Pets, parks and policy: What do London’s pet-friendly spaces tell us about urban climate resilience?

Mars, Incorporated and C40 Cities reveal how the capital's approach to pet ownership could offer a surprising model for climate-resilient urban planning
Households in London are nearly twice as likely to own a dog as the European average, increasing demand for parks and green walking routes

London, UK (June 24, 2026) – During London Climate Action Week, Mars, Incorporated highlighted the need for cities to accommodate pets and support more urban green spaces, promoting healthier, more connected communities where people live, work and play.

46% of London households are estimated to own a dog, nearly double the European average of 25%, highlighting the significant role pets play in everyday life across the capital.^1,2 In tandem, it is one of the world's top green cities, with 47% of the city covered by green spaces like parks and commons.³

A walk through Kings Cross brought together global climate expertise and the pet care industry to make the case that pet ownership and climate-resilient urban planning go hand-in-hand, and that the London model offers a strong example of creating better cities for pets around the world.

Moving forward, the demand for these pet-friendly green spaces is likely to intensify. With the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act on May 1, 2026, pet ownership is expected to rise across the 4.6 million households that rent privately in the U.K., placing a greater onus on cities to drive green urban planning to accommodate this shift.⁴

Anthony Guerrieri, Global Vice-President Corporate Affairs, Mars Pet Nutrition: “Pet ownership brings clear benefits for our physical and mental health, and helps foster stronger connections with the places we live, work and play. With the Renters’ Rights Act opening up pet ownership to millions more people in the U.K., there’s a real opportunity to use London as a best-in-class example of how investment in green spaces helps create cities that are better for people, pets and the climate.”

Research by Mars and C40 shows that green space delivers multiple, lasting benefits.⁵ Well-planned green spaces can help cities respond to climate pressures by reducing heat, managing flood risk and supporting biodiversity.⁶ Access to these spaces also benefits public health, with NIHR research linking a 10% increase in green space access to a 7% reduction in the risk of anxiety and depression.⁷

At the same time, pets can help people engage more regularly with these environments. Dog ownership, in particular, is associated with higher levels of physical activity and more frequent use of local green spaces, supporting healthier lifestyles. Recent research by Mars found that 73% of pet owners say their pet encourages them to spend time outside, turning walks with a pet into wellbeing.⁸ Together, this highlights how green space and pet ownership can reinforce one another in creating more livable and climate-resilient cities.

The events of this week connect to a wider agenda from Mars and C40 Cities to build resilience and improve access to green spaces for people and their pets globally through the Mars BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program. Collaborating on the launch of an Urban Nature Playbook for People, Pets and the Planet(Opens a new window), the playbook offers a framework for how cities can integrate pet-friendly design with climate-resilient urban planning to meet both climate and public health goals. London is cited as a leading proof of concept, with examples such as Kneller Garden acknowledging trade-offs by offering safe and sustainable river access for both dogs and people.

Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: “Bringing more nature into urban spaces has such a huge role to play in making cities more pleasant – and livable – places to be. Yet, what the Urban Nature Playbook makes clear is that nature in urban environments is not just a ‘nice to have.' It is essential infrastructure for resilient cities. London is a strong example of how integrating green space into everyday life can deliver for climate, public health and communities all at once. This is the direction cities around the world need to move in.”

Helen Kirkpatrick, clinical director at Village Vet London, which is part of Linnaeus, said: "As temperatures soar in London, ensuring our pets have constant access to cool, shaded spaces is a critical priority for immediate pet welfare, especially as they are more vulnerable to the heat than us. For urban environments, investing in green infrastructure like shaded parks and tree canopies is essential to protect our animal companions and keep our city safe and livable for everyone.

"On weeks like this, we advise keeping your dog indoors with plenty of access to water and cold treats, or sticking to early morning or late evening walks when conditions are cooler. If you have any concerns about caring for your pet in a heatwave, you should contact your vet for advice."

About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. Based on combined Mars and Kellanova 2025 net sales, we are now a $65bn+ family-owned business, with a diverse portfolio of quality snacking and food products that delight millions of people every day, and leading pet care products and veterinary services that support pets all around the world. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, EXTRA®, Pringles®, Cheez-It®, and BEN’S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles — Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom — inspire our approximately 170,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook(Opens a new window), Instagram(Opens a new window), LinkedIn(Opens a new window) and YouTube(Opens a new window).

About C40 Cities
C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere, can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to limit global heating in line with the Paris Agreement and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. We work alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to support mayors to halve emissions by 2030 and help phase out fossil use while increasing urban climate resilience and equity.

The current co-chairs of C40 are Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, United Kingdom, and Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown, Sierra Leone; three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. C40’s work is made possible by our two strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies and Realdania.

To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit our website(Opens a new window) or follow us on X(Opens a new window), Instagram(Opens a new window), Facebook(Opens a new window) and LinkedIn(Opens a new window).