Designing for Urban Green Infrastructure: Mitigating Heat Islands and Enhancing Well-Being
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 905
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Heat waves are becoming more frequent, prolonged, and intense in major U.S. cities and around the world. Since the 1960s, their frequency has tripled, and the average heat wave now lasts longer and exceeds local extreme heat thresholds by approximately 1.4 °C. Additionally, the heat wave season has lengthened by over 40 days, amplifying environmental, economic, and public health risks. Urban heat-related mortality is an increasingly urgent concern, especially in large metropolitan areas where exposure to extreme heat and vulnerability to its effects are unevenly distributed. The populations at highest risk—such as older adults, people with pre-existing health conditions, and socially disadvantaged communities—are disproportionately impacted. Urban heat islands (UHIs)—areas in cities that are significantly warmer than surrounding regions—amplify heat exposure risks. Other contributing factors like lower socio-economic status, limited access to green spaces, and inadequate healthcare further elevate the risks of heat-related illness and death. By integrating green and blue infrastructure into the built environment, encouraging the use of green roofs, sustaining and growing urban tree cover, and implementing urban design strategies that optimize airflow and natural ventilation, cities can reduce the urban heat island (UHI) effect, improve thermal comfort for pedestrians, mitigate air quality impacts, and promote sustainability while enhancing the overall quality of life for urban residents.
This Special Issue aims to advance the current literature by offering an integrated perspective on the connections between climate change, public health, urban ecosystems, green and gray infrastructure design practices, and heat mitigation and adaptation strategies—areas often studied in isolation. By drawing on diverse disciplines and perspectives, it will present a comprehensive and coordinated approach to sustainable and resilient urban heat management. This Special Issue will bridge theory and practice, showcasing actionable insights and innovative research that address mounting challenges related to rising temperatures. Ultimately, it will serve as a valuable resource for advancing sustainability, adressing the impacts of climate change, and building community resilience to extreme heat events.
This Special Issue will span a range of topics, including—but not limited to—the following:
- Urban heat islands (UHIs);
- Temperature extremes and urban heat stress;
- The socio-economic impacts of heatwaves;
- The impact of heatwaves on ambient ozone and particulate matter concentrations;
- Heat mitigation and adaptation strategies;
- Resilience to extreme temperatures;
- Urban greenery;
- Green infrastructure;
- Urban blue spaces;
- Urban form, urban design, and urban ventilation;
- Addressing heatwaves and public health impacts through heatproof urban design solutions.
Prof. Dr. Diana Mitsova
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- urban heat islands (UHIs)
- heat mitigation and adaptation strategies
- resilience to extreme temperatures
- urban greenery
- green infrastructure
- urban blue space
- urban design
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