We need cities that are resilient to climate change and built on strong communities

Summer is here – and so are serious challenges. Heatwaves are becoming an increasing threat to the livability of our cities. Today, the number of heat-related deaths already surpasses the number of road traffic fatalities — and that is deeply alarming. According to UN data, approximately 175,000 people die each year in Europe due to health complications caused by extreme heat. Yet many of these deaths could be prevented through smart, proactive measures — much like in the area of road safety. But what do communities have to do with it?

Heat builds up mainly in cities. Sealed surfaces and buildings absorb sunlight and then radiate the heat back into the surroundings. Motor vehicles also play a significant role — each parked car can raise the surrounding temperature by up to 1.6 °C. While the interior of a car can heat up to 60 °C, a tree can cool the air by 5 °C, and a shaded area by as much as 25 °C.

How to Cool Down the City

We need new solutions. Churches, libraries, shopping centers, or supermarkets could serve as cooling shelters during summer heatwaves. Neighborhoods should develop heat action plans, including mutual aid networks and sufficient drinking fountains. Creating air corridors to allow airflow will help cool cities down. Removing impermeable surfaces, increasing shade, and planting greenery can significantly contribute to making cities livable even during hot periods.

Misting systems and drinking fountains are literally a blessing during summer heatwaves

Heat kills

Since heat is rarely recorded as a direct cause of death in medical records, experts use so-called excess mortality as an indicator of dangerous heat. “Daily analysis shows that increased average daily temperatures affect mortality on the same day, with the greatest impact appearing the following day,” state the authors of the study Further development and harmonization of the heat-related excess mortality indicator in Germany, published by the Robert Koch Institute in June 2025. Just 24 hours with an average temperature above 20 °C poses a health risk.

The problem is that, as individuals, we can drink enough water or wear hats and carry fans everywhere, but these personal measures are not enough if politicians and authorities do not provide suitable and safe infrastructure. Public spaces must therefore be not only traffic-safe but also resilient to extreme heat. In addition to plans for pedestrian and cycling transport, municipalities need to develop climate action plans—including solutions for capturing and using rainwater.

Community as a driver of change

Transforming cities towards greater resilience to heat and drought goes hand in hand with sustainable transport change. Instead of the simplistic view of “cyclists versus drivers,” we should focus on the health and wellbeing of all residents. Zažít město jinak is a neighborhood festival whose main purpose is to strengthen local communities so they can advocate for change in their surroundings. Support the festival by purchasing a virtual Souseděnka and help organize the largest neighborhood celebration in Central Europe. These events help move things in the right direction. Thank you!

Zažít město jinak brings life into a public spaceTo build a strong community, solidarity and cohesion are essential. The neighborhood festival “Zažít město jinak” helps foster exactly that. It empowers residents to influence the existing public space and shape new ones into pleasant places to live—even under the pressures of climate change. These neighborhood festivals emphasize local identity and sustainability, highlight small and independent local businesses, support the idea of the 15-minute city, and nurture long-term relationships with inclusion for all residents.

What can a community achieve?

Communities help bring attention to and promote shared goals such as repairing playgrounds, calming traffic in residential areas, creating community gardens, installing safe pedestrian crossings, or improving public lighting. Proven tools of “Zažít město jinak” include various neighborhood happenings, photo exhibitions on local history, presentations or founding of local associations, guided neighborhood walks, or creating “feeling maps.” The festivals also create opportunities for children, teenagers, and seniors to get involved, and to build a network of neighbors who share skills, knowledge, and services. Popular activities include setting neighborhood records (like the longest chalk snake or tallest block tower), swaps and flea markets, and showcasing local artists. A strong community can then address and change the issues that matter most to them—including those related to climate change.

The Vienna City Hall building and its green facade

Foreign inspiration: Measures for heat-resilient cities

#1 Paris creates 500 “garden streets”

The French capital has set a goal: to provide every resident with access to greenery within 300 meters of their home. To achieve this, it is transforming up to 10,000 parking spaces into “rues jardin” – garden streets with vegetation, trees, and space for relaxation. The result is not only significant cooling of the city but also reduced air pollution and improved physical, mental, and social health of residents.

#2 Heat-free days in Essen

Some measures require little investment—just common sense. Since 2022, schools in Essen, Germany, have implemented a simple rule: “no hot days.” When classroom temperatures exceed 27°C, lesson lengths are shortened from 45 to 30 minutes. Children leave earlier but still complete their lessons. Instead of individual solutions (like sending kids home), the city adopted a systemic and fair approach for all.

#3 Vienna promotes climbing plants

The Vienna city administration provides subsidies for removing hardened surfaces, installing green facades, green roofs, and courtyard greenery at private homes, and leads by example with its own buildings. It also supports irrigation using rainwater collected in cisterns, to which it contributes financially. New streets are designed with ample trees (often at the expense of parking spaces) and a so-called climate strip—a meter of sidewalk adjacent to buildings paved with removable blocks that can be replaced with greenery.

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