Cities are key to climate change mitigation and adaptation in an increasingly urbanized world. As climate, socio-economic, and physical compositions of cities are constantly changing, these need to be considered in their urban climate adaptation. To identify these changes, urban systems can be characterized by physical, functional, and social indicators. Multi-dimensional approaches are needed to capture changes of city form and function, including patterns of mobility, land use, land cover, economic activities, and human behaviour. In this article, we examine how urban structure types provide one way to differentiate cities in general and to what extent socio-economic criteria have been considered regarding the characterization of urban typologies. In addition, we analyse how urban structure types are used in local adaptation strategies and plans to derive recommendations and concrete targets for climate adaptation. To do this, we examine indicators, background data used, and cartographic information developed for and within such urban adaptation plans, focusing in particular on the German cities of Karlsruhe and Berlin. The comparative analysis provides new insights into how present adaptation plans consider physical and social structures, including issues of human vulnerability within cities. Based on the analysis we make recommendations on how to improve the consideration of both physical and socio-economic aspects of a city to support pathways for adaptation.

The combined effects of global warming, urbanization, and demographic change influence climate risk for urban populations, particularly in metropolitan areas with developing economies. To inform climate change adaptation and spatial planning, it is important to study urban climatic hazards and populations at risk in relation to urban growth trends and development patterns. However, this relationship has not been adequately investigated in studies dedicated to climate vulnerability. This study identifies the typologies of development patterns within Lahore, Pakistan, investigates the heat vulnerability of residents at a neighborhood scale, and establishes a relationship between both of these factors. We identified urban clusters with diverse development patterns. Fourteen context- and site-specific indicators were selected to construct a human heat vulnerability index. Weighted sum, cluster analysis, and ANOVA test of variance were conducted to analyze the data. Our results demonstrate that development patterns significantly influence human vulnerability to heat stress, e.g., vulnerability is higher in older cities and undeveloped neighborhoods with less diverse land uses. These findings are essential for informing policy-makers, decision-makers and spatial planners about proactive adaptation planning in dynamic urban environments.

Heat stress is recognised among the key risks in the context of climate and societal changes. This study aims to explore the link between socio-economic and spatial factors contributing to the effects of extreme heat events in the city of Stuttgart. The paper presents some findings of the Citizens' Survey 2021 in the city of Stuttgart on some key variables such as experience with heat stress and access to green spaces. The analysis further gives special emphasis to relationships between these variables and socio-economic factors e.g. income levels with heat-related adaptation options. The survey data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and then exported to ArcGIS pro and linked with geographical data (shapefiles) of the city districts. The study provides new insights into the spatial variability of heat experience as well as the socio-economic profile that needs to be targeted for future heat adaptation planning in the city.

High population influx and rapid urban growth have not only amplified extreme weather events but also have significantly influenced the sustainable development of cities. Therefore, urban planning must account for urban transformation and extreme events as efficiently as possible. Using the concept of a human-environment system, this study proposes a practical approach for the assessment of human vulnerability to heat stress in different Local Climate Zones (LCZs) of Lahore. Using the human vulnerability index computed at the union council administrative scale and LCZs data at 100m cell size, GIS tools (i.e. rasterization and zonal statistics) are used to compare the datasets. The linkage of human heat vulnerability with LCZs shows that human vulnerability is relatively low in compact development compared to sparsely built-up and low-density areas. It is due to the income profile of residents as well as accessibility of social infrastructure in compact development zones. This assessment of cross-scale mechanisms of human heat vulnerability in urban systems is expected to inform policymakers and stakeholders in developing effective policies to address social, economic, and health risks.