The Erasmus+ HEATWAVES project, a collaborative effort co-funded by the European Commission, and aimed at revolutionising climate education, reveals pivotal insights from a technical research endeavour focused on identifying urban characteristics vulnerable to heatwaves and proposing innovative solutions for urban heat mitigation.
The HEATWAVES consortium, comprising partners from Belgium, Greece, Italy, and Romania, spearheaded an extensive literature review to unearth factors exacerbating heatwave impacts and explore novel strategies for combatting urban heat islands. The findings offer a comprehensive inventory of urban vulnerabilities and potential pathways for effective intervention.
The research underscores the significance of ventilation, shading, and surface properties in mitigating heatwave effects within urban environments. It identifies urban planning, architectural design standards, and green, blue, and grey infrastructures as pivotal elements in bolstering urban resilience to heatwaves.
In addition to technical findings, the research offers critical reflections on the current state of knowledge, highlighting the fragmented nature of existing research and advocating for a more holistic and integrated approach to urban heat mitigation. It emphasizes the importance of considering economic, social, and political factors in crafting comprehensive heatwave resilience strategies.
The HEATWAVES project is committed to leveraging these insights to inform the development of innovative solutions and policies aimed at fostering resilient cities and communities in the face of escalating climate challenges.
To know more about our key findings, check the link
https://heatwaves-project.eu/results/Technical.pdf
For more information about the HEATWAVES project and its outcomes, please visit the official channels or contact the consortium.
