Climate Impact and Urban Adaptation: Issues in Sydney Report

This report examines the impact of the urban heat island (UHI) effect in Sydney, Australia, focusing on its consequences for resource constraints, particularly water, land, and energy. The study explores the concept of UHI, its causes, and the increasing temperatures in urban areas compared to rural ones, emphasizing the role of human activities and infrastructure. The report investigates the background of the research, the aim to analyze the UHI impact, and the objectives, including understanding UHI, identifying policy needs, and analyzing control methods. It presents research methodologies, including qualitative research using secondary data sources, and discusses the results, highlighting the dangers of UHI and the need for interventions such as green infrastructure and policy implementations. The report emphasizes the need for an index to inform the public and suggests solutions like green roofs, community climate action plans, and tree planting programs to mitigate the UHI effect and improve urban sustainability. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the UHI problem in Sydney and proposes actionable strategies to address it.

Climate impact and urban
adaptation – issues and
interventions in Sydney

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Document has covered the impact of Urban heat island on different range of resources
like water, energy and more. Considering this, researcher has developed a range of objectives in
regards to the topic. On the other hand, investigator has also mentioned the range of questions as
well focusing upon the chosen topics as well. Away with this, it is much required to take in use
of green plan management system, in order to reduce the Urban Heat Island's impact upon
various range of resources as well like water, land and more.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
TOPIC - Urban heat island in Sydney, impacts on resource constraint (water, land and energy). .1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of research..........................................................................................................1
Aim of the study.....................................................................................................................2
Objectives of case...................................................................................................................2
Questions of research.............................................................................................................2
Overview of the relevant literature..................................................................................................2
Concept of Urban heat island.................................................................................................2
Need to develop policies in regards to Urban heat island......................................................2
Ways through, which heat production of Sydney could be controlled...................................3
Data Sources and Methods...............................................................................................................3
Research Methodology...........................................................................................................3
Results of Research..........................................................................................................................4
Discussion and policy implications.................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

