Heat by design: Can cities be cooled without air conditioning?

Desk Report

Published May 3, 2026 Updated May 3, 2026 02:02pm

Cities heat up faster than surrounding areas because of how they’re built.

Urban areas can be up to 5.6 degrees Celsius warmer than nearby regions because of roads, concrete surfaces and dense construction that absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, preventing cities from cooling down. This is known as the urban heat island effect.

This means that when heatwaves hit, cities are already at an elevated baseline temperature and more prone to overheating.

In most places, conventional planning prioritises plot sizes, road widths, and construction speed without mapping heat pockets or protecting natural cooling systems. However, climate sensitive urban planning incorporates nature as a fundamental element of urban living.

How can climate smart urban design be integrated into our cities practically, and how does it differ from conventional urban planning?

DawnNews discusses all this and much more with urban planner Sana R Gondal.

As Pakistan confronts the accelerating realities of climate change, the urgency to move from awareness to action has never been greater.

Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable nations, underscoring the critical need for coordinated, locally grounded, and globally informed responses.

The Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference 2026 on May 6 and 7 brings together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from across sectors to examine these intersecting challenges and chart a path forward.

See the agenda here.