Passive Urban Cooling Solutions from edX

By 2070, 1 out of every 3 people worldwide will live in areas with mean annual temperatures of more than 29°C – temperatures that are more than double what most humans have lived in for most of human history. These conditions currently existing in under 1% of the Earth today. Rising temperatures will have a profound effect on human health, economic productivity, and nearly every facet of urban life. Technical and policy solutions are needed now to cool our urban areas and to help populations adapt to rising temperatures.

In 2020, to encourage more rapid adoption of urban cooling solutions to improve the heat resiliency of cities, the World Bank published a detailed handbook covering the characteristics of rising urban temperatures, the challenges it presents, and ways cities can respond: Primer for Cool Cities: Reducing Urban Heat (the Primer).

Developed by the World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the Global Sustainable Cities Platform (GSCP), the Primer details the functions, use cases, and economics of the major technical urban passive cooling solutions available to cities today. It articulates an approach to designing and implementing effective heat resiliency and urban cooling strategies and provides a list of urban cooling policies adopted by cities. Case studies are included throughout.

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, participants will be able:

To orient practitioners to the concept of urban heat and why it is an important “lens” through which to assess and address resiliency and sustainability in cities.
To highlight the specific technical solutions to facilitate passive urban cooling and improve understanding of how they work, their benefits and costs, and considerations for use.
To encourage the adoption of urban cooling policies via an inclusive, multi-stakeholder development process.
To make people aware of the Primer and similar resources.

What's inside

Learning objectives

To orient practitioners to the concept of urban heat and why it is an important “lens” through which to assess and address resiliency and sustainability in cities.
To highlight the specific technical solutions to facilitate passive urban cooling and improve understanding of how they work, their benefits and costs, and considerations for use.

To encourage the adoption of urban cooling policies via an inclusive, multi-stakeholder development process.
To make people aware of the primer and similar resources.

To orient practitioners to the concept of urban heat and why it is an important “lens” through which to assess and address resiliency and sustainability in cities.
To highlight the specific technical solutions to facilitate passive urban cooling and improve understanding of how they work, their benefits and costs, and considerations for use.
To encourage the adoption of urban cooling policies via an inclusive, multi-stakeholder development process.
To make people aware of the primer and similar resources.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Excessive Heat and Urban Cooling __

The week will introduce the concept of rising urban temperatures as a key resiliency challenge for cities. It will explore the current macro-trends driving urban heat and the nature and causes of the urban heat island phenomenon. The week will also review heat’s wide-ranging negative effects on urban systems and populations.

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what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines the causes and negative effects of rising urban temperatures, a significant problem for cities worldwide

Summarizes best practices in urban cooling from around the world

Utilizes a multi-modal format including videos, readings, and discussions

Suitable for beginners seeking an introduction to urban cooling

Facilitates networking through inclusive, multi-stakeholder development processes

Reviews summary

Comprehensive overview of urban cooling solutions

According to students, this course provides an excellent and comprehensive overview of passive urban cooling solutions, making it highly relevant for professionals in urban planning and development. Learners frequently praise its well-structured content, which effectively introduces the concept of urban heat and its profound effects. The inclusion of insightful case studies and a strong focus on policy and multi-stakeholder frameworks are highlighted as particularly valuable. While many found it an essential foundational course, some more technical learners found the content to be largely theoretical and wished for more in-depth engineering aspects or practical tools. Overall, it is considered a solid introduction for understanding and addressing urban heat.

Debate on the balance between theory and hands-on application.

"The course content was mostly theoretical. While it covered a broad range of topics, I found myself wishing for more practical, hands-on examples..."

"Good general information, but it lacked practical, actionable steps for implementation. It's good for understanding the concepts, but not for direct application..."

"It's a great starting point for policy makers, but not for direct application in specific urban projects."

Real-world examples enhance understanding and application.

"The content was well-structured, easy to follow, and the case studies were particularly insightful."

"I especially liked the case studies – they brought the concepts to life."

"It solidified my understanding of urban heat islands and effective mitigation strategies."

Strong emphasis on policy implementation and strategic frameworks.

"I appreciated the focus on both technical solutions and policy implications."

"The policy section was particularly strong. My only minor critique is that some of the links to external resources were outdated..."

"The 'inclusive, multi-stakeholder development process' framework was invaluable. I learned practical strategies and policies for my city."

Provides a robust and clear introduction to urban cooling.

"This course provided an excellent overview of passive urban cooling solutions."

"Excellent and comprehensive overview. The emphasis on both technical solutions and policy frameworks makes it unique."

"A solid introduction. The content is well-researched."

Some learners desired more detailed technical information.

"Some sections felt a bit high-level, and I was hoping for more deep dives into specific engineering aspects..."

"I expected more technical depth. It felt like a high-level summary of the Primer, which I could have just read."

"It's more for awareness than direct application. Not enough detail for engineers or those already familiar with climate adaptation."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Passive Urban Cooling Solutions with these activities:

Review prerequisite knowledge about urban geography

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Solidify the concepts and ideas that lead to urban heat, and help you prepare for the course's technical content.

