WSUD and Urban Heat Island Effect Mitigation

Urbanization exacerbates the urban climate and contributes to the development of the urban heat island (UHI) effect, adversely impacting public health and thermal comfort. This chapter provides evidence for the effectiveness of green infrastructure (GI) and water sensitive urban design (WSUD) strategies as mechanisms to address some of the challenges faced by contemporary urban environments, including extreme heat events, drought, UHI, and thermal discomfort. Through several examples in various countries and climates, the application of GI in different forms (parks, street trees, green roofs, and green walls) and WSUD approaches were investigated and ranked as the most effective strategies in mitigating the increased urban air temperature. This chapter highlights the necessity of integrating climate knowledge into planning practices and raises awareness among urban planners of the importance of critically assessing planning policies before developing a new neighborhood.