Cool Towns maps heat stress in East Flemish municipalities

With a third historic heat wave in the process of ramping up in Europe, cities in the 2 Seas area continue facing heat-related effects of climate change.

The many paved surfaces and buildings in cities and municipalities retain heat for longer. As a result, the temperatures in cities and municipalities are higher than in the countryside. During hot periods this can cause heat stress: there is insufficient opportunity to cool down and the heat is becoming increasingly unbearable.

The research teams of the Interreg 2 Seas project Cool Towns are now testing various measures that reduce heat stress, such as softening, greening, with shade and cooling water elements.

TV Oost (regional television broadcaster in East-Flanders) joined the Flemish researchers on their mission in Merelbeke, last Friday. Watch the documentary (in Dutch) here: https://www.tvoost.be/nieuws/oost-vlaanderen-wil-hittestress-doen-dalen-83641

Cool Towns brings together leading European research/academic institutions, governmental organisations and industries from the climatology and climate change adaptation domains. The project runs from 2018 until 2022 and received €4.7 million of ERDF.

Project website: https://www.cooltowns.eu/