their courtyards, and then finances 80% of the work, up to a maximum of €30,000. According to Alice Timsit, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of ecological transition, the Climate Plan, water, and energy, who was interviewed by the newspaper, the courtyards in Paris represent 900 hectares, which is equivalent to 1,200 football fields.
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Refreshing the Environment with Courtyard Greening
All courtyards are eligible for this initiative, no matter their size. To take advantage of it, you need to register online and meet three eligibility criteria, including the ability to better absorb rainwater, increasing the green surface area, and adding 50% regional plant species. “Rainwater should be used to nourish plants, which will refresh the surrounding environment, and prevent it from flowing directly into the sewers and clogging the Paris network,” explains Eva Rocchia, a plant greening project manager at the Paris Climate Agency (APC) to Le Parisien.t-de-fraicheur-with-the-support-of-the-city-29-06-2026-GGX2DR6HQVFEJEW3SH4BE56PZQ.php" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">daily.