Search Results (87)

This research presents a multi-scale framework designed for assessing the energy performance and climate vulnerability of three existing residential buildings in a small Central Italian municipality. By integrating dynamic energy simulations with high-resolution climate projections, the study investigated how the selected building typologies responded to changing environmental conditions. Validation against Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) confirmed the framework’s robustness in accurately capturing energy consumption patterns and assessing retrofit potential. The results revealed a general reduction in heating demand accompanied by an increase in cooling requirements under future climate scenarios, with notable differences across building types. The reinforced concrete building showed greater sensitivity to rising temperatures, particularly in cooling demand, likely due to its lower thermal inertia. In contrast, masonry buildings achieved more substantial energy savings following retrofit interventions, reflecting their initially poorer thermal performance and outdated systems. Retrofit measures yielded significant energy reductions, especially in older masonry structures, with savings reaching up to 44%, underscoring the necessity of customised retrofit strategies. The validated methodology supports future wider applicability in regional energy planning and aligns with integrated initiatives aimed at balancing climate adaptation and cultural heritage preservation. Full article

Urban green spaces (UGS) supply a wide range of ecosystem services (ESs), which are key to mitigation and adaptation to climate changes. In this study, we focus on two ESs, i.e., greenhouse gas sequestration by terrestrial ecosystems and mitigating the heat island effect through vegetation, as defined by the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services. The purpose is to support municipalities with characteristics similar to those of the municipality investigated in this study with a rough assessment of ESs through freely available data. The ES delivery capacity assessment relies on the adoption of two indicators: (i) increased carbon storage in forests and (ii) the Heat Island Mitigation Index (HIMI). We applied the method to the UGS of the municipality of Sassari (Italy) and found that the potential amount of carbon storage is 42,052.7 t, while the value of HIMI provided by the green spaces in the homogeneous territorial areas is 67.73%. The methodological approach adopted in this study is potentially applicable in Italian as well as Mediterranean small to medium municipalities to integrate the quantitative assessment of ESs in local planning tools. The novelty of this study lies in the applied practical approach, which is implementable by public bodies lacking data and resources, to assessing prima facie the need for operational climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Full article

Climate adaptation in urban environments is often constrained by rigid institutional rules and fragmented governance, which limit inclusive and context-specific planning of public spaces such as schoolyards. This study addresses this challenge by examining how collaborative planning can transform schoolyards, from asphalt-dominated, monofunctional spaces into green, climate-resilient community assets. The research employed the Institutional Analysis and Development framework within a qualitative case study design. Two public schools in the San Cristóbal de los Ángeles neighbourhood of Madrid served as case studies, with data collected through document analysis, participant observation, and interviews with municipal officials, urban planners, educators, and community members. Results indicate that the collaborative planning process reshaped rules in use, expanded the network of actors, and transformed decision-making processes. Existing rules were flexibly reinterpreted to allow new uses of space. Children, teachers, and residents became co-producers of the public space, expanding the governance network, where new deliberative practices emerged that improved coordination across people and organisations. These institutional changes occurred without formal regulatory reform, but with the reinterpretation of the game’s rules by each organisation. Thus, schoolyards can serve as laboratories for institutional innovation and participatory climate adaptation, demonstrating how urban experiments have the potential to catalyse not only physical transformations but also transformations in urban management. Full article

Extreme weather events and rising temperatures pose significant risks, not only in urban areas but also in metropolitan forests, that affect the well-being of the people who visit them. City forests are considered one of the best bets for mitigating high temperatures within civic areas. Such areas modulate microclimates in contemporary cities, offering environmental, social, and economic advantages. Therefore, comprehending the intricate relationships between municipal forests and the climatic changes of various destinations is crucial for attaining healthier and more sustainable city environments for people. In this research, the thermal comfort index (Modified Temperature–Humidity Index (MTHI)) has been analysed using Landsat images of six urban forests in London during July 2022, when the area first experienced record-breaking temperatures of over 40 °C. Our results show a significant growth in the MTHI that goes from 2.5 (slightly hot) under normal conditions to 3.4 (hot) during the heat wave period. This situation intensifies the environmental discomfort for visitors and highlights the necessity to enhance their adaptability to future temperature increases. In turn, it was found that the places most affected by heat waves are those that have grass cover or that have small associated buildings. Conversely, forested regions or those with lakes and/or ponds exhibit lower temperatures, which results in enhanced resilience. These findings are noteworthy in their concentration on one of the UK’s most severe heat waves and illustrate the efficacy of integrating spectral measurements with statistical analyses to formulate customized regional initiatives. Therefore, the results reported will allow the implementation of new planning and adaptation policies such as incorporating thermal comfort into planning processes, improving green and blue amenities, increasing tree densities that are resilient to rising temperatures, and increasing environmental comfort conditions in metropolitan forests. Finally, the applicability of this approach in similar urban contexts is highlighted. Full article

