Local Climate Zones and its Implication for Future Growth and Sustainability: A Case Study of Lahore and Islamabad, Pakistan

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.