Urban jungle effect turns up the heat on cities

Climate change could cost the world’s major cities twice as much as the rest of the planet because of the extra heat created by the urban jungle, researchers have warned.

The “urban heat island” effect is caused by replacing plants and other natural features with heat-trapping concrete and asphalt and by the impact of heat from sources such as cars and air conditioning units.

It could add around 2C to temperature rises caused by global warming in the world’s most populated cities by 2050, with economic impacts of hotter conditions ranging from more energy use for air conditioning to health risks and less productive workers.

Analysis shows the costs of climate change could be 2.6 times higher when heat island effects are taken into account.