Review and Critical Analysis of International UHI Studies

� Most US States encourage tree planting and urban greening, Pennsylvania’s scheme
TreeVitalize is an example [076].
A Canadian study has developed a multi‐step approach to evaluate the feasibility and
effectiveness of various UHI adaptation alternatives under financial constraints this is elaborated
further in the study and applied to make policy recommendations for various parts of Montreal.
It uses two fundamental guiding principles to make policy – the first is based upon a risk
assessment method that seeks to target the areas which are most at risk to the UHI impacts; the
second takes a pragmatic approach in seeking to adapt policy to the physical and socio‐economic
environment of the implementation region [101].
Three Japanese studies describe the activities undertaken by both the national and Tokyo
metropolitan government to actively promote UHI mitigation measures through policy [045, 047,
210]. They appear to have taken a highly coordinated and collaborative approach amongst the
ministries and in implementing comprehensive countermeasures against the urban heat island
effects. The basic policies they have taken look at focusing on the reduction of anthropogenic heat
emissions; improved ground surfaces in urban areas; improved urban structures and examined
policies that change the lifestyle of inhabitants – these have been instigated by step‐by‐step
approaches in order to strengthen the UHI mitigating measures with flexible revisions founded
on long‐term programs (allowing monitoring of the thermal environment) [045]. To date the
policies implemented have seen the introduction of urban parks; tree planting schemes in both
the public and private facilities; preservation of farmland; etc.. Such policies should be conducted
on large scales and enforced early on in order to increase their effectiveness – more over in rapid
expansion areas policy must aim to address architectural and urban planning where the study
suggests the impacts on the outdoor environment have not been well considered [045].
A study from Seoul, South Korea looks at incorporating the built environment factors into
climate change mitigation strategies for their city founded upon a sustainable urban systems
framework [040]. It seeks to address the burden of climate change on local and regional
governments developing policies that encompass the complexities of urban systems examining
the entire system (including the both environmental and socio‐economic issues). The framework
that emerges helps decision makers evaluate climate change and mitigation strategies and these
are often well coupled with urban heat island mitigation strategies [040]. This strategic
framework does still require further research to model, simulate and quantify the outcomes and
benefits of the individual technologies but could serve well to integrate and marry to emerging
priority areas with great synergies (climate change‐ global and heat islands –local).
Although few papers have been found on policy developments in Europe, much work is being
undertaken in green roofs. Four references consider policy for Green Roofs and Urban Green
Areas. Of these sources one paper examines green roof policies with particular focus on Germany
which it uses as a case study to put forward recommendations to policy makers in Canada for a
similar policy outlook [212]. The other sources are websites and articles which list current policy
arrangements for green roofs around the world [211, 213, 214]. Many guidebooks have been
published to educate the public and building owners about green roofs and some governments
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