A new World Bank report highlights the danger of extreme heat in East Asia’s cities due to climate change and the urban heat island effect.
Amid continuing urban growth and the accelerating effects of climate change, East Asian cities suffer from more extreme temperatures than surrounding rural areas – being up to 2 degrees Celsius hotter on average.
Key Takeaways
- East Asia’s cities are facing the threat of becoming unlivable due to extreme heat, exacerbated by the urban heat island effect.
- The UHI effect in East Asian cities leads to higher temperatures, impacting health, competitiveness, and livability, with projections of increased heat-related mortality and economic losses.
- City leaders can address extreme urban heat by implementing strategies focused on urban greening, cool city spaces, early warnings, protection of heat-exposed workers, and mainstreaming heat risk reduction…
