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Towards Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Cities: Mitigating Urban Heat Islands Through Green Infrastructure

Author

Listed:
  • Pinar Mert Cuce

    (Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Zihni Derin Campus, 53100 Rize, Turkey
    College of Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK
    Center for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura 140401, India
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 602105, India)

  • Erdem Cuce

    (Center for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura 140401, India
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 602105, India
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Zihni Derin Campus, 53100 Rize, Turkey
    University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab 140413, India)

  • Mattheos Santamouris

    (School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

Abstract

Rapidly increasing construction and agglomeration in urban areas have made the urban heat island (UHI) problem a turning point for the world, as a result of notably rising earth temperature every year. UHI and its impacts on climate are somewhat linked to weather-related matters, natural disasters and disease outbreaks. Given the challenges posed by urbanisation and industrialisation in achieving sustainability, it is crucial to adopt intelligent and decisive measures to mitigate the adverse outcomes of UHI. Greenery surfaces have long been a significant focus of scientific research and policy development, reflecting their pivotal role in combating urban heat islands and promoting sustainable urban environments. This study critically reviews the potential of green infrastructure, including green roofs, facades, shrubs, and trees, so as to minimise UHI impacts in severe urban contexts. By synthesising findings from a wide range of empirical studies, it highlights key outcomes such as reductions in surface temperatures by up to 2 °C and improvements in outdoor thermal comfort indices by over 10 °C under specific conditions. Additionally, the paper introduces a comprehensive framework for integrating greenery systems into urban planning, combining passive cooling, air quality enhancement, and energy efficiency strategies. The findings reveal that extensive green roofs, in particular, are highly effective in reducing indoor cooling demands, while strategically placed trees offer significant shading and evapotranspiration benefits. This work provides actionable insights for policymakers and urban planners to boost sustainable and climate-resilient cities whilst addressing gaps in current research related to the long-term performance and cost-effectiveness of green infrastructure solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pinar Mert Cuce & Erdem Cuce & Mattheos Santamouris, 2025. "Towards Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Cities: Mitigating Urban Heat Islands Through Green Infrastructure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:1303-:d:1584494
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Cecilia Ciacci & Neri Banti & Vincenzo Di Naso & Frida Bazzocchi, 2025. "Evaluating UHI Mitigation and Outdoor Comfort in a Heritage Context: A Microclimate Simulation Study of Florence’s Historic Center," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Chen Fu & Cong Chen & Zhitao Fu, 2025. "Seasonal Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Gradients of the Urban Heat Island Effect in Subtropical Furnace Megacity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-18, April.
    6. Heitor Silva & Clara Rodrigues & Hugo Farias & Felipe Silva & Maria Silva, 2025. "Resilience in Social Housing Projects from Architecture Competitions in Portugal and Brazil (2013–2023): Evaluating Flexibility, Environmental Adequacy, and Comfort," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-21, June.
    7. Pinar Mert Cuce, 2025. "Sustainable Insulation Technologies for Low-Carbon Buildings: From Past to Present," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-50, June.
    8. Başak Aytatlı & Selcan Bayram & Semiha İsmailoğlu, 2025. "Deepening Layers of Urban Space: A Scenario-Based Approach with Artificial Intelligence for the Effective and Sustainable Use of Underground Parking Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-31, October.
    9. Csenge Lékó-Kacsova & Zoltán Bátori & András Viczián & Ágnes Gulyás & Márton Kiss, 2025. "Complex Study of the Physiological and Microclimatic Attributes of Street Trees in Microenvironments with Small-Scale Heterogeneity," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, August.
    10. Bingbing Wang & Ming Sun, 2025. "Optimizing the Layout of Primary Healthcare Facilities in Harbin’s Main Urban Area, China: A Resilience Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-21, September.

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