City cooling strategies proposed by Dall'Enea:
In an ambitious project titled "Climate Adaptation, The Urban Heat Island Effect in the City of Rome," a coalition of organisations is working to combat the rising temperatures in two high-risk areas of the city – the historic centre (Municipality I) and Tiburtino-casilino (Municipality V). Funded by European funds, the project aims to identify and implement 25 nature-based solutions to tackle urban heat islands.
The project's strategy encompasses a variety of interventions, including the creation of urban forests and tree-lined avenues with parks and gardens, green roofs and walls, and the installation of vegetated urban furniture, permeable paving, and green tramways. These measures aim to promote the infiltration of rainwater, vegetation growth, and the cooling effects of shading and evapotranspiration.
One innovative solution is the implementation of green canopies near bus and tram stops, which have been found to be more efficient in improving the microclimate than regular canopies. Additionally, pocket parks and microforests will be created on small marginal surfaces as 'cool islands,' providing relief from summer heat.
The project also emphasises the use of local flora species with low allergenicity and the principle of the right tree in the right place in the design and management of nature-based solutions. This approach ensures that the solutions are not only effective but also harmonious with the city's existing ecosystem.
PricewaterhouseCoopers - PwC Italy is the coordinator of the project, with Roma Tre University, Enea, and the Ecologic Institute of Berlin as partners. The project objectives include not only the design, care, and management of nature-based solutions according to ecological criteria but also the provision of training for local administrators to manage urban green spaces and promote new green jobs for sustainable city regeneration.
While specific information on the "Climate Adaptation, The Urban Heat Island Effect in the City of Rome" project was not found in our search results, the general strategies it employs align with broader efforts to combat urban heat islands and increase biodiversity in Rome and similar urban environments. Other strategies include urban forestry and green spaces, green roofs and walls, bioclimatic trees, and flexible interventions such as green shelters near public transportation stops.
These nature-based solutions not only help mitigate the urban heat island effect but also contribute to enhancing biodiversity and promoting urban resilience, making our cities greener, cooler, and more sustainable.
- The variety of interventions in the Climate Adaptation project, such as green roofs and walls, urban forests, and vegetated urban furniture, are all part of the science of environmental-science and contribute to the energy-efficient lifestyle by reducing urban heat islands and promoting biodiversity.
- In the project's strategy, the creation of pocket parks and microforests using local flora species, along with the implementation of green canopies near public transportation stops, demonstrate the integration of environmental-science principles with home-and-garden designs, aiming to improve climate-change resilience.
- Through the project's training program for local administrators and the promotion of green jobs for sustainable city regeneration, one can see the connection between the science of climate-change and its impact on city lifestyles, with the ultimate goal of creating greener, cooler, and more sustainable urban environments.
