Climate scientists found that the potentially dangerous 40C temperatures recorded in the UK in summer 2022 were made 10 times more likely by climate change, and the Met Office has predicted that 40C temperatures could become average summer temperatures by 2035. The most effective way to reduce this fast-rising risk is through climate change mitigation (by reducing greenhouse gas emissions), but adaptation and resilience-building measures are also needed to prepare for heatwaves and minimise the heat-related damage now.
Read or listen to inspiring examples of communities who are already preparing for heatwaves, or jump ahead to some actions you can take including urban tree planting, water conservation and heat proofing so you can do something bigger.
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Urban tree planting and much more
Liverpool’s Urban GreenUP programme
Densely-populated city areas can be up to 12C warmer than the surrounding countryside, a localised temperature rise known as the ‘urban heat island effect’. This effect can be reduced by urban greening; replacing grey infrastructure with roofs and walls covered in plants, street trees and small neighbourhood parks for example. Urban GreenUP is an urban greening programme in Liverpool – involving a collaboration between Liverpool City Council, the Mersey Forest and the University of Liverpool – that’s making a step change in the quantity and quality of green infrastructure across the city, the wider city region and Mersey Forest. Part funded by the EU, Liverpool is one of the ‘front runner’ cities in this programme for Europe.
Green spaces in urban places
A host of different measures have been implemented which, in combination, are re-naturing the city landscape. Initiatives have included planting living green walls; floating ecosystem islands in Liverpool docks; and creating green corridors, pollinator parks and pop-up city centre forests. Many of the trees and plants selected are species that transpire at high rates so that the city can take maximum advantage of their cooling effect. The measures in Liverpool have replication potential in many other cities around the country, and one of the most exciting aspects of this programme is how it can resolve the paradox of equating growing urban populations with the need to reduce our pressure on nature.
Multiple benefits of nature-based solutions
In addition to reducing heating effects locally, urban greening has other benefits. Urban trees remove gaseous air pollutants by uptake through their leaves as well as by intercepting airborne particles, improving local air quality. Intercepting heavy rainfall by trees, other vegetation and permeable soils in urban areas can be critical in reducing the pressure on drainage systems and lowering the risk of surface water flooding. Green spaces not only increase urban biodiversity, providing animals and other plants with a favourable habitat, but can also be thought of as public health infrastructure as they deliver measurable mental and physical health benefits to concrete-fatigued city residents.
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Inspiration listen
Do Something Bigger
What would inspire you to do something bigger for climate and nature? In this, the first episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast series, Do Something Bigger, we introduce our year-long campaign: 25…
Do something bigger
Whilst the focus of extreme heat on our health and on the most vulnerable is understandable, given the significant number of excess deaths linked to heatwaves (especially compared to flood risk events), health is only one aspect that’s impacted by extreme heat. We can also do bigger things within our built environment and with our water usage, to prepare for heatwaves.
Heat proof our buildings
Heat proofing our homes and buildings is vital because we spend most of our time in them. Hospitals and care homes are especially important, as this is where the most vulnerable groups are – elderly people and those already unwell. Building guidance currently focuses on the need to keep homes warm in cold winters; we also need to consider natural ventilation to keep homes from overheating in hot summers. Due to climate change and heatwaves, perhaps it’s time to consider a ‘cool home’ allowance to help the most vulnerable people through periods of extreme heat, enabling them to rent portable air-conditioning units and pay to run them. However, air-conditioning is not the long-term answer and we need new networks between communities, policy makers and designers to influence bigger change, such as Shade The UK.
Plant more urban trees
Whilst 9 out of 10 adults in the UK agree that trees are important to help cool our towns and cities, the vast majority don’t know or underestimate the maximum cooling effect of urban trees – which can be up to 8C degrees Celsius (according to Forest Research). Recognising this direct impact in making summer heat more tolerable, trees are clearly an important part of the solution. Trees for Cities is a UK charity that can help local communities and councils cultivate lasting improvements to neighbourhoods by planting more trees, shrubs and even urban forests.
Water conservation
Periods of very dry weather and extreme heat in the UK place additional pressure on water companies to meet demand. There are a number of ways to conserve water that businesses and households can make, including fixing leaks, rainwater harvesting, installing water-efficient appliances and making good use of “greywater” (the relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines). Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of water, with big opportunities to use water wisely with better agricultural techniques for conserving water – from more efficient irrigation and scheduling to dry farming and cultivating crops resistant to drought.
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