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In the summer of 2025, he was again marked by many consistent thermal waves that fall in large areas of Europe.
The effects of these extreme weather phenomena are no more intense than in the urban areas of Epirus. This is due to the phenomenon of the city thermal island (UHI), which significantly increases the temperature compared to the surrounding (rural) areas, aggravating heat.
“This phenomenon of city thermo -fasteners affects the cities throughout Europe, and this makes a temperature about two, three, sometimes even four degrees in cities compared to the rural environment,” said Euronews, climate expert in Belgium Niels Souverijns.
Surface temperatures in cities were sometimes 10-15 ° C higher than in their agricultural environment in the summer, as the data of the United Research Center of the European Commission show.
These elements are especially alarming, given the large number of injured people. Almost 40% of the total population of Europe lives in cities, while about 70% live in urban areas.
This phenomenon is the main health problem for cities throughout Europe. A study conducted by the new national public health school in Portugal showed that hospitalization increased by 18.9% compared to the initial price on thermal days, burdening healthcare systems.
Vulnerable groups, such as elderly and small children, are especially at risk. “Especially elderly people with the underlying diseases, for example, respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, affect more,” said Sovens.
As this phenomenon progresses mainly at night, people do not cool properly when they fall into sleep, which also has a negative effect on health.
Concrete jungle
This phenomenon of city thermal islands is the result of various factors, from the widespread use of materials to the concentration of buildings and intensive circulation.
“The fact that the city is warmer than the surrounding area is associated with the materials used in the city,” said Climatologist Wim Thier (VUB) to EURONEWS. These include asphalt and cement, which “absorb heat when the sun shines, holds it, and then radiates at night.”
As a result, during the day the maximum temperature in the cities is hotter, but at night the temperature also cools less.
Tall buildings and narrow roads also lead to this phenomenon when they heat the air, captured between them, preventing the natural flow of wind, which otherwise help to cool the air.
In many cities, this is especially true in more poor urban areas, characterized by dense and sometimes uncontrolled urbanization. This factor, combined with poor housing conditions, lack of insulation and reduced access to cooling options, such as green zones, makes the phenomenon of the city thermal island a socio -economic problem.
“In the richest quarters near the centers of cities, more green,” Tiri said. This is in Brussels, for example, when a rupture of wealth is closely related to access to natural areas, with the poorest suffering from the acute absence of trees and parks.
Souverijns noted that the size of the city thermo is closely related to the size of cities and the amount of concrete and buildings located there. “Thus, larger cities, which have more specific and more buildings, tend to be more affected.”
Finally, the amount of traffic in the city also has an influence. For example, car pollution can function as a kind of greenhouse gases over the city, catching hot air.
Green solutions
Climatologist Uim Thiery emphasized that in the future it is expected that the phenomenon of urban thermo -fasteners will deteriorate. “From the climate change, the temperature rises greater than the average temperature of 2 ° C as a whole, while the thermal days by 4 ° C in Europe are warmer,” he said to Euronews.
Cities, however, can take a series of measures to combat the phenomenon of the city thermo -station. These include the creation of winds for ventilation, the design of green roofs and facades for buildings, planting more vegetation and the best use of water.
“In fact, we need to redraw cities to remove as much concrete as possible,” Sovens said.
The Brussels region is especially vulnerable to heat compared to other Belgian municipalities. The difference can reach 10 ° compared to rural areas.
One of its 19 municipalities, Brussels municipality, provides residents with additional information about precautions or behavior measures that are best accepted by hot days, including interactive cards with which they can find drinking water, museums, fountains, and shady spaces.
“More structurally, we, of course, are committed to adaptations in a natural way and improving our living environment, planting trees, softening the surfaces, making squares and roads with more shady and green, bringing water to the city and creating green blue nets,” said Frevs Ceuleman.
“There are additional interventions that we want to try in the near future, such as shaded structures, either temporary or permanent.”
“Adaptation alone is not enough
However, both experts agree that one adaptation is not enough. “We must be realistic that the influence of adaptation is limited. It can be felt very local, where the trees are planted, but on the road further, it will be warmer again, ”said Thier.
This is the reality of cities: in densely populated areas there is no place for adequate green zones.
He added that if the authorities want to stop this problem, softening should be at the top of their mind. It was reflected in Souverijns. “The phenomenon of city thermo -fasteners will also increase in the future with an additional climate change. Therefore, it is important to reduce our emissions as soon as possible. ”
In the city of Brussels, the emphasis is on stable repair work of buildings, which are responsible for 60% of CO2 emissions in this area, as well as to sustainable mobility and energy plans. The area is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.
If CO2 emissions are not reduced to zero, experts warn that the “warmth of the tsunami” will fall into cities, which can become unprofitable.
“We already see such unobtrusive cities, mainly in India and in countries, not far from Ecuador. Here, people are struggling to live in the city and do their daily work, ”said Sovens.