Urban Heat Stress, Air Quality and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in UK Cities | Newswise – Newswise

Report on Urban Climate Resilience in UK Cities and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Urban Environmental Challenges

In the context of escalating global climate change, urban areas face compounded environmental risks. This report summarizes a study examining the interrelated threats of extreme heat and air pollution in UK cities, highlighting a critical gap in research concerning their combined impacts and the efficacy of local adaptation strategies. This aligns directly with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The study focuses on enhancing urban resilience to climate-related hazards.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): It directly addresses the need for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts through effective adaptation measures.

Research Overview and Collaborative Framework

A collaborative research initiative titled “Urban Heat Stress, Air Quality and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in UK Cities” was undertaken to address these challenges. The partnership involved researchers from Severn Trent Water, Newcastle University, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Reading, exemplifying SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by bringing together academic and industry expertise to tackle complex sustainability issues.

Methodology

1. Systematic analysis of air quality data across 30 UK cities.
2. Comprehensive review of ambient temperature records for the same urban areas.
3. Evaluation of existing local climate change adaptation plans to assess current strategic responses.

Key Findings: Health and Urban Sustainability Implications

The research identified significant variations in risk levels across the United Kingdom, with critical implications for public health and urban planning.

• Highest Risk Cities: London and Cambridge were found to exhibit the highest combined risk from extreme temperatures and poor air pollution.
• Impact on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): These findings underscore the direct threat posed by these environmental hazards to human health, reinforcing the need for protective measures.
• Relevance to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The concentration of risk in major urban centers highlights vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure and the urgent need to build more resilient and sustainable cities.

Recommendations for Enhanced Climate Action

The study concludes with recommendations crucial for strengthening urban climate resilience in line with SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• There is an urgent requirement for the development and implementation of standardized, city-level hazard assessment protocols.
• It is imperative to integrate the findings of such assessments directly into local climate adaptation plans to ensure they are evidence-based and effective.

These actions are vital for enhancing the climate resilience of UK cities and can serve as a model for global urban climate adaptation efforts.

Source Publication

Chauhan, S., Walsh, C.L., Eckersley, P., Mohareb, E., & Heidrich, O. (2025). Urban heat stress, air quality and climate change adaptation strategies in UK cities. Full open-access text available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42524-025-4029-y.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article directly connects urban environmental challenges to human health, stating that “extreme heat and air pollution… pose significant threats to human health.” This aligns with SDG 3’s goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The entire focus of the article is on urban areas (“urban heat stress, air quality… in UK cities”). It discusses making cities more resilient and sustainable by addressing environmental challenges like air pollution and developing adaptation plans, which is the core mission of SDG 11.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The article is framed within the context of “global climate change.” It discusses the need for “local climate change adaptation strategies” and enhancing “climate resilience” in cities to combat the impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat. This directly addresses the call for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts under SDG 13.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 3

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s emphasis on “air pollution” as a “significant threat to human health” directly relates to this target.

2. Targets under SDG 11

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The research systematically analyzes “air quality” in 30 UK cities, highlighting it as a key urban environmental challenge.
   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The article’s central recommendation is for the “integration of such assessments into local adaptation plans” to enhance “the climate resilience of UK cities.”

3. Targets under SDG 13

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The study focuses on adaptation to “extreme heat” and calls for “climate change adaptation strategies” to strengthen urban resilience.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The call to integrate hazard assessments into “local adaptation plans” is a direct example of implementing this target at the city level.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators under SDG 3

   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.9: While not explicitly named, the study of “air pollution” and its “threats to human health” implies the relevance of Indicator 3.9.1 (Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution) as a key metric for assessing the health impact.

2. Indicators under SDG 11

   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.6: The research’s systematic analysis of “air quality” implies the measurement of pollutants. This directly relates to Indicator 11.6.2 (Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities), which is a standard way to measure urban air quality.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.b: The article’s recommendation for cities to create “local adaptation plans” implies the use of Indicator 11.b.2 (Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030), which is often tracked at the local government level as well.

3. Indicators under SDG 13

   • Implied Indicator for Target 13.1: The call for “local climate change adaptation strategies” directly corresponds to Indicator 13.1.2 (Number of countries with a national adaptation strategy), which is also measured by the number of local governments that have adopted and implemented local climate adaptation plans.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newswise.com