Cities100: Paris is using blue and green infrastructure to tackle city heat
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Nordic Sustainability, October 2019
As heat waves increasingly grip cities in summer, Paris has created an interlinked network of cool ‘islands’ where citizens can seek refuge from the heat of the summer.
In the city’s fight against the urban heat island effect, the spaces are typically 2°C to 4°C cooler than surrounding streets thanks to water and/ or vegetation, and offer improved climate resilience and liveability for the citizens of Paris.
In summer 2019, temperatures in Paris soared to a record 42.6°C during a heat wave that killed an estimated 1,500 people across France. As the climate crisis brings more frequent and severe heat to our cities, exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, Paris is taking action to alleviate heat risk for its citizens by creating a network of accessible cool spaces across the city.
More than 800 spaces in Paris, from parks and forests to swimming pools and museums, make up a network of cool ‘islands’ where residents and visitors can take a break from the city’s summer heat. The islands are linked by naturally cool walkways. Paris’ goal, set out city’s climate adaptation strategy, is that all residents should be able to walk to a cool island or walkway within seven minutes.
This is one of the 100 solutions highlighted in the 2019 edition of Cities100. Now in its fourth year, Cities100 provides recognition for 100 of the boldest projects from cities around the world which are working to address climate change and build a better, greener future. The publication highlights solutions that are replicable and scalable, and which reduce emissions and address the issues that cities face as a result of climate change. Read the Cities100 report, by C40 and Nordic Sustainability, for full details.
The city has developed a mapping app EXTREMA to guide residents to cool islands, which in the first year of use was downloaded 6,000 times. The app allows residents to give feedback about the cool islands, allowing the city to identify where improvements can be made, and monitor use of the spaces.
Paris’ advice for other cities
Plan for heat emergencies
When temperatures in Paris soar, the city is able to take extra steps to keep people cool, deploying pop-up cool islands with misting areas from fire hydrants, and extending the operating hours of municipal swimming areas.
Provide water for free to reduce heat risk and waste
As a part of the plan, 1,200 drinking fountains have been installed in the city allowing residents to keep cool for free in the summer heat, and reducing the use of plastic water bottles.
Seize the app-ortunity
While creating an app is not the answer to all of our problems, digital tools can be a great help for city residents. In this case, the EXTREMA app allows Parisians to stay aware of heat risks, and know how and where they can go to cool off.
Wider benefits
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Social: More than 7,000 Parisians have been identified as vulnerable during times of extreme heat, and this project aims to inform those residents of heat risks, and how and where to cool off.
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Health: With an estimated 1,500 deaths in France as a result the 2019 heat wave, becoming more resilient to such events is a critical health issue for Paris officials. The cool islands can help reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses amongst the population.
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Economic: Heat waves can significantly reduce economic productivity, by almost a third in some cases, but by creating a city more resilient to summer heat, Paris is mitigating against the economic damage caused by heat waves.
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Environmental: By creating more green and blue spaces in the city, Paris is boosting biodiversity as well as reducing the impacts of air pollution and sequestering carbon. Additionally, encouraging residents to spend more time in these places will increase the value Parisians attach to nature.
Sources
To go further
Website:www.c40.org/