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Cities, air pollution and heat

Summary

Global temperatures and the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are rising, with serious implications for human health including respiratory  problems, exhaustion and heatstroke. Many of these problems are felt most acutely in cities where temperatures are generally higher than in surrounding rural areas.  The global increase in urban populations, and the rise in the number and size of cities that are often poorly adapted to rising temperatures is a major public health concern. 

Increased strain on health facilities, transport, and water systems affect the use and provision of critical resources, especially in densely populated areas. Cities in tropical regions such as South Asia and equatorial Africa are particularly at risk, but the UK and Europe’s exposure to dangerously hot weather is becoming increasingly apparent.

Our researchers study the health impacts of air pollution, heat and extreme events in cities, and advise governments and policy-makers on sustainable and healthy infrastructure designs for the future

Our work

our work

  • The Department of Health recently commissioned Centre colleagues in collaboration with the Policy Innovation Research Unit at LSHTM to evaluate the effectiveness of PHE’s heat-wave plan which aims to protect public health and reduce harm from severe hot weather.

  • Working closely with Public Health England (PHE) to assess the health effects of current and future climate and extreme weather events, and inform the further development and evaluation of public health response measures which underpin climate change resilience and adaptation.

  • Complex Urban Systems for Sustainability and Health (CUUSH) programme working in Europe, Kenya and China;

  • Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network that analyses data on the short-term effects of air pollution and heat in 652 cities from 24 countries

  • Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health (in partnership with Public Health England) will provide evidence on adaptation to climate risks primarily in the UK

  • Climate Resilience of Care Settings (ClimaCare) study seeking to enable care provision in the UK to become resilient to rising heat stress under climate change

  • The Belmont funded CHAMNHA project (Climate, Heat, and Maternal and Neonatal Health in Africa) will provide evidence on heat risks in vulnerable group in low income settings

Key publications