Affiliation:
1. National School of Architecture, Agadir, Morocco & Laboratory of Processes for Sustainable Energy and Environment (ProcEDE), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
Abstract
Currently, cities are home to more than half of the world's population. The increasing urbanization rates create an unprecedented urban sprawl that worsens the urban climate situation. Urban areas modify their local climate and face the consequent urban climate impacts, which are particularly exacerbated by global climate change. This chapter shares scientific knowledge on how cities affect their climate and how urban spatial planning can mitigate the negative impacts of urban climate. Focus is given on the urban heat island, the most documented aspect of urban climate, directly linked to city spatial characteristics and functions. This phenomenon is explained, and tools and methods to assess it and mitigate its intensity are introduced in an attempt to help urban planners and designers to use climatic knowledge in urban planning to build more sustainable and climate-resilient cities.