Abstract:
Rapid urbanization leads to unplanned growth and development in the cities and puts
immense pressure on local administrations and energy demands. More energy
consumption is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, acting as a catalyst for
the changing climate. As a consequence of rapid urbanization and climate change, many
urban regions become hotspots for extreme weather events. From all of these, the most
deadly are heatwaves, which are responsible for the death of millions of people
worldwide. This study examines the urbanization trends across the years and observes
the temporal land surface conditions as well. Apart from this, to study the urban
temperatures in more detail and at a micro-scale, the concept of local climate zones has
been used for mapping the cities and assessing the thermal conditions accordingly.This
can help in shaping efficient urban forms and reduce thermal stresses. In the later stage,
the risk perceptions and psychological distancing of the people are also examined in
various LCZs. This study suggests working towards integrating disaster risk reduction and
climate change adaptation philosophies. It can be helpful for urban planners,
climatologists, architects, policymakers, public and relevant stakeholders to promote
sustainable and climate-resilient development.
