Summer, sun = stress from heat?

Climate change is making itself felt in disagreeable ways above all in summertime: Average temperatures are rising and heat waves are becoming increasingly common and lasting longer. People are consequently avoiding staying outdoors for lengthy periods, so significantly impairing their quality of life. But that’s not all: Heat makes many people ill and the resulting number of deaths is shown to be rising in long-term comparisons. This is why it is so important to offer people high levels of comfort in summer. And this is possible! There’s a whole lot we can do.

Sun, humidity, shade, wind

Viele bunte Schirme sind über einer Strasse zwischen Häusern aufgehängt. Die Sonne scheint und zwischen den Schirmen ist der Himmel zu sehen.

It’s not just the sun that affects comfort in summer – humidity, shade and wind likewise play a role here. It’s a question of degree. A little breeze in summertime is pleasantly refreshing, but no-one likes it too windy – and certainly not once the weather’s turned colder. It’s similar for shade. When it’s hot, people seek out shady spots. On the other hand, in spring, autumn and winter most delight in the sun’s rays. Weatherpark’s objective is to ensure optimum levels of comfort in summer – simultaneously making staying outdoors pleasant in the other times of the year as well.

Plan mit Klimawandelmaßnahmen für Österreichs Gemeinden und Städte, erstellt und verteilt von der Klimainitiative Klima Konkret.

Weatherpark plays an active role in a non-profit-initiative: “KlimaKonkret”. The aim here is to raise even greater awareness among Austria’s urban population regarding the need to adapt to climate change and to then support this when implementing measures geared to adaptation. As its first large-scale campaign the initiative has sent out thousands of plans drawn up by KlimaKonkret. Using the example of a prototypical Austrian town, they show how it is possible to adapt to the climate while additionally protecting the environment.

www.klimakonkret.at

Trees are great, but there's room for improvement

Trees are at present often portrayed as a “secret weapon” against the climate crisis. But it’s unfortunately not so simple. Trees are good and can – when fully grown – be very effective. To achieve the maximum positive impact, it is generally necessary to combine several measures. There isn’t however a set formula on how to do this. Every street, square, open space has to be analysed in climate terms. Only then is it possible to put together an optimum package of measures. Once this has been put into practice, people’s well-being will greatly improve when it is hot. The temperature at such locations is then often perceived as being a lot lower than can be objectively measured!

Influencing factors

The problem of heat islands

There is currently a lot of talk about heat islands in the media. Heat islands are areas that are significantly warmer than their surroundings. They above all occur at night when a city, district or square cools down far less than the green spaces around it due to the high soil sealing level. With the right measures this disagreeable effect, which massively affects the amount of rest people get at night, can be mitigated or eliminated altogether.