Greening the city by expanding urban forests, installing tree prosthetics to regulate or activate shade ‘freshness islands These are some of the measures taken by major European cities to combat the epidemic. extreme temperature already suffering, and the climate crisis is in danger of getting worse.
This summer, the hottest month in the history of the planet, thermometers broke records in many parts of the world, but especially in Europe and the Mediterranean, the regions that warmed the fastest, together with the Arctic.
Major European capitals also have to face “heat island” phenomenon -most accused MadridThe city, where the temperature difference of up to 8.5 °C was recorded between the center and the less urbanized environment, had to look for ways to cool the spaces and minimize the health risks related to heat.
A temperature difference of up to 8.5 degrees was recorded between the center and the periphery in Madrid
A recent study published in the journal ‘Natural Medicine’ concluded: Another 60,000 people died from extreme heat in Europe last summerThe World Health Organization estimates that more than 166,000 people died from heat waves globally between 1998 and 2017.
In these events, which occur with increasing frequency and intensity each summer, public service workers such as street cleaning in Madrid said they could adapt their schedules to the cooler times of the day this year, and even shorten their working hours after a curfew was introduced in 2022. The sweeper died while in service due to the temperatures the city was exposed to in the midst of the heatwave.
Some municipal buildings provided free access to municipal swimming pools and extended the opening of parks and gardens until night. Paris, It has also identified about 1,300 “islands of freshness” throughout the city and installed refrigerated rooms in county councils.
Moreover Barcelona It offered close to 230 climate shelters in ten districts of the city of Barcelona; areas were converted into comfort areas in the face of high temperatures between 15 June and 15 September to alleviate particularly the most vulnerable groups.
SevilleTests are carried out to reduce the feeling of heat through the European project Lifewatercool systems, where an increase of 4.5 °C in average temperature and a 20% decrease in precipitation are expected for the year 2100. bioclimatic bus stops or tree prostheses to modulate shading, among other options.
Rome City Council officials say “Asphalt needs to be removed”
Inside Rome (Italy) In the three decades between 1970 and 2000 the temperature has already increased by 1.7 degrees, so the City Council is integrating the climate variable into the new urban planning, as reflected in the remodeling of the Termini train station, where the manager is located. Climate Office Edoardo Zanchini defends Efe “Asphalt needs to be removed”.
Zanchini highlights the city’s creation shade with “temporary trees” at the busiest bus stops strengthened the public water supply network.
turn green to refresh
In parallel, cities are committed to expanding their green infrastructure with new walls, roofs and plant facades, such as those designed for their own cities in Belgium’s climate change adaptation strategy or Barcelona’s 21 green axes. we are creating 21 new squares that add flower pots to rejuvenate the public space and also green it up.
The head of the Rome Climate Office points out that “two-thirds of the city is now farmland or parks” and that projects in the five parks along the Tiber will “create significant development”. stream gaps but because the river crosses the entire city, it “somehow leaves it,” he says.
London (England) has also focused its strategy on getting back to nature: Urban forest contains around 8.4 million trees and covers around 21 percent of the city’s land area, but authorities want to increase the number of trees by 10% by 2050. .
London Mayor’s office since 2016 funding Planting more than 430,000 treesFacilitate grants to create community gardens, school areas for children to play, and natural areas while trying to improve the creek environment in some parks to improve wildlife.
everything is not hot
Adapting to climate change is also to resist the way this phenomenon affects water resources: it increases famine and facilitates flooding.
In some regions HollandThe ground collapses due to drought, causing cracks in homes, while rising sea levels pose a greater risk of flooding in the country, which is already one-third below sea level.
The nationally recognized Delta Program includes anti-flooding measures, provides adequate fresh water and resilients the Dutch climate structure, for example by strengthening embankments, increasing the water supply in the artificial lake IJsselmeer or building valleys in neighborhoods to prevent flooding. excessive precipitation.
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