Beat the heat: Hotspots for nature-based solutions in Vienna and Budapest

Urban heat islands and tropical nights disproportionately affect residents' health and well-being, particularly in historic city centers like Vienna and Budapest. A study combining urban heat modeling with discrete choice experiments reveals that while heat impacts all, residents—especially those in Budapest's urban districts—perceive its effects more acutely than meteorological data suggests. This misalignment underscores the need for localized nature-based solutions tailored to residents' needs, rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. The findings guide urban planners to prioritize neighborhoods with high heat perception, integrating social analysis and modeling to mitigate heat island effects while addressing community-specific vulnerabilities.

Wanner, A., Budhiraja, B., McKinley, J., & Jungnickel, M. (2026). Beat the heat: Hotspots for nature-based solutions in Vienna and Budapest. Sustainable Cities and Society, 139, 107219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2026.107219