How Cities Are Adapting to a Hotter, More Volatile Future

From green infrastructure to redesigned public spaces, urban centres are finding new ways to build resilience.

In the city pictured here, summer shade becomes a transport question as well as an environmental one. A newly planted route connects a school, a bus interchange and a market, giving pedestrians somewhere to rest between destinations. Water-permeable surfaces reduce the burden on drains during sudden downpours.

The fictional pilot also reveals the importance of maintenance. Trees need space for roots and a watering budget; benches need locations that remain useful throughout the day. The city’s response to heat is judged through those ordinary details, with residents helping identify the gaps that an aerial map misses.

Illustrated inaugural edition · Fictional editorial copy