Manage and Adapt to Heat in the City

Over half of the world population now lives in cities that are disproportionately heating due to climate change and urban heat island effects.

At the same time, cities represent innovative hubs that have the potential to catalyze new opportunities, such as good governance, protective social measures and urban design for cooling.

• Cities tend to be hotter than rural areas – this is known as the Urban Heat Island Effect.
• The impacts of urban heat islands are often worse in areas with high population density and low tree cover, resulting in large temperature variations between neighborhoods.
• Extreme heat interacts with and amplifies the effects other stressors such as air pollution and water scarcity.
• Heat exposure in cities is deadly. Long-term urban planning, civic engagement, and effective cross government emergency management can save lives and keep communities healthy.

Temperatures in cities tend to be hotter than the surrounding countryside due to the prevalence of surfaces that retain heat and release it slowly; this is called the Urban Heat Island Effect.

Cities consist of environments that are intensely modified by humans, which may also lead to hotspots within cities where the temperature is even higher. This is due to factors such as buildings that block wind, the use of dark-coloured paving or asphalt, waste heat generated by vehicles, air conditioners and industrial facilities, and a lack of vegetation to cool parts of a city. Source Heatwave Guide for Cities

In cities with wet climates, high humidity further amplifies urban heat conditions.

The effects of urban heat islands are often worse in the densest parts of the city with the fewest greenspaces. Identifying and visualizing differences in heat exposure and impacts across cities can raise awareness in high risk communities and help target policies and interventions that protect the most vulnerable.

Extreme heat can interact with – and compound the effects of – air pollution. Heat and sunlight are two ingredients that can intensify ground-level pollution by mixing with nitrous oxide gases (from sources like car exhausts) to create ozone, a toxic pollutant. This is why hot days are often also hazy, which can be detrimental to health – particularly for those with lung conditions like asthma and cardiovascular disease. The combination of heat and air pollution leads to higher death rates than either factor working independently.

Although opening windows when the air temperature is cooler outside than inside is commonly advised to lower indoor temperatures, during periods of high air pollution levels this is not advised.

High temperatures and dry conditions also amplify wildfire risk. Increasingly extreme fires are being observed during hot summers in all world regions. Poor air quality due to wildfire smoke can cause shortness of breath, lung irritation, fatigue and eye irritation, and trigger asthma attacks and other health effects.

Role of Municipal Governments and Systems

Cities have a unique potential to adapt to changing heat risks through effective risk management at multiple levels. All cities should assess heat risk and devise plans and partnerships for reducing and managing risks. Cities can effectively coordinate and incentivize multi-sectoral actors; and strengthen community engagement in policymaking.

During hot weather, the failure or limited access to critical utilities, such as power, water, and transport, can also make urban vulnerability worse. The loss of power during hot weather can leave people without cooling when needed most. In communities where access to water does not reach everyone, – such as those living in slums and informal settlements – people may not be able to stay sufficiently hydrated to reduce the effects of extreme heat. Cities can help plan and coordinate risk management policies and plans across civic utilities.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

The mandate to reduce heat risks does not fit squarely within any traditional sector or government department. A variety of agencies have crucial roles to play in the overall effort to reduce heat risks. These include disaster/emergency management, health and social services, transport, power and water, city planning and meteorological services. A designated lead coordinating agency can help effective collaboration and planning. Source Heatwave Guide for Cities

Emergency Preparedness

Preparedness should happen long before an emergency. Actors and information should be coordinated before and during the heat season, complemented by early warning – early action systems during a heat emergency. Strong multi-agency preparedness calls for effective communication between stakeholders, including national and local governments, universities, media, healthcare and social protection systems, NGOs and humanitarian actors, as well as affected populations.

Location and Context Specific Risk Management

Different communities are affected very differently by heat. Cities are mosaics of linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic diversity, and characterized by microclimates and diverse living conditions.  Localized understanding of heat risks, risk perceptions, and available cooling options are critical to effective intervention design. Epidemiological studies, social science, risk assessment and urban heat mapping can provide insights that address the differentiated needs of vulnerable groups into risk planning and effective responses.

Built Environment

Strategic and environmentally sustainable urban development must consider future climate impacts and  projected temperature exposures in coming decades. Technical and biophysical materials and design in housing, roads, greenspace can help manage and reduce long-term urban heat burdens.