In the wake of extreme heat: equitable urban heat planning for residential buildings

Abstract

Extreme heat is invisible, deadly, and its threat is shaped through dominant approaches of urban planning and development. In this study we asked ‘how is equity considered within cities' responses to extreme heat for residential buildings'. Using the City of Burnaby as a case study, we explored existing strategic land-use plans, city-wide plans and strategies, community plans, and bylaws, alongside City staff, health authority, and housing organization interviewee accounts. The City’s response to extreme heat for residential buildings is done primarily through ambiguous framings of equity, and non-explicit approaches to cooling or UHI mitigation. Moreover, urban heat governance appears siloed, with the degree of responsibility in heat planning varying between departments and organizations. Lastly, the dominant perspective remains that though the built environment influences extreme heat, it is still primarily viewed as public health and emergency response hazard.