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Urban climate and adaptation strategies
Author(s) -
Larsen Larissa
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/150103
Subject(s) - microclimate , urban heat island , green infrastructure , sustainability , climate change , green roof , environmental science , environmental planning , urban planning , environmental resource management , climate change mitigation , baseline (sea) , tree planting , vegetation (pathology) , geography , roof , civil engineering , meteorology , ecology , agroforestry , engineering , medicine , oceanography , archaeology , pathology , geology , biology
Extreme heat poses a threat to the livability and sustainability of cities, and disproportionally harms marginalized groups. The frequency of extreme heat events is expected to increase in the future as climate change exacerbates urban heat island (UHI) effects. Common UHI mitigation strategies – such as cool pavements (light‐colored surfacing or permeable pavements), cool roofs (often categorized as “white”, “blue”, or “green” roof strategies to differentiate the approaches), and increased planting of vegetation – vary in effectiveness depending on a city's baseline climate, as well as on city size and layout. Microclimate mitigation efforts must move beyond exterior site‐level strategies to consider land‐use planning at the neighborhood level and the role of passive cooling strategies for buildings. Green infrastructure offers benefits in the form of improved stormwater management, air quality, carbon sequestration, and microclimate regulation. The creation of a new utility – one akin to a public company that provides services such as electricity or water and that recognizes the multiple and overlapping environmental and social benefits of green infrastructure – may expedite implementation of such strategies.