Piloting Nature-based Solutions for Urban Cooling | Overview
Eighty-three heat waves have been recorded since the beginning of this century. In 2020 alone, extreme temperature disasters resulted in 6,388 recorded deaths. While climate change is increasing temperatures globally, cities are at particularly high risk from excess heat. Cities are growing rapidly in areas and populations. For the first time in history, more than half the world’s population lives in cities, with 90 percent of urban growth occurring in the developing world. By 2050, two out of every three people will live in an urbanized area. Assuming current trends continue, the urban areas will increase in size by 80 percent between 2018 and 2030. Poor urban design and poor choice of materials create an environment where urban air temperatures are consistently higher than in nearby rural areas. This phenomenon is called the urban heat island (UHI) effect, and it has led urban temperatures to rise at twice the average global warming rate. This overview summarizes and highlights the experience gained through the project activities. It covers lessons learned and recommendations for city leaders and urban planners in integrating cooling strategies in urban spatial planning and design, developing regulatory frameworks, involving the private sector, and engaging the public. Annexes 2 to 4 include a brief description of the three pilots.
