The course addresses key themes related to urban planning for climate change, with a specific focus on heat risk in urban areas. Topics include: • Global climate policy frameworks and multi-level governance • The role of cities in climate mitigation and adaptation • Spatial planning approaches for climate adaptation • Methods and tools for climate risk and vulnerability assessment • Socio-spatial justice and urban planning strategies for climate adaptation • Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure • Environmental and social co-benefits of climate-responsive planning • Methodological frameworks for integrating climate adaptation into urban planning • Application of planning methodologies to real-world case studies

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This PhD course is part of the thematic path “Spatial Planning, Evaluation and Management" of the PhD programme in Urban and Regional Development (URD). The course aims to expand students’ knowledge and expertise on policies, tools, strategic and action-oriented planning approaches for climate change. The course is organised through a problem-based learning structured in 5 modules of three hours each, combining theoretical lectures and methodological frameworks. An initial 3-hours keynote session will introduce students to the international policy framework on climate change, with a specific focus on increasing heat risk in urban areas. A final 3-hours workshop will be dedicated to the presentation and discussion of students’ reports, reflecting on how the methodologies and approaches explored during the course can inform their PhD research. The program is structured as follows: Module 1 - Climate trends, policy responses and urban challenges | This module is developed as a keynote session by representatives of UN-Habitat, UN Environment Programme and UNESCO. Keynote speakers will introduce the current global effort to understand and address extreme heat effectively, with a focus on the role of cities in climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as on multi-level governance and its urban implications. Module 2 - From global frameworks to urban planning: approaches and tools | This module introduces the translation of global climate policies into urban planning strategies. It addresses approaches to climate risk and vulnerability assessment, including relevant data sources and indicators, and discusses the role of spatial planning tools in supporting climate adaptation. Particular attention is given to the implications of climate change for socio-spatial justice and urban planning practices and policy integration across scales. The module draws on international case studies and ongoing research projects to illustrate current approaches and challenges. Module 3 – Planning and design solutions for climate change | This module focuses on planning and design strategies to address climate change, with a particular focus on public spaces transformed through nature-based solutions and cooling strategies. It discusses environmental and social co-benefits, including health, inclusion, and urban resilience, highlighting the role of adaptative planning and design in shaping climate-responsive cities. The module draws on international case studies and ongoing research projects to showcase innovative design and planning solutions. Module 4 – From theory to practice for heat risk planning | This module introduces a methodological framework for addressing urban heat risks in urban planning. Students will be introduced to the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard™ (PIRS™) for Heat methodology developed by Keith and Meerow (2022), with the aim of analysing how cities are advancing their urban heat resilience planning efforts. The module focuses on how such frameworks can support the integration of climate adaptation into spatial planning practices, highlighting opportunities and limitations across different urban contexts in Europe and beyond. Students will apply the methodology to a case study as a basis for their final presentation. Module 5 – Final workshop: presentation and discussion | This module is dedicated to the presentation and discussion of student reports based on the results of the application of the PIRS™ for Heat methodology to their selected case study. It provides a space for critical reflection on the application of the concepts, tools, and methodological approaches introduced in previous modules. Particular attention is given to the relevance of the proposed analyses and strategies for ongoing PhD research, fostering peer exchange and collective discussion.

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Presentazione orale

P.D.1-1 - Gennaio