Swiss innovation is helping cities beat the heat, one microclimate at a time
This case study belongs to a compendium of good practices and success stories in disaster risk reduction shared during the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025). These stories reflect the real-world progress being made by governments, communities, and organizations around the world to reduce risk and build resilience.
As global temperatures continue to rise, cities are becoming more vulnerable to extreme heat. Switzerland is offering a new tool that can help urban planners better understand and respond to this growing threat.
Professor Reto Camponovo and his team at the Geneva Institute of Technology, Architecture and Landscape, also known as HEPIA have developed a mobile microclimate meter that makes this solution possible. Unlike typical thermometers, this device measures more than just air temperature. It captures the full thermal experience, reflecting what people actually feel when exposed to heat in an urban setting.
This cool Swiss innovation could help us manage urban heat microclimates
This innovation was showcased at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. The meter collects detailed environmental data, taking into account sunlight, wind, surface materials, and humidity. This helps create a more accurate picture of how different city areas will experience heat. The value of this tool lies in its ability to guide smarter urban planning. When city leaders understand how people physically experience heat in various environments, they can design targeted cooling strategies. These might include increasing shaded areas, using heat-resistant building materials, or expanding green spaces.
Urban heat tends to affect densely populated neighborhoods most severely, especially for vulnerable groups. The microclimate meter enables planning based on lived experiences rather than general statistics. This Swiss innovation brings together science, technology, and public service, a hopeful combination.
Source: As shared by Grey Nearing at the GP2025 Media Hub