TOPIC - Urban heat island in Sydney, impacts on resource constraint (water,
land and energy)
INTRODUCTION
Urban heat island (UHI) is basically, refer to an urban area, which mainly stays warmer
than the other areas that are nearby to it like rural regions. Main cause of this, are the activities
that are done by humans for their own benefits. On the other hand, if it is talked about Sydney,
which is capital of New South Wales and is being considered as one of the most popular city in
regards to its population in all over Australia. In 2017, city's citizens were counted
approximately to 5,230,330. Along with this, it is the largest city in Australia, and basically it is
considering land area of approximately 12,367.7 Kilometre (Dai and et. al., 2018). Away with
this, it is also made up of 43 local councils with 15 contiguous locations as well. On the other
hand, Sydney also consist with humid subtropical climate as it stays warm in the summers and
cool in winters. Over the years, population of Sydney is increasing and due to this fact,
population has also got enhanced due to the human activities. This resulted into constraint among
land, energy and water as well within Sydney because, comfort which people of this city were
looking forward to have require heavy use of all of the things like energy, land along with the
water itself.
Background of research
Urban areas (cities), more overly tend to carry high temperature of air if it is compared
with rural areas. This has impacted upon natural resources which could be anything from non
sustainable resources, land and water. It is being analysed that, Urban heat island (UHI), is
considered to he one of the major problems encountered by the human race this century
(Goldstein and et. al., 2016). Along with this, it can be said that solar radiation that is absorbed
during the day by buildings is remitted after sunset creating high temperatures in urban areas. If
it is talked about Sydney that this state capital of New South Wales consists with multi purpose
buildings, in which people works 24*7. Due to excessive consumption of water, energy and land
it has polluted the air which raised the temperature within Sydney. It is being analysed that,
governmental agencies in regards to the departments that are linked with land, energy and water
has restricted the use of these resources. This could be considered as one of the positive action
taken, in order to reduce the consumptions of them (Tietenberg and Lewis, 2016).
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Aim of the study
Present study's aim is “To analyse the impact of Urban heat island in Sydney on resource
constraint (land, energy and water)”.
Objectives of case
 To understand the concept of Urban heat island.
 To identify the need of policy interventions in regards to Urban heat island.
 To analyse the ways through, which heat production of Sydney could be controlled.
Questions of research
 What is the concept of Urban heat island.
 Why it is a need to develop policies in regards to Urban heat island.
 What are the ways through, which heat production of Sydney could be controlled.
Overview of the relevant literature
Concept of Urban heat island.
According to Attard and et. al., (2016), concept of Urban Heat Island is being considered
as a phenomenon of climate change. It is being analysed that presence of UHI is basically being
found among 400 cities all over the world and this majorly takes place due to pollution, global
warming, heat that was generated by buildings which straight away gets into earth due to
reflection glass and many more other substances, A higher ambient temperatures within major
cities consists with dense population are the zones take in use of thermal power system,
industrial and manufacturing subsections and more. On the other hand, urban heat islands also
consists with three different types of are grouped as surface, canopy and boundary layer. Surface
heat islands are contributed by the mineralogical materials constituting the surfaces, canopy
islands exist between the surface and the tree tops or roof tops while the rest are grouped as
boundary layer islands
Need to develop policies in regards to Urban heat island.
On the other hand, as stated by Rathnayaka, Malano and Arora, (2016), developing an
effective policy in regards to urban heat island could help a city like Sydney to decrease the
temperature based issues that are being faced by citizens of a particular areas. On the other hand,
it is being analysed that cool roofs and green roofs have been identified as potential areas for
reducing urban heat islands. Green roofs have been modelled to reduce energy cooling needs but
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have had no great effect on air temperature. Cool pavements aim at reducing the surface
temperatures of the surface or air above them.
Ways through, which heat production of Sydney could be controlled.
As mentioned by Hall and et. al., (2016), green development plan or proposing training to
citizens for developing green parking lots are some of the ways through which, Urban heat island
can easily be removed or a range of benefits and including this, it is said that Sydney can also
develop an index for determining the heat intensities for warning the public. Along with this,
another way of reducing the heat production is that, community climate change action plan can
be developed and this helps in building up a much stronger sustainable storm water management
(low impact development).
Data Sources and Methods
Research Methodology
These are methods used for conducting research to collect data or information that helps
in decision making. Research methodology is a systematic plan to conduct an effective research
to understand impact of urban heat island on resources such as water, land and energy.
Qualitative Research :- This research is conducted by scientific methodology to gather
non numerical data. Qualitative research methods is based on factual data and can be analysed
with high knowledge and understeering of topic. This method data collection consist of
observation, case study, interview, record keeping etc.
Data Sources : It is refer as sources of collecting and analysing data from various sources
to conduct an effective and efficient research. Data sources are majorly classified into two
sources that is primary and secondary sources.
Primary sources : These sources are used to collect new and first hand data for research.
Primary sources are original data gather for a particular research. These sources includes survey,
observation, experimental data, in depth interview.
Secondary sources : Methods to collect of data form secondary sources are books,
government or legal documents, advertising media, articles, internet etc., (Hesami and Amini,
2016). These sources are easily to gather and analyse data for research. In this research
secondary sources are used to understand impact of urban heat island in Sydney on resources.
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In present research report, investigator has chosen secondary sources to collect the data
and with the help of this, it can be said that whole investigation will pull out favourable
outcomes in specified time frame.
Research Design : Inductive design has been used in this research. This design approach
will help in exploring new phenomena.
Results of Research
Considering the information which was being carried out, it can be said that after
reaching to a certain level of point Urban heat island might become dangerous for a particular
area as it can be a cost which a city has to pay for having a heavy infrastructure based buildings.
This could directly impact upon non sustainable sources. In present context, it is required for
Sydney to setting up an index, which will help public in getting the indication in regards to
maintain the heat with the help of going green.
It is much required for Sydney to develop an index and imply it onto the places where
most of the citizens visits in a particular day. This might help people of Sydney to take actions
per requirements like they can cool their own roofs so that nights can stay chilly because, urban
heat island, mainly the temperature gets high in midnight if it is compared to the day time.
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(Sources : Urban Heat Island?, 2016)
Considering the above mentioned image, it is being interpreted that city centre and
nearby areas to it like industrial, suburban residential areas mainly stays high due to high
buildings and temperature as well. Therefore, it is much required for individuals to focus upon
these areas so that reduction among temperature raising issues could be reduced to minimal.
With the help of this, maximum benefits could be gained by them in specified time frame and
these could be anything like reduction among heat in both night and day time.
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Il
lustration 1: Urban Heat Island?