Buildings account for 39% of global carbon emissions, making the construction sector a pivotal contributor to climate change. In ecologically fragile plateau regions, the tension between urban development and environmental sustainability poses a significant challenge. This study examines the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing mechanisms of building carbon emissions (BCEs) in plateau cities using an empirical analysis of 13-year panel data (2010–2022) from two municipalities and six prefectures in Qinghai Province, China. By employing the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model, we comprehensively assess drivers across four dimensions: socioeconomic structure, demographic and urban environmental factors, urban expansion patterns, and climatic topographic attributes. Key findings include: (1) The XGBoost model exhibits robust predictive performance (R² > 0.9, MSE < 0.1, RMSE < 0.3), validating its effectiveness for plateau urban systems. (2) Socioeconomic structure and urban expansion characteristics significantly positively influence building carbon emissions, with GDP, per capita GDP, and built-up areas being particularly influential. (3) The interaction between climate and terrain increases carbon emissions in urban buildings. (4) While socioeconomic structure is a common factor affecting BCEs across different types of plateau urban buildings, other factors, such as urban population density, the housing construction area, and the urban shape index, exhibit variability. These insights inform policy recommendations for cross-regional carbon flow balancing and adaptive low-carbon planning strategies tailored to plateau ecosystems. Full article

Accurate diagnostics of crop yields are essential for climate-resilient agricultural planning; however, conventional datasets often conflate environmental covariates during model training. Here, we present HHHWheatYield1km, a 1 km resolution winter wheat yield dataset for China’s Huang-Huai-Hai Plain spanning 2000–2019. By integrating climate-independent multi-source remote sensing metrics with a Random Forest model, calibrated against municipal statistical yearbooks, the dataset exhibits strong agreement with county-level records (R = 0.90, RMSE = 542.47 kg/ha, MRE = 9.09%), ensuring independence from climatic influences for robust driver analysis. Using Geodetector, we reveal pronounced spatial heterogeneity in climate–yield interactions, highlighting distinct regional disparities: precipitation variability exerts the strongest constraints on yields in Henan and Anhui, whereas Shandong and Jiangsu exhibit weaker climatic dependencies. In Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, March temperature emerges as a critical determinant of yield variability. These findings underscore the need for tailored adaptation strategies, such as enhancing water-use efficiency in inland provinces and optimizing agronomic practices in coastal regions. With its dual ability to resolve pixel-scale yield dynamics and disentangle climatic drivers, HHHWheatYield1km represents a resource for precision agriculture and evidence-based policymaking in the face of a changing climate. Full article

This study aims to assess how the supply of straw feed in China has changed over time and how this affects cattle and sheep farming. This paper takes the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) in China as basic units. Based on the grass-to-grain ratios of different crops, the analysis includes estimating the theoretical supply of straw feed, evaluating its livestock carrying capacity, and examining the spatial distribution of supply and demand. From 1978 to 2023, the adaptability of the supply and demand of crop straws has shown a significant upward trend, but the overall adaptability is still low. Differences in the spatial layout of agriculture and animal husbandry have led to the emergence of advantageous areas for the allocation of the supply and demand of straw feeds, which are shifting from the east to the west and from the south to the north and concentrating from the planting areas to the livestock breeding areas. This study finds that climate warming has shifted the centroid of theoretical straw supply northward, resulting in higher straw–livestock compatibility in agriculturally developed regions but lower compatibility in unbalanced agro-pastoral zones, primarily due to high transport costs for straw and roughage, which constrain sustainable agro-pastoral circular development. Therefore, it is recommended that all countries (regions) actively implement the “Straw-to-Meat” policy in agriculturally advanced zones, while proactively adapting to climate warming by optimizing agro-pastoral spatial planning and exploring alternatives to roughage or expanding feed grain cultivation. Full article

Cities are undergoing rapid transformations due to global trends such as population aging, climate change, and increasing social diversity. In order to address these challenges, urban planning must adopt regenerative approaches that enhance subjective well-being by fostering meaningful relationships between people and their surroundings. Streetscapes, which serve as accessible urban landscapes, are important, especially for older adults, who depend on their local environment due to mobility constraints. This study examines the composition of streetscapes and the subjective well-being of older adults in a Japanese municipality. Using streetscape imagery and semantic segmentation, we quantified landscape elements—including vegetation, sky, roads, and buildings—within various walking distances from participants’ residences. Subjective well-being was measured using an 11-point Likert scale and analyzed by ordinal logistic regression. The results revealed that specific streetscape elements significantly impacted subjective well-being differently across spatial thresholds, showing that micro-scale urban landscapes are substantially important in promoting well-being among older adults. This study provides evidence-based insights for adaptive, inclusive, and regenerative urban planning strategies that promote the well-being of diverse demographic groups. Full article

