PAIR Seminar: Prof. John D. SPENGLER of Harvard University, United States delivers “If you think it is hot now — just wait a few years”

Urgent warnings about the trajectory of our planet’s climate are emerging from the COP 30 Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil. Despite current national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures are projected to rise more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Experts caution that without a transition to fossil-free economies by 2050, warming could reach 3°C by century’s end. Extreme heat waves already account for the majority of weather-related deaths, a situation expected to worsen as global temperatures climb. Cities, being particularly vulnerable to heat-related impacts, must prioritise the implementation of effective mitigation strategies.

At Harvard, Prof. John D. SPENGLER’s team — working in collaboration with the Smart Surfaces Coalition and over 40 partner organisations — is supporting cities across the US and India in deploying innovative approaches to cool neighbourhoods, save lives, and strengthen local economies. Building on this work, we are now engaging with colleagues at City University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, and Tsinghua University’s Shenzhen campus to develop novel applications for evaluating and enhancing climate adaptation strategies in urban environments.