And those Beyond the Gaussian? Looking After the Elderly and Disabled During Heat Waves in Cities

Abstract

Urban heat waves are emerging as a significant public health issue, especially considering their regularity and growing severity, partly induced by climate change. Described as an extended period of very hot weather, which can stretch over several days and weeks, urban heat waves tend to present an increase in occurrence and intensity over time. The elderly and disabled are at greater risk among these populations due to a complex of physiologic, socio-economic, and environmental predisposing conditions. It is essential to know what problems members of these populations face during periods of extreme heat, as the implications are not simply uncomfortable but also involve adverse health effects and higher mortality rates. Even though devoted policies for the elderly and disabled have been developed, they appear mostly sectoral, without a clear link to the structure of the cities and the regenerative policy approaches necessary to properly implement Target 11 of the UN Agenda 2030.  European policies often refer to the ‘no one left behind’; the needs of the elderly and the disabled should be deeply considered, and a multidisciplinary approach should be applied in any single step of the urban design.