Strategies to Combat Extreme Heat

What You'll Learn

  • Understand the implications of urban heat island and the factors that contribute to it in urban areas.
  • Learn design strategies through case studies from different climatic regions like New York, Copenhagen, and Abu Dhabi.
  • Learn about innovative, evidence-based solutions from a design, ecological, and planning policy perspective.

More Course Details

Listen to an expert panel of designers, landscape architects, and policymakers share innovative, evidence-based strategies to reduce urban heat island (UHI), leading to improved health and wellness, mitigation of environmental impacts, comfortable public spaces, and more livable cities. Get a multi-perspective approach to mitigating UHI, considering the best design and planning resiliency initiatives from around the world —in both hot and cold climates. Learn the language and vocabulary related to this topic. Get inspired to create a plan of action in your own community. Panelists share global best practices that cities like New York, Copenhagen, and Abu Dhabi are already implementing to mitigate UHI and how these can be adapted to other American cities to inspire community action in vulnerable neighborhoods.

Urban heat islands disproportionately impact environmental justice communities suffering from cumulative impacts of environmental burdens. Poverty, race, social isolation, and personal mobility are leading predictors of mortality in the event of extreme urban heat. Explore the socioeconomic challenges of UHI and innovative mitigation strategies to build more livable cities.