How to make a city climate-proof

Abstract

The urban heat island is especially challenging in the Netherlands and other northern European countries, which are experiencing higher temperatures due to climate change. This chapter explores the effects of climate change for the urban environment and provides tools for urban design and strategies for implementation. It gives an introduction of the problem field and a climate change effect, and presents a review of climate adaptation measures. Researchers at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands led by Laura Kleerekoper explore implementation strategies for Dutch cities that are applicable in similar climate zones. The strategies are grouped into four broad categories: vegetation, water, built form, and materials. Influencing the built form of a city from a policy standpoint is rather difficult and more using climatic parameters. The chapter discusses a case study to apply these implementation strategies to redesign an existing neighbourhood in Utrecht that is vulnerable to higher temperatures.