Cities are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, prompting many municipalities to adopt Municipal Strategic Plans for the Adaptation to Climate Change (MSPACC). The success of these plans depends on coordinated efforts, particularly from Municipal Civil Protection Services (MCPS), which play a key role in climate adaptation. To assess their involvement, a survey of MCPS coordinators was conducted, yielding 279 responses (90.6% of all Portuguese MCPS). Statistical analysis revealed that 53.4% were familiar with adaptation strategies, with 59.1% identifying MSPACC development and implementation as a key approach. Additionally, 63.4% acknowledged that climate risks were anticipated in their Municipal Civil Protection Emergency Plans (MCPEP). However, findings highlighted a critical misalignment between MSPACC and MCPEP, potentially weakening both adaptation and mitigation efforts. Bridging this gap through integrated planning and collaboration is essential to strengthening municipal resilience and safeguarding communities. Full article

Municipalities face increasing vulnerability to climate-related risks, giving rise to a set of different challenges and problems, ultimately threatening long-term sustainability. Addressing these challenges requires proactive adaptation measures, innovative solutions, and stakeholder engagement to enhance climate resilience at the municipal level. This study adapts the Prospective Rapid Impact Assessment (PRIA) approach for planning critical climate change actions, promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Using a case study in Tauragė, Lithuania, the study explores the PRIA method’s application in municipal planning. Various stakeholders and experts participated in testing the method, emphasising the need for inclusive governance in sustainable urban development. The research identifies key climate challenges and corresponding adaptation actions across three tiers: individual (person), household, and municipal levels, underscoring a multi-scale approach to sustainability. A five-point Likert scale was used to evaluate challenges, with the five most significant ones highlighted for each tier. A comprehensive list of sustainability-driven climate actions was compiled, and experts prioritised the most impactful and feasible strategies. These recommendations were presented to Tauragė’s decision-makers to inform the development or revision of the municipal Action Plan, ensuring that climate resilience, resource efficiency, and social equity are embedded in local policies. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of the PRIA method and the practical utility of the InTo tool in assessing climate actions and identifying priority sustainability measures. By integrating sustainability considerations into municipal strategic planning, the findings underscore the necessity of proactive, forward-thinking approaches to safeguard communities and ecosystems against climate change. The study results confirm that the PRIA method can be successfully utilised as a robust framework for regional and municipal climate change action planning. It facilitates the identification of key issues, the prioritisation of actions, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of interdependencies within the climate change action planning process. This approach ensures that actions are well-founded, specifically tailored to the needs of various community levels, and account for the interdependencies among different climate change mitigation and adaptation options. Full article

The transition to renewable energy is crucial for combating climate change but faces challenges like local socio-environmental impacts and territorial conflicts. Scientific research on mapping renewable energy suitability areas and identifying socio-culturally and environmentally sensitive zones is essential to guide project siting appropriately. This study proposes a replicable methodology to analyze scenarios and compare alternatives for agrivoltaics plant siting, using the province of Viterbo, Italy, as a case study. The methodology employs spatial data, thematic maps, and multi-criteria analysis in open-source GIS software to identify suitable solar belts, map environmental sensitivity through 14 criteria, and assess visual sensitivity based on proximity to landscape elements. The resulting workflow and customizable QGIS models provide a comprehensive, transparent decision-support tool to optimize agrivoltaics deployment while minimizing impacts and enhancing acceptance. Mapping multi-factor sensitivity offers crucial insights for sustainable planning and design. The Viterbo case study illustrates the ‘conflict between green alternatives’ where renewable energy development potential clashes with environmental and landscape protection needs. The analysis reveals significant spatial variability in suitability and sensitivity among the province’s municipalities. The study highlights the importance of a nuanced approach to assessing suitability, moving beyond simple binary classification, and provides a tool adaptable to different regulations and contexts. Full article

