The increasing frequency of extreme hot weather in the UK and Europe due to climate change, is impacting agriculture, infrastructure, wildlife, and human health. Heatwaves particularly affect vulnerable groups and are linked to reduced productivity and increased aggressive behaviour.

Debbie Bartlett, Professor of Environmental Conservation, at University of Greenwich, tells how she participated cool towns project, collaborating across Europe to develop heat resilience strategies for cities. They created an urban heat atlas to identify areas prone to heat stress and mapped vulnerable locations like transport hubs and school playgrounds. Using mobile weather stations, they measured physiological equivalent temperature to evaluate interventions.

The study identified five scalable solutions to mitigate heat impacts: shade from trees or textile structures, water features like fountains for cooling through evaporation, special paving that reduces heat absorption and prevents flooding, green walls that insulate buildings and enhance biodiversity, and comprehensive urban planning incorporating green-blue infrastructure. Despite benefits, implementing these strategies faces challenges such as initial costs, maintenance, and public safety. 

The cool towns project offers a practical roadmap for cities to develop heat-resilient strategies, aiding in climate adaptation and achieving net-zero targets.