Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has unveiled plans to plant trees and gardens alongside four of its historic sites to improve the air quality and address climate change.

Hidalgo announced an "urban forest" planting scheme for the Place de l'Hotel de Ville, the Gare de Lyon, the Palais Garnier and a footpath along the banks of the river Seine, reported Le Parisien.

"I am convinced that Paris must adapt to changing temperatures," she told the newspaper. "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts heatwaves at 50 degrees Celsius by 2050. We have an obligation to act today."

This planting scheme is part of a wider goal to make 50 per cent of the city's surfaces vegetated and permeable. It is also a part of Paris' aim to be a carbon neutral city by 2050.

A small urban forest will be planted on the north side of the Gare de Lyon, one of the main rail stations in Paris.

Trees will also be planted behind the Palais Garnier, Paris' 19th century opera house, and on both sides of the forecourt of the Place de l'Hotel de Ville, its city hall.

The mayor said that care would be taken not to block the view of these famous pieces of architecture. Following conversations with UNESCO, which has deemed the Banks of the Seine a world heritage site, Hidalgo said the city would plant grassy gardens next to the river pathways rather than trees.

Aside from the four landmark sites there are plans to plant greenery in 28 children's playgrounds across the city, as well as other sites.

British landscape architecture studio Gustafson Porter + Bowman will also be re-planting and extending the gardens and lawns leading up to the Eiffel Tower ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Italian architect Carlo Ratti has gone one step further, imagining what Paris could look like if it embraced driverless cars and turned its roads into playgrounds.

Imagery is by APUR / Céline Orsingher unless otherwise stated.