Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11
Abstract Exacerbated by climate change, the increasing urban heat is a silent disaster especially affecting vulnerable communities representing a city’s weakest part. To assess vulnerabilities and understand the local urban heat experiences, this study employed reconnaissance and resident surveys ac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | npj Urban Sustainability |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00235-7 |
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| author | Xiaolin Lao Aura-Luciana Istrate Francesco Pilla |
| author_facet | Xiaolin Lao Aura-Luciana Istrate Francesco Pilla |
| author_sort | Xiaolin Lao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Exacerbated by climate change, the increasing urban heat is a silent disaster especially affecting vulnerable communities representing a city’s weakest part. To assess vulnerabilities and understand the local urban heat experiences, this study employed reconnaissance and resident surveys across diverse vulnerable community types (formal and informal settlements) in Xi’an, China. Along with a policy disconnection from residents’ needs, results indicate that heat-coping resources are largely unavailable, and community engagement is limited. Structural equation modelling indicates that while community-based governance reduces socio-economic pressure, it does not significantly improve services or awareness. Governance effectiveness and policy urgency varied not only across communities but also within communities as influenced by housing types: they were stronger within urban villages and gated commercial housing, whereas shantytowns faced heightened vulnerability. The study advocates a community-based approach to identify and address specific vulnerabilities, as well as align residents’ needs with policy contributing to SDG 11 sub-targets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b23cbc2d309141369ed9681038895d2f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2661-8001 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Urban Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-b23cbc2d309141369ed9681038895d2f2025-08-20T04:01:34ZengNature Portfolionpj Urban Sustainability2661-80012025-07-015111510.1038/s42949-025-00235-7Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11Xiaolin Lao0Aura-Luciana Istrate1Francesco Pilla2School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College DublinSchool of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College DublinSchool of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College DublinAbstract Exacerbated by climate change, the increasing urban heat is a silent disaster especially affecting vulnerable communities representing a city’s weakest part. To assess vulnerabilities and understand the local urban heat experiences, this study employed reconnaissance and resident surveys across diverse vulnerable community types (formal and informal settlements) in Xi’an, China. Along with a policy disconnection from residents’ needs, results indicate that heat-coping resources are largely unavailable, and community engagement is limited. Structural equation modelling indicates that while community-based governance reduces socio-economic pressure, it does not significantly improve services or awareness. Governance effectiveness and policy urgency varied not only across communities but also within communities as influenced by housing types: they were stronger within urban villages and gated commercial housing, whereas shantytowns faced heightened vulnerability. The study advocates a community-based approach to identify and address specific vulnerabilities, as well as align residents’ needs with policy contributing to SDG 11 sub-targets.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00235-7 |
| spellingShingle | Xiaolin Lao Aura-Luciana Istrate Francesco Pilla Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11 npj Urban Sustainability |
| title | Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11 |
| title_full | Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11 |
| title_fullStr | Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11 |
| title_short | Navigating vulnerable community-based urban heat adaptation under SDG 11 |
| title_sort | navigating vulnerable community based urban heat adaptation under sdg 11 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00235-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaolinlao navigatingvulnerablecommunitybasedurbanheatadaptationundersdg11 AT auralucianaistrate navigatingvulnerablecommunitybasedurbanheatadaptationundersdg11 AT francescopilla navigatingvulnerablecommunitybasedurbanheatadaptationundersdg11 |