HOPE Students ΕΝ: Case Climatown

Climatown is a relatively small town in the southern part of the country. It’s an old, medieval town with about 40.000 inhabitants. In summer, the inner part of the city is crowded with tourists, enjoying the old streets and buildings, and who like to walk under the trees in the central park. During the summer months, it can get really hot in Climatown. And this worries the local council. The alderman responsible for livability and infrastructure recently started the discussion about the future of Climatown with respect to climate change. Some civil servants subsequently wrote a report, with the following developments and considerations:

1. Increasing Frequency and Intensity of Heatwaves: The town has experienced a rise in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves due to climate change. These extreme heat events pose significant health risks to the residents, especially vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

2. Public Health Concerns: Heatwaves can lead to various heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration. These health issues can overwhelm healthcare facilities and put additional strain on emergency services during peak heat periods.

3. Urban Heat Island Effect: The town's urban areas experience the urban heat island effect, where concrete, asphalt, and other built surfaces absorb and retain heat, leading to higher temperatures compared to rural areas. This effect exacerbates the heat stress experienced by residents and amplifies the heat-related health risks.

4. Social Equity: Vulnerable populations, including low-income communities and individuals living in inadequate housing, often bear the brunt of heat-related health impacts due to limited access to cooling resources and healthcare services. Implementing a heat-health action plan ensures equitable access to resources and support during extreme heat events.

5. Economic Impacts: Heatwaves can disrupt economic activities, particularly outdoor industries such as agriculture and construction. Additionally, increased energy demand for cooling during heatwaves can strain energy infrastructure and lead to higher utility bills for residents and businesses.

The local council endorsed these issues and decided to ask a specialist to formulate an adequate heat-health action plan for Climatown.

And so they found you, with their request to develop such a plan.

The plan you are going to develop has to deal at least with:

The implementation of an early warning system
Public Awareness and education
Cooling infrastructure
Heat-health response teams
Heat-resilient urban planning
Community partnerships
Healthcare capacity and
Evaluation.

You are happy with this project, and get started right away!