Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): According to Sweco’s report European cities have a lot to do in order to make them more resistant against higher temperatures. In the past two decades heat-related deaths have increased by 30% . By 2100 Brussels hopes to advance its green spaces and infrastructure in order to mitigate heat consequences since it anticipates an increase in the frequency of heat waves.
As Europe warms up its heat-related deaths increase Sweco an architecture and engineering firm assessed how 24 European cities are planning for heat but found many have major gaps in the way they plan to cope with increased temperatures. Intense summertime overheating directly endangers human healtmaking extreme heat generally harmful not just for public safety issues like power cuts or disruptions to business. Over the last 20 years heat-related deaths have increased by approximately 30 percent. This amounts of a huge problem but most cities do little to address heat incusion in their climate plans.
How Much Hotter is Brussels Compared to Surrounding Areas?
Rural areas are cooler than urban centers in Europe and this is exemplified by the urban heat island effect. Urbanization raises their temperature higher than that of rural counterpart. It was stated in the report that there were more and stronger heatwaves within the city having had at least one heatwave from 2015 up until 2019. It has been reported that these heatwaves are becoming longer which has extremely adverse effects on people’s health, properties and resources. In 2020 Brussels experienced 18 days of extreme temperatures but by year 2100 it may increase to over forty days.
The report claimed that the city is experiencing more and stronger heatwaves in the sense that there was at least one heatwave from 2015 to 2019. The report also states that the duration of heatwaves is significantly increasing thus posing serious threats to human beings health buildings as well as resources. In 2020 for instance Brussels had experienced 18 days with extreme temperatures while this number could be more than doubling to 40 days by 2100.
In response to temperature increase Brussels pays attention to nature-based remedies such as constructing and enhancing green spaces. It intends to modernise its infrastructure thereby improving the living conditions in towns. Brussels strongly believes that urban planning is essential in combating climate change. Its goals include increasing the number of parks and gardens available via a greening scheme across the urban centre. According to Séverine Hermand who has studied climate change it is important for cities like Brussels to create environments that are cool enough where children and elderly people can stay comfortably.
With changes in temperature across Europe leading to heat waves that have left many feeling sweltering throughout this summer season Belgian city Brussels has decided to take an action by concentrating on implementing nature-centered approaches such as building new or enhancing existing green spaces just so as Not only are trees tall, green and leafy but they also provide much needed shade making summers bearable in a much easier way than turning on the electric fan at full blast or going to an air conditioned room during times of extreme heat .
