Analytical framework for the analysis of co-benefits, conflicts and trade-offs of urban heat mitigation strategies

Abstract

Many cities are undergoing urban heat challenges because of heat waves and urban heat islands (UHIs). During urban planning and design, properly adding cooling interventions, namely urban heat mitigation strategies, into cities and communities are essential to address urban heat challenges. However, cities are required to provide a variety of functions (e.g., buildings, transportation, park) and meet the requirements convenience, safety, health, comfort and wellbeing. Such functions and requirements result in some co-benefits, conflicts and tradeoffs, promoting and constraining the application of urban heat mitigation strategies. However, the possible co-benefits, conflicts and trade-offs have not been well documented, where the improper use of cooling strategies may lead to unintended consequences. Therefore, it is essential to understand the co-benefits, conflicts and trade-offs of different cooling interventions. In particular, this study aims to develop an analytical framework for the analysis of the co-benefits, conflicts and trade-offs of different mitigation techniques. Mitigation techniques considered includes four clusters such as green infrastructure, blue infrastructure, white/grey infrastructure and urban design. The scope of urban functions and requirements, related to urban lives and urban operation, in ten aspects including economy, policy, ecology, environment, technology, space, urban beauty, practicality, culture, and transportation. The analytical framework was further applied to analyze the co-benefits, conflicts and trade-offs of cooling strategies in ten aspects of urban functions. Furthermore, it was used in environmental functions (e.g. local temperature regulation, stormwater regulation, waste treatment, air quality regulation, pollination, and recreation & aesthetic appreciation) and space functions (e.g. activity venue/entertainment venue, neighborhood vitality, resident satisfaction, space utilization and city identity), respectively. The results reveal that green infrastructure can provide the most aspects of benefits in ten aspects, and also in environmental and space aspect. Green infrastructure was followed by blue infrastructure, urban design and then white/grey infrastructure. Overall, the analytical framework offers a new perspective of the feasibility analysis of urban heat mitigation strategy and provides a reference for urban planners and designers to select proper urban heat mitigation techniques, with possible additional benefits of addressing other urban challenges.