xlvii
Introduction
Paolo Lauriola
Abstract Urban heat island (UHI) is micro-climatic phenomenon which occurs
within urban areas and consists of generally warmer temperature than rural surroundings. The current development of cities together with FORESEEN urban
DEVELOPMENT makes this phenomenon of fundamental importance also for
stakeholders and urban planners.
The attention to these items is proved by the funding of the project “Development
and application of mitigation and adaptation strategies and measures for counteracting the global Urban Heat Islands phenomenon”.
The main objective of this project is to establish a trans-national attention for the
prevention, adaptation and mitigation of the natural and anthropogenic risk arising
from the urban heat island phenomenon. The partnership is basically twofold, with
technical institutions as well as local stakeholders, both coming from each of the
regions involved in the project.
The direct participation to the project of local stakeholders guarantees the possibility of an effective impact of UHI project objectives into planning strategies,
with a specific emphasis on the human bio-meteorological factors that are relevant
for the urban planning process.
Keywords Micro-climate • Trans-national policies • Counteracting UHI •
European Territorial Cooperation
P. Lauriola
Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPA),
Emilia Romagna Region, Via Begarelli 13, 41100, Modena, Italy
e-mail: plauriola@arpa.emr.it