UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)’s Post

Currently, more than 56% of the global population resides in urban areas. This rapid urbanization has brought immense progress in terms of infrastructure, lifestyle, and economic development. However, there’s a significant downside to this trend. Cities contribute approximately 70% of global carbon emissions. 🌿🚗 Urban areas, with their high concentration of industries, transportation networks, and energy demands, have become the epicenter of climate challenges. While cities are hubs for innovation and growth, they are also the main drivers of air pollution, waste, and unsustainable energy consumption. The increasing demand for housing, infrastructure, and services continues to strain natural resources, leading to environmental degradation. It’s crucial now, more than ever, to embrace sustainable urban development 🌱. This includes improving energy efficiency in buildings, promoting the use of clean energy sources like solar and wind ☀️🌬️, enhancing public transportation systems 🚌, and integrating green spaces into city planning. We can reduce urban carbon footprints by adopting eco-friendly technologies and policies that ensure the well-being of both the planet and its people. Every small step counts, and together, we can build cities that are not only thriving but also sustainable for future generations 🌿🏙️. Let’s rise to the challenge! #niqsf #NIQSFoundation #wednesdayfact #SustainableCities #Urbanization #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction

Heat Waves the "Silent Killer" in the Global Cities. But, the impact of Heat Waves is not the same in the Core and the periphery of the city, due the effect of Urban Heat Island (UHI). The UHI is a local effect in urban areas that occurs mainly due to urban features like concretization, heat-trapping infrastructures, limited green spaces, and other anthropogenic heat releases. As a result, today, not only the cities but also a section of the urban population are becoming vulnerable. In this context, The Cool Coalition and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) at UNAE-6 hold importance as they discusses the challenges and opportunities to address UHIE and the adoption of passive cooling solutions for buildings in cities from the policy, financial, and technological perspectives drawing on best practices. #UHIE #sustainablecities #sustainablecooling #ghgemissions India Cooling Coalition (ICC) Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation The Infravision Foundation TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute Arvind Pandey

Urban heat is an intensifying challenge for cities. As climate change impacts unfold, cities are bearing the disproportionate impacts of the warming planet. And within cities, the effects of extreme heat vary widely and along socioeconomic lines. In more affluent communities, tree cover and more resilient building construction shield residents from the worst impacts, but in more economically vulnerable communities and informal settlements, lack of urban greenspaces and inadequate infrastructure, like steel roofs, magnify the impacts of heat. The challenges are great, but cities are not powerless in the face of intensifying heat. With equity at the center, cities can take proactive steps now to mitigate the worst impacts of heat and support health and wellbeing for their residents. On August 13, join a dynamic webinar led by UrbanShift, World Resources Institute, and UN Environment Programme’s Cities Unit and Cool Coalition on how cities can take action against extreme heat. We’ll dive into data-informed approaches to assessing heat risk, and the range of innovative strategies and solutions that cities can employ to mitigate extreme heat, from green infrastructure to more efficient buildings to community-scale design. Want to learn how to cool down our cities? Don’t miss this insightful webinar! Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3SgSUYM

🌆 Urban areas are sizzling, and it's not just about engineering and climate anymore! Solving the urban heat challenge requires a 360-degree perspective, factoring in social and economic dimensions. 🌡️🏙️ 📊 In a recent study, they synthesized cutting-edge heat mitigation technologies and introduced the 'ITE index' framework. This index evaluates Investment (💰), Time for implementation (⏳), and Effectiveness (📈) of various heat mitigation measures. 🌿🏗️ They assessed 247 multi-measure-centric solution sets, considering different urban scales, investment levels, and local climate zones. The top 50 sets consistently include 4-7 measures, with thermally efficient buildings and high-efficiency indoor cooling as recurrent champions. 🌍 Urban heat is a complex issue affected by population growth, climate change, urban densification, and more. The ITE index offers a holistic decision-making approach, integrating technical, economic, social, and environmental factors. 🏢🤝 Let's remember that a single mitigation measure may not be enough, given the diverse urban landscape. Balancing cost and effectiveness is key to creating tailored solutions. 🙌 This framework empowers decision-makers worldwide to combat urban heat effectively. Let's work together to create cooler, more sustainable cities! 🏙️❄️ Read more here: https://buff.ly/46k1bR3 #UrbanHeat #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Innovation #UrbanPlanning

