Urban growth, heat islands, humidity, climate change: the costs multiply in tropical cities

Taha Chaiechi, James Cook University and Silvia Tavares, James Cook University
Some 60% of the planet’s expected urban area by 2030 is yet to be built. This forecast highlights how rapidly the world’s people are becoming urban. Cities now occupy about 2% of the world’s land area, but are home to about 55% of the world’s people and generate more than 70% of global GDP, plus the associated greenhouse gas emissions.
So what does this mean for people who live in the tropical zones, where 40% of the world’s population lives? On current trends, this figure will rise to 50% by 2050. With tropical economies growing some 20% faster than the rest of the world, the result is a swift expansion of tropical cities. Read more…

JCU postgraduate scholarships
Applications for postgraduate research scholarships at James Cook University are now open and I’d love to hear from candidates interested in urban design, planning, urban microclimates, sensing cities, climate responsive urban design, architecture design and performance and any related topics.

Urban Planning & Design for the Sustainable Development Goals
Dr Taha Chaiechi and I are delivering a presentation this Thursday (29th August) about the JCU Urban Thinkers Campus and their related topics. Read more…
Building a climate-proof future
This article was originally published on 28th June on JCU’s Brighter website.
As climate change continues to wreak its path through tropical communities, architects and urban planners are combatting the potentially disastrous effects with innovative design solutions.
Dr. Silvia Tavares “designs cities with an eye on the climate”. A leading urban designer and senior lecturer at James Cook University, Dr. Tavares has a passion for creating places that foster connection and wellbeing, while being sustainable for the future. Read more…
City temperatures and city economics, a hidden relationship between sun and wind and profits
Silvia Tavares, James Cook University and Taha Chaiechi, James Cook University
Urban design undoubtedly influences the urban economy. A simple thing like designing an area to make it more walkable can boost local business profits. This can also increase real estate value, create more and better jobs and generate stronger local economies.
Street temperatures also determine their walkability. With climate change bringing longer and more frequent heatwaves, street temperatures will become even higher than at present. This will reduce walkability and, in turn, local business profitability. Read more…

Presentation recording – The city and the wild
A couple of weeks ago I presented a seminar entitled The city and the wild: Design meets ecosystems.
The recoding is now available here.
The city and the wild: Design meets ecosystems
This Wednesday I will present a seminar on the relationships between cities and natural ecosystems, and how they can coexist. Join us in the Cairns Institute if you are in Cairns. Read more…

UTC 3.0 Report: James Cook University – Urban Liveability in Tropical Australia Through Urban Diaries and Community Engagement
The final report of our Urban Thinkers Campus, hosted by James Cook University in Australia with full support from Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP), Planz Town Planning, Milford Planning, Cairns Regional Council and Townsville City Council is now available at the World Urban Campaign website. Read more…
CfP – SI on Public health and well-being in public open spaces through climate responsive urban planning and design

I have been co-editing a special issue (SI) for the Journal of Public Space on Planning and Design for Public Health and Well-being through climate responsive design. The intention is to have this SI published in December 2019. Read more…
Thinkers in the Tropical Shade: Empowering Lessons for Livable Places

Last June, Chuck Wolfe, David Sellars and I published an article on Planetizen about the fundamental relationships at the heart of urban public health and livability, particularly in tropical Australia. In this article we discuss the importance of context, the relevance of the UN-Habitat New Urban Agenda, the Urban Thinkers Campuses recently hosted by JCU (Understanding Cairns and Townsville through the urban diary tool), place-based urban planning and design and the lessons learned so far.
Presentation at the IPWEAQ 2018 Conference
A few weeks ago, on the 19th April, I presented a 3-part project I have been working on at the IPWEAQ 2018 Conference (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia North Queensland Branch), here in Cairns. Read more…

Urban Thinkers Campus – Cairns and Townsville, Australia
James Cook University‘s College of Science and Engineering and College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, through myself and David Sellars, with the full support of Nikki Huddy from Planz, have been organising an Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC) framed around the topic of urban planning and design and public health. The UTC entitled ‘Urban Health and Livability in Tropical Australia through urban diaries and community engagement’ will take place on the 8th June in Cairns and 15th June in Townsville, and they are both day-long events (see preliminary schedule here). Read more…

Uruguay, or the ‘Switzerland of South America’
On our way to the south of Brazil last November, we flew from Australia to Chile and then to Montevideo in Uruguay. When friends in this part of the world ask me what is the best place in South America I always say the same: Uruguay is its best kept secret. Read more…

Urban Thinkers Campus in Cairns and Townsville
I am very pleased to share the news that our proposal to host two Urban Thinkers Campus in support of the New Urban Agenda at JCU this year – one in Cairns (8th June) and one in Townsville (15th June) – has been approved. Read more…