A cost–benefit analysis of implementing urban heat island adaptation measures in small- and medium-sized cities in Austria

Abstract

Urban heat islands are an increasing concern even in small- to medium-sized cities, although these areas are still understudied especially in terms of the economic feasibility of adaptation options. This paper uses adaptation scenarios produced by an urban climate model as inputs to a social cost–benefit analysis in three small- to medium-sized cities in Austria: Mödling, Klagenfurt, and Salzburg. The adaptation scenarios, which consider measures such as increasing the reflectivity of different sealed surfaces (referred to as the White City scenario) as well as greening measures (i.e. the Green City scenario), show decreases in the number of hot days (Tmax ≥30°C) when implemented. Benefits include reductions in heat-related mortality, which are modeled based on trends of daily mortality and climate data, reduced morbidity, productivity loss, and numerous urban ecosystem services. The results demonstrate favorable benefit–cost ratios of a combination of measures (White and Green City) of 1.27, 1.36, and 2.68 for Mödling, Klagenfurt, and Salzburg, respectively, indicating positive economic grounds for supporting policies in line with the adaptation scenarios. Furthermore, results of the Green City vs. White City showed higher benefits for the combined and Green City scenarios despite higher costs for each of the cities.

The innovative role of cities in solving global problems with local solutions

“…Similar tree planting initiatives are also part of the greening strategies of Delhi (India). EPB is increasingly receiving more papers on urban heat islands, greening and mobility/ infrastructure challenges related to electric vehicles; see, e.g., Johnson et al (2021), Mashhoodi et al (2021), Kamata and Kang (2023) and Jung et al (2024). This trend is likely to continue in the future.…”

Investment in Disaster Risk Management in Europe Makes Economic Sense

“…The UHI effect can have detrimental consequences for urban populations, including increased heat-related mortality (Dang, et al, 2018 (Hunt, et al, 2017) depending on the climate of the city, effects of climate change, socio-demographic change, and the approach to valuing reduced mortality (i.e., premature versus displaced deaths; see (Chiabai, et al, 2018). For mitigating UHI effects, cost-benefit analyses of citywide application of green and white solutions are rare; the only published study found BCRs of combined green and white solutions to range between 1.3 and 2.7 for small and medium-size cities in Austria (Johnson, et al, 2020). In the current report, a new analysis for Vienna, Austria, highlighted a positive BCR of 1.8 for green solutions.…”

My ten years with Environment and Planning B

“…Using a social cost-benefit analysis, we showed which measures yielded the largest benefits. I immediately thought of EPB as an ideal place to publish this type of analysis (Johnson et al, 2021), amid a growing number of papers related to climate change. In many ways this brings me back full circle to my original area of study, which was climatology, and my strong awareness of climate change and its potential impacts more than 30 years ago.…”