Climate crisis is well evidenced with important consequences at the local scale. Often, climate risk assessment and adaptation measures at the national or regional level do not account for local climate impacts and cross-sectoral challenges. This paper presents the findings of a year-long study involving the local community of the Municipality of Sitia in Crete (Greece) in climate change risk assessment and adaptation policymaking. Three coherent workshops produced a citizen-based risk assessment and revealed stakeholders’ perceptions about existing policies from the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan of Crete (RCCAPC), addressing climate change impacts on vulnerable economic sectors (agriculture, water, biodiversity, tourism), their effectiveness or lack thereof. It also looks at their ability to suggest solutions regarding the effects of climate change. The study emphasizes how climate hazards affect Sitia’s social elements and, in order to find any differences, reported perceptions were compared with the RCCAPC. By doing so, the research breaks new ground in the participatory formulation of environmental policies that are well-informed, place-based, and climate-sensitive, reflecting a dynamic synthesis of public engagement, scientific research, and practical policy implementation. Full article

Community engagement in climate action and adaptation planning is an essential prerequisite for overcoming existing and projected environmental injustices associated with the negative impacts of climate change. The diversity and inclusion of stakeholders are crucial for addressing equity in both the development and implementation of local climate plans. Our study attempts to evaluate and compare consideration of equity in climate action and climate adaptation plans of Michigan cities and its association with the diversity of stakeholders involved in the planning process. Data analysis is based on the content of eight municipal climate action and/or climate adaptation plans, related documents, and interviews with city planners along with community activists. Data derived from the climate action and adaptation plans were also compared to the strategies outlined in the Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu, which integrates climate science and indigenous knowledge. The study concludes that municipalities that engage more diverse groups of stakeholders appear to be more attentive to social equity and more likely to offer specific climate action and adaptation measures focusing on vulnerable groups. The integration of indigenous knowledge could provide valuable insights for municipalities through collaboration with tribal communities and climate adaptation experts. Full article

The transition towards nature-based cities has increasingly become a central focus in political–environmental agendas and urban design practices, aiming to enhance climate adaptation, urban biodiversity, spatial equilibrium, and social well-being as part of the ongoing socio-ecological urban transition process. Climate adaptation in cities is a complex problem and one of the main collective challenges for society, but the relationships between city managers and citizens as to urban green care still face many challenges. Parks design guided by technical-expert and globalised criteria; inflexibility from bureaucratic inertia; and citizens’ demands to participate in the urban green transition, sometimes without the necessary knowledge or time, are some of the challenges that require further research. In this study, we examine four long-lasting approaches to green-space management in four cities in the Netherlands, ranging from municipality-driven to community-driven management forms, and encompassing diverse spatial configurations of greenery within the urban fabric. Utilising the theoretical lens of the Social–Ecological Systems Framework, we employ a multiple-case-study approach and ethnographic fieldwork analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the norms, collective-choice rules, and social conventions embodied in each urban green management arrangement. The purpose of this research is applied, that is, to provide urban managers and decision-makers with a deeper understanding of drivers to promote effective collaborative management approaches, focusing on specific organisational rules that may contribute to more sustained planning and maintenance pathways for urban green spaces, regardless of changes in political leadership or significant external funding sources. The results of the investigated cases show that long-lasting collaborative management of forests and parks has established a set of collective-choice rules for resource transfer between municipalities and citizens, including non-monetary resources (such as pruning-training courses or guided tours that attract tourists and researchers). Additionally, these arrangements have been favoured by the existence of legal norms that enable co-ownership of the land, and monitoring and sanctioning mechanisms that offer a slightly different interpretation from the evidence identified so far in the scientific literature on collective resource management and organisational studies. Full article

Climate change and increasing extreme temperatures present unique challenges to persons experiencing homelessness (PEH), including heightened physical and psychological harm. While green and urban infrastructure has emerged as one possible mitigation strategy, homeless populations are rarely included in municipal disaster planning or infrastructure research. This study used in-depth interviews with PEH (N = 42) during the summers of 2022 and 2023. Questions were designed around phenomenological methods to explore the individuals’ firsthand descriptions of the lived experience of coping during extreme temperatures within a mid-size city in the Southeastern United States. Our findings highlight how social exclusion within the built environment reduces PEH’s adaptive capacity and increases the physical and psychological risks of extreme temperatures, namely through limiting and policing scarce resources and restricting the mobility of PEH. In contrast, public transit provided relief from extreme temperatures. Implications from our findings include the need for attention on inclusive green urban infrastructure, including increased placement and access to shade, public water, mixed-use daytime sheltering models, and the installation of lockers to increase capacity to maintain supplies and gear necessary for enduring extreme temperatures. Findings also highlight the challenges of designing inclusive green infrastructure and the importance of de-stigmatizing homelessness and building more housing and income support to increase adaptive capacity for an entire community in the context of a rapidly warming climate. Full article