Overheating of Cities: Magnitude, Characteristics, Impact, Mitigation and Adaptation, and Future Challenges

Jie Feng, Kai Gao, H. Khan, G. Ulpiani, K. Vasilakopoulou, G. Young Yun, M. Santamouris
Posted on: 12/08/2023 - Updated on: 12/08/2023

Posted by

CAKE Team

Published

Abstract

Urban overheating is the most documented phenomenon of climate change impacting humans. This article presents the most recent developments on the magnitude and characteristics of urban overheating and the potential synergies with global climatic change. It analyses the latest qualitative and quantitative data on the impact of higher urban temperatures on buildings’ energy supply and demand, heat-related mortality, morbidity and wellbeing, human productivity, survivability of low-income populations, and environmental quality of cities.

It describes the state of the art on the development of innovative mitigation materials, advanced urban greenery, heat dissipation, and evaporative techniques as the main mitigation and adaptation technologies to offset the impact of urban overheating. It also analyses the current knowledge on the impact of each mitigation technology on energy, health, environmental quality, urban economy, and survivability. Finally, this article presents the main future challenges related to urban overheating and proposes a specific research agenda to alleviate and counterbalance its impact on human life.

Citation

Jie Feng, Kai Gao, H. Khan, G. Ulpiani, K. Vasilakopoulou, G. Young Yun, M. Santamouris (2023). Overheating of Cities: Magnitude, Characteristics, Impact, Mitigation and Adaptation, and Future Challenges. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 48:651–79.

Similar Resources

Adaptation Phase
Planning
Implementation
Sharing Lessons
Sector Addressed
Disaster Risk Management
Policy
Public Health
Read more