Browse courses on Urban Geography

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Review basic principles of urban Geography
Review how modern urban environments are created
Understand how these principles apply to the development of modern cities

Form a study group with other learners to discuss course materials

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Foster peer-to-peer support and enhance understanding by engaging in discussions with other learners.

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Identify other learners who are interested in forming a study group
Schedule regular meetings to discuss course materials, solve problems, and share insights
Actively participate in group discussions and provide support to other members

Attend a workshop or conference on Urban Sustainability

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Deepen your knowledge of urban cooling and other sustainability practices and connect with professionals in the field.

Browse courses on Urban Sustainability

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Identify and register for a workshop or conference on urban sustainability
Attend the workshop or conference
Engage with speakers and attendees to learn about the latest research and best practices in urban sustainability

Four other activities

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Practice using GIS software to analyze urban heat data

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Strengthen your technical skills by using GIS to analyze urban heat data and identify areas that are most vulnerable to heat.

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Learn the basics of GIS software
Acquire urban heat data
Load the data into GIS software and analyze it
Create maps and visualizations to present your findings

Plan and Design an Ideal Urban Cooling Strategy

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Design a passive cooling solution that is tailored to the particular climate, economic resilience, and infrastructure constraints of a chosen urban region.

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Choose an urban region to focus on
Research climate, economic resilience, and infrastructure constraints of the chosen region
Develop a list of potential passive cooling solutions and strategies
Evaluate and select a solution based on its effectiveness
Plan a detailed implementation strategy for the solution

Create an online tutorial or presentation on Passive Urban Cooling Techniques

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Create a tutorial and presentation to solidify your knowledge of how passive urban cooling techniques and strategies work and how they can be implemented.

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Research and select passive urban cooling techniques and strategies
Develop a tutorial or presentation that explains the principles, benefits, and implementation of these techniques

Host a workshop on Urban Cooling for local stakeholders

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Engage with local stakeholders by giving them the tools and strategies to implement urban cooling solutions within your local community.

Browse courses on Stakeholder Engagement

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Identify and engage with local stakeholders
Develop a workshop that provides an overview of urban heat and cooling strategies
Facilitate a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of urban cooling in your community
Develop a plan for implementing urban cooling solutions in your community

Career center

Learners who complete Passive Urban Cooling Solutions will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Climate Adaptation Specialist

A Climate Adaptation Specialist develops and implements strategies to help communities adapt to the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing an overview of the challenges posed by urban heat and the technical and policy solutions available to address them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Adaptation Specialist

Environmental Planner

An Environmental Planner develops plans and policies to protect the environment and promote sustainable development. This course can be useful for this role by providing insights into the impacts of urban heat on the environment and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these impacts.

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Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist studies the environment and develops solutions to environmental problems. This course can be useful for this role by providing an overview of the science of urban heat and the technical solutions available to address it.

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Geospatial Analyst

A Geospatial Analyst uses geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze and visualize spatial data. This course can be useful for this role by providing an overview of the use of GIS to map and analyze urban heat.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geospatial Analyst

Landscape Architect

A Landscape Architect designs and plans outdoor spaces, including parks, gardens, and other public areas. This course can be useful for this role by providing insights into the use of vegetation and other natural elements to mitigate urban heat.

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Meteorologist

A Meteorologist studies the atmosphere and forecasts weather. This course can be useful for this role by providing an overview of the science of urban heat and the factors that contribute to it.

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Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst develops and analyzes public policies. This course can be useful for this role by providing insights into the policy options available to address urban heat and the factors that should be considered when developing these policies.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans and executes projects to achieve specific goals. This course can be useful for this role by providing an overview of the project management process and the specific challenges involved in managing urban heat mitigation projects.

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Public Health Specialist

A Public Health Specialist promotes health and well-being in communities. This course can be useful for this role by providing an overview of the health impacts of urban heat and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these impacts.

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Sustainability Consultant

A Sustainability Consultant helps organizations to improve their environmental performance and sustainability. This course can be useful for this role by providing an overview of the challenges posed by urban heat and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these impacts.

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Transportation Planner

A Transportation Planner develops and plans transportation systems. This course can be useful for this role by providing insights into the role of transportation in contributing to urban heat and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these impacts.

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Urban Designer

An Urban Designer designs and plans urban areas. This course can be useful for this role by providing insights into the role of urban design in mitigating urban heat and the strategies that can be used to create more sustainable and resilient cities.

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Urban Planner

An Urban Planner develops and plans urban areas. This course can be useful for this role by providing insights into the role of urban planning in mitigating urban heat and the strategies that can be used to create more sustainable and resilient cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Water Resources Engineer

A Water Resources Engineer designs and manages water resources systems. This course may be useful for this role by providing insights into the role of water in mitigating urban heat and the strategies that can be used to create more sustainable and resilient cities.

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Air Quality Engineer

An Air Quality Engineer designs and manages air quality systems. This course may be useful for this role by providing insights into the role of air quality in urban heat and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these impacts.

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