Work

When the sun goes down, heat vulnerability remains

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Continuously rising temperatures due to climate change allow extreme heat-related risks to persist throughout the entire day. While daytime and nighttime heat are well distinguished in climate research, the social inequities and adaptation strategies linked to nighttime heat remain overlooked. This short communication proposes a multidimensional perspective to nighttime heat, combining recent climate data, vulnerability analysis and urban adaptation strategies. Using Barcelona, Spain, as a city of reference, we discuss how localized urban heat islands, limited access to climate shelters, and stressors like traffic noise levels intersect to shape heat risk and climate injustice at night. Building an equitable climate resilience to nighttime heat means not only mapping where heat remains at night but also designing strategies for night hours and broadening how heat vulnerability is assessed. This piece calls on both researchers and practitioners to consider climate science, social equity and urban policy through a nighttime lens, and consequently, to ensure a more comprehensive way to support vulnerable population groups.

Source: City and Environment Interactions

DOI: 10.1016/j.cacint.2025.100284

Authors: Jiayang Hu, Florence Gignac, Sam Pickard, Paloma Trascasa Castro, Eren Duzenli, Dragana Bojovic

Institutions: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona Supercomputing Center

Language: English

Topic: Climate Change and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,500