Hot in the city. But it doesn't have to be - we have answers
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Thermal comfort indices, such as the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), go even further. They offer a more comprehensive measurement of heat by factoring in a wide range of environmental influences - not just temperature, humidity, wind and sunlight, but also reflected radiation and radiant heat from surfaces - to give a fuller picture of how people physically experience heat.
Cities like Los Angeles have started using this index to assess how shaded walking routes can reduce heat exposure for pedestrians, helping them decide where to expand tree cover and shade infrastructure.
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Using WRI’s Cities Indicators Dashboard, Freetown, Sierra Leone realised that 99% of the city’s built-up areas have low surface reflectivity - meaning they trap warmth and exacerbate the urban heat island effect.
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In Nairobi, the grassroots group SDI Kenya has been leading a community vulnerability mapping effort to work hand-in-hand with residents of informal settlements to understand their heat challenges.
Recognising the need for more nuanced data on heat stress in informal settlements, residents were invited to design and implement a heat-sensor programme to generate more localised data.
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