Urban heat in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni: impacts and mitigation options

Based on insights from the monitoring and modelling exercises conducted in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, and considering existing local and international heat mitigation policy, concrete recommendations are formulated in this report to enhance the resilience of both metros to excessive heat.

Among these recommendations, the ‘greening of under-provisioned neighbourhoods’ is important, as is the recommendation to substantially enhance heat-health early warning and awareness plans, which is considered a very efficient measure in terms of its cost-benefit ratio. Further recommendations concern cooling strategies for low-cost dwellings and for public spaces; the development of community cool spaces (shelters); measures to combat heat-related occupational health issues and labour productivity loss; and measures to reduce building cooling demand. Finally, to be successful, mainstreaming these recommendations across all city policies is crucially important.