Dossier
Urban climate
A green environment is essential for a resilient climate and a sustainable environment in the city. It reduces air pollution, provides water storage, dampens noise and cools in warm periods. For example, the cooling of hot air in the city can be done by the strategic construction of open areas. In this dossier you can find news, background and results of research on urban climate.
News about urban climate
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‘Landscape architects are genuine optimists who focus on creating a new future’
- Wageningen’s Landscape Architecture group is internationally renowned and has the world’s largest number of publications in this domain. Is there room for improvement? Certainly, says Sanda Lenzholzer, who has headed the group for the last two years. In her inaugural address, which was postponed due to the pandemic, she introduces her perspective on the group’s endavours. -
COVID-19 lockdown cuts CO2 emissions throughout Europe and 40% in Amsterdam
- Two recent international studies led by scientists across Europe highlight the importance of human behaviour in the efforts to cut down CO2 emissions. In Amsterdam, the COVID-19 lockdown decreased the emissions by 40%, and they remained surprisingly low even after restrictions were lifted. Both studies are therefore highly relevant in light of the energy transition needed to comply with the Paris climate agreement. -
This is how a Dutch city may look in 2120
- Floating houses, self-driving cars, deer in the floodplains, streams with waterfalls, and greenery instead of asphalt. Welcome to the city of 2120. Contrary to what doomsday scenarios would have you believe, you can also work towards an attractive and prosperous city in a world of climate change. Research associates of Wageningen University & Research designed a scenario for the city of the future with Arnhem as the example. Their aim is to challenge cities to start thinking about their climate resistance for the long term. -
Climate Impact Monitor gathers data on the consequences of climate change
- Northwest Europe is experiencing an increase in extreme weather events, such as flooding, drought and wildfires. Extreme weather is strongly associated with climate change and has consequences for our health, cities, infrastructure, agriculture and nature. Researchers from Wageningen are working with Dutch governments and insurance companies to estimate the impact of extreme weather by gathering data in one digital environment: the Climate Impact Monitor.
News 2012-2020
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Weather balloon research: Amsterdam’s urban dome 120 meters high during last heat wave
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Nature-based solutions for urban climate adaptation
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Perspectives – not perfection – after silent revolution in Meteorology
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Weather balloons measure heat difference city and countryside
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Urban heat islands cause high temperatures
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Nature, because the city is worth it
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Climate-smart city needs more green spaces
Research on urban climate
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Nature-inclusive entrepreneurship in urban areas
- The green space in the city is under pressure. Although it meets important social needs, in practice nature and landscape often lose it through competing space claims. This can have a major impact on the living environment of people. In this study we have adopted a transition approach in which we explicitly seek a nature-inclusive contribution of the real estate sector to the biodiversity, quality of life and resilience of cities. To this end, current practices are being mapped out and ways are being sought to make these practices more nature-inclusive in order to achieve the desired transition. -
Green Quays, Breda
- Breda, as many other cities in Europe is struggling with unsustainable urbanisation, degradation of urban ecosystems, and lack of resilience to climate change. To address these challenges, GreenQuays aims at sustainable urban renaturation in Breda using nature-inclusive regenerative solutions (green quays linked to public green spaces) as part of a bigger scheme targeting the urban restoration of the river Mark. GreenQuays will test a complex set of transferable and innovative solutions for renaturing urban rivers in dense downtown areas, where there is insufficient space for developing natural riverbanks. -
Really Cooling Water Bodies in Cities (REALCOOL)
- In many cities climate change calls for adaptation. Urban heat problems will be exacerbated and peak rains will increase. Especially in inner city areas that often form urban heat islands, these climate problems need to be solved. -
PhD W Klemm - Green infrastructure for climate-proof cities
- Climate projections indicate that heat waves in the Netherlands are likely to become more frequent in the next decades. As in other moderate climates the consequences are especially felt in urban areas because of the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI). Prognosticated large expansion of the urban landscape and urban densification within existing cities could worsen the situation. Altogether, these developments may lead to significantly higher temperatures in the urban environment which may have consequences for human health and thermal comfort.
Publications
Related dossiers
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Flooding
- The amount of extreme rainfall and its severity is increasing in the Netherlands and Western Europe. What is the reason for this and what can we do to limit nuisance? In this dossier you can find news, backgrounds and results of research on flooding. -
Greenery in the city
- A green environment has many advantages. It has a positive effect on people's health and contributes to the quality of life in a neighbourhood. Companies like to settle in a green environment and real estate is generally more in demand, which strengthens the economic growth of a city. Together with partners, Wageningen University & Research has been researching the effects of a green city for years.