Urban heat is an intensifying challenge for cities. As climate change impacts unfold, cities are bearing the disproportionate impacts of the warming planet. And within cities, the effects of extreme heat vary widely and along socioeconomic lines. In more affluent communities, tree cover and more resilient building construction shield residents from the worst impacts, but in more economically vulnerable communities and informal settlements, lack of urban greenspaces and inadequate infrastructure, like steel roofs, magnify the impacts of heat. The challenges are great, but cities are not powerless in the face of intensifying heat. With equity at the center, cities can take proactive steps now to mitigate the worst impacts of heat and support health and wellbeing for their residents. On August 13, join a dynamic webinar led by UrbanShift, World Resources Institute, and UN Environment Programme’s Cities Unit and Cool Coalition on how cities can take action against extreme heat. We’ll dive into data-informed approaches to assessing heat risk, and the range of innovative strategies and solutions that cities can employ to mitigate extreme heat, from green infrastructure to more efficient buildings to community-scale design. Want to learn how to cool down our cities? Don’t miss this insightful webinar! Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3SgSUYM

Things are heating up – and we aren’t just referring to that hot new brunch spot everyone’s talking about. Extreme heat events are surging, and our cities are seeing some of the worst impacts. The 'urban heat island effect' is amplifying the impacts of heat waves and wreaking havoc on the built environment and the health of city dwellers. Our industry plays a crucial role in confronting these challenges. Learn how we're adopting adaptive mitigation, reuse, and retrofit strategies to make our cities resilient. #UrbanHeatIsland #SustainableDesign #AY2024DriversOfChange #AYdifference

Europe is headed for another scorching summer. In our latest Urban Insight study, Sweco's experts analyse the urgent need for heatwave mitigation and resilience in 24 European cities. Nature-based solutions, digital innovation, green-blue infrastructure and high-performing buildings are some of the solutions needed to enhance resilience in cities. #SwecoGroup #ClimateAdaptation #UrbanResilience

How can cities protect inhabitants from the increasing number of heatwaves? Sweco’s analysis of 24 European cities highlights the urgent need for heat wave mitigation and resilience.  Europe, the continent where warming is accelerating at the most alarming rate, faces a critical challenge: urban heatwave adaptation. A recent Sweco study shows that adaptation policies are lagging, especially when it comes to safeguarding vulnerable populations. During the scorching summer of 2022, more than 61,000 lives were lost due to record-breaking heatwaves. In 2023, there was a record number of days with “extreme heat stress.” The risks extend beyond public health and have an impact on infrastructure and economic productivity. There is a need to take action in order to enhance resilience in cities. This can be achieved through digital innovation, nature-based solutions, green-blue infrastructure and through designing high-performing buildings. Read the full report here:  https://lnkd.in/gX9iBSk5    #ClimateResilience #UrbanHeat #ClimateAction #SwecoGroup #UrbanInsight  

Cities are experiencing temperature rise at twice the global average rate due to climate change and the urban heat island effect. To address this, passive cooling solutions are fundamental. Join the Cool Coalition and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) next week at UNEA6 to learn how to address urban heat islands with passive cooling. 📅 Feb 27 🕛 TBC 🔗 https://lnkd.in/epQeA7tC #Cities #SustainableCooling #PassiveCooling #UrbanHeat #UrbanHeatIslands #ExtremeHeat #CoolCities #UrbanCooling #ClimateAction #ClimateResilience #ClimateMitigation #ResilientCities #UNEA6

#UrbanHeat is an intensifying challenge for cities. As climate change worsens, cities are bearing the disproportionate impacts of the warming planet. And within cities, the effects of extreme heat vary widely and along socioeconomic lines. More economically vulnerable communities and informal settlements often lack of urban greenspaces and have inadequate infrastructure, like steel roofs, that magnify the impacts of heat. Cities are not powerless in the face of intensifying heat. With equity at the center, cities can take proactive steps now to mitigate the worst impacts of heat and support health and wellbeing for their residents.      Tomorrow, join a dynamic webinar led by UrbanShift, World Resources Institute, UN Environment Programme, and Cool Coalition on how cities can take action against extreme heat. We’ll dive into data-informed approaches to assessing heat risk, and the range of innovative strategies and solutions that cities can employ to mitigate extreme heat, from green infrastructure to more efficient buildings to community-scale design.     Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3SgSUYM