UHeat: tackling the Urban Heat Island effect

Our cities are getting hotter

As global temperatures rise, our cities, the engines of our economy, are disproportionately affected. As cities develop, increasing densities of concrete, tarmac, steel and glass absorb and retain solar radiation, raising temperatures in urban areas.

This is leading to:

• Increased risk of heat stress, respiratory issues, and mortality, especially among vulnerable populations.
• Soaring demand for air conditioning, stressing electrical grids and increasing carbon emissions.
• Heat damage to roads, rail lines and essential utilities, leading to costly repairs and service disruptions.

Urban heat islands are a complex issue and conventional planning often fails to account for the complex thermal dynamics of the urban environment. Partial interventions fall short of achieving the sustained cooling that city populations need.