Adapting buildings and cities for a changing climate

This summer's record temperatures and growing warnings of future extreme weather remind us that climate change is no longer a distant threat. Our homes, schools, workplaces and cities must adapt to a future characterised by hotter summers, more frequent heatwaves, intense rainfall and other climate-related risks.

This event showcases the latest research from the UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering (IEDE) on adapting buildings and cities to a changing climate. Researchers will present insights from a range of building types and urban settings, exploring challenges posed by extreme heat, flooding, changing weather patterns and growing pressures on the built environment.

Through a series of talks and discussions, the event will highlight emerging evidence, practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners, and key research gaps that must be addressed to support climate-resilient and healthy places. Join us to explore how research can inform the adaptation of our buildings and cities for the decades ahead.

Dr Charles Simpson

Adaptation to increasing heatwaves may drive adoption of air conditioning in the UK. Policy has favoured passive cooling over air conditioning, but there has been little coordinated action to reduce overheating in existing buildings. Many have pointed to increased energy use and heat outdoors that air conditioning can produce, but there are important evidence gaps, which I will outline in this talk.

Dr Giorgos Petrou

The extreme heat experienced across the United Kingdom during the summer of 2026 has brought overheating in homes and climate adaptation to the forefront of public debate. As heatwaves become more common, how can we keep existing homes safe and healthy? This talk will examine evidence of overheating in the UK housing stock and explore practical adaptation measures and the key barriers that could continue to hinder adaptation progress.

Prof Michael Davies

This talk addresses the need to address climate mitigation and adaptation together. For example, integrated home upgrades combining energy efficiency, low-carbon heating and measures to reduce overheating can reduce costs and disruption.

Prof Clare Heaviside

Heat exposure is becoming an increasing public health challenge in the UK, especially in towns and cities, which are subject to the urban heat island effect, and since existing housing is more often designed for winters than summers. Urban adaptations like cool roofs, green roofs and other vegetation have the potential to reduce the local ambient temperature and reduce heat related mortality during summers. I will present research from modelling studies which quantify the potential impact of adaptation measures on health, through reduced heat-related mortality.

Prof Anna Mavrogianni

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense in the UK, posing severe risks to public health. Many older and clinically vulnerable people spend most of their time indoors, but the majority of buildings are not prepared to cope with excess heat. There is also a growing shift from a traditional care home model towards more independent living for older people, including extra care and retirement housing. This talk will present past and ongoing work aiming to increase our understanding of current and future heat risks in different types of residential settings occupied by older, heat vulnerable people, potential solutions, barriers and opportunities for their implementation.

Dr Oscar Brousse

Selecting appropriate adaptation strategies under a warming climate remains a tedious task. Drawing on evidence from modelling and field experiments in London, this talk reflects on current knowledge and on the extent to which existing urban climate research practices can inform future research directions and decision-making.