Guimarães Cools Down: Green Capital Fights Extreme Heat

Guimarães, honored as the European Green Capital, is proactively adapting its urban environment to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and climate change. This northern Portuguese city has invested over a decade in developing green corridors and restoring its waterways, successfully reducing temperatures in certain urban areas.

Initiatives coordinated by the Guimarães 26 Mission Unit focus on creating a radial green infrastructure strategy. This network connects parks, water bodies, and forests, aiming to increase green cover, boost biodiversity, and combat urban heat islands. Rivers like Ave and Vizela are now utilized for leisure and cooling, with new pedestrian paths along their banks.

A study by researchers from the Landscape Laboratory and the University of Minho, utilizing a decade of satellite imagery, confirmed the effectiveness of these green interventions. The findings indicated a significant decrease in land surface temperatures, dropping by up to 2.49 degrees Celsius in areas featuring green roofs and urban gardens. However, sustained progress necessitates stronger environmental policies.