Green and blue spaces

Contribution to reducing cooling demand and increasing resilience in cities. An analysis of urban contexts in fast-developing countries 

Energy efficiency and nature‐based solutions can help cities combat excessive heat amid rising temperatures. Energy efficiency mitigates excessive heat, whereas nature‐based solutions adapt and withstand it. Better construction, building energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation policy, planning, and technology can help cities cope with high heat. Reduced energy consumption reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Nature‐based solutions, such as green roofs, green walls, urban forests, and blue zones, provide several benefits, including local temperature management. Nature‐based solutions can keep cities cool and liveable.

This study examines how energy efficiency and nature‐based solutions could address high heat in global south cities. It will also assess important contributing variables, impediments, and potential to increase synergy between various mitigation and adaptation methods and explores business models to better integrate these current technologies for quick implementation.

City case studies of the effects of blue and green spaces on urban heat island effect (Rajkot and Mombasa) also help assess the necessary policy and planning conditions to improve opportunities to adopt energy efficiency and nature‐based solutions to extreme heat situations. 

Download Analysis
Authors:Gabriela Prata Dias, Talat Munchi
Published year:2023
Content type:Paper
File: Download
Publisher:UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre
No. of pages:43