With the help of above mentioned mind map, it can easily be said that lack of vegetation,
pollution made by traffic, building materials used to construct building, tall buildings, long wave
radiations could be considered as some of factors which could be considered as the reasons
behind rise within Urban Heat Island. These elements might raise the temperature across 10
degrees in a particular time frame or in a day (Pelorosso, Gobattoni and Leone, 2017). On the
other side, green buildings shows that somewhere they have went green, which means there is a
green park available or a green roof has been built that might help in reducing the Urban Heat
Island (high temperature) within the specified area and i.e. Sydney.
Discussion and policy implications
Going green on the roof of a building or cooling it down are some of the actions which
could be taken by a city like Sydney. Including this, it is also refer to the actions which can be
taken by public as well because it will directly reduce the chances of increase in heat as well.
Along with this, it is being analysed that, there are a range of policies that can be developed by
Sydney's government and this could help them in building themselves and their approaches as
well, in regards to hitting their own targets as well. With the help of this, maximum benefits can
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Illustration 2: Urban Heat Island?

be gained by both municipal and state areas as well like Sydney. Another policy intervention that
can be done by municipality of Sydney is that, existing tree planting program can also be taken
by them and needs to be widened beyond its current mandate to include the protection of
vegetation on private property and encourage wide spread addition of vegetation in public places
to set targets. The existing forested area in the urban areas has limited capacity in size and
density to reduce the surface and air temperature by significant levels that are helpful to the
greater public. Along with this, it is said that there is a need for education and sensitization of the
public for all groups in Sydney (Pelorosso, Gobattoni and Leone, 2017). On the other hand,
existing standard for green buildings adopted emphasizes energy efficiency of the buildings and
reducing footprint of the users and low impact development that only emphasizes reduced run
off.
Conclusion
With the help of above mentioned report, it is being concluded that going green (growing
plants), could help a city like Sydney to reduce the impact of Urban heat island among
constraints made up among energy consumptions, water and other related resources. It is
required to create or adopt the guidelines for green development specific to Sydney, addressing
urban heat islands. None of the existing municipal surface parking lots have any
sustainable/green paradigm which would be a source of savings in case of redevelopment by
government of Sydney.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Dai, J. and et. al., 2018. Water-energy nexus: A review of methods and tools for macro-
assessment. Applied energy, 210, pp.393-408.
Goldstein, B. and et. al., 2016. Testing the environmental performance of urban agriculture as a
food supply in northern climates. Journal of Cleaner Production. 135. pp.984-994.
Tietenberg, T. H. and Lewis, L., 2016. Environmental and natural resource economics.
Routledge.
Attard, G. and et. al., 2016. Impact of underground structures on the flow of urban
groundwater. Hydrogeology Journal. 24(1). pp.5-19.
Rathnayaka, K., Malano, H. and Arora, M., 2016. Assessment of sustainability of urban water
supply and demand management options: a comprehensive approach. Water, 8(12),
p.595.
Hall, S. J. and et. al., 2016. Convergence of microclimate in residential landscapes across diverse
cities in the United States. Landscape ecology. 31(1). pp.101-117.
Hesami, A. and Amini, A., 2016. Changes in irrigated land and agricultural water use in the Lake
Urmia basin. Lake and reservoir management. 32(3). pp.288-296.
Pelorosso, R., Gobattoni, F. and Leone, A., 2017. The low-entropy city: A thermodynamic
approach to reconnect urban systems with nature. Landscape and Urban Planning. 168.
pp.22-30.
Online
Urban Heat Island?. 2016. [Online]. Available through: <https://15146-g12-climatechange-
impact-on-sydney.weebly.com/what-is-an-urban-heat-island.html>.
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