Tackling Urban Heat Islands in Niš: A Collaborative Workshop for Climate Resilience

The City of Niš took a significant step toward combating climate change by organizing the “Local Methodological Workshop - Urban Heat Islands” on October 29, 2024, at the SKIP Center. This workshop, part of the European project “Urban Heat Islands, Resilience, Preparedness, and Mitigation Strategies - Be Ready,” highlighted the urgent need to address urban heat islands (UHIs)—localized zones of increased temperatures caused by heat retention in urban areas.

The event commenced with welcoming remarks from Ms. Lidija Stefanović Nikolić, representing the City of Niš. Ms. Ivana Miljanović from the Office for Local Economic Development followed with an introduction to the project’s objectives and the workshop’s purpose.

External collaborators from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture delivered a lecture outlining Niš’s unique challenges and responses to climate change, particularly concerning urban heat islands. This was followed by a presentation by Mr. Milan Krstev, a representative of research partner NTP Niš, who introduced the UHI vulnerability and risk assessment methodology developed within the Be Ready project. His presentation highlighted the four tools integral to assessing and addressing UHI risks.

Mr. Nikola Djokić, another expert from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, provided an in-depth review of data collection processes and key indicators used in assessing urban heat islands. His insights emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts and reliable data in understanding and mitigating UHI effects.

The workshop brought together 34 participants from diverse sectors, including representatives from public institutions, academia, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the business community. The discussions focused on adapting to climate change and developing green interventions to enhance the quality of life in Niš. Particular attention was given to utilizing the methodological tools provided by the Be Ready project to identify and address key UHI indicators.

The workshop concluded with the introduction of the Local Coalition Pact, a document formalizing the commitment of stakeholders to collectively tackle urban heat islands. This pact underscores the importance of collaboration in developing innovative, sustainable solutions to enhance urban resilience and combat climate change.