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How the World's Cities Are Learning to Live With Extreme Heat
From reflective pavements to urban forests, cities are racing to redesign themselves for a hotter century.
Every summer now brings broken records and warnings. But behind the headlines a quieter revolution is underway: cities are being redesigned, street by street, to cope with heat.
The problem with concrete
Dense urban cores trap heat in what scientists call the “urban heat island” effect. Asphalt absorbs sunlight by day and radiates it at night, so cities stay several degrees warmer than the countryside.
Practical fixes that work
- Cool roofs and pavements that reflect sunlight.
- Urban tree canopies that shade and cool the air.
- Pocket parks and green corridors that give neighbourhoods relief.
The encouraging part is that heat-resilient design also makes cities more pleasant. The century ahead will be hotter — but places that plan for it will be far more